Patent ID: 6149783
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
A vacuum treatment apparatus, comprising:a vacuum recipient for containing an atmosphere;means for generating electrical charge carriers in the atmosphere within said recipient, the electrical charge carriers being of the type that form electrically isolating material;a work piece carrier arrangement in said recipient;at least two electroconductive surfaces in said recipient which are mutually electrically isolated from each other;a DC power supply operationally connected to said at least two electroconductive surfaces by two respective electrical conductors with an inductor in one of said conductors;a controlled parallel switching arrangement connected between said electrical conductors to control a current path between said conductors, said controlled parallel switching arrangement having a current path controllably switchable to higher and lower conductivities and connected between said electrical conductors in between said DC power supply and said at least two electroconductive surfaces to control current from one of said at least two electroconductive surfaces via said current path of said parallel switching arrangement to the other of said at least two electroconductive surfaces; anda control arrangement connected to the parallel switching arrangement for controlling said switching arrangement so as to prevent potential arcing conditions to occur at said electroconductive surfaces.