Patent ID: 7925450

Claim:
A method of performing process control in a manufacturing process, the method comprising monitoring a gaseous material using a system adapted to supply the gaseous material to a gaseous material-utilizing manufacturing process region, the system comprising: (a) a sampling region for analyzing the gaseous material; (b) a monitor in sensory communication with the sampling region, the monitor being constructed and arranged to responsively generate an output signal correlative of presence or concentration of any of (i) at least one species of said gaseous material, and (ii) at least one decomposition by-product of said gaseous material or a species thereof; and (c) a process controller arranged to receive the output signal of the monitor and to responsively control one or more process conditions in and/or affecting the gaseous material-utilizing manufacturing process region, and controlling one or more process conditions in and/or affecting the gaseous material-utilizing manufacturing process region responsive to the output signal of the monitor.