Patent ID: 6342131
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
A thin film deposition method comprising the steps of:preparing a magnetron sputtering system having magnetic field generation means for changing a magnetic field to be applied to a target from an underside thereof; mounting, as said target, a monolithic compound material including not less than two components on a cathode of said magnetron sputtering system; providing a to-be-processed substrate on an anode of said magnetron sputtering system to oppose said target from an upper side; evacuating a chamber of said magnetron sputtering system and thereafter filling said chamber with inert gas; generating, by use of a peak magnet force of said magnetic field, a local erosion on said target, by applying, onto said cathode, a power selected from the group consisting of DC and RF power; and sweeping a position of said peak magnet force of said magnetic field under said target, to move a position of said local erosion by a distance larger than a size of said substrate in a sweeping direction such that said local erosion passes though at least under a portion of said substrate and change a ratio of not less than two components of said thin film in a film thickness direction of said thin film, by alternating said magnetic field from a region below said target.