US 11,899,476 B2
Method and apparatus for measuring gas flow
Risako Matsuda, Miyagi (JP); Shinichiro Hayasaka, Miyagi (JP); Manabu Oie, Miyagi (JP); and Keita Shouji, Miyagi (JP)
Assigned to TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/176,288.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-028490 (JP), filed on Feb. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0263540 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. G01F 1/34 (2006.01); G05D 7/06 (2006.01); G01F 7/00 (2006.01); G01F 1/86 (2006.01); G01F 1/50 (2006.01); G01F 15/00 (2006.01); G01F 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 7/0647 (2013.01) [G01F 1/34 (2013.01); G01F 1/50 (2013.01); G01F 1/86 (2013.01); G01F 7/005 (2013.01); G01F 15/005 (2013.01); G01F 15/02 (2013.01); G05D 7/0664 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas flow measuring method comprising:
measuring a first pressure of a gas filled in a first flow path connected to a flow controller and a third flow path connected to the first flow path by way of a second flow path;
supplying, after the first pressure is measured, a gas to the first flow path and the third flow path, by way of the second flow path, in a state where a valve disposed between the second flow path and the third flow path is opened by repeating multiple times (i) gas supply to the first flow path through the flow controller, and (ii) stop of the gas supply to the first path through the flow controller, after a predetermined time from a start of the gas supply to the first flow path through the flow controller, and by diffusing the gas supplied to the first flow path to the third flow path by way of the second flow path;
measuring a gas supply time from a signal for starting the gas supply to the first flow path to a signal for stopping the gas supply to the first flow path, the signals being outputted from a controller to the flow controller when the gas is supplied to the first flow path and the third flow path by way of the second flow path;
measuring a second pressure and a temperature of the gas filled in the first flow path and the third flow path after the gas is supplied to the first flow path and the third flow path by way of the second flow path;
measuring a third pressure of the gas filled in the third flow path after the gas is exhausted from the third flow path in a state where the valve is closed and the first flow path and the third flow path are not connected to each other;
measuring, after the third pressure is measured, a fourth pressure of the gas filled in the first flow path and the third flow path in a state where the valve is opened and the first flow path and the third flow path are connected to each other by way of the second flow path;
calculating a gas flow of the gas supplied to the first flow path and the third flow path by way of the second flow path through the flow controller based on the first pressure, the second pressure, the third pressure, the fourth pressure, and the temperature;
calculating an average time of the gas supply time measured by repeating the gas supply and the stop of the gas supply multiple times; and
correcting the calculated gas flow based on a theoretical gas supply time in the controller and the calculated average time.