WO2002052363A1 - Pressure-based mass flow controller system - Google Patents
Pressure-based mass flow controller system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002052363A1 WO2002052363A1 PCT/US2001/024608 US0124608W WO02052363A1 WO 2002052363 A1 WO2002052363 A1 WO 2002052363A1 US 0124608 W US0124608 W US 0124608W WO 02052363 A1 WO02052363 A1 WO 02052363A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- flow
- pressure
- flow path
- manifold
- actual
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G05D7/00—Control of flow
- G05D7/06—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means
- G05D7/0617—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials
- G05D7/0629—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials characterised by the type of regulator means
- G05D7/0635—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials characterised by the type of regulator means by action on throttling means
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to the field of fluid flow measurement and control and, more particularly, to a pressure-based mass flow controller system for accurately controlling the delivery of low pressure vapors from a plurality of precursors.
- Mass flow controllers are widely used in the industry to control the delivery of process reactants.
- Thermal mass flow controllers operate on the principle that the rate of heat transfer from the walls of a flow channel to a fluid flowing in laminar flow within the channel is a function of the difference in temperatures of the fluid and the channel walls, the specific heat of the fluid, and the mass flow rate of the fluid.
- the rate of mass flow of a fluid in the laminar flow regime
- pressure-based MFCs establish a viscous flow condition by creating two pressure reservoirs along the flow path of a fluid, for example, by introducing a restriction in the diameter of the flow path.
- the restriction may comprise an orifice or nozzle.
- the fluid In the reservoir upstream of the flow restrictive aperture, the fluid has a pressure Pi and a density pi, which can be used to determine the flow with a known aperture under viscous chock flow conditions.
- Distinct flow regimes of a flowing fluid are recognized and defined by different pressure profiles within the fluid.
- Molecular flow occurs at fluid pressures of less than about 1 torr, and the flow rate of a fluid through a flow restrictive device, such as a nozzle, in the molecular flow regime is proportional to the pressure drop across the flow restrictive device.
- Laminar flow occurs at fluid pressures of greater than about 10 torr, and the flow rate of a fluid through a flow restrictive device in the laminar flow regime is proportional to the difference of the squares of the upstream and downstream pressures.
- the pressure-based mass flow controllers disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,526 to Drexel and U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,035 to Delajoud operate on the assumption that the fluid flow remains laminar. This assumption of laminar fluid flow limits the utility of these pressure-based MFCs to laminar flow conditions and leads to inaccuracies when such MFCs are used to characterize non-laminar flows.
- the relationship between mass flow of a fluid and the fluid pressure upstream of a flow restrictive device is linear above a certain critical pressure and nonlinear below that critical pressure. More specifically, when the upstream pressure Pi is at least twice as great as the downstream pressure P 2 (i.e., P ⁇ /P 2 ⁇ 2,) the flow is said to be choked, and the flow rate is a function only of P ⁇ P ⁇ and the cross-sectional area A of the flow restrictive aperture.
- choked flow is typically established by maintaining the upstream fluid supply at a pressure that is always at least about twice that of the fluid in the downstream processing chamber, h a choked flow regime, as the pressure of the fluid in the upstream reservoir increases, the density and flow rate of the fluid also increase.
- this relationship between flow rate and upstream pressure is linear so long as the upstream pressure remains at least twice that of the downstream pressure.
- the upstream pressure is less than twice the downstream pressure (i.e., P ⁇ /P 2 ⁇ 2,)
- the flow is said to be unchoked and the relationship between mass flow rate and downstream fluid pressure is nonlinear.
- the controller includes a flow restrictive element in the fluid flow path, and the pressures of the fluid upstream and downstream of the flow restrictive element are measured. The ratio of the upstream and downstream fluid pressures is computed to determine whether the flow is choked or non-choked. The mass flow of the fluid is then computed by a CPU in accordance with a linear function of the upstream pressure, for choked flow, and in accordance with a nonlinear function of both the upstream and downstream pressures, for non-choked flow.
- the present disclosure provides a pressure based mass flow controller for controlling the flow rate of a vapor from a source.
- a controller can be used, for example, in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to precisely deliver a process vapor to a process chamber for making a semiconductor wafer.
- the disclosed flow controller has a simplified, novel design, that allows the disclosed flow controller to be easily and inexpensively incorporated in a system including a plurality of mass flow controllers and a plurality of fluid sources.
