Patents by Inventor Patrick J. McNally

Patrick J. McNally 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: 12278095
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to remotely monitor a plasma (3) comprising a magnetic field antenna (2) positioned in the near electromagnetic field of a coupled plasma source wherein the magnetic field antenna is a magnetic loop antenna placed in the near electromagnetic field and measure near field signals emitted from the plasma source. A radio system (1) is utilised to analyse the low power signal levels across a wide frequency band. Plasma parameters such as series, or geometric, resonance plasma and electron-neutral collision frequencies are evaluated via a fitting of resonant features present on higher harmonics of the driving frequency to identify arcing, pump or matching failure events, common in fabrication plasma systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Patrick J. McNally, Sean Kelly
  • Publication number: 20230230821
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to remotely monitor a plasma (3) comprising a magnetic field antenna (2) positioned in the near electromagnetic field of a coupled plasma source wherein the magnetic field antenna is a magnetic loop antenna placed in the near electromagnetic field and measure near field signals emitted from the plasma source. A radio system (1) is utilised to analyse the low power signal levels across a wide frequency band. Plasma paramaters such as series, or geometric, resonance plasma and electron-neutral collision frequencies are evaluated via a fitting of resonant features present on higher harmonics of the driving frequency to identify arcing, pump or matching failure events, common in fabrication plasma systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Patrick J. McNally, Sean Kelly
  • Patent number: 11476098
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to remotely monitor a plasma (3) comprising a magnetic field antenna (2) positioned in the near electromagnetic field of a coupled plasma source wherein the magnetic field antenna is a magnetic loop antenna placed in the near electromagnetic field and measure near field signals emitted from the plasma source. A radio system (1) is utilised to analyse the low power signal levels across a wide frequency band. Plasma paramaters such as series, or geometric, resonance plasma and electron-neutral collision frequencies are evaluated via a fitting of resonant features present on higher harmonics of the driving frequency to identify arcing, pump or matching failure events, common in fabrication plasma systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Patrick J. McNally, Sean Kelly
  • Publication number: 20210104387
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to remotely monitor a plasma (3) comprising a magnetic field antenna (2) positioned in the near electromagnetic field of a coupled plasma source wherein the magnetic field antenna is a magnetic loop antenna placed in the near electromagnetic field and measure near field signals emitted from the plasma source. A radio system (1) is utilised to analyse the low power signal levels across a wide frequency band. Plasma paramaters such as series, or geometric, resonance plasma and electron-neutral collision frequencies are evaluated via a fitting of resonant features present on higher harmonics of the driving frequency to identify arcing, pump or matching failure events, common in fabrication plasma systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Patrick J. McNally, Sean Kelly
  • Patent number: 10031109
    Abstract: An inspection device is provided which comprises a receiving member defining an open cell for receiving a target therein. An optical excitation input is in optical communication with the cell for exciting the target. At least one acoustic pickup is in acoustic communication with the cell for picking up acoustic energy resultant from excitation of the target. A recorder is provided for recording the acoustic energy picked up from the at least one acoustic pickup for facilitating structural analysis of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chanel Moira Pia Hayden, Patrick J. McNally, Stephen Daniels
  • Publication number: 20130247658
    Abstract: An inspection device is provided which comprises a receiving member defining an open cell for receiving a target therein. An optical excitation input is in optical communication with the cell for exciting the target. At least one acoustic pickup is in acoustic communication with the cell for picking up acoustic energy resultant from excitation of the target. A recorder is provided for recording the acoustic energy picked up from the at least one acoustic pickup for facilitating structural analysis of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chanel Moira Pia Hayden, Patrick J. McNally, Stephen Daniels