Patent ID: 9222167
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. A sputtering apparatus, comprising: a vacuum chamber; a target positioned in the vacuum chamber and capable of sputtering material from a surface of the target; a first plate disposed in the vacuum chamber and configured to face the surface of the target and to be moved away from the surface of the target by rotation of the first plate with reference to a first axis; a second plate disposed in the vacuum chamber and configured to face the surface of the target and to move away from the surface of the target by rotation of the second plate with reference to a second axis different from the first axis, the first and second axes positioned at a same side of the target; and mechanical means positioned within the vacuum chamber for forming a first configuration in which the first plate faces the surface of the target and for reversibly exchanging the positions of the first plate and the second plate to form a second configuration in which the second plate faces the surface of the target, the first configuration and the second configuration each positioning one of the first plate and the second plate to prevent most sputtering material from reaching the other of the first plate and the second plate along a direct path from the target.