- the flow controller includes a flow path fortonnection to a fluid source, a flow restrictor dividing the flow path into an upstream reservoir and a downstream reservoir, an upstream pressure measurement device connected to the upstream reservoir, and a flow valve connected to the flow path before the upstream reservoir.
- the flow controller also includes a control device programmed to receive a predetermined desired flow rate, receive an indication of upstream pressure from the upstream pressure measurement device, and receive an indication of downstream pressure from a remote downstream pressure measurement device connected to the downstream reservoir.
- the control device is also programmed to determine an actual mass flow rate of vapor through the flow path during choked flow conditions in accordance with a linear function of the upstream pressure, and determine the actual mass flow rate of the vapor through the flow path during non-choked flow conditions in accordance with a nonlinear function of the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure.
- the present disclosure provides a system for controlling the flow rates of fluids derived from a plurality of sources.
- the system includes a mass flow controller as described above for each of the plurality of sources.
- the system further includes a manifold connecting the downstream reservoirs of the mass flow controllers, and a single downstream pressure measurement device connected to the manifold for providing an indication of the downstream pressure to the control devices of the flow controllers.
- the system includes a flow path for connection to each of the plurality of vapor sources, flow restrictors dividing each of the flow paths into an upstream reservoir and a downstream reservoir, and upstream pressure measurement devices connected to each of the upstream reservoirs.
- a manifold connects the downstream reservoirs of the mass flow controllers, and a downstream pressure measurement device connected to the manifold.
- the system also includes a control device programmed to, for each flow path, receive an indication of upstream pressure from the upstream pressure measurement device of the flow path, and receive an indication of downstream pressure from the downstream pressure measurement device.
- the control device determines an actual mass flow rate of vapor through the flow path in accordance with a linear function of the upstream pressure during choked flow conditions, and determines the actual mass flow rate of the vapor through the flow path in accordance with a nonlinear function of the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure during unchoked flow conditions.
- FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating the relationship of mass flow and the pressure drop of a fluid across a flow restrictive element defining an upstream and downstream reservoir. The graph illustrates both choked and non-choked flow conditions;
- FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of a pressure-based mass flow controller according to the present disclosure
- FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram of a system according to the present disclosure, including a plurality of the pressure-based mass flow controllers of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram of another pressure-based mass flow controller system according to the present disclosure.
- the present disclosure provides a pressure-based mass flow controller (MFC) 10 for controlling the flow rate of a vapor from a source.
- MFC mass flow controller
- Such a controller 10 can be used, for example, in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to precisely deliver a process vapor to a process chamber for making a semiconductor wafer.
- the disclosed MFC 10 can be used with a low vapor pressure source, and has a simplified, novel design, that allows the disclosed flow controller 10 to be easily and inexpensively incorporated in a system including a plurality of mass flow controllers and a plurality of vapor sources.
- the MFC 10 includes a flow path 12 for connection to a vapor source, a flow restrictor 14 dividing the flow path into an upstream reservoir 16 and a downstream reservoir 18, an upstream pressure measurement device 20 connected to the upstream reservoir, and a flow valve 22 connected to the flow path before the upstream reservoir.
- the MFC 10 also includes a control device 24 programmed to receive a predetermined desired flow rate, receive an indication of upstream pressure from the upstream pressure measurement device 20 (as indicated by control circuitry 26), and receive an indication of downstream pressure from a remote downstream pressure measurement device (not shown) connected to the downstream reservoir 18.
- the control device 24 is also programmed to determine an actual mass flow rate of vapor through the flow path 12 during choked flow conditions in accordance with a linear function of the upstream pressure, and determine the actual mass flow rate of the vapor through the flow path 12 during non- choked flow conditions in accordance with a nonlinear function of the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure.
- the control device 24 is programmed to instruct the flow valve 22 (as indicated by control circuitry 28) to increase flow if the actual flow rate is less than the desired flow rate, and to decrease flow if the actual flow rate is greater than the desired flow rate.
- the size of an aperture in the flow restrictor 14 is initially determined by the fluid pressures at the inlet and the outlet of the MFC 10, and clearly can be proportioned to maximize performance and control range of fluid flows.
- control device 24 it is meant herein a device or mechanism used to regulate or guide the operation of the MFC 10.
- the control device 24 preferably comprises a computer processing unit (CPU) including a processor and memory.
