Broad-beam ion deposition coating methods for depositing diamond-like-carbon coatings on dynamic surfaces
First Claim
1. A broad-beam ion deposition coating method for depositing a diamond-like-carbon coating indirectly to a dynamic surface of an article subject to adherence difficulties utilizing a broad-beam ion deposition apparatus, the broad-beam ion deposition apparatus including a deposition chamber, a broad-beam ion gun operative to generate an ion beam having a trajectory, vacuum means for evacuating the deposition chamber, gas supply means for supplying gas to the broad-beam ion gun and the deposition chamber, and a target interposable between the broad-beam ion gun and the dynamic surface, comprising the steps of:
- (A) preliminarily conditioning the-dynamic surface of the article for broad-beam ion deposition;
(B) inserting the conditioned article within the deposition chamber wherein the dynamic surface is spatially orientated at a predetermined trajectory angle with respect to the ion beam trajectory;
(C) evacuating the;
deposition chamber to a predetermined base pressure utilizing the vacuum means;
(D) ion sputtering conditioning the dynamic surface of the article for broad-beam ion deposition by(D1) providing a sputtering gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means,(D2) operating the broad-beam ion gun to ionize the sputtering gas to generate a sputtering ion beam having a predetermined beam current density, and(D3) accelerating the sputtering ion beam at a predetermined accelerating energy towards the dynamic surface wherein impact of the accelerated sputtering ion beam with the dynamic surface effectuates sputter cleaning thereof.(E) depositing an interface layer having a predetermined thickness on the dynamic surface by(E1) providing a first gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means,(E2) operating the broad-beam ion gun to ionize the first gas to generate a first ion beam having a predetermined beam current density, and(E3) accelerating the first ion beam towards the target at a predetermined accelerating energy to dislodge atoms therefrom, the dislodged atoms being deposited on the dynamic surface to form the interface layer on the dynamic surface; and
(F) depositing a diamond-like-carbon coating having a predetermined thickness on the interface layer deposited on the dynamic surface by(F1) providing a carbon-based gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means,(F2) operating the broad-beam ion gun to ionize the carbon-based gas to generate a second ion beam that includes carbon ions, the second ion beam having a predetermined beam current density, and(F3) accelerating the second ion beam towards the dynamic surface at a predetermined accelerating energy wherein the carbon ions of the second ion beam are deposited on the interface layer to form the diamond-like-carbon coating for the dynamic surface of the article.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One broad-beam ion deposition coating method (10) for depositing diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coatings (124) on the dynamic surfaces (120S) of articles (120) subject to adherence difficulties includes the steps of: (12) preliminarily conditioning the dynamic surface (120S) for broad-beam ion deposition; (14)inserting the article (120) in a deposition chamber (102); (16) evacuating the deposition chamber (102) to a predetermined base pressure; (18) ion sputtering conditioning of the dynamic surface (120) by ionizing an inert gas to form an ion beam (104B) having a predetermined beam current density and accelerating energy and directing the ion beam (104B) onto the dynamic surface; (20) depositing an interface layer (122) on the dynamic surface (120S) by ionizing a first gas to form an ion beam (104B) having a predetermined beam current density and accelerating energy, and directing the ion beam (104B) onto a target (118) to dislodge atoms therefrom, the dislodged atoms depositing on the dynamic surface (120S) to form the interface layer (122); and (22) depositing a DLC coating (124) on the interface layer (122) by ionizing a carbon-based gas to form an ion beam (104B) having a predetermined beam current density and accelerating energy and directing the ion beam (104B) for deposition of carbon ions (C+) onto the interface layer (122) to form the DLC coating (124) thereon.
134 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A broad-beam ion deposition coating method for depositing a diamond-like-carbon coating indirectly to a dynamic surface of an article subject to adherence difficulties utilizing a broad-beam ion deposition apparatus, the broad-beam ion deposition apparatus including a deposition chamber, a broad-beam ion gun operative to generate an ion beam having a trajectory, vacuum means for evacuating the deposition chamber, gas supply means for supplying gas to the broad-beam ion gun and the deposition chamber, and a target interposable between the broad-beam ion gun and the dynamic surface, comprising the steps of:
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(A) preliminarily conditioning the-dynamic surface of the article for broad-beam ion deposition; (B) inserting the conditioned article within the deposition chamber wherein the dynamic surface is spatially orientated at a predetermined trajectory angle with respect to the ion beam trajectory; (C) evacuating the;
deposition chamber to a predetermined base pressure utilizing the vacuum means;(D) ion sputtering conditioning the dynamic surface of the article for broad-beam ion deposition by (D1) providing a sputtering gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means, (D2) operating the broad-beam ion gun to ionize the sputtering gas to generate a sputtering ion beam having a predetermined beam current density, and (D3) accelerating the sputtering ion beam at a predetermined accelerating energy towards the dynamic surface wherein impact of the accelerated sputtering ion beam with the dynamic surface effectuates sputter cleaning thereof. (E) depositing an interface layer having a predetermined thickness on the dynamic surface by (E1) providing a first gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means, (E2) operating the broad-beam ion gun to ionize the first gas to generate a first ion beam having a predetermined beam current density, and (E3) accelerating the first ion beam towards the target at a predetermined accelerating energy to dislodge atoms therefrom, the dislodged atoms being deposited on the dynamic surface to form the interface layer on the dynamic surface; and (F) depositing a diamond-like-carbon coating having a predetermined thickness on the interface layer deposited on the dynamic surface by (F1) providing a carbon-based gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means, (F2) operating the broad-beam ion gun to ionize the carbon-based gas to generate a second ion beam that includes carbon ions, the second ion beam having a predetermined beam current density, and (F3) accelerating the second ion beam towards the dynamic surface at a predetermined accelerating energy wherein the carbon ions of the second ion beam are deposited on the interface layer to form the diamond-like-carbon coating for the dynamic surface of the article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A broad-beam ion deposition coating method for depositing a diamond-like-carbon coating directly to a dynamic surface of an article not subject to adherence difficulties utilizing a broad-beam ion deposition apparatus, the broad-beam ion deposition apparatus including a deposition chamber, a broad-beam ion gun operative to generate an ion beam having a trajectory, vacuum means for evacuating the deposition chamber, and gas supply means for supplying gas to the broad-beam ion gun and the deposition chamber, comprising the steps of:
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(A) preliminarily conditioning the dynamic surface of the article for broad-beam ion deposition; (B) inserting the conditioned article within the deposition chamber wherein the dynamic surface is spatially orientated at a predetermined trajectory angle with respect to the ion beam trajectory; (C) evacuating the deposition chamber to a predetermined base pressure utilizing the vacuum means; (D) ion sputtering conditioning the dynamic surface of the article for broad-beam ion deposition by (D1) providing a sputtering gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means, (D2) operating the broad-beam ion gun to ionize the sputtering gas to generate a sputtering ion beam having a predetermined beam current density, and (D3) accelerating the sputtering ion beam at a predetermined accelerating energy towards the dynamic surface wherein impact of the accelerated sputtering ion beam with the dynamic surface effectuates sputter cleaning thereof; and (E) depositing a diamond-like-carbon coating having a predetermined thickness to the dynamic surface by (E1) providing a carbon-based gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means, (E1) providing a carbon-based gas to the broad-beam ion gun utilizing the gas supply means, (E2) operating the broad-beam ion gun to ionize the carbon-based gas to generate an ion beam that includes carbon ions, the ion beam having a predetermined beam current density, and (E3) accelerating the ion beam towards the dynamic surface at a predetermined accelerating energy wherein the carbon ions of the ion beam are deposited on the dynamic surface to form the diamond-like-carbon coating for the dynamic surface of the article. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification