Abstract:
A mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation is provided. The mechanical device is used for clipping the object body during a vacuum sputtering process. The effect of homogeneous film coating is achievable by multi-degree-of-freedom rotation of the specimen when performing a surface treatment, particularly for a cylinder specimen.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a transmission device, and more particularly to a device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation for a specimen clipped by the device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the field of mechanical, electronic, and semiconductor industries, sputtering is one of the most popular methods for forming a paint film (thin film) on the surface of a material to add on a certain character to the material. Sputtering is a method of physical vapor deposition, which is broadly adopted by the industries for its wide applications as well as being unrestricted to the material, either metal or non-metal. The concept of sputtering is that atoms are ejected from the surface of a solid target material due to bombardment of the target by energetic ions in a vacuum environment and then adhered to a substrate (the material) to form a thin film. 
         [0003]    The fundamental principle of sputtering is to bombard the surface of the solid target with accelerated ions and end up with sputtered atoms from the surface of the solid target after a momentum exchange between the ions and the atoms. Usually, the target is located at the cathode while the matter to be plated (say specimen substrates or disks) is located at the anode. To stimulate the plasma of a sputtering gas, a voltage of multi-million volts is applied to the cathode. The negative voltage applied to the cathode accelerates positive ions in the sputtering gas plasma toward the surface of the cathode. When the positive ions eventually collide with the surface of the target, atoms on the surface of the target are ejected out and move toward the substrate located at the anode. The atoms will then be plated on the surface of the substrate. 
         [0004]    Based on the electrical power used during the process, the sputtering can be categorized into DC sputtering and RF sputtering. DC sputtering is often used for semiconductor materials. The reactive sputtering can be made with different input gases. In general, oxygen or nitrogen is input for making oxide or nitride respectively. RF sputtering could be widely applied to a variety of materials, mostly to non-conducting materials. 
         [0005]    The object body for surface treatment is usually of a flat shape. Therefore, during the sputtering process, the object body needs to be fastened only, or merely be rotated at one degree of freedom, to achieve the purpose of homogeneous coating film. However, due to a cylinder shape having not only a 360-degree surface but also a length, simply fastening the object body or rotating it at one degree of freedom may end up with ultra thickness at some particular spots and cannot achieve the effect of homogeneous film coating. 
         [0006]    To overcome the issue set forth in the prior paragraph, the present invention employs combinations of mechanical structures to acquire switching as well as combination of power directions and achieve the effect of multi-degree-of-freedom rotation simultaneously. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a clipping device for generating a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation from a single power input. The effect of homogeneous film coating is achievable by multi-degree-of-freedom rotation of the specimen when performing a surface treatment, particularly for a cylinder specimen. In accordance with the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation, including an immovable frame fastening the device and having a first hole and a first sleeve located at the frame center, communicating with the first hole and having a first transmission element; a first shaft, located at the frame center through the first hole as well as the first sleeve, and having a second hole; a second shaft located in the second hole, perpendicular to the first shaft, and having a second sleeve, including a second transmission element having a first and a second ends, and meshing with the first transmission element at the first end of the second transmission element, for driving the second sleeve in accordance with a rotation of the first shaft; and a third transmission element, located at the second end of the second transmission element; a third shaft having a fourth transmission element; a fourth shaft; a first connecting element connecting the second and the third shafts, and letting the third and the fourth transmission elements mesh together; and a second connecting element connecting the second and the fourth shafts. 
         [0008]    In accordance with the same aspect of the present invention, the third transmission element further comprises a balance sleeve including a first balance element having a first and a second ends, in which the second end thereof is adjacent to the first transmission element; and a second balance element located at the second end of the first balance element, and the fourth shaft has a third balance element. 
         [0009]    Preferably, each of the first, the second and the third balance elements is an idler, each of the first and the second transmission elements is a bevel gear, and each of the third and the fourth transmission elements is a spur gear. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the fourth transmission element has a first fastening element and the fourth shaft has a second fastening element relative to the first fastening element. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the first fastening element is one selected from a group consisting of a spring clip, a screw fastener and a tenon, and the second fastening element is one selected from a group consisting of a spring clip, a screw fastener, a mortise and a tenon. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the mechanical device is for use in a deposition machine, the first fastening element is one selected from a group consisting of a spring clip, a screw fastener and a tenon, and the second fastening element is one selected from a group consisting of a spring clip, a screw fastener, a mortise and a tenon. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the mechanical device further comprises a plurality of third shafts, each of which has the fourth transmission element; a third connecting element connecting the plurality of third shafts and letting the fourth transmission elements mesh with each other; a plurality of fourth shafts, each of which has a first balance element; and a fourth connecting element connecting the fourth shafts. 