- CPU computer processing unit
- the control device 24 operates in a feedback loop to maintain the desired flow at all times.
- Equations performed by the control device 24 for computing the mass flow rate from the measured reservoir pressures during both choked flow and non-choked flow conditions are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,868,159, which is assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure and incorporated herein by reference.
- the control device 24 stores user input parameters necessary for carrying out the calculations.
- the cross-sectional diameter of the aperture in the flow restrictor 14 is typically input by a user and, indirectly, the discharge coefficient of the flow restrictor.
- Values of the molecular weight, the universal gas constant, and the specific heat ration for several gases may be input or previously stored in the control device.
- the parameters as well as a desired flow rate can be entered into the control device 24 through a user input device (not shown), such as a keyboard and monitor for example, via an analog set point.
- the determination by the control device 24 of the mass flow rate also forms the basis of a feedback loop for adjusting the flow valve 22 in response to changes in fluid pressure within the upstream reservoir and/or the downstream reservoir to ensure that the actual flow rate is the same as the input desired flow rate.
- Information on flow rate as a function of the flow valve control current is preferably stored in the control device 24 in order to quicken the response time of the MFC 10.
- the pressure measurement device 20 can be any type of pressure transducer capable of measuring fluid pressures within the range of interest.
- the pressure measurement device can include an absolute pressure transducer 20.
- Preferred pressure measurement devices comprise Baratron ® capacitance manometers available from MKS Instruments, Inc. of Andover, MA (www.mksinst.com).
- the flow, or control, valve 22 may be any kind of valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the flow path 12 in response to a control signal provided from the control device 24.
- the flow valve 22 and the control device 24 accommodate all flow rates from a complete shut off position (providing zero flow) to a complete open position (providing maximum flow), including flow rates required for choked as well as non-choked flow, although under certain applications it may be desirable to design the controller for only one flow regime.
- the specific characteristics of the flow valve 22 will depend on the expected delivery pressure range of the precursor material and the dimensions of the flow path 12 and the flow restrictor 14, and can be, for example, as a solenoid valve, a throttle valve or a flapper valve.
- a preferred valve is a proportioning solenoid control valve 22.
- the flow path 12 is maintained at a constant, desired temperature preferably by surrounding the flow path with temperature control means, including thermal insulating means, a heater 30, and one or more temperature sensors 32 for sensing the temperature(s) along the flow path and for operating the heater in a feedback arrangement so as to maintain the temperature of the flow path at a predetermined fixed temperature.
- the control device 24 employs feedback control loops for accurately controlling the temperature of the fluid (and for maintaining the temperature of the flow path 12 at a desired temperature) in response to changes in fluid flow. Signals sent from the temperature sensors 32 to the control device (as indicated by control circuitry 34) operate to controllably adjust the heater 30 (as indicated by control circuitry 36) and, thus, the temperature of the vapor in the flow path 12.
- a predetermined temperature set point or range can be programmed into the control device 24 to ensure that the fluid is maintained at the desired temperature or range.
- the pressure-based MFC 10 of the present disclosure can be used to deliver gaseous reactants from liquid and non-dissolved solid precursors characterized by a wide range of vapor pressures at the delivery temperatures.
- the pressure-based MFC 10 of the present disclosure may be used to monitor and control the delivery of fluids to a process, or reaction, chamber in a variety of industrial applications, including the manufacture of semiconductor devices using precursor materials having relatively low vapor pressures.
- precursor materials include liquid precursors having low vapor pressures and solid precursors which sublime, i.e., enter the gaseous state directly from the solid state.
- the solid precursor materials may be melted at an appropriate temperature and the mass flow of the gaseous reactants derived therefrom may be determined using the MFC 10 of the present disclosure, without the use of a solvent.
- the pressure-based MFC 10 of the present disclosure is particularly suitable for use in systems that require delivery of gaseous reactants of high purity to a processing chamber.
- the pressure-based MFC 10 of the present disclosure effectively and more reliably models the relationship between upstream fluid pressure and mass flow rate, since it is capable of determining and controlling mass flow rate with high accuracy and fast response time over a wide range of flow rates in both the choked and non-choked flow regimes for a wide variety of fluids.
- the pressure-based MFC 10 of the present disclosure includes the versatility of the unit.
- a single MFC 10 according to the disclosure can be used in applications in which, formerly, several MFCs, each calibrated for a particular gas, temperature, pressure and/or a particular flow rate range, were required.
- the MFC 10 can be used to control the flow rate of a vapor derived from a precursor characterized by a vapor pressure ranging as low as 2 torr or lower, to at least 760 torr or higher, at temperatures of up to at least 250°C or higher.
- the pressure transducer 20, heating element 30, CPU 24, valve 22 and controlling circuitry which comprise the MFC 10 are provided in a relatively compact, integral unit.
- the calibration and computations are performed in-line by the CPU 24.
- the feedback control loops are digitally controlled for improved accuracy and response time; however, both analog and digital operation are permitted.
- the on-board calibration feature of the present disclosure provides additional accuracy and reliability, as calibration of the MFC 10 can be done at multiple increments of full scale readings instead of merely at 0 and 100 percent full scale.
- calibration of the individual components, namely, the pressure transducer 20, is not required.
- the system 50 of FIG. 3 includes a mass flow controller 10 according to FIG. 2 for each of the plurality of sources.
- the system 50 further includes a manifold 52 connecting the downstream reservoirs 18 of the MFCs 10, and a downstream pressure measurement device 54 connected to the manifold 52 for providing an indication of the downstream pressure to the control devices 24 of the MFCs (as indicated by confrol circuitry 56).
- the pressure measurement device 54 can comprise an absolute pressure transducer, and preferably comprises a Baratron ® capacitance manometer.
- the system 50 also includes inlet valves 58 for connecting the upstream reservoirs 16 of the MFCs 10 to their respective sources of vapor, and outlet valves 60 connecting the downstream reservoirs 18 of the MFCs to the manifold 52, whereby at least one of the mass flow controllers 10 can be made to communicate with the manifold 52.
- a valve 62 is also provided for connecting the manifold 52 to the process chamber.
- the system 50 can additionally include temperature measurement devices 64 connected to the manifold 52, a heater 66 for heating the manifold, and a control device 68 (i.e., CPU) for maintaining the manifold at a constant, desired temperature, similar to the temperature control system of each MFC 10.
- the control device 68 is programmed to receive a desired vapor temperature from a user input device, and receive an indication of actual vapor temperature within the manifold 52 from the temperature measurement devices 64 (as indicated by control circuitry 70).
- the control device 68 then instructs the heater 66 (as indicated by control circuitry 72) to increase heat to the manifold 52 if the actual vapor temperature within the manifold is less than the desired vapor temperature, and instruct the heater to decrease heat to the manifold if the actual vapor temperature within the manifold is greater than the desired vapor temperature.
- a single temperature control system can be provided for the mass flow controller system 50 in place of the separate systems for each MFC 10 and the system for the manifold 52.
- FIG. 4 another mass flow controller system 80 according to the present disclosure is shown.
- the system 80 of FIG. 4 is similar to the system 50 of FIG. 3, and elements that are the same have the same reference numerals.
- the system 80 includes a mass flow controller 110 for each of the plurality of vapor sources.
- the MFCs 110 of FIG. 4 are similar to the MFCs 10 of FIG. 3 except that the MFCs 110 are not provided with their own CPUs. Instead the system 80 is provided with a single control device (i.e., CPU) 82 connected to each of the MFCs 110 (as indicated by control circuitry 84) and connected to downstream pressure measurement device 54 (as indicated by control circuitry 86) of the manifold 52.
- the control device 82 controls the flow valves 22 of each MFC 110 based upon upstream and downstream pressure readings provided by the upstream pressure measurement devices 20 of the MFCs 110 and the downstream pressure measurement device 54 of the manifold 52.
