Abstract: A method for homing a stepping motor having a plurality of full-step positions within each full rotation of a rotor of the stepper motor includes applying a first drive current to windings of the stepper motor to rotate the rotor at least one full rotation in a first direction away from an end-of-travel (EOT) position. Thereafter, the drive current is applied to the windings to rotate the rotor in a second direction toward the EOT position. Upon detection of EOT, the drive current is discontinued. Drive current is then applied to the windings to rotate the rotor of the stepper motor in micro-steps in the first direction to a closest full-step position of the stepper motor. Finally, a drive current is applied to drive the stepper motor a predetermined number of full steps away from the EOT position.

Abstract: A physical vapor deposition system may include an RF generator configured to transmit an AC process signal to a physical vapor deposition chamber via an RF matching network. A controller of the RF matching network receives the DC magnitude and phase error signals and varies an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC magnitude and phase error signals. The matching network operates in a first mode until a tuning dead-zone is determined. Once a tuning dead-zone is determined, the matching network operates in additional modes until the network is tuned. The controller uses a composite value of magnitude and phase error to drive the variable tuning and load capacitors. In some cases, a blended mode (representing multiple tuning algorithms concurrently) may be implemented as a single mode that weights across what would have been multiple modes and thereby tunes the network using a weighted blended mode.

Abstract: A physical vapor deposition system may include an RF generator configured to transmit an AC process signal to a physical vapor deposition chamber via an RF matching network. A controller of the RF matching network is configured to receive the DC magnitude and phase error signals and to vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC magnitude and phase error signals. The matching network operates in a first mode until a tuning dead-zone is determined. Once a tuning dead-zone is determined, the matching network operates in additional modes until the network is tuned. The controller uses a composite value of magnitude and phase error to drive of the variable tuning and load capacitors.

Abstract: A physical vapor deposition system may include an RF generator configured to transmit an AC process signal to a physical vapor deposition chamber via an RF matching network. A controller of the RF matching network is configured to receive the DC magnitude and phase error signals and to vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC magnitude and phase error signals. The matching network operates in a first mode until a tuning dead-zone is determined. Once a tuning dead-zone is determined, the matching network operates in additional modes until the network is tuned. The controller uses a composite value of magnitude and phase error to drive of the variable tuning and load capacitors.