Abstract: A fluid valve incorporates a plunger with a fluid channel. The plunger is connected to a boss coupled to a diaphragm, this boss also includes a fluid channel and the plunger and boss fluid channels are in fluid communication. The boss fluid channel opens to the backside of the diaphragm in the valve cavity and permits substantially complete pressurization or evacuation of the volume behind the diaphragm in the valve. The substantially complete pressurization of the volume behind the diaphragm enables full closure of the diaphragm and improves contact of the diaphragm with the valve seat thereby improving performance of the valve.

Abstract: An oblong diaphragm valve has curved surfaces carved into faces of a body and a plate. The curved surfaces have an oblong shape and define an oval or egg-shaped valve chamber when the body and the plate are joined and secured to each other, with a diaphragm sandwiched there-between. An inlet and an outlet are defined in the curved surface of the body at opposite ends defined by a length of the valve chamber. A flow passage is defined in the curved surface of the plate and has an opening centrally located relative to the valve chamber for actuation of the diaphragm to close or open the oblong diaphragm valve with minimal or no stress, ensuring durability and longevity of the oblong diaphragm valve with increased precision, while reducing fluid waste and pressure spikes in pumping operations.

Abstract: A fluid valve (700) is disclosed that incorporates a plunger (760) with a fluid channel (766). The plunger is connected to a (724) boss coupled to a diaphragm 720), this boss also includes a fluid channel (726) and the plunger and boss fluid channels are in fluid communication. The boss fluid channel opens to the backside of the diaphragm in the valve cavity (780) and permits substantially complete pressurization or evacuation of the volume behind the diaphragm in the valve. The substantially complete pressurization of the volume behind the diaphragm enables full closure of the diaphragm and improves contact of the diaphragm with the valve seat (712) thereby improving performance of the valve.

Abstract: An oblong diaphragm valve has curved surfaces carved into faces of a body and a plate. The curved surfaces have an oblong shape and define an oval or egg-shaped valve chamber when the body and the plate are joined and secured to each other, with a diaphragm sandwiched there-between. An inlet and an outlet are defined in the curved surface of the body at opposite ends defined by a length of the valve chamber. A flow passage is defined in the curved surface of the plate and has an opening centrally located relative to the valve chamber for actuation of the diaphragm to close or open the oblong diaphragm valve with minimal or no stress, ensuring durability and longevity of the oblong diaphragm valve with increased precision, while reducing fluid waste and pressure spikes in pumping operations.

Abstract: Backlash in a precision system such as a pumping system can be reduced or eliminated with an anti-backlash device that has a first nut coupled to and fixed in relation to a piston. The first nut and a second nut may engage with a lead screw of a motor driving the piston. Relative rotation between the first and second nuts are limited or prevented. A biasing member maintains a spaced relationship between the first and second nuts along the lead screw such that the first nut remains in engagement with the lead screw to thereby reduce or eliminate backlash when the lead screw is rotated by the motor.

Abstract: A pumping system with a pressure sensor positioned on the fill side and a pressure sensor on the dispense side to obtain and provide pressure information that can be used by a controller in determining various operating profiles. To avoid trapping air in a process fluid, a pressure sensor can be flush mounted or mounted at an angle on the sidewall of a feed chamber, a bottle, or a reservoir tank at or near the bottom or half-height. The pressure information obtained from the fill side can have many beneficial including filtration confirmation, air detection, and reduced pressure priming of a filter. The pumping system may further include a graphical user interface for displaying the operating profiles and various associated alarms in real time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system, method and computer program product for reducing the hold-up volume of a pump. More particularly, embodiments of the invention can determine, prior to dispensing a fluid, a position for a diaphragm in a chamber to reduce a hold-up volume at a dispense pump and/or a feed pump. This variable home position of the diaphragm can be determined based on a set of factors affecting a dispense operation. Example factors may include a dispense volume and an error volume. The home position for the diaphragm can be selected such that the volume of the chamber at the dispense pump and/or feed pump contains sufficient fluid to perform the various steps of a dispense cycle while minimizing the hold-up volume. Additionally, the home position of the diaphragm can be selected to optimize the effective range of positive displacement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide pumps with features to reduce form factor and increase reliability and serviceability. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide features for gentle fluid handling characteristics. Embodiments of the present invention can include a pump having onboard electronics and features to prevent heat from the onboard electronics from degrading process fluid or otherwise negatively impacting pump performance. Embodiments may also include features for reducing the likelihood that fluid will enter an electronics housing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein utilize a brushless DC motor (BLDCM) to drive a single-stage or a multi-stage pump in a pumping system for real time, smooth motion, and extremely precise and repeatable position control over fluid movements and dispense amounts, useful in semiconductor manufacturing. The BLDCM may employ a position sensor for real time position feedback to a processor executing a custom field-oriented control scheme. Embodiments of the invention can reduce heat generation without undesirably compromising the precise position control of the dispense pump by increasing and decreasing, via a custom control scheme, the operating frequency of the BLDCM according to the criticality of the underlying function(s). The control scheme can run the BLDCM at very low speeds while maintaining a constant velocity, which enables the pumping system to operate in a wide range of speeds with minimal variation, substantially increasing dispense performance and operation capabilities.

