Patent ID: 6821397
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing magnetron sputter-coated workpieces comprising the steps of:applying a substrate to be magnetron sputter-coated adjacent a magnetron source having a target arrangement; generating along said target arrangement at least one electron current loop within a respective electron trap by generating a magnetic field which forms, in top view, onto the target arrangement, a closed loop and, viewed, in a cross-sectional direction, a tunnel-shaped arc by an electric field which crosses at an angle to said magnetic field along said loop and which is generated between an anode arrangement and the target arrangement acting as a cathode; controlling plasma density distribution along said target arrangement by controllably switching said current loop to be present and not to be present at at least one predetermined control area along a limited extent of said loop of said target arrangement; said switching being performed by varying at least one of said magnetic field and said electric field in the control area along said limited extent of said loop; and magnetron sputter-coating said substrate by said magnetron sputter-source.