Pulse modulated RF power control method and pulse modulated RF power supply device

A pulse modulated RF power control method for controlling RF power to be supplied to a load, the RF power being a pulse output which is a RF output outputted intermittently in time wise, the method comprising:

• an output amplitude control step for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control step for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control step performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control step performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control step and the duty control step are operated independently to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• peak forward power is assumed as a control target of the pulse output,
• the output amplitude control step performs the constant amplitude control so that an amplitude value of the peak forward power becomes equal to a set amplitude value, and
• the duty control step performs the constant power control so that an average power value of the peak forward power determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, thereby controlling the peak forward power, wherein,
• the duty control step comprises:
• a pulse output control which sets less than 100% to ON period of the duty ratio determined by the ON period and the OFF period within one cycle of the pulse output, and controls the average power value of the peak forward power to be smaller than the amplitude value of the peak forward power, so that the pulse output is rendered to be a discontinuous output, and
• a continuous output control which sets 0% to the OFF period and 100% to the ON period of the duty ratio determined by the ON period and the OFF period within one cycle of the pulse output, and controls the average power value of the peak forward power to become equal to the amplitude value of the peak forward power, so that the pulse output is rendered to be a continuous output.

A pulse modulated RF power control method for controlling RF power to be supplied to a load, the RF power being a pulse output which is a RF output outputted intermittently in time wise, the method comprising:

• an output amplitude control step for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control step for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control step performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control step performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control step and the duty control step are operated independently to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• peak forward power is assumed as a control target of the pulse output,
• the output amplitude control step performs the constant amplitude control so that an amplitude value of the peak forward power becomes equal to a set amplitude value, and
• the duty control step performs the constant power control so that an average power value of the peak forward power determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, thereby controlling the peak forward power, wherein,
• in controlling the peak forward power assuming the peak forward power as the control target of the pulse output,
• the duty control step gives a peak reflected power value as a feedback, and suppresses increase of average reflected power by reducing the proportion of the ON period of the duty ratio, when the peak reflected power is increased.

A pulse modulated RF power control method for controlling RF power to be supplied to a load, the RF power being a pulse output which is a RF output outputted intermittently in time wise, the method comprising:

• an output amplitude control step for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control step for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control step performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control step performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control step and the duty control step are operated independently to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• peak forward power is assumed as a control target of the pulse output,
• the output amplitude control step performs the constant amplitude control so that an amplitude value of the peak forward power becomes equal to a set amplitude value, and
• the duty control step performs the constant power control so that an average power value of the peak forward power determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, thereby controlling the peak forward power, wherein,
• during the period when the peak forward power is increased by the duty control,
• increase of average reflected power is suppressed by gradually increasing the proportion of the ON period of the duty ratio.

A pulse modulated RF power control method for controlling RF power to be supplied to a load, the RF power being a pulse output which is a RF output outputted intermittently in time wise, the method comprising:

• an output amplitude control step for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control step for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control step performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control step performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control step and the duty control step are operated independently to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• in the duty control, a power value of the pulse output during the OFF period is assumed as a predetermined power value defined between zero and a set power value, and a power value of the pulse output during the ON period is assumed as the set power value.

A pulse modulated RF power control method for controlling RF power to be supplied to a load, the RF power being a pulse output which is a RF output outputted intermittently in time wise, the method comprising:

