Patents by Inventor Michael L. Kirk

Michael L. Kirk 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: 9336995
    Abstract: A system has a first RF generator and a second RF generator. The first RF generator controls the frequency of the second RF generator. The first RF generator includes a power source, a sensor, and a sensor signal processing unit. The sensor signal processing unit is coupled to the power source and to the sensor. The sensor signal processing unit scales the frequency of the first RF generator to control the frequency of the second RF generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Coumou, Michael L. Kirk, Daniel M. Gill
  • Publication number: 20140320013
    Abstract: A system has a first RF generator and a second RF generator. The first RF generator controls the frequency of the second RF generator. The first RF generator includes a power source, a sensor, and a sensor signal processing unit. The sensor signal processing unit is coupled to the power source and to the sensor. The sensor signal processing unit scales the frequency of the first RF generator to control the frequency of the second RF generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: David J. COUMOU, Michael L. KIRK, Daniel M. GILL
  • Patent number: 6983215
    Abstract: A system for field substitution of components of a RF metrology system. The system includes a sensor/cable combination and an analysis unit. Parameters of the RF metrology system are determined prior to placing the RF metrology system in the field. From these parameters, either component, the cable/sensor combination or the analysis module, may be substituted in the field by recalibrating the system for the substituted unit. Such recalibration is carried out utilizing the parameters determined prior to placing the RF metrology system in the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Coumou, Clifford C. Weatherell, Michael L. Kirk, Kevin Nasman
  • Patent number: 6707255
    Abstract: An RF generator is provided for use in an RF plasma system. The RF generator includes: a power source that is operable to generate RF power signals at a tuned frequency; a sensor unit that is adapted to detect the RF power signals and operable to generate analog signals representative of the RF power signals, where the analog signals include a frequency of interest and a plurality of interfering frequency components; and a sensor signal processing unit that is adapted to receive the analog signals from the sensor unit and to band limit the analog signals within a predefined bandwidth that passes the frequency of interest and rejects interfering frequency components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: ENI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Coumou, Michael L. Kirk
  • Publication number: 20040007984
    Abstract: An RF generator is provided for use in an RF plasma system. The RF generator includes: a power source that is operable to generate RF power signals at a tuned frequency; a sensor unit that is adapted to detect the RF power signals and operable to generate analog signals representative of the RF power signals, where the analog signals include a frequency of interest and a plurality of interfering frequency components; and a sensor signal processing unit that is adapted to receive the analog signals from the sensor unit and to band limit the analog signals within a predefined bandwidth that passes the frequency of interest and rejects interfering frequency components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: David J. Coumou, Michael L. Kirk