- the control device 82 is also preferably connected to the temperature measurement devices 64 and the heater 66 (as indicated by confrol circuitry 88, 90) of the manifold 52, for maintaining the manifold at a constant, desired temperature.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0312001A GB2386704B (en) | 2000-12-26 | 2001-08-06 | Pressure-based mass flow controller system |
DE10196953T DE10196953T1 (en) | 2000-12-26 | 2001-08-06 | Pressure based mass flow control system |
KR10-2003-7008071A KR20030074663A (en) | 2000-12-26 | 2001-08-06 | Pressure-based mass flow controller system |
JP2002553600A JP2004517396A (en) | 2000-12-26 | 2001-08-06 | Pressure type mass flow controller system |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/748,472 | 2000-12-26 | ||
US09/748,472 US6631334B2 (en) | 2000-12-26 | 2000-12-26 | Pressure-based mass flow controller system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2002052363A1 true WO2002052363A1 (en) | 2002-07-04 |
Family
ID=25009590
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2001/024608 WO2002052363A1 (en) | 2000-12-26 | 2001-08-06 | Pressure-based mass flow controller system |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6631334B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2004517396A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20030074663A (en) |
DE (1) | DE10196953T1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2386704B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002052363A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2019217078A1 (en) * | 2018-05-07 | 2019-11-14 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for multiple channel mass flow and ratio control systems |
Families Citing this family (47)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002086632A2 (en) | 2001-04-24 | 2002-10-31 | Unit Instruments, Inc. | System and method for configuring and asapting a mass flow controller |
KR20040019293A (en) * | 2001-05-24 | 2004-03-05 | 셀레리티 그룹 아이엔씨 | Method and apparatus for providing a determined ratio of process fluids |
US6962090B2 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2005-11-08 | Avl North America Inc. | Heated stainless steel emissions canister |
JP4528617B2 (en) * | 2002-07-19 | 2010-08-18 | セレリティ・インコーポレイテッド | Method and apparatus for pressure compensation in a mass flow controller |
GB2392506A (en) * | 2002-07-23 | 2004-03-03 | Alan Paul Troup | A mass flow meter and controller therefor |
US7063097B2 (en) | 2003-03-28 | 2006-06-20 | Advanced Technology Materials, Inc. | In-situ gas blending and dilution system for delivery of dilute gas at a predetermined concentration |
WO2004088415A2 (en) * | 2003-03-28 | 2004-10-14 | Advanced Technology Materials Inc. | Photometrically modulated delivery of reagents |
CN100454200C (en) * | 2003-06-09 | 2009-01-21 | 喜开理株式会社 | Relative pressure control system and relative flow control system |
JP4454964B2 (en) * | 2003-06-09 | 2010-04-21 | 東京エレクトロン株式会社 | Partial pressure control system and flow rate control system |
JP2005079141A (en) * | 2003-08-28 | 2005-03-24 | Asm Japan Kk | Plasma cvd system |
US7628861B2 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2009-12-08 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Pulsed mass flow delivery system and method |
US7628860B2 (en) * | 2004-04-12 | 2009-12-08 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Pulsed mass flow delivery system and method |
US20060060139A1 (en) * | 2004-04-12 | 2006-03-23 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Precursor gas delivery with carrier gas mixing |
US7216019B2 (en) * | 2004-07-08 | 2007-05-08 | Celerity, Inc. | Method and system for a mass flow controller with reduced pressure sensitivity |
US20060130755A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Clark William R | Pulsed mass flow measurement system and method |
KR101241922B1 (en) | 2005-06-22 | 2013-03-11 | 어드밴스드 테크놀러지 머티리얼즈, 인코포레이티드 | Apparatus and process for integrated gas blending |
US7680399B2 (en) * | 2006-02-07 | 2010-03-16 | Brooks Instrument, Llc | System and method for producing and delivering vapor |
US8448925B2 (en) | 2006-10-17 | 2013-05-28 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Devices, systems, and methods for carbonation of deionized water |
US7706925B2 (en) * | 2007-01-10 | 2010-04-27 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Integrated pressure and flow ratio control system |
US20080305014A1 (en) * | 2007-06-07 | 2008-12-11 | Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. | Substrate processing apparatus |
JP5001757B2 (en) * | 2007-08-31 | 2012-08-15 | シーケーディ株式会社 | Fluid mixing system and fluid mixing apparatus |
US20100229657A1 (en) * | 2009-03-12 | 2010-09-16 | Weinstein Jason P | Sinter-bonded metal flow restrictor for regulating volumetric gas flow through an aerosol sampler inlet |
