Patent ID: 6689253
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: C23C,G11B,H01J

Abstract:
A facing target sputtering source, comprising:(a) a first tubular cathode open at each end and having inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces, at least said inwardly facing surface comprised of a target material to be sputtered; (b) a second tubular cathode open at each end, co-extensive with and concentrically positioned within said first tubular cathode and forming therebetween an elongated, annularly-shaped space open at each end, said second cathode having inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces, at least said outwardly facing surface comprised of said target material to be sputtered; (c) a first pair of ring-shaped magnet means, each extending around a minor portion of said outwardly facing surface of said first tubular cathode at the respective ends thereof, with a first polarity magnetic pole of each of said first pair of magnet means facing said outwardly facing surface of said first cathode; and (d) a second pair of ring-shaped magnet means, each extending around a minor portion of said inwardly facing surface of said second tubular cathode at the respective ends thereof, with a second, opposite polarity magnetic pole of each of said second pair of magnet means facing said inwardly facing surface of said second cathode, whereby: magnetic flux lines from each of said first and second pairs of magnet means uni-directionally pass through minor portions of said annularly-shaped space between said first and second tubular cathodes at respective ends thereof, and during sputtering operation, plasma is substantially confined to a major portion of said annularly-shaped space located between said magnetic flux lines from said first and second pairs of magnet means.