Abstract: A head coil for magnetic resonance imaging may be shortened longitudinally to provide for better access by a patient. Extension of the coil may be performed after the positioning of the patient's head significantly simplifying patient positioning with respect to the coil. A portion of a conductor support sliding over the patient's head may be removable to allow endotracheal tubes or the like to remain undisturbed.

Abstract: A decoupling circuit for decoupling an local coil during the application of an RF excitation signal in a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a passive switching circuit for switching an inductor in parallel with a capacitive circuit in the local coil, and a discharge circuit for discharging residual currents from the circuit, therefore allowing for rapid coupling and decoupling of the local coil.

Abstract: A local coil for magnetic resonance imaging employs a loop divided by a shunting conductor which reduces sensitivity and field strength at one end of the loop to provide improved homogeneity for different coil configurations.

Abstract: A chuck assembly for supporting a workpiece within a plasma reactor chamber having sidewalls surrounding an interior region capable of supporting a plasma. The assembly includes a chuck base and at least one support arm extending outwardly from the chuck base perimeter to the chamber sidewalls. The chuck assembly includes a workpiece support member which is supported by one or more vertical translation members arranged between and operatively connected to the chuck base and the workpiece support member.

Abstract: A cable routing system for an MRI coil having multiple loops and multiple signal cables provides a non-resonant conductive ring surrounding the loops and grounded to define a low electrical field region along which the signal cables may be routed for reduced interference.

Abstract: A method for controlling the non-uniformities of plasma-processed semiconductor wafers by supplying the plasma with two electrical signals: a primary electrical signal that is used to excite the plasma, and a supplemental electrical signal. The supplemental signal may be composed of a plurality of electrical signals, each with a frequency harmonic to that of the primary signal. The phase of the supplemental signal is controlled with respect to the phase of the primary signal. By adjusting the parameters of the supplemental signal with respect to the primary signal, the user can control the parameters of the resultant plasma and, therefore, control the non-uniformities induced in the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A voltage probe including a transmission line having an inner conductor and an outer conductor. An electrode is spaced apart from the outer conductor. A dielectric is disposed between the electrode and the outer conductor, adjacent an inner surface of the outer conductor. An exemplary method of implementing the voltage probe may include providing the dielectric adjacent the outer conductor. The electrode separated from the outer conductor by the dielectric and positioned adjacent to the dielectric is provided. A signal is measured from the electrode indicating a transmission voltage in the transmission line.

Abstract: A floating shield current trap provides first and second concentric tubular conductors electrically connected to provide a resonance-induced high impedance of current flow in a path consisting of the inner and outer conductors and their junctions thereby suppressing coupled current flow on a shield of a conductor contained within the first inner tubular conductor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying a bias voltage to a wafer chuck in a plasma reactor system, in which an RF voltage source produces a relatively low frequency RF voltage, a VHF voltage source produces a VHF voltage having a higher frequency than the RF voltage, and a coupling circuit connected between the RF and VHF voltage sources and the wafer chuck combines the RF and VHF voltages for application to the wafer chuck.

Abstract: A capacitor decoupling network allows the production of a multi-loop local coil for magnetic resonance imaging without overlap of the loops and/or with decoupling between both adjacent and non-adjacent coils. The former design may find application for new MRI techniques such as SMASH and SENSE.