Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) generator system includes first and second RF power sources, each RF power source applying a respective RF signal and second RF signal to a load. The first RF signal is applied in accordance with the application of the second RF signal. The application of the first RF signal is synchronized to application of the second RF signal. The first RF signal may be amplitude modulated in synchronization with the second RF signal, and the amplitude modulation can include blanking of the first RF signal. A frequency offset may be applied to the first RF signal in synchronization with the second RF signal. A variable actuator associated with the first RF power source may be controlled in accordance with the second RF signal.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) generator is configured to generate a RF signal. The RF signal can be modulated by a pulse having one or multiple states. During an initial state at pulse initiation, the RF generator adjusts the impedance match by selecting the frequency of the RF signal. During a second state of the pulse, the RF generator adjusts the impedance match using a matching network. The first state includes controlling the RF generator to output a power burst, and the second state includes controlling the generator to output an operating power.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) generator system includes first and second RF power sources, each RF power source applying a respective RF signal and second RF signal to a load. The first RF signal is applied in accordance with the application of the second RF signal. The application of the first RF signal is synchronized to application of the second RF signal. The first RF signal may be amplitude modulated in synchronization with the second RF signal, and the amplitude modulation can include blanking of the first RF signal. A frequency offset may be applied to the first RF signal in synchronization with the second RF signal. A variable actuator associated with the first RF power source may be controlled in accordance with the second RF signal.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) generator system includes first and second RF power sources, each RF power source applying a respective RF signal and second RF signal to a load. The first RF signal is applied in accordance with the application of the second RF signal. The application of the first RF signal is synchronized to application of the second RF signal. The first RF signal may be amplitude modulated in synchronization with the second RF signal, and the amplitude modulation can include blanking of the first RF signal. A frequency offset may be applied to the first RF signal in synchronization with the second RF signal. A variable actuator associated with the first RF power source may be controlled in accordance with the second RF signal.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) generator is configured to generate a RF signal. The RF signal can be modulated by a pulse having one or multiple states. During an initial state at pulse initiation, the RF generator adjusts the impedance match by selecting the frequency of the RF signal. During a second state of the pulse, the RF generator adjusts the impedance match using a matching network. The first state includes controlling the RF generator to output a power burst, and the second state includes controlling the generator to output an operating power.

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.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) generator system includes first and second RF power sources, each RF power source applying a respective RF signal and second RF signal to a load. The first RF signal is applied in accordance with the application of the second RF signal. The application of the first RF signal is synchronized to application of the second RF signal. The first RF signal may be amplitude modulated in synchronization with the second RF signal, and the amplitude modulation can include blanking of the first RF signal. A frequency offset may be applied to the first RF signal in synchronization with the second RF signal. A variable actuator associated with the first RF power source may be controlled in accordance with the second RF signal.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: An RF supply system in which a bias RF generator operates at a first frequency to provide a bias RF output signal and a source RF generator operates at a second frequency to provide a source RF output signal. The RF output power signals are applied to a load, such as a plasma chamber. The source RF generator detects a triggering event. In response to the triggering event, the source RF generator initiates adding frequency offsets to the source RF output signal in order to respond to impedance fluctuations in the plasma chamber that occur with respect to the triggering event. The triggering event detected by the source RF generator can be received from the bias RF generator in the form of a control signal that varies in accordance with the bias RF output signal.

Abstract: An RF supply system in which a bias RF generator operates at a first frequency to provide a bias RF output signal and a source RF generator operates at a second frequency to provide a source RF output signal. The RF output power signals are applied to a load, such as a plasma chamber. The source RF generator detects a triggering event. In response to the triggering event, the source RF generator initiates adding frequency offsets to the source RF output signal in order to respond to impedance fluctuations in the plasma chamber that occur with respect to the triggering event. The triggering event detected by the source RF generator can be received from the bias RF generator in the form of a control signal that varies in accordance with the bias RF output signal.

Abstract: A data communication system and method is presented for communicating data between the internal assemblies of a material processing system. The data communication system includes at least two digital communication ports for communicating data between internal assemblies of the material processing system. A first digital communication port associated with a first internal assembly in interconnected via a physical link to a second digital communication port associated with a second internal assembly. The first digital communication port includes a serial transmitter for converting the data to a transmit serial stream having at least one information frame. A signal generator formats the transmit serial stream as a transmit signal to be transmitted over the physical link to the second digital communication port. The second digital communication port includes a signal converter for receiving the transmit signal from the first digital communication port and generating a receive serial stream therefrom.