US8712665B2 (en) * | 2009-11-30 | 2014-04-29 | General Electric Company | Systems and methods for unchoked control of gas turbine fuel gas control valves |
US9348339B2 (en) | 2010-09-29 | 2016-05-24 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Method and apparatus for multiple-channel pulse gas delivery system |
US8997686B2 (en) * | 2010-09-29 | 2015-04-07 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | System for and method of fast pulse gas delivery |
US10031531B2 (en) | 2011-02-25 | 2018-07-24 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | System for and method of multiple channel fast pulse gas delivery |
US10353408B2 (en) | 2011-02-25 | 2019-07-16 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | System for and method of fast pulse gas delivery |
US10126760B2 (en) | 2011-02-25 | 2018-11-13 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | System for and method of fast pulse gas delivery |
US9188989B1 (en) | 2011-08-20 | 2015-11-17 | Daniel T. Mudd | Flow node to deliver process gas using a remote pressure measurement device |
US9958302B2 (en) | 2011-08-20 | 2018-05-01 | Reno Technologies, Inc. | Flow control system, method, and apparatus |
NL2009660C2 (en) * | 2012-10-18 | 2014-04-22 | Avantium Technologies B V | Pressure controller. |
WO2014152755A2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2014-09-25 | Christopher Max Horwitz | Pressure-based gas flow controller with dynamic self-calibration |
JP6107327B2 (en) * | 2013-03-29 | 2017-04-05 | 東京エレクトロン株式会社 | Film forming apparatus, gas supply apparatus, and film forming method |
US20160160635A1 (en) * | 2013-07-24 | 2016-06-09 | Ikm Production Technology As | Measurement device |
EP3344953B1 (en) * | 2015-08-31 | 2021-07-28 | MKS Instruments, Inc. | Method and apparatus for pressure-based flow measurement in non-critical flow conditions |
US10684159B2 (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2020-06-16 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Methods, systems, and apparatus for mass flow verification based on choked flow |
US10303189B2 (en) | 2016-06-30 | 2019-05-28 | Reno Technologies, Inc. | Flow control system, method, and apparatus |
US10838437B2 (en) | 2018-02-22 | 2020-11-17 | Ichor Systems, Inc. | Apparatus for splitting flow of process gas and method of operating same |
US11144075B2 (en) | 2016-06-30 | 2021-10-12 | Ichor Systems, Inc. | Flow control system, method, and apparatus |
US10679880B2 (en) | 2016-09-27 | 2020-06-09 | Ichor Systems, Inc. | Method of achieving improved transient response in apparatus for controlling flow and system for accomplishing same |
US10663337B2 (en) | 2016-12-30 | 2020-05-26 | Ichor Systems, Inc. | Apparatus for controlling flow and method of calibrating same |
JP6913498B2 (en) * | 2017-04-18 | 2021-08-04 | 東京エレクトロン株式会社 | Method of obtaining the output flow rate of the flow rate controller and method of processing the object to be processed |
US9890908B1 (en) * | 2017-04-18 | 2018-02-13 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Control system in a gas pipeline network to increase capacity factor |
CN107894024B (en) * | 2017-11-22 | 2023-08-18 | 新奥泛能网络科技股份有限公司 | Control method and system of multi-source heating power pipe network |
JP2021520544A (en) * | 2018-04-03 | 2021-08-19 | ラム リサーチ コーポレーションLam Research Corporation | MEMS Coriolis gas flow controller |
WO2022186971A1 (en) | 2021-03-03 | 2022-09-09 | Ichor Systems, Inc. | Fluid flow control system comprising a manifold assembly |
US20230369072A1 (en) * | 2022-05-13 | 2023-11-16 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Systems and methods to reduce flow accuracy error for liquid & gas mass flow controller devices |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4951224A (en) * | 1987-07-30 | 1990-08-21 | Jiri Hokynar | Control device for fluid flow |
US5791369A (en) * | 1995-06-12 | 1998-08-11 | Fujikin Incorporated | Pressure type flow rate control apparatus |
US5868159A (en) * | 1996-07-12 | 1999-02-09 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Pressure-based mass flow controller |
EP0969342A1 (en) * | 1998-01-21 | 2000-01-05 | Fujikin Inc. | Fluid supply apparatus |
US6074691A (en) * | 1997-06-24 | 2000-06-13 | Balzers Aktiengesellschaft | Method for monitoring the flow of a gas into a vacuum reactor |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3851526A (en) | 1973-04-09 | 1974-12-03 | Tylan Corp | Fluid flowmeter |
US5282490A (en) * | 1989-12-18 | 1994-02-01 | Higgs Robert E | Flow metering injection controller |
DE69212129T2 (en) | 1991-12-18 | 1997-01-23 | Pierre Delajoud | Mass flow meter with constricting element |
US6296711B1 (en) * | 1998-04-14 | 2001-10-02 | Cvd Systems, Inc. | Film processing system |
