Patent ID: 9123508
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method of sputtering a hard coating, the method comprising: a) supplying feed gas proximate to an anode and a cathode assembly comprising a magnet assembly and a sputtering target; b) generating a pulsed voltage waveform between the anode and the cathode assembly, the pulsed voltage waveform comprising voltage oscillations having an amplitude, a frequency, and a duration that generates a magnetron discharge with an oscillating discharge current, wherein the amplitude and the frequency of the voltage oscillations are chosen to generate an arc free magnetron discharge during a pulsed voltage waveform, a duration of the voltage oscillations being chosen to increase an ionization rate of sputtered target material atoms; and c) applying a negative bias voltage to a substrate holder supporting a substrate, the negative bias voltage attracting positive ions from sputtered target material atoms to the substrate, thereby forming a coating on the substrate with a desired hardness.