Patent ID: 8282794
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for the application of coatings in a vacuum comprising: at least one filtered arc source comprising at least one cathode contained within a cathode chamber, at least one anode associated with the cathode for generating an arc discharge, a plasma duct in communication with the cathode chamber and with a coating chamber containing a substrate holder for mounting at least one substrate to be coated, the substrate holder being positioned off an optical axis of the cathode, at least one pair of focusing conductors disposed adjacent to the cathode and the plasma duct, along upstream and downstream sides of the cathode, for focusing a plasma flow from the cathode to the plasma duct, at least one pair of deflecting conductors disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the cathode and opposite sides of the plasma duct, generating a deflecting magnetic cusp for deflecting a plasma flow from the arc source into the plasma duct and a focusing magnetic field for focusing a plasma flow along the plasma duct, the deflecting field coupling with the focusing magnetic field in the cathode chamber, the at least one pair of focusing conductors comprising conductors generating an upstream magnetic cusp in a direction opposite the deflecting magnetic cusp and extending into the plasma duct, a plane of symmetry being defined between the upstream cusp and the deflecting magnetic cusp, and at least one metal vapor or sputter deposition plasma source comprising a material to be evaporated, the at least one metal vapor or sputter deposition plasma source in optical alignment with the substrate, and installed in the plasma duct in a region between the upstream magnetic cusp and the deflecting magnetic cusp, on the side of the plane of symmetry toward the deflecting magnetic cusp or in a region where the deflecting magnetic field is too small to deflect electrons from the at least one plasma source, whereby metal vapor is propagated toward the substrate along magnetic field lines of the deflecting magnetic field.