Magnetron sputtering systems including anodic gas distribution systems
First Claim
1. A magnetron sputtering apparatus for applying thin films on substrates, comprising:
- a vacuum chamber within which a controlled environment may be established;
one or more cathode assemblies including a target comprising one or more sputterable target materials;
a gas distribution system operatively connected to one or more gas supplies and including one or more gas delivery members each being hollow and each having nozzles through which sputtering gases are introduced into the vacuum chamber;
and one or more power supplies electrically connected to the one or more cathode assemblies and the gas distribution system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a magnetron sputtering system using a gas distribution system which also serves as a source of anodic charge to generate plasma field. The sputtering system is comprised of a vacuum chamber, a cathode target of sputterable material, a power source which supplies positive and negative charge, and a gas distribution system. The gas distribution system may comprise a simple perforated gas delivery member, or it may comprise a perforated gas delivery member with an attached conductive anodic surface. The gas delivery member may also contain an inner conduit with further perforations which serves to baffle flow of the sputtering gas. Gas flow may be regulated within discrete portions of the gas distribution system. The anodic surfaces of the gas distribution system are cleaned through the action of plasma and gas flow, creating a more stable plasma and reducing the need for maintenance.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A magnetron sputtering apparatus for applying thin films on substrates, comprising:
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a vacuum chamber within which a controlled environment may be established; one or more cathode assemblies including a target comprising one or more sputterable target materials; a gas distribution system operatively connected to one or more gas supplies and including one or more gas delivery members each being hollow and each having nozzles through which sputtering gases are introduced into the vacuum chamber; and one or more power supplies electrically connected to the one or more cathode assemblies and the gas distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An anodic gas delivery system comprising:
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one or more gas delivery members conducively coupled to a power supply to produce at least one anodic surface, the one or more gas delivery members each being hollow and each including nozzles through which one or more sputtering gases are introduced into a deposition chamber; and a gas conduit through which the sputtering gases are delivered from one or more gas supplies to the one or more gas delivery members. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An anodic gas delivery system comprising:
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one or more gas delivery members each being hollow and each including nozzles through which one or more sputtering gases are introduced into a deposition chamber; one or more conductive members positioned adjacent to the one or more gas delivery members so as to receive a flow of gas from the one or more gas delivery members and electrically coupled to a power supply to produce at least one anodic surface on the conductive members; one or more brackets operably adjoined to the one or more conductive members to deliver a charge to the one or more gas delivery members; and a gas conduit through which the one or more sputtering gases are delivered from one or more gas supplies to the one or more gas delivery members. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of maintaining a conductive anodic surface in a magnetron sputtering system comprising:
- introducing one or more gases through at a gas delivery system and into a deposition chamber, said gas delivery system including one or more gas delivery members each being hollow and each having nozzles through which the one or more sputtering gases are introduced into the deposition chamber and one or more gas conduits operatively connecting the one or more gas delivery members to one or more gas supplies;
administering a negative charge to a cathode assembly including a target having one or more target materials and a positive charge to the gas delivery system using one or more power sources to generate a sputtering plasma for applying target material from said target to a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 49)
- introducing one or more gases through at a gas delivery system and into a deposition chamber, said gas delivery system including one or more gas delivery members each being hollow and each having nozzles through which the one or more sputtering gases are introduced into the deposition chamber and one or more gas conduits operatively connecting the one or more gas delivery members to one or more gas supplies;
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36. A method of maintaining a stable plasma in a magnetron sputtering system comprising the steps of:
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introducing one or more sputtering gases through a gas delivery system and into a deposition chamber, the gas delivery system including one or more gas delivery members each being hollow and each having nozzles through which the one or more sputtering gases are introduced into the deposition chamber; administering a negative charge to a cathode assembly and a positive charge to the gas delivery system using one or more power sources; and maintaining the conductive capacity of the gas delivery system through the cleaning action of the plasma flame and/or directed gas flow. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification