Patent ID: 11956885
Assignee: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 13:
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising maximizing the microwave power delivered to the plasma after ignition is detected, wherein maximizing the microwave power comprises:
setting the frequency of the microwave generator to a second initial frequency value to generate microwave power;
coupling the microwave power to the plasma applicator to maintain the plasma therein;
iteratively tuning the frequency of the microwave generator relative to the second initial frequency without altering the one or more physical parameters of the coarse tuner until a threshold frequency is reached, each iteration comprising:
calculating a value of the microwave power delivered to the plasma; and
recording the calculated microwave power value and the corresponding tuned frequency;

determining a maximum of the calculated microwave power values recorded; and
setting the microwave generator to the tuned frequency corresponding to the maximum calculated microwave power value for maintaining the plasma in the plasma applicator in a steady state.