• an output amplitude control step for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control step for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control step performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control step performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control step and the duty control step are operated independently to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• in the duty control, OFF period duration varies while ON period duration is kept constant, or the ON period duration varies while the OFF period duration is kept constant, thereby controlling the frequency of the pulse output.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• peak forward power is assumed as a control target of the pulse output in the output amplitude control part,
• average load power is assumed as a control target of the pulse output in the duty control part,
• the output amplitude control part performs the constant amplitude control so that an amplitude value of the peak forward power becomes constant, and
• the duty control part performs the constant power control so that an average power value of peak load power which is obtained from the peak forward power and peak reflected power determined by the duty ratio, becomes equal to a set power value, thereby controlling the average load power.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• peak forward power is assumed as a control target of the pulse output,
• the output amplitude control part performs the constant amplitude control so that an amplitude value of the peak forward power becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs the constant power control so that an average power value of the peak forward power determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, thereby controlling the peak forward power, wherein,
• the duty control part enables switching between a pulse output control determined by the ON period, which is set to be less than 100% of the duty ratio, and the OFF period within one cycle of the pulse output, and controls the average power value of the peak forward power to be smaller than the amplitude value of the peak forward power, so that the pulse output is rendered to be a discontinuous output, and
• a continuous output control which sets the OFF period to be 0% and the ON period to be 100% of the duty ratio determined by the ON period and the OFF period within one cycle of the pulse output, and controls the average power value of the peak forward power to become equal to the amplitude value of the peak forward power, so that the pulse output is rendered to be a continuous output.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• peak forward power is assumed as a control target of the pulse output,
• the output amplitude control part performs the constant amplitude control so that an amplitude value of the peak forward power becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs the constant power control so that an average power value of the peak forward power determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, thereby controlling the peak forward power, wherein,
• in controlling the peak forward power assuming the peak forward power as the control target of the pulse output,
• the duty control part gives a reflected power value as a feedback, and suppresses increase of average reflected power by reducing the proportion of the ON period of the duty ratio, when the reflected power is increased.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• the duty control part controls the duty ratio by setting the RF power of the pulse output to zero during OFF period, controls the power amount of the pulse output to become equal to the amplitude value of the pulse output, so as to render the pulse output to be a continuous output, wherein,
• in the continuous output control, when an amplitude value of peak reflected power is excessive, the duty control part reduces the proportion of the ON period of the duty ratio from 100%, and performs switching from the continuous output control to the pulse output control, thereby suppressing increase of average reflected power.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• the duty control part controls the duty ratio by setting the RF power of the pulse output to zero during OFF period, controls the power amount of the pulse output to become equal to the amplitude value of the pulse output, so as to render the pulse output to be a continuous output, wherein,
• during the period when the peak forward power is increased by the continuous output control,
• when an amplitude value of peak reflected power is excessive, the duty control part reduces the proportion of the ON period of the duty ratio from 100%, and performs switching from the continuous output control to the pulse output control, and
• after the peak forward power is increased, the duty control part restores the proportion of the ON period of the duty ratio to 100%, and performs switching from the pulse output control to the continuous output control, thereby suppressing increase of average reflected power during the period when the peak forward power is increased.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• peak forward power is assumed as a control target of the pulse output,
• the output amplitude control part performs the constant amplitude control so that an amplitude value of the peak forward power becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs the constant power control so that an average power value of the peak forward power determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, thereby controlling the peak forward power, wherein,
• during the period when the peak forward power is increased by the duty control,
• the duty control part suppresses increase of average reflected power by gradually increasing the proportion of the ON period of the duty ratio.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• the duty control part assumes a power value of the pulse output during the OFF period as zero, and assumes a power value of the pulse output during the ON period as a set power value.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• the duty control part assumes a power value of the pulse output during the OFF period as a predetermined power value defined between zero and a set power value, and assumes a power value of the pulse output during the ON period as the set power value.

A pulse modulated RF power supply device for supplying RF power to a load, comprising:

• an RF output part for outputting an RF output of a pulse output,
• an output amplitude control part for controlling amplitude of the pulse output,
• a duty control part for controlling a duty ratio of the pulse output, wherein,
• the output amplitude control part performs a constant amplitude control to control an amplitude value of the pulse output so that the amplitude value becomes equal to a set amplitude value,
• the duty control part performs a constant power control to control the duty ratio of the pulse output so that a power amount determined by the duty ratio becomes equal to a set power value, and
• the output amplitude control part and the duty control part independently operate the RF output part to perform pulse modulation of the RF power, wherein,
• the duty control part varies the OFF period duration while keeping the ON period duration constant, or varies the ON period duration while keeping the OFF period duration constant, thereby controlling the frequency of the pulse output.