         [0014]    Preferably, each of the first and the second transmission elements is a bevel gear, and each of the third and the fourth transmission elements is a spur gear. 
         [0015]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation is provided. The mechanical device comprises an immovable frame fastening the mechanical device, and including a first hole; and a first sleeve located at the frame center, communicating with the first hole, and having a first transmission element; a first shaft located at the frame center through the first hole and the first sleeve, and having a second hole; a second shaft located in the second hole, perpendicular to the first shaft, and including a second sleeve comprising a second transmission element having a first and a second ends, and meshing with the first transmission element at the first end, for driving the second sleeve in accordance with a rotation of the first shaft; a third transmission element located at the second end of the second transmission element; and a first connecting element located at the second shaft and adjacent to the third transmission element; and a third sleeve including a first balance element having a first and a second ends, and contacted with the first transmission element at the first end of the first balance element; a second balance element located at the second end of the first balance element; and a second connecting element located at the second shaft and adjacent to the second balance element; and a third shaft located between the first and the second connecting elements and parallel to the second shaft, including a fourth transmission element meshing with the third transmission element and having a plurality of fifth shafts aligned in a ring shape, in which each of the plurality of fifth shafts has a fifth transmission element; a sixth transmission element located at the third shaft and meshing with the fifth transmission elements; and a balance turntable connected with the second balance element. 
         [0016]    Preferably, each of the first and the second transmission elements is a bevel gear, and each of the third, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth transmission elements is a spur gear. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the mechanical device is for use in a deposition machine, each of the first and the second transmission elements is a bevel gear, and each of the third, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth transmission elements is a spur gear. 
         [0018]    Preferably, each of the first, the second balance elements and the balance turntable is an idler. 
         [0019]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mechanical device for universal rotation in a deposition machine is provided. The mechanical device comprises a fastening frame having a first hole and a first sleeve having a first transmission element; a first shaft passing through the first hole and having a second hole; and a second shaft located in the second hole, being perpendicular to the first shaft and having a second sleeve including a second transmission element having a first and a second ends and meshing with the first transmission element at the first end of the second transmission element, for driving the second sleeve in accordance with a rotation of the first shaft; and a third transmission element having a first and a second ends, in which the first end of the third transmission element is located at the second end of the second transmission element. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the second shaft has a balance sleeve having a first and a second balance elements. The mechanical device further comprises a third shaft having a fourth transmission element meshing with the third transmission element, and having a third balance element located at the second end of the third transmission element, wherein the third shaft has a plurality of clipping devices; and a first and a second connecting elements for connecting the second and the third shafts. 
         [0021]    Preferably, each of the first, the second and the third balance elements is an idler, each of the first and the second transmission elements is a bevel gear, and each of the third and the fourth transmission elements is a spur gear. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for the purposes of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. 
         [0027]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The mechanical device is used for clipping the object body during a vacuum sputtering process. The mechanical device has a frame  10  for fastening the entire device. There are a hole  101  and a main sleeve  102  on the frame  10 . A central hole of the main sleeve  102  is in conjunction with the hole  101  of the frame  10 , to accommodate a main shaft (not shown) perpendicular to the frame  10 . In addition, a main bevel gear  103  is located at one end of the main sleeve  102 . The upper end of the main shaft  12  is connected to a power input. The lower end of the main shaft  12  has a hole  121  for furnishing a horizontal shaft  13 . The horizontal shaft  13  has a left and a right portions, and each of which is furnished with a sleeve, the left sleeve  14  and the right sleeve  15  respectively. The left sleeve  14  has a left bevel gear  141  meshed with the main bevel gear  103  and located at one end adjacent to the main shaft  12 , and a first spur gear  142  at the other end. For the purposes of balancing and avoiding a twist when the two sleeves move around the main shaft  12 , the right sleeve  15  has neither bevel gear nor spur gear but rather two balancing idlers  151  and  152  corresponding to the left bevel gear  141  and the first spur gear  142  respectively. Shaft connecting elements  16  and  17  are furnished at each end of the horizontal shaft  13 , to respectively connect with a left short shaft  18  and a right short shaft  19 , both parallel to the horizontal shaft  13 . The left short shaft  18  has a second spur gear  20  connected to a clipping turntable  21  and meshed with the first spur gear. The right short shaft  19  has an idler  22  and a tray  23  which is allowed to rotate freely. 
         [0028]    When a specimen is fastened between the clipping turntable  21  and the tray  23 , initiating the power input (say a torque) and turning the main shaft  12  will drive the horizontal shaft  13  to move around on a horizontal plane. Meanwhile, the left bevel gear  141  meshed with the main bevel gear  103  is rotating around the main bevel gear  103  due to the horizontal movement of the horizontal shaft  13  and driving a rotation of the left sleeve  14  and the first spur gear  142 . For the second spur gear  20  is meshed with the first spur gear  142 , the rotation of the first spur gear  142  will drive a rotation of the second spur gear  20  and also a rotation of the clipping turntable  21  connected to the second spur gear  20 . On the other hand, only the balancing idlers  151 ,  152 , and  22  are furnished at the right sleeve  15  and the right short shaft  19 , so there is no power transmission therebetween. Furthermore, since the tray  23  is allowed to rotation freely, it will follow the rotation of the clipping turntable  21  via a transmission of the specimen. According to the description set forth above, requiring a single power input to the mechanical device, the specimen may be moved around following the horizontal shaft  13  and rotated together with the clipping turntable  21  simultaneously, thereby achieving a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation. 
         [0029]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 , which is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The mechanical device is used for clipping the object body during a vacuum sputtering process. The mechanical device has a frame (not shown) for fastening the entire device. There are a hole (not shown) and a main sleeve  302  on the frame. A central hole of the main sleeve  302  is in conjunction with the hole  301  of the frame, to accommodate a main shaft  32  perpendicular to the frame. In addition, a main bevel gear  303  is located at one end of the main sleeve  302 . The upper end of the main shaft  32  is connected to a power input. The lower end of the main shaft  32  has a hole  321  for furnishing a horizontal shaft  33 . The horizontal shaft  33  has a left and a right portions, each of which is furnished with a sleeve, the left sleeve  34  and the right sleeve  35  respectively. The left sleeve  34  has a left bevel gear  341  meshed with the main bevel gear  303  and located at one end adjacent to the main shaft  32 , and a first spur gear  342  at the other end. For the purposes of balancing and avoiding a twist when the two sleeves move around the main shaft  32 , the right sleeve  35  has neither bevel gear nor spur gear but rather two balancing idlers  351  and  352  corresponding to the left bevel gear  341  and the first spur gear  342  respectively. A main shaft-connecting element  36  is furnished at the center of the horizontal shaft  33 . Along a horizontal direction, a plurality of horizontal shafts  33   1 ,  33   2 ,  33   3  . . .  33   n  are furnished on the main shaft-connecting element  36 . Each of the horizontal shafts  33   1 ,  33   2 ,  33   3  . . .  33   n  is respectively furnished with a first spur gear  342   1 ,  342   2 ,  342   3  . . .  342   n  and a shaft-connecting element  37   1 ,  37   2 ,  37   3  . . .  37   n  to respectively connect with a left short shaft  39   1 ,  39   2 ,  39   3  . . .  39   n . The first spur gears  342   1 ,  342   2 ,  342   3  . . .  342   n  are meshed with each other. Each of the left short shafts  39   1 ,  39   2 ,  39   3  . . .  39   n  has a second spur gear  40   1 ,  40   2 ,  40   3  . . .  40   n  connected to a clipping turntable  41   1 ,  41   2 ,  41   3  . . .  41   n  respectively. The second spur gears  40   1 ,  40   2 ,  40   3  . . .  40   n  are respectively meshed with the corresponding first spur gears  342   1 ,  342   2 ,  342   3  . . .  342   n . The right portion of each horizontal shaft  33   1 ,  33   2 ,  33   3  . . .  33   n  is furnished with an idler  352   1 ,  352   2 ,  352   3  . . .  352   n  and a shaft-connecting element  38   1 ,  38   2 ,  38   3 , . . .  38   n  respectively. The shaft-connecting elements  38   1 ,  38   2 ,  38   3  . . .  38   n  are connected to a plurality of right short shafts  42   1 ,  42   2 ,  42   3  . . .  42   n  respectively. Each of the right short shafts  42   1 ,  42   2 ,  42   3  . . .  42   n  has another idler  43   1 ,  43   2 ,  43   3  . . .  43   n  and a tray  44   1 ,  44   2 ,  44   3  . . .  44   n  respectively, and the tray  44   1 ,  44   2 ,  44   3  . . .  44   n  is allowed to be rotated freely. 
