Patent ID: 6036828
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An apparatus for applying material by cathodic arc vapor deposition to a substrate, comprising:a vessel;means for maintaining a vacuum in said vessel;a disk-shaped cathode positioned inside said vessel, said cathode having a first end surface, a second end surface, and an evaporative surface extending therebetween;means for selectively sustaining an arc of electrical energy between said evaporative surface and an anode; andmeans for steering said arc around said evaporative surface, said means for steering said arc including a ferromagnetic center piece and a magnetic field generator that includes a plurality of cylindrical permanent magnets, and each said magnet has a first polar end and a second polar end, and said second polar end has a polarity opposite that of said first polar end, and each said magnet is attached to a side surface of said ferromagnetic center piece and uniformly spaced around said ferromagnetic center piece; anda housing in contact with one of said cathode end surfaces, wherein said magnetic field generator is enclosed within said housing;wherein said means for steering said arc is positioned adjacent one of said cathode end surfaces, producing a magnetic field that permeates said cathode; andwherein said arc of electrical energy extending between said cathode and said anode liberates a portion of said cathode which is subsequently deposited on the substrate located inside said vessel.