Patents Assigned to MKS Instruments
  • Patent number: 11721526
    Abstract: A method of generating power with a power generation system. Solid state generators generate a plurality of outputs. The outputs of the solid state generator modules are combined from a plurality of channels, in a combiner, using a phase optimization technique to generate an in phase combined output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Francesco Braghiroli
  • Patent number: 11715624
    Abstract: A RF generator includes a RF power source and a RF control module coupled to the RF power source. The RF control module is configured to generate at least one control signal to vary a respective at least one of an RF output signal from the RF power source or an impedance between the RF power source and a load. The RF output signal includes a RF signal modulated by a pulse signal, and the RF control module is further configured to adjust the at least one control signal to vary at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the RF output signal or the impedance between the RF power source and the load to control a shape of the pulse signal. The at least one of the amplitude, the frequency, or the impedance is adjusted in accordance with respective feedforward adjustments that vary in accordance with a respective sensed pulse parameter detected between a matching network and the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Smyka, Aaron T. Radomski, Peter Paul, Aaron M. Burry
  • Patent number: 11691111
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for supplying a rinsing liquid including ultrapure water and an ammonia gas. The system includes an ultrapure water source and a gas mixture source in fluid communication with a contactor. The gas mixture includes ammonia gas and a carrier gas. The system includes a control unit configured to adjust a flow rate of the ultrapure water source such that an operational pressure of the contactor remains below a pressure threshold. The system includes a compressor configured to remove a residual transfer gas out of the contactor. The contactor generates a rinsing liquid having ultrapure water and a concentration of the ammonia gas dissolved therein. The system includes a pump in fluid communication between the contactor and an outlet. The pump is configured to deliver the rinsing liquid having a gaseous partial pressure below the pressure threshold at the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Alfred Brammer, Johannes Seiwert, Christiane Le Tiec
  • Patent number: 11664197
    Abstract: A plasma source is provided that includes a body defining an input port, an output port, and at least one discharge section extending along a central longitudinal axis between the input port and the output port. The at least one discharge section includes a return electrode defining a first generally cylindrical interior volume having a first interior diameter, a supply plate comprising a supply electrode, the supply plate defining a second generally cylindrical interior volume having a second interior diameter, and at least one spacer defining a third generally cylindrical interior volume having a third interior diameter. The third interior diameter is different from the first or second interior diameter. The at least one discharge section is formed from the spacer arranged between the return electrode and the supply plate along the central longitudinal axis to define a generally cylindrical discharge gap for generating a plasma therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Hill, Andrew Cowe, Ron Collins, Larry Bourget
  • Patent number: 11656139
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity gauge measures gas pressure within a chamber. A sensor wire and a resistor form a circuit coupled between a power input and ground, where the sensor wire extends into the chamber and connects to the resistor via a terminal. A controller adjusts the power input, as a function of a voltage at the terminal and a voltage at the power input, to bring the sensor wire to a target temperature. Based on the adjusted power input, the controller can determine a measure of the gas pressure within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Brucker, Timothy C. Swinney
  • Publication number: 20230098744
    Abstract: The present application discloses an apparatus for measuring the concentration of ozone within a fluid and includes a conduit defining at least one passage therein, the conduit has at least one reflective coating selective applied thereto and defining one or more transmission regions on the conduit, a multi-wavelength light source system having at least one light source configured to direct at least one optical signal having a first wavelength through an ozonated fluid within the conduit and at least one UV light source configured to direct at least one UV optical signal having a second wavelength band through the ozonated fluid wherein the optical signal and the UV optical signal traverse through the conduit along different optical paths via at least one reflection from the reflective coating applied to the conduit, and at least one detector positioned proximate to the transmission regions formed on the conduit and configured to detect the optical signal and the UV signal thereby permitting measurement of th
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Heinrich Johannes Seiwert, Felix Groitl, Christiane Le Tiec, Ulrich Alfred Brammer
  • Patent number: 11573583