         [0030]    When specimens are fastened between the clipping turntables  41   1 ,  41   2 ,  41   3  . . .  41   n  and the trays  44   1 ,  44   2 ,  44   3  . . .  44   n , initiating the power input (say a torque) and turning the main shaft  32  will drive the horizontal shaft  33  to move around on a horizontal plane. Meanwhile, the left bevel gears  342   1 ,  342   2 ,  342   3  . . .  342   n  meshed with the main bevel gear  303  are rotating around the main bevel gear  303  due to the horizontal movement of the horizontal shafts  33   1 ,  33   2 ,  33   3  . . .  33   n  and driving a rotation of the left sleeve  34  and the first spur gears  342   1 ,  342   2 ,  342   3  . . .  342   n . For the second spur gears  40   1 ,  40   2 ,  40   3  . . .  40   n  are meshed with the first spur gears  342   1 ,  342   2 ,  342   3  . . .  342   n , the rotation of the first spur gear will drive a rotation of the second spur gears  40   1 ,  40   1 ,  40   n  and also a rotation of the clipping turntables  41   1 ,  41   2 ,  41   3  . . .  41   n  connected to the second spur gears  40   1 ,  40   2 ,  40   3  . . .  40   n . On the other hand, only the balancing idlers  351 ,  352   1 ,  352   2 ,  352   3  . . .  352   n , and  43   1 ,  43   2 ,  43   3  . . .  43   n  are furnished at the right sleeve  35  and the right short shafts  42   1 ,  42   2 ,  42   3  . . .  42   n , so there is no power transmission therebetween. Furthermore, since the trays  44   1 ,  44   2 ,  44   3  . . .  44   n  are allowed to rotate freely, they will follow the rotation of the clipping turntables  41   1 ,  41   2 ,  41   3  . . .  41   n  via a transmission of the specimen. According to the description set forth above, requiring a single power input to the mechanical device, the specimens may be moved around following the horizontal shafts  33   1 ,  33   2 ,  33   3  . . .  33   n  and rotated together with the clipping turntables  41   1 ,  41   2 ,  41   3  . . .  41   n  simultaneously, thereby achieving the multi-degree-of-freedom rotations. 
         [0031]    Please refer to  FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The mechanical device is used for clipping the object body during a vacuum sputtering process. The mechanical device has a frame (not shown) for fastening the entire device. There are a hole  501  and a main sleeve  502  on the frame. A central hole of the main sleeve  502  is in conjunction with the hole  501  of the frame, to accommodate a main shaft (not shown) perpendicular to the frame. In addition, a main bevel gear (not shown) is located at one end of the main sleeve  502 . The upper end of the main shaft  52  is connected to a power input. The lower end of the main shaft  52  has a hole  521  for furnishing a first horizontal shaft  53 . The first horizontal shaft  53  has a left and a right portions, each of which is furnished with a sleeve, the left sleeve  54  and the right sleeve  55  respectively. The left sleeve  54  has a left bevel gear  541  meshed with the main bevel gear and located at one end adjacent to the main shaft, and a first spur gear  542  at the other end. For the purposes of balancing and avoiding a twist when the two sleeves move around the main shaft, the right sleeve  55  has neither bevel gear nor spur gear but rather two balancing idlers  551  and  552  corresponding to the left bevel gear  541  and the first spur gear  542  respectively. Shaft connecting elements  56  and  57  are furnished at each end of the first horizontal shaft  53 , for connecting a second horizontal shaft  58  parallel to the first horizontal shaft  53 . At the left end of the second horizontal shaft  58 , a second spur gear  59  and the third spur gear  60  are furnished and adjacent to each other, in which the diameter of the former is larger than that of the latter. The second spur gear  59  is meshed with the first spur gear  542  and has a plurality of short shafts  61   1 ,  61   2 ,  61   3  . . .  61   n  surrounding the third spur gear  60 . Each of the short shafts  61   1 ,  61   2 ,  61   3  . . .  61   n  is furnished with a fourth spur gear  62   1 ,  62   2 ,  62   3  . . .  62   n  connected to a clipping turntable  63   1 ,  63   2 ,  63   3  . . .  63   n  respectively. The third spur gear  60  is unmovable on the second horizontal shaft  58 , and is meshed with each of the fourth spur gears  62   1 ,  62   2 ,  62   3  . . .  62   n . A movable balancing wheel  64  is located at the right end of the second horizontal shaft  58 , and has the same dimension as that of the second spur gear  59 . A plurality of movable trays  65   1 ,  65   2 ,  65   3  . . .  65   n  are furnished on the balancing wheel  64  and located at the positions corresponding to the clipping turntables  63   1 ,  63   2 ,  63   3  . . .  63   n  respectively. 
