Patent ID: 6733590
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
An apparatus for multilayer ion beam deposition, comprising:(a) a process chamber having an interior space adapted to be maintained under vacuum conditions by the action of a single vacuum pump means and including substrate mounting means within said chamber; (b) an ion beam source means within said process chamber for deposition of at least one film on a surface of a substrate held by said substrate mounting means; (c) a plurality of gas supply means for supplying said ion beam source means with source gases for film deposition, each of said plurality of gas supply means including means for providing a substantially constant flow of source gas therefrom; (d) said single vacuum pump means connected to each of said plurality of gas supply means; and (e) a plurality of valve means, including a valve means connected to each of said plurality of gas supply means and to said vacuum pump means for selectively supplying source gas from one of said plurality of gas supply means to said ion beam source means while venting source gases from all others of said plurality of gas supply means to said single vacuum pump means, for maintaining said substantially constant flow of source gas from each of said plurality of gas supply means, wherein: each of said plurality of valve means comprises a first valve means connected to a respective one of said plurality of gas supply means for supplying source gas therefrom to said ion beam source means and a second valve means connected to said one of said plurality of gas source means for venting source gas therefrom to said single vacuum pump means, and the second valve means is open when said first valve means is closed and vice versa.