US6454860B2 (en) * | 1998-10-27 | 2002-09-24 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Deposition reactor having vaporizing, mixing and cleaning capabilities |
-
2000
- 2000-12-26 US US09/748,472 patent/US6631334B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-08-06 GB GB0312001A patent/GB2386704B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2001-08-06 JP JP2002553600A patent/JP2004517396A/en active Pending
- 2001-08-06 DE DE10196953T patent/DE10196953T1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-08-06 KR KR10-2003-7008071A patent/KR20030074663A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-08-06 WO PCT/US2001/024608 patent/WO2002052363A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4951224A (en) * | 1987-07-30 | 1990-08-21 | Jiri Hokynar | Control device for fluid flow |
US5791369A (en) * | 1995-06-12 | 1998-08-11 | Fujikin Incorporated | Pressure type flow rate control apparatus |
US5868159A (en) * | 1996-07-12 | 1999-02-09 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Pressure-based mass flow controller |
US6074691A (en) * | 1997-06-24 | 2000-06-13 | Balzers Aktiengesellschaft | Method for monitoring the flow of a gas into a vacuum reactor |
EP0969342A1 (en) * | 1998-01-21 | 2000-01-05 | Fujikin Inc. | Fluid supply apparatus |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2019217078A1 (en) * | 2018-05-07 | 2019-11-14 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for multiple channel mass flow and ratio control systems |
US10698426B2 (en) | 2018-05-07 | 2020-06-30 | Mks Instruments, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for multiple channel mass flow and ratio control systems |
CN112204493A (en) * | 2018-05-07 | 2021-01-08 | 万机仪器公司 | Method and apparatus for a multi-channel mass flow and ratio control system |
CN112204493B (en) * | 2018-05-07 | 2024-01-09 | 万机仪器公司 | Method and apparatus for a multi-channel mass flow and ratio control system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2386704A (en) | 2003-09-24 |
GB0312001D0 (en) | 2003-07-02 |
US6631334B2 (en) | 2003-10-07 |
US20020082783A1 (en) | 2002-06-27 |
KR20030074663A (en) | 2003-09-19 |
DE10196953T1 (en) | 2003-12-11 |
GB2386704B (en) | 2005-05-11 |
JP2004517396A (en) | 2004-06-10 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6631334B2 (en) | Pressure-based mass flow controller system | |
US5868159A (en) | Pressure-based mass flow controller | |
JP4594728B2 (en) | Flow controller based on higher accuracy pressure | |
KR101391198B1 (en) | Controller gain scheduling for mass flow controllers | |
US8104323B2 (en) | Flow controller, flow measuring device testing method, flow controller testing system, and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus | |
US11467608B2 (en) | Systems and methods for flow sensor back pressure adjustment for mass flow controller | |
US6216726B1 (en) | Wide range gas flow system with real time flow measurement and correction | |
KR0140012B1 (en) | Liquid material-vaporizing and supplying apparatus | |
KR100525353B1 (en) | Gas flow monitoring method and vacuum treatment arrangement in vacuum reactor | |
EP1553474A2 (en) | Apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow using pneumatically operated valve | |
KR20030060078A (en) | Mass flow ratio system and method | |
EP3791242B1 (en) | Methods and apparatus for multiple channel mass flow and ratio control systems | |
Liso et al. | A New Differential Pressure Sensor Based Mass Flow Controller for Advanced Semiconductor Processing | |
US20050229976A1 (en) | Adjustable rinse flow in semiconductor processing | |
JP3311762B2 (en) | Mass flow controller and semiconductor device manufacturing equipment | |
KR0145188B1 (en) | Liquid material-vaporizing and supplying apparatus | |
LÖTTERS | Model-Based Multi-Gas/Multi-Range Mass Flow Controllers With Single Gas Calibration and Tuning |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE GB JP KR |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 0312001 Country of ref document: GB Kind code of ref document: A Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20010806 |
|
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 0312001.1 Country of ref document: GB |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 1020037008071 Country of ref document: KR |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2002553600 Country of ref document: JP |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 1020037008071 Country of ref document: KR |
|
RET | De translation (de og part 6b) |
Ref document number: 10196953 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 20031211 Kind code of ref document: P |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 10196953 Country of ref document: DE |