Patent ID: 6645354
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
A vacuum arc coating apparatus comprisinga rectangular cathode plate having opposed long sides connected to a negative pole of an arc current source, the cathode plate having an evaporation surface, a coating chamber defined by the evaporation surface and a housing, a substrate holder within the coating chamber, at least one anode within the coating chamber spaced from the evaporation surface, connected to a positive pole of a current source, an arc igniter for igniting an arc between the cathode and the anode and generating an arc spot on the evaporation surfaces, and a magnetic steering system comprising at least first and second steering conductors arranged along opposite sides of the cathode plate, the first steering conductor carrying a current in a direction opposite to a direction of current in the second steering conductor, the first and second steering conductors each being disposed in the vicinity of the evaporation surface so that a magnetic field generated thereby exerts a magnetic influence on the arc spot, the first steering conductor being electrically independent of the second steams conductor, wherein by varying a level of current applied through the first steering conductor relative to the second steering conductor the arc spot shifts toward a long side of the cathode plate.