Patent ID: 6447837
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
A method for measuring the degree of ionization in a vapor deposition coating system which comprises an ionized vapor enclosure, an evaporator for producing coating vapor in the ionized vapor enclosure, and an ionizing source for ionizing the coating vapor to a degree of ionization, comprising the steps of:exposing a first electrically conductive element and a second electrically conductive element to the ionized coating vapor in the ionized vapor enclosure; supplying electric current to the first electrically conductive element with a first electric power supply so that the electric current flows from the first electric power supply, through the first electrically conductive element, through the ionized vapor to the second electrically conductive element, through second electrically conductive element, and back to the first electric power supply; and measuring electric current through the first electrically conductive element with an ammeter.