         [0032]    When specimens are fastened between the clipping turntables  63   1 ,  63   2 ,  63   3  . . .  63   n  and the trays  65   1 ,  65   2 ,  65   3  . . .  65   n , initiating the power input (say a torque) and turning the main shaft  52  will drive the first horizontal shaft  53  to move around on a horizontal plane. Meanwhile, the left bevel gear  541  meshed with the main bevel gear  503  are rotating around the main bevel gear  503  due to the horizontal movement of the horizontal shaft  53  and driving a rotation of the left sleeve  54  and the first spur gear  542 . For the second spur gear  59  is meshed with the first spur gear  542 , the rotation of the first spur gear  542  will drive a rotation of the second spur gear  59  and also a revolution of all the fourth spur gears  62   1 ,  62   2 ,  62   3  . . .  62   n  around the third spur gear  60 . Since the third spur gear  60  is fixed on the second horizontal shaft  58  and meshed with the fourth spur gears  62   1 ,  62   2 ,  62   3  . . .  62   n , the fourth spur gears  62   1 ,  62   2 ,  62   3  . . .  62   n  are driven by the third spur gear  60  and respectively bring the corresponding clipping turntables  63   1 ,  63   2 ,  63   3  . . .  63   n  into rotations when the fourth spur gears  62   1 ,  62   2 ,  62   3  . . .  62   n  are revolving around the third spur gear  60 . On the other hand, only the balancing idlers and wheels  551 ,  552 , and  64  are furnished at the right sleeve  55  and the right end of the second horizontal shaft  58 , so there is no power transmission therebetween. Furthermore, since the trays  65   1 ,  65   2 ,  65   3  . . .  65   n  are allowed to rotate freely, they will follow the rotation of the clipping turntables  63   1 ,  63   2 ,  63   3  . . .  63   n  via a transmission of the specimen. According to the description set forth above, requiring a single power input to the mechanical device, the specimens may be moved around following the horizontal shaft  53  and simultaneously rotated together with the clipping turntables  63   1 ,  63   2 ,  63   3  . . .  63   n  while revolving around the second horizontal shaft  58 , thereby achieving the multi-degree-of-freedom rotations. 
         [0033]    Please refer to  FIG. 4 , which is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical device for transmitting a torque to generate a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The mechanical device is used for clipping the object body during a vacuum sputtering process. The mechanical device has a frame  70  for fastening the entire device. There are a hole  701  and a main sleeve  702  on the frame  70 . A central hole of the main sleeve  702  is in conjunction with the hole  701  of the frame  70 , to accommodate a main shaft  72  perpendicular to the frame  70 . In addition, a main bevel gear  703  is located at one end of the main sleeve  702 . The upper end of the main shaft  72  is connected to a power input. The lower end of the main shaft  72  has a hole  721  for furnishing a first horizontal shaft  73 . The first horizontal shaft  73  has a left and a right portions, each of which is furnished with a sleeve, the left sleeve  74  and the right sleeve  75  respectively. The left sleeve  74  has a left bevel gear  741  meshed with the main bevel gear  703  and located at one end adjacent to the main shaft  72 , and a first spur gear  742  at the other end. For the purposes of balancing and avoiding a twist when the two sleeves move around the main shaft  72 , the right sleeve  75  has neither bevel gear nor spur gear but rather two balancing idlers  751  and  752  corresponding to the left bevel gear  741  and the first spur gear  742  respectively. Shaft connecting elements  76  and  77  are furnished at each end of the horizontal shaft  73 , to connect the first horizontal shaft  73  with a second horizontal shaft  78 . The second horizontal shaft  78  has a second spur gear  79  meshed with the first spur gear  742  at its left end, and is furnished with an idler  80  at its right end. In addition, the second horizontal shaft  78  is furnished with a plurality of clipping devices  81   1 ,  81   2 ,  81   3  . . .  81   n  for carrying small specimens such as mirrors. 
         [0034]    Similarly, all the specimens clipped by the clipping devices  81   1 ,  81   2 ,  81   3  . . .  81   n  will revolve around the second horizontal shaft  78  and circle around the axis of the main shaft  72  by following the first horizontal shaft  73  when a signal power input (say a torque) is applied to the mechanical device, thereby achieving a multi-degree-of-freedom rotation. 
         [0035]    While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims that are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.