Abstract: Apparatus and a control system for monitoring (preferably digitally) and/or controlling pressure to a pneumatic load such as a proportional fluid control valve and using a measurement input from a fluid measurement device that responds to a flow rate, the liquid measurement input being used to control the pressure to the pneumatic load so that pneumatic load may be increased or decreased (to proportionally open or close the pneumatic valve) to change the flow rate of the fluid to a desired rate. The pneumatic load can also be adjusted (to proportionally open or close the pneumatic valve) to accommodate changes in temperature and viscosity of a fluid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system, method and computer program product for reducing the hold-up volume of a pump. More particularly, embodiments of the invention can determine, prior to dispensing a fluid, a position for a diaphragm in a chamber to reduce a hold-up volume at a dispense pump and/or a feed pump. This variable home position of the diaphragm can be determined based on a set of factors affecting a dispense operation. Example factors may include a dispense volume and an error volume. The home position for the diaphragm can be selected such that the volume of the chamber at the dispense pump and/or feed pump contains sufficient fluid to perform the various steps of a dispense cycle while minimizing the hold-up volume. Additionally, the home position of the diaphragm can be selected to optimize the effective range of positive displacement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system, method and computer program product for reducing the hold-up volume of a pump. More particularly, embodiments of the invention can determine, prior to dispensing a fluid, a position for a diaphragm in a chamber to reduce a hold-up volume at a dispense pump and/or a feed pump. This variable home position of the diaphragm can be determined based on a set of factors affecting a dispense operation. Example factors may include a dispense volume and an error volume. The home position for the diaphragm can be selected such that the volume of the chamber at the dispense pump and/or feed pump contains sufficient fluid to perform the various steps of a dispense cycle while minimizing the hold-up volume. Additionally, the home position of the diaphragm can be selected to optimize the effective range of positive displacement.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for high viscosity pumps including a noncompliant filter. One embodiment can include a multi-stage pump comprising an pump inlet flow path, a pump outlet flow path, a feed stage in fluid communication with the pump inlet flow path, a dispense stage in fluid communication with the feed stage and the pump outlet flow path, a noncompliant disposable filter for high viscosity fluid in a flow path between the feed stage and the dispense stage and a set of valves to selectively allow fluid flow through the multi-stage pump.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for high viscosity pumps including a noncompliant filter. One embodiment can include a multi-stage pump comprising an pump inlet flow path, a pump outlet flow path, a feed stage in fluid communication with the pump inlet flow path, a dispense stage in fluid communication with the feed stage and the pump outlet flow path, a noncompliant disposable filter for high viscosity fluid in a flow path between the feed stage and the dispense stage and a set of valves to selectively allow fluid flow through the multi-stage pump.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein utilize a brushless DC motor (BLDCM) to drive a single-stage or a multi-stage pump in a pumping system for real time, smooth motion, and extremely precise and repeatable position control over fluid movements and dispense amounts, useful in semiconductor manufacturing. The BLDCM may employ a position sensor for real time position feedback to a processor executing a custom field-oriented control scheme. Embodiments of the invention can reduce heat generation without undesirably compromising the precise position control of the dispense pump by increasing and decreasing, via a custom control scheme, the operating frequency of the BLDCM according to the criticality of the underlying function(s). The control scheme can run the BLDCM at very low speeds while maintaining a constant velocity, which enables the pumping system to operate in a wide range of speeds with minimal variation, substantially increasing dispense performance and operation capabilities.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein utilize a brushless DC motor (BLDCM) to drive a single-stage or a multi-stage pump in a pumping system for real time, smooth motion, and extremely precise and repeatable position control over fluid movements and dispense amounts, useful in semiconductor manufacturing. The BLDCM may employ a position sensor for real time position feedback to a processor executing a custom field-oriented control scheme. Embodiments of the invention can reduce heat generation without undesirably compromising the precise position control of the dispense pump by increasing and decreasing, via a custom control scheme, the operating frequency of the BLDCM according to the criticality of the underlying function(s). The control scheme can run the BLDCM at very low speeds while maintaining a constant velocity, which enables the pumping system to operate in a wide range of speeds with minimal variation, substantially increasing dispense performance and operation capabilities.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide pumps with features to reduce form factor and increase reliability and serviceability. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide features for gentle fluid handling characteristics. Embodiments of the present invention can include a pump having a motor driven feed stage pump and a motor driven dispense stage pump. The feed stage motor and the feed stage motor can include various types of motors and the pumps can be rolling diaphragm or other pumps. According to one embodiment, a dispense block defining the pump chambers and various flow passages can be formed out of a single piece of material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide pumps with features to reduce form factor and increase reliability and serviceability. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide features for gentle fluid handling characteristics. Embodiments of the present invention can include a pump having onboard electronics and features to prevent heat from the onboard electronics from degrading process fluid or otherwise negatively impacting pump performance. Embodiments may also include features for reducing the likelihood that fluid will enter an electronics housing.

Abstract: A proportional fluid control valve with improved linearity and reduced hysteresis is disclosed. The valve allows for smooth, gentle flow of fluid in a substantially linear fashion, with minimal turns. Preferably the valve is pneumatically actuated. Where temperature is not an issue, the valve can be actuated by any suitable means, including stepper motors, linear motors, voice coils or other force actuators. A versatile molded valve body that requires fewer parts compared to a machined valve is disclosed. In one embodiment, the molded valve body is designed specifically for flow control and contains two sensor housings with carefully positioned flow paths to optimize the use of space. The sensor housing or housings can be separately formed as inserts, allowing installation in various orientations.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed provide a customizable dispense system implementing modular architecture, the customizable dispense system comprising a smart controller configured to operate various pneumatic pumps and motor pumps in various semiconductor manufacturing processes that are sensitive to defects in printed patterns. The smart controller is configured to, upon switching from communicating with a first pump to a second pump, automatically recognize the second pump and apply a control scheme to control the second pump, which may be a motor pump or a pneumatic pump. The switching may be due to physical disconnection of the first pump and physical connection of the second pump or it can be entirely done via software. The smart controller may be connected to track and a variety of devices, including smart filters.