Patent ID: 6402912
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
A sputtering target assembly comprising:a sputtering target and target backing plate assembly having opposed first and second sides, the first side providing material for sputtering; a pressure relief plate having opposed first and second sides, the target and target backing plate assembly second side being in contact with the first side of the pressure relief plate; heat exchange passages selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: heat exchange passages defined between the opposed sides of the sputtering target and backing plate assembly, heat exchange passages defined between the opposed sides of the pressure relief plate, and heat exchange passages defined by heat exchange cavities formed in at least one member of the group consisting of the first side of the pressure relief plate and the second side of the target and target backing plate assembly, wherein the heat exchange passages are formed between the first side of the pressure relief plate and the second side of the target and target backing plate assembly which enclose the heat exchange cavities; the heat exchange passages having one or more inlet and outlet openings; an insulation cover unit having opposed first and second sides; wherein the second side of the pressure relief plate is in contact with the first side of the insulation cover unit to form at least one vacuum pressure space therebetween capable of maintaining a vacuum therein; and wherein the vacuum pressure space is defined by vacuum passages capable of maintaining a vacuum, the vacuum passages selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: (a) vacuum passages defined by having vacuum cavities formed in the second side of the pressure relief plate such that, when the first side of the insulation cover unit is contacted to the second side of the pressure relief plate, the vacuum passages are formed between the vacuum cavities in the pressure relief plate and the insulation cover unit enclosing those vacuum cavities, and (b) vacuum passages defined by having vacuum cavities formed in the first side of the insulation cover unit such that, when the second side of the pressure relief plate is contacted to the first side of the insulation cover unit, the vacuum passages are formed between the vacuum cavities in the insulation cover unit and the pressure relief plate enclosing those vacuum cavities.