Patent ID: 6077407
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: C04B,H01J

Abstract:
A sputtering cathode based on the magnetron principle, comprising:a target material to be sputtered, comprised of one or more components, the target material having an upper surface and a lower surface;a magnetic system, located adjacent the lower surface of the target material, the magnetic system comprising a pair of magnetic sources of opposite polarity, the magnetic sources having two opposite magnetic poles, which sources are in the form of right prisms having an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein magnetic poles of each of the magnetic sources are oriented at an angle that is not perpendicular to the upper surface of the target material, and wherein the pair of sources forms a self-enclosed tunnel of arcuate magnetic lines of force; whereinthe lower edges of the magnetic sources, facing away from the target, are connected via a magnetic yoke made of a material of low retentivity,the upper edges of the magnetic sources run parallel to the target surfaces, andthe polarity and thus the magnetic lines of force of the sources run at an inclined angle with respect to a line perpendicular to the upper surface of the target material,whereby the magnetic lines of force leaving the upper edge of the magnetic sources angle away from a center of the sputtering cathode.