MAGNETRON SPUTTERING APPARATUS AND CATHODE DEVICE THEREOF

The present disclosure provides a magnetron sputtering apparatus and a cathode device of the magnetron sputtering apparatus. The cathode device includes a target material component, a magnetic circuit component, a transmission component and a driving component. The magnetic circuit component is configured to be arranged opposite to the target material component. The magnetic circuit component includes a plurality of magnetic circuit units capable of independently generating magnetic field. The transmission component is connected with each of the magnetic circuit units simultaneously. The driving component is configured to drive the magnetic circuit component to reciprocate between a first position and a second position in a preset direction by the transmission component.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of magnetron sputtering, in particular, to a magnetron sputtering apparatus and a cathode device of the magnetron sputtering apparatus.

BACKGROUND

The magnetron sputtering technique is a kind of film technique, which is widely used in the field of solar photovoltaic, integrated circuit, panel display and the like. The principle thereof is that, ions ionized by glow discharge bombards the target material, and then bombarded sputtered particles of the target material are deposited on the substrate to form a film layer.

It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above mentioned background is merely used to enhance understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute related art known to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cathode device of a magnetron sputtering apparatus is provided, which includes a target material component, a magnetic circuit component, a transmission component and a driving component. The magnetic circuit component is configured to be arranged opposite to the target material component. The magnetic circuit component includes a plurality of magnetic circuit units capable of independently generating magnetic field. The transmission component is connected with each of the magnetic circuit units simultaneously. The driving component is configured to drive the magnetic circuit component to reciprocate between a first position and a second position in a preset direction by the transmission component.

It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, exemplary embodiments can be embodied in a variety of forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided to enable the present disclosure thorough and complete. Conceptions of exemplary embodiments will be fully given to those skilled in the art. The drawings are only schematic representations of the disclosure, and are not necessarily to scale. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and thus their detailed description will be omitted.

Relative terms such as “on” and “under” are used in the specification to describe relative relationship of one component with respect to another component in the drawings, however, these terms are used in this specification for convenience only, for example, the direction shown in the drawings. It should be understood that, a component located “on” as described will become a component located “under” if the device is turned upside down. When a structure is located “on” other structures, it is possible that a structure is integrally formed on other structures or that a structure is “directly” disposed on other structures, or that a structure is “indirectly” disposed on other structures by another structure.

The terms “a”, “an”, “the”, “said” and “at least one” are used to denote that there are one or more elements/components and the like; the terms “include” and “have” are used to denote the meaning of “openly include” and it means that there also are other elements/components and the like in addition to the listed elements/components and the like; the terms “first”, “second” and the like are only used as marks without limiting the number of objects.

In the cathode device of the current magnetron sputtering apparatus, a magnetic circuit component for generating magnetic field is usually disposed on a back side of the target material. However, the magnetic field provided by the magnetic circuit component is single and has a fixed position relative to the target material, so that a range of the magnetic field is constant. Thus, during sputtering, an etching position of the surface of the target material is correspondingly constant and the width of the target material is limited, while there is a large area of non-etched region on the target material, so that use ratio of the target material is lower, thereby making it difficult to improve sputtering efficiency and production capacity. Therefore, it is not suitable for industrial production. At the same time, sputtering of the edge region of the target material is uneven due to the limitation of the above magnetic field, and thus the sputtering coating is likely to be uneven.

The present disclosure is to provide a magnetron sputtering apparatus and a cathode device of the magnetron sputtering apparatus so as to improve the use ratio of target material and increase the sputtering efficiency.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cathode device of a magnetron sputtering apparatus. As shown inFIG. 1, the cathode device may include a target material component1, a magnetic circuit component2, a transmission component3and a driving component4, wherein:

The magnetic circuit component2is arranged opposite to the target material component1, and the magnetic circuit component2may include a plurality of independent magnetic circuit units21, each of which may independently generate magnetic field. The transmission component3may simultaneously be connected with each of magnetic circuit units21. The driving component4may be connected with the transmission component3, and may drive the magnetic circuit component2to reciprocate between a first position and a second position in a preset direction by transmission component3.

The cathode device of the embodiment of the present disclosure may form a matrix magnetic field by the plurality of magnetic circuit units21of the magnetic circuit component2, thereby simultaneously providing a plurality of magnetic field to the target material component1. Compared to the single magnetic field in the related art, sputtering efficiency is improved. In addition, the driving component4is connected with each of magnetic circuit units21of the magnetic circuit component2by the transmission component3, so that the magnetic circuit component2is driven to integrally reciprocate so as to enlarge effective range of the magnetic field on the target material component1, and then to increase width of the target material, thereby decreasing the non-etched region on the target material component, increasing the etching region. Then, use ratio of the target material component1is increased to improve sputtering efficiency, production efficiency and then production capacity, and it is suitable for industrial production. In addition, sputtering of the edge region of the target material component becomes even to ensure a more uniform sputtering coating. Moreover, for the target material component with a larger width, the plurality of magnetic circuit units21are only required to move by a short displacement to enable their effective range to cover the target material component, so that position offset caused by excessive movement displacement may be avoided, thereby achieving accuracy control and enabling stability of the magnet field of the target surface in the preset direction.

Various components of the cathode device of embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below.

As shown inFIG. 1, in one embodiment, the target material component1may include a target material101and a back plate102, wherein shape of the target material101may be rectangular or other shapes, and wherein material thereof will not be particularly defined. The shape of the back plate102may be same as that of the target material101, but the size of the back plate102may be larger than that of the target material101. The target material101may be bound on the back plate102with Metal indium, and detail of the binding process will not be described.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, in one embodiment, the magnetic circuit component2may be arranged opposite to the target material component1. Specifically, the magnetic circuit component2may be arranged opposite to the back plate102of the target material component1, so that the target material101is located at a side of the back plate102away from the magnetic circuit component2. The magnetic circuit component2may include a plurality of magnetic circuit units21, each of which may independently generate magnetic field, the number of the magnetic circuit units21may be two or three, but not limited thereto, and may also be plural which may be specifically decided according to the size of the target material component1, i.e. as the size of the target material component1becomes larger, the number of the magnetic circuit units21may be more. In addition, the plurality of magnetic circuit units21may be disposed on the same plane, and may be spaced apart in a preset direction, i.e. there is an interval between two adjacent magnetic circuit units21. For example, the shape of the target material component1is rectangle, the preset direction may be a longitudinal direction or a width direction of the target material component1.

Each magnetic circuit unit21may use the same structure. Taking a magnetic circuit unit21as an example, as shown inFIG. 2, the magnetic circuit unit21may include a insulating mat211, a yoke212and a magnet213, wherein,

the insulating mat211may be a flat plate structure, the insulating mat211of each magnetic circuit unit21may be spaced apart side by side. Material of the insulating mat211may be Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) so as to present good weatherability. Of course, material of the insulating mat211may also be other material with better weatherability, which will not be enumerated herein. In addition, the insulating mat211may be fixedly connected with the transmission component3, thereby connecting the magnetic circuit unit21and the transmission component3.

The yoke212may be disposed on a surface of the insulating mat211adjacent to the target material component1, and may be fixedly connected with the insulating mat211. The shape and size of the yoke212may be same as that of the insulating mat211, and may be made of mild steel DT4 so as to have high magnetic permeability and low remanence characteristics. Of course, the yoke212may also use other material with better magnetic permeability. At the same time, the surface of the yoke212adjacent to the target material component1may be provided with a slot for mounting the magnet213.

The magnet213may be disposed at the surface of the yoke212adjacent to the target material component1, and may be snap fit within the slot of the yoke212, so as to enable the magnet213to be fixed. Of course, the magnet213may be fixed in other ways. The magnet213may include a plurality of magnets arranged in a magnetic