    Abstract: A gas delivery system and associated method includes a flow channel, a control valve, a downstream pressure sensor, and a controller. The control valve controls flow of gas in the flow channel. The downstream pressure sensor, located downstream of the control valve, measures gas pressure in the flow channel. The controller has an external trigger input to receive a trigger signal applied to a shutoff valve downstream from the control valve. The controller operates in separate modes based on a state of the trigger signal. In a non-triggered mode, the controller controls pressure at the pressure sensor via the control valve in accordance with a first gain schedule. In the triggered mode, the controller controls the pressure at the pressure sensor via the control valve in accordance with a second gain schedule that is distinct from the first gain schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Mark J. Quaratiello
  • Patent number: 11545943
    Abstract: A switched capacitor modulator (SCM) includes a RF power amplifier. The RF power amplifier receives a rectified voltage and a RF drive signal and modulates an input signal in accordance with the rectified voltage to generate a RF output signal to an output terminal. A reactance in parallel with the output terminal is configured to vary in response to a control signal to vary an equivalent reactance in parallel with the output terminal. A controller generates the control signal and a commanded phase. The commanded phase controls the RF drive signal. The reactance is at least one of a capacitance or an inductance, and the capacitance or the inductance varies in accordance with the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Duy Nguyen, Albert Kuramshin, Aaron T. Radomski, Alexander Jurkov, Hangon Kim, Kelvin Lee
  • Patent number: 11536755
    Abstract: An arc detector for a RF power supply system, where the RF power supply incudes a first RF power supply and a second RF power supply. A signal applied to a non-linear load varies in accordance with an output from one of the first RF power supply or the second RF power supply. The signal has a frequency. During an arc or arc condition in the non-linear load, the frequency of the signal changes, and if the frequency is outside of a selected range, an arc or arc condition is indicated. The frequency can be determined by digitizing the signal into a series of pulses and measuring a time or period between pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Fisk, II, Benjamin J. Gitlin, Mariusz Oldziej, Aaron M. Burry, Matthew G. Harrington, Aaron T. Radomski
  • Patent number: 11533805
    Abstract: A clamp configured to be coupled to a printed circuit board to cool and compress one or more electrical connections subject to repeated power and thermal cycling. A first conductive column of the clamp is configured to compress a first electrical connection between a first power device lead and a first printed circuit board trace of the printed circuit board, and draw thermal energy away from the first power device lead. The first conductive column extends from a load spreading plate. The load spreading plate is an insulator that electrically isolates a fastener extending therefrom from the first conductive column. The fastener is configured to cooperate with the circuit board to connect the clamp to the circuit board, compress the load spreading plate against the first conductive column to compress the first electrical connection, and connect the clamp to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Ky Luu, Aaron T. Radomski, Dave Coffta
  • Patent number: 11531312
    Abstract: A power supply control system includes a power generator for providing a signal to a load. The power generator includes a power controller controlling a power amplifier. The power generator includes an adaptive controller for varying the output signal controlling the power amplifier. The adaptive controller compares an error between a measured output and a predicted output to determine adaptive values applied to the power controller. The power generator also includes a sensor that generates an output signal that is digitized and processed. The sensor signal is mixed with a constant K. The constant K is varied to vary the processing of the sensor output signal. The value K may be commutated based on the phase, frequency, or both phase and frequency, and the bandwidth of K is determined by coupled power in the sensor output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Coumou, Yuriy Elner, Aung Toe, Daniel M. Gill, Eldridge M. Mount, IV, Shaun Smith
  • Patent number: 11527384
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power generation system includes a RF power source that generates a RF output signal delivered to a load. A RF power controller is configured to generate a control signal to vary the RF output signal. The controller adjusts a parameter associated with the RF output signal, and the parameter is controlled in accordance with a trigger signal. The parameter is adjusted in accordance with a cost function, and the cost function is determined by intruding a perturbation into an actuator that affects the cost function. The actuator may control an external RF output signal, and the trigger signal may vary in accordance with the external RF output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Burry, Aaron T. Radomski, Mariusz Oldziej, Peter Paul, Ross Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 11518696
    Abstract: The present application discloses a ozonated water delivery system which includes at least one contacting device in communication with at least one ultrapure water source configured to provide ultrapure water, at least one ultrapure water conduit coupled to the ultrapure water source, at least one solution in communication with the contacting device and the ultrapure water source via the ultrapure water conduit, one or more gas sources containing at least one gas in communication with at least one of the ultrapure water source, the ultrapure water conduit, and the solution conduit, at least one mixed gas conduit in communication with the at gas source and the contacting device and configured to provide at least one mixed gas to the contacting device, and at least one ozonated water output conduit may be in communication with the contacting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments
    Inventors: Heinrich Johannes Seiwert, Christiane Le Tiec, Ulrich Alfred Brammer
  • Patent number: 11513108
    Abstract: A system and method provides a more precise mole delivery amount of a process gas, for each pulse of a pulse gas delivery, by measuring a concentration of the process gas and controlling the amount of gas mixture delivered in a pulse of gas flow based on the received concentration of the process gas. The control of mole delivery amount for each pulse can be achieved by adjusting flow setpoint, pulse duration, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Ye, Vidi Saptari, Junhua Ding
  • Patent number: 11513542
    Abstract: A fluid control system and associated method for pulse delivery of a fluid includes a shutoff valve and a mass flow controller (MFC) upstream of the shutoff valve. The MFC includes a flow channel, a control valve to control flow of fluid in the flow channel, a flow sensor to measure flow rate in the flow channel, and a controller having a valve input from the shutoff valve indicating opening of the shutoff valve. The controller is configured to respond to the valve input to control flow of fluid through the control valve to initiate and terminate a pulse of fluid from the flow channel to the shutoff valve to control a mass of fluid delivered during the pulse of fluid. The valve input can be a pressure signal, and the MFC can include a pressure sensor to sense the pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L'Bassi, Mark J. Quaratiello, Junhua Ding
  • Patent number: 11480457
    Abstract: Calibration of a valve in a vacuum system and providing a diagnostic indication in the vacuum system using the calibration includes measuring conductance of the valve as a function of angular valve position and generating a conductance calibration map or function for use during operation of the valve. An actual angular valve position is set based on the received set point angular valve position and a difference between the measured valve conductance and a predefined metric of conductance versus angular valve position. An actual system conductance and a difference between the actual system conductance and a reference system conductance for the system are determined. The diagnostic indication of a fault in the system is generated based on the actual angular valve position of the valve and the difference between the actual system conductance and the reference system conductance for the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: David Brian Chamberlain, Vladislav Davidkovich, Scott Benedict, Gordon Hill
  • Patent number: 11476092
    Abstract: A plasma generation system includes a reference clock, a plurality of solid state generator modules, and a processing chamber. The reference clock is configured to generate a reference signal. Each solid state generator module is linked to an electronic switch and each electronic switch is linked to the reference clock. The solid state generator modules are each configured to generate an output based on the reference signal from the reference clock. The processing chamber is configured to receive the output of at least two of the solid state generator modules to combine the outputs of said solid state generator modules therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Trenholm, Mohammad Kamarehi, Mohamed Shaheen, Bryan Gallivan
  • Patent number: 11404290
    Abstract: In a pulse gas delivery system, a chamber is pre-charged to a prescribed pressure through an upstream valve. Thereafter, a downstream control valve is opened to control flow of the gas during a gas pulse. A dedicated controller may control the downstream control valve in a feedback loop during the pulse based on pressure and temperature detected during the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Michael L'Bassi
  • Publication number: 20220214321
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a method of measuring the concentration of radicals in a gas stream which includes the steps of flowing a radical gas stream emitted from at least one radical gas generator to at least one processing chamber, providing at least one sampling reaction module having at least one sampling tube therein, establishing a reference temperature of the sampling tube with at least one thermal control module, diverting a portion of the radical gas steam from the radical gas generator into the sampling tube, reacting at least one reagent with at least one radical gas within a defined volume of the radical gas stream thereby forming at least one chemical species within at least one compound stream, the compound stream flowing within the sampling tube, measuring a change of temperature of the sampling tube due to interaction of the chemical species within the compound stream and the sampling tube with sensor module, and calculating a concentration of the chemical species within the comp
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Chiu, Xing Chen, Chiu-Ying Tai, Michael Harris, Atul Aupta
  • Patent number: 11367592
    Abstract: A repeating setpoint generator module selectively varies a setpoint for an output parameter according to a predetermined pattern that repeats during successive time intervals. A closed-loop module, during a first one of the time intervals, generates N closed-loop values based on N differences between (i) N values of the setpoint at N times during the first one of the time intervals and (ii) N measurements of the output parameter at the N times during the first one of the time intervals, respectively. An adjusting module, during the first one of the time intervals, generates N adjustment values based on N differences between (i) N values of the setpoint at the N times during a second one of the time intervals and (ii) N measurements of the output parameter at the N times during the second one of the time intervals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Fisk, II, Aaron T. Radomski, Jonathan W. Smyka