US4918930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronically controlled cryopump
Assignee: Azenta Inc
•
Filing: 1988-09-13
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Granted: 1990-04-24
•
Expires: 2008-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic vacuum pump includes, in an integral assembly, temperature sensors and heaters associated with the first and second stages of the cryopumping array, a roughing valve and a purge valve. An electronic module removably coupled in the assembly responds to all sensors and controls all operations of the cryopump including regeneration thereof. System parameters are stored in a nonvolatile memory in the module. Included in the regeneration procedures are an auto-zero of the pressure gauge, heating of the array throughout rough pumping, and a change in pressure rate test to determine stall in rough pumping. The electronic module also restarts the system after power failure, limits use of a pressure gauge to safe conditions, provides warnings before allowing opening of the valves while the cryopump is operating and stores sensor calibration information. Control through a control pad on the pump may be limited by a password requirement. Password override is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter W. Gaudet
- 👤 Donald A. Olsen
- 👤 Michael J. Eacobacci
- 👤 John T. Harvell
- 👤 Robert J. Lepofsky
- 👤 David E. Roche
- 👤 Steven A. Bender
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:25
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D19/00; F04D19/02; F04D19/04; F04B; F04B37/00; F04B37/06; F04B37/08; F04D27/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S417/00; Y10S417/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A cryopump comprising, as an integral assembly: a cryogenic refrigerator; a gas condensing cryopanel cooled by the refrigerator; a temperature sensor coupled to the cryopanel; an electrically actuated valve adapted to pass gases from the cryopanel; and a programmable electronic processor coupled to the sensor to provide a temperature indication, coupled to the valve to control opening and closing of the valve, and coupled to the refrigerator to drive the refrigerator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A cryopump comprising, as an integral assembly: a cryogenic refrigerator; a gas condensing cryopanel cooled by the refrigerator; a temperature sensor coupled to the cryopanel; an electrically actuated valve adapted to pass gases from the cryopanel; and a programmable electronic processor coupled to the sensor to provide a temperature indication, coupled to the valve to control opening and closing of the valve, and coupled to the refrigerator to drive the refrigerator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic processor is programmed to control operation of the valve in a regeneration sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 2 wherein the electrically actuated valve is a roughing valve, the cryopump further comprising an electrically actuated purge valve adapted to purge the cryopanel with purge gas and coupled to be controlled by the electronic processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a heater in thermal contact with the condensing cryopanel and controlled by the electronic processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a pressure sensor for sensing pressure about the cryopanel, the pressure sensor being coupled to the electronic processor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 5 wherein the electronic processor is programmed to zero the pressure sensor after each regeneration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a pressure sensor for sensing pressure about the cryopanel, the electronic processor being programmed to zero the pressure sensor after each regeneration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a heater in thermal communication with the condensing cryopanel, the electronic processor being programmed to turn the heater on throughout rough pumping of the cryopump when the electrically actuated valve is opened.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 2 wherein the electronic processor is adapted to sense the rate of fall of pressure of the cryopump during rough pumping of the cryogenic refrigerator and restarts at least a portion of the regeneration cycle where the rate of drop is less than a predetermined set point.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 2 wherein the valve is a roughing valve and further comprising a purge valve, the electronic processor being programmed to cause a delay of cooling of the refrigerator after roughing, to backfill the cryopump with purge gas through the purge valve during the delay and to again open the roughing valve at the end of the delay to rough the cryopump before turning the refrigerator on.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic processor is adapted to store sensed parameters of the cryopump for later recall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 11 wherein the electronic processor is in a removable module which further includes a nonvolatile random access memory for storing the parameters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic processor is programmed to continue operation of the cryogenic refrigerator after a power failure where the temperature of the condensing array is below a predetermined set point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pressure gauge for sensing pressure about the condensing array, the electronic processor being programmed to zero the pressure gauge on demand.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic processor is programmed to provide a warning after receiving a request to open the electrically actuated valve while the cryogenic refrigerator is in operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic processor has stored in memory calibration values for the temperature sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrically actuated valve is a roughing valve, the vacuum pump further comprising an electrically actuated purge valve controlled by the electronic processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 17 further comprising heating elements coupled in thermal communication with the condensing array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 18 comprising temperature sensors coupled to each of first and second stages of the cryogenic refrigerator and a pressure gauge for measuring pressure about the condensing array, the temperature sensors and pressure gauge being coupled to the electronic processor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic processor comprises access limiting means for limiting response to inputs thereto until a predetermined password has been input.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 20 further comprising override means for overriding the access limiting means where a proper override password is received, the proper override password being determined through an encryption algorithm based on a varying parameter available to an operator of the cryopump.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 21 wherein the varying parameter is the time of operation of the cryopump.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 20 wherein the electronic processor is adapted to redefine the password in a sequence to which access is limited by the password.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 20 wherein the electronic processor is adapted, in a sequence to which access is limited by the password, to cause other sequences of the electronic processor to be accessible or inaccessible without the password.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic processor is in a module housing, the module housing having a control connector adapted to couple the electronics to a motor of the cryogenic refrigerator, to the temperature sensor, and to the electrically actuated valve, the module further comprising a power connector adapted to connect the electronics to a power supply.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 25 wherein the electronic processor comprises a nonvolatile random access memory.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 25 further comprising means for preventing removal of the module from the cryopump where a power supply is coupled to the module.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 27 wherein the means for preventing removal comprises a retaining screw having a head shape which prevents rotation when the power line is connected to the module.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 25 wherein the control connectors are at one end of the module and the power connector is positioned at the opposite end of the module, and the module is adapted to slide into a housing fixed to the cryopump to leave the end of the module having the power connector exposed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 25 wherein the module is positioned in a fixed housing of the vacuum pump and the vacuum pump further comprises a pivotal keyboard and display mounted to an end of the fixed housing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a keyboard and display as part of the integral assembly.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 31 wherein the keyboard and display are pivotally mounted.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cryopump as claimed in claim 32 wherein the keyboard and display are reversibly mounted to be inverted when the orientation of the cryopump is inverted.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic module adapted to be removably and integrally coupled to a cryopump comprising: a housing enclosing electronics; a control connector adapted to couple the electronics to a motor of a cryogenic refrigerator, to a temperature sensor in the cryopump and to an electrically actuated valve coupled to the cryopump; and a power connector adapted to connect the electronics to a power supply; the electronics being adapted to provide an indication of temperature and to control the refrigerator motor and valve.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic module adapted to be removably and integrally coupled to a cryopump comprising: a housing enclosing electronics; a control connector adapted to couple the electronics to a motor of a cryogenic refrigerator, to a temperature sensor in the cryopump and to an electrically actuated valve coupled to the cryopump; and a power connector adapted to connect the electronics to a power supply; the electronics being adapted to provide an indication of temperature and to control the refrigerator motor and valve.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
57 words
A module as claimed in claim 34 wherein the control connectors are at one end of the module and the power connector is positioned at the opposite end of the module and the module is adapted to slide into a housing fixed to the cryopump to leave the end of the module having the power connector exposed.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
A module as claimed in claim 35 further comprising means for preventing removal of the module from the cryopump where a power supply is coupled to the module.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
A module as claimed in claim 34 wherein the electronic processor is programmed to control operation of the valve in a regeneration sequence.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
36 words
A module as claimed in claim 37 wherein the control connector is adapted to couple the electronics to electrically actuated roughing and purge valves and to a heater which heats a condensing cryopanel of the cryopump.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
A module as claimed in claim 34 wherein the electronics include a random access memory for storing sensed parameters from the cryopump.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
A module as claimed in claim 39 wherein the memory is a nonvolatile random access memory.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cryopump comprising: a cryogenic refrigerator; a gas condensing cryopanel cooled by the refrigerator; a pressure sensor for detecting pressure about the condensing array; and a regeneration controller for controlling regeneration of the gas condensing cryopanel, the regeneration controller being programmed to zero the pressure gauge after each regeneration.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cryopump comprising: a cryogenic refrigerator; a gas condensing cryopanel cooled by the refrigerator; a pressure sensor for detecting pressure about the condensing array; and a regeneration controller for controlling regeneration of the gas condensing cryopanel, the regeneration controller being programmed to zero the pressure gauge after each regeneration.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of regenerating a cryopump comprising: warming the cryopump to release gases therefrom, applying a purge gas to the cryopump, rough pumping the cryopump to a vacuum and thereafter cooling the cryopump to create a high vacuum; while rough pumping the cryopump monitoring the rate of pressure drop; and if the rate of pressure drop falls below a predetermined set point, before the pressure drops to a predetermined pressure setpoint, purging the cryopump and again rough pumping the cryopump.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of regenerating a cryopump comprising: warming the cryopump to release gases therefrom, applying a purge gas to the cryopump, rough pumping the cryopump to a vacuum and thereafter cooling the cryopump to create a high vacuum; while rough pumping the cryopump monitoring the rate of pressure drop; and if the rate of pressure drop falls below a predetermined set point, before the pressure drops to a predetermined pressure setpoint, purging the cryopump and again rough pumping the cryopump.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
90 words
A cryopump comprising: a cryogenic refrigerator; a gas condensing cryopanel cooled by the refrigerator; a roughing valve; a purge valve; and a regeneration oontroller for controlling regeneration of the gas condensing cryopanel, the regeneration controller being programmed to cause a delay of cooling of the refrigerator after rough pumping through the roughing valve, to backfill the cryopump with purge gas through the purge valve during the delay and to again open the roughing valve at the end of the delay to rough pump the cryopump before turning the refrigerator on.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
90 words
A cryopump comprising: a cryogenic refrigerator; a gas condensing cryopanel cooled by the refrigerator; a roughing valve; a purge valve; and a regeneration oontroller for controlling regeneration of the gas condensing cryopanel, the regeneration controller being programmed to cause a delay of cooling of the refrigerator after rough pumping through the roughing valve, to backfill the cryopump with purge gas through the purge valve during the delay and to again open the roughing valve at the end of the delay to rough pump the cryopump before turning the refrigerator on.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-23 | 1993-10-23 | 1994-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-23 | 1997-10-23 | 1998-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-23 | 2001-10-23 | 2002-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |