Patent ID: 8803424

Claim:
A physical vapor deposition system, comprising: an RF generator configured to transmit an AC process signal to a physical vapor deposition chamber via an RF matching network; a rod coupled to the RF generator and configured to sense the AC process signal generated by the RF generator; a first converter coupled to the rod and configured to receive a first AC voltage signal from the rod and to output a DC voltage magnitude signal; a second converter coupled to the rod and configured to receive a first AC current signal from the rod and to output a DC current magnitude signal; a multiplier coupled to the first and second converters and configured to receive the DC voltage and current magnitude signals and to output a DC magnitude error signal; a phase detector coupled to the rod and configured to receive a second AC voltage signal and a second AC current signal from the rod and to output a DC phase difference signal, wherein the DC phase difference signal is converted into a DC phase error signal; and a controller coupled to the multiplier, the phase detector, and the RF matching network and configured to receive the DC magnitude and phase error signals and to vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the DC magnitude and phase error signals.