Patent ID: 6876205

Claim:
An arc detection and arc reduction circuit for use with a power supply to deliver power to a plasma chamber comprising; a) positive and negative input terminals for connection with the output of a power supply disposed to deliver dc power to a plasma chamber; b) a magnetically coupled inductor connected to a switching circuit for switching the coupled inductor in parallel with the cathode and anode of a plasma chamber; c) a resonant circuit comprising capacitor for storing energy and an inductor connected between the cathode and anode of the plasma chamber wherein the resonant circuit responds to a voltage change between the cathode and anode and the stored energy generates a current in a current transformer in response to the voltage change; d) the current transformer is connected to the switching circuit wherein the magnetically coupled inductor is placed in parallel with the cathode and anode causing a reversal of the voltage that reduces arcs in the plasma chamber.