Patent ID: 11948775
Assignee: ASM AMERICA, INC.
Field: Semiconductors (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 7:
8. A method of matching an impedance, the method comprising:
a) operably coupling an impedance matching network between a radio frequency (RF) source and a plasma chamber;
i) the matching network comprising an RF input configured to operably couple to the RF source, an RF output configured to operably couple to the plasma chamber, and a variable reactance element (VRE), the VRE having different positions for providing different reactances; and
ii) the RF source being configured to provide an RF signal to the RF input of the matching network, the RF source being subject to a power control scheme to control a power delivered to the RF input of the matching network;

b) determining a parameter related to the matching network or the plasma chamber;
c) based on the determined parameter, determining from the different positions of the VRE a new position for the VRE to reduce a reflected power at the RF input of the matching network;
d) altering the power control scheme; and
e) while the power control scheme is altered, altering the VRE to the new position.