Patent ID: 8771422
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: C23C,H01F

Abstract:
1. A coating apparatus comprising: a process chamber having an annular acceptor configured to place thereon a vaporizable metallic material; a heater configured to heat substantially uniformly an inside of the process chamber to a predetermined temperature; a preparatory chamber in communication with the process chamber; an evacuating pump configured to hold both the process and the preparatory chambers at a predetermined degree of vacuum; a valve moveable between an opened position in which the process and the preparatory chambers are in communication with each other and a closed position in which the process chamber is sealed from the preparatory chamber; a support member configured to move an article to be coated between the process chamber and the preparatory chamber and seal the process chamber from the preparatory chamber when the article to be coated is moved into the process chamber; the process chamber being housed inside a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber having a second evacuating pump; the process chamber being defined by a uniform-heating member having on one side thereof an opening; and the heater being disposed between the uniform-heating member and an insulating material, the insulating material enclosing a circumference of the uniform-heating member except for the opening so that the heater can heat the uniform-heating member, to thereby selectively deposit the vaporizable metallic material on a surface of the article to be coated by an effect of a temperature difference between the predetermined temperature within the process chamber and a temperature of the article to be coated, wherein the acceptor is mounted to an inner surface of the uniform-heating member such that the vaporizable metallic material is arranged around the article to be coated when the article to be coated is moved into the process chamber by the support member.