Patents by Inventor Gerald E. Boston

Gerald E. Boston has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9111725
    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 detector circuit may be configured to sense the AC process signal and output a DC magnitude error signal and a DC phase error signal. A controller may be coupled to the detector circuit and the RF matching network and 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: COMET TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Boston
  • Patent number: 8928229
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition system may include an RF generator configured to supply a pulsing AC process signal to a target in a physical vapor deposition chamber via the RF matching network. A detector circuit may be coupled to the RF generator and configured to sense the pulsing AC process signal and to produce a corresponding pulsing AC voltage magnitude signal and pulsing AC current magnitude signal. An envelope circuit may be electrically coupled to the detector circuit and configured to receive the pulsing AC voltage and current magnitude signals and to produce a DC voltage envelope signal and a DC current envelope signal. A controller may be electrically coupled to the envelope circuit and the RF matching network and configured to receive the DC voltage and current envelope signals and to vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC voltage and current envelope signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: COMET Technologies, USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Boston
  • Publication number: 20150002020
    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 detector circuit may be configured to sense the AC process signal and output a DC magnitude error signal and a DC phase error signal. A controller may be coupled to the detector circuit and the RF matching network and 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: COMET TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Boston
  • Publication number: 20140320014
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition system may include an RF generator configured to supply a pulsing AC process signal to a target in a physical vapor deposition chamber via the RF matching network. A detector circuit may be coupled to the RF generator and configured to sense the pulsing AC process signal and to produce a corresponding pulsing AC voltage magnitude signal and pulsing AC current magnitude signal. An envelope circuit may be electrically coupled to the detector circuit and configured to receive the pulsing AC voltage and current magnitude signals and to produce a DC voltage envelope signal and a DC current envelope signal. A controller may be electrically coupled to the envelope circuit and the RF matching network and configured to receive the DC voltage and current envelope signals and to vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC voltage and current envelope signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: COMET TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Boston
  • Patent number: 8803424
    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 detector circuit may be configured to sense the AC process signal and output a DC magnitude error signal and a DC phase error signal. A controller may be coupled to the detector circuit and the RF matching network and 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: COMET Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Boston
  • Patent number: 8779662
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition system may include an RF generator configured to supply a pulsing AC process signal to a target in a physical vapor deposition chamber via the RF matching network. A detector circuit may be coupled to the RF generator and configured to sense the pulsing AC process signal and to produce a corresponding pulsing AC voltage magnitude signal and pulsing AC current magnitude signal. An envelope circuit may be electrically coupled to the detector circuit and configured to receive the pulsing AC voltage and current magnitude signals and to produce a DC voltage envelope signal and a DC current envelope signal. A controller may be electrically coupled to the envelope circuit and the RF matching network and configured to receive the DC voltage and current envelope signals and to vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC voltage and current envelope signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: COMET Technologies USA, Inc
    Inventor: Gerald E. Boston
  • Patent number: 8491759
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a matching network for physical vapor deposition. The matching network may include a first RF generator coupled to a deposition chamber target through a first impedance matching network having a first tuning circuit. The first RF generator may be configured to introduce a first AC signal to the deposition chamber target. The matching network may also include a second RF generator coupled to a deposition chamber pedestal through a second impedance matching network. The second RF generator may be configured to introduce a second AC signal to the deposition chamber pedestal. The first tuning circuit may be configured to modify an effect of the second AC signal on plasma formed between the deposition chamber target and the deposition chamber pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: COMET Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Pipitone, Gerald E. Boston
  • Publication number: 20120098614
    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 detector circuit may be configured to sense the AC process signal and output a DC magnitude error signal and a DC phase error signal. A controller may be coupled to the detector circuit and the RF matching network and 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: COMET Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Boston
  • Publication number: 20120097524
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a matching network for physical vapor deposition. The matching network may include a first RF generator coupled to a deposition chamber target through a first impedance matching network having a first tuning circuit. The first RF generator may be configured to introduce a first AC signal to the deposition chamber target. The matching network may also include a second RF generator coupled to a deposition chamber pedestal through a second impedance matching network. The second RF generator may be configured to introduce a second AC signal to the deposition chamber pedestal. The first tuning circuit may be configured to modify an effect of the second AC signal on plasma formed between the deposition chamber target and the deposition chamber pedestal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: COMET TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pipitone, Gerald E. Boston
  • Publication number: 20120097104
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a matching network for a physical vapor deposition system. The matching network may include an RF generator coupled to a first input of an impedance matching network, and a DC generator coupled a second input of the impedance matching network. The impedance matching network may be configured to receive an RF signal from the RF generator and a DC signal from the DC generator and cooperatively communicate both signals to a deposition chamber target through an output of the impedance matching network. The matching network may also include a filter disposed between the second input and the output of the impedance matching network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: COMET TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pipitone, Gerald E. Boston
  • Publication number: 20120098575
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition system may include an RF generator configured to supply a pulsing AC process signal to a target in a physical vapor deposition chamber via the RF matching network. A detector circuit may be coupled to the RF generator and configured to sense the pulsing AC process signal and to produce a corresponding pulsing AC voltage magnitude signal and pulsing AC current magnitude signal. An envelope circuit may be electrically coupled to the detector circuit and configured to receive the pulsing AC voltage and current magnitude signals and to produce a DC voltage envelope signal and a DC current envelope signal. A controller may be electrically coupled to the envelope circuit and the RF matching network and configured to receive the DC voltage and current envelope signals and to vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC voltage and current envelope signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: COMET TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Boston