Patent ID: 6497799
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
A method of forming a multilayer film on at least one surface of a substrate with improved thickness uniformity, comprising the sequential steps of:(a) providing a vacuum chamber comprising: (i) a pair of parallel top and bottom walls connected by at least one side wall; (ii) at least one entry/exit means in said at least one side wall for insertion and withdrawal of a substrate from said chamber; (iii) a plurality of spaced-apart, radially extending, linearly elongated sputtering sources arranged in a co-planar array adjacent one of said top or bottom walls of said chamber, each of said linearly elongated sputtering sources having a length and a width; and (iv) a gripper/transporter for gripping and moving a said substrate in a generally circular, planar path past each of said plurality of radially extending sputtering sources, such that said at least one deposition surface of said substrate faces each of said sputtering sources during movement along said circular path, for deposition of multilayer film thereon; (b) inserting a said substrate into said chamber via said at least one side wall entry/exit means, the at least one deposition surface of said substrate having a maximum lateral dimension less than either said length or said width of each of said linearly elongated sputtering sources; (c) gripping said substrate at edges thereof by means of said gripper/transporter; (d) sputtering target material from each of said plurality of sputtering sources; and (e) moving said substrate by means of said gripper/transporter in a circular path past each of said plurality of sputtering sources and depositing on said at least one deposition surface thereof a desired multilayer film comprising a predetermined number of sub-layers.