Patent ID: 6843891
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. A sputtering apparatus for use in an evacuated volume comprising: ion source means for ionizing an ionizable gas to produce a plasma, wherein ions leaving said ion source means are in the form of an ion efflux having an energy of about 50 eV or less; a sputter target, biased negative relative to ground, and having a curved target surface, wherein said curved target surface has a smooth continuous curvature in one direction, and wherein said curved target surface is disposed in the ion efflux of said ion source means, whereby particles of material are sputtered from said target; a deposition substrate upon which the material sputtered from said sputter target is deposited; and wherein said ionizable gas within said evacuated volume is at a first pressure and said ionizable gas within said ion source is at a second pressure, and wherein said first pressure is substantially less than said second pressure.