Patent ID: 6852277

Claim:
A sterilization system that applies low frequency power to a plasma within a vacuum chamber to remove gas or vapor species from an article, the low frequency power having a frequency less than or equal to approximately 200 kHz, the sterilization system comprising: a switching module adapted to pulsate the low frequency power applied to the plasma; a low frequency power feedback control system for controllably adjusting the low frequency power applied to the plasma, the low frequency power feedback control system comprising: a power monitor adapted to produce a first signal indicative of the low frequency power applied to the plasma within the vacuum chamber; a power control module adapted to produce a second signal in response to the first signal from the power monitor; and a power controller adapted to adjust, in response to the second signal, the low frequency power applied to the plasma to maintain a substantially stable average low frequency power applied to the plasma while the article is being processed.