Patent ID: 6350356
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
An apparatus for arc evaporation comprising a cathode having the shape of a bar of substantially rectangular cross section, the length of said bar being greater than either dimension of said rectangular cross-section, the outer surface of said cathode having four sides and two ends, said four sides comprising a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides, said cathode comprising an evaporable surface comprising at least one material to be vaporized, said evaporable surface defined by both members of said first parallel pair of sides and both said ends of said cathode, said cathode functioning to emit vapors and macroparticles of said material to be vaporized, said vapors being emitted in the directions substantially perpendicular to said evaporable surface;two side shields disposed adjacent to the sides of said cathode, said side shields projecting outward from said evaporable surface along said long sides by a selectable distance, said side shields functioning to block at least a portion of the macroparticles ejected from said evaporable surface, said selectable distance defining a cutoff ejection angle below which macroparticles ejected from any point on said evaporable surface will be blocked, said cutoff ejection angle being at least about 15 degrees; magnetic field generating means for establishing in a vicinity of said evaporable surface of said cathode a magnetic field, wherein said magnetic means comprise two magnetic assemblies, each assembly comprising at least two permanent magnets and one rectangular frame, each of said frames comprising magnetically permeable members comprising two long sides including inside faces and two ends, said permanent magnets being mounted on the inside faces of said long sides of said frames, said frames being mounted parallel to each other and adjacent to said side shields, said magnetic field being represented by magnetic flux lines, said magnetic field having a component over all of said evaporable surface which is parallel to said evaporable surface and perpendicular to said second pair of parallel sides of said cathode, said magnetic field functioning to direct at least one arc discharge spot on said evaporable surface in a closed loop path around the periphery of said cathode, such that said material to be vaporized is vaporized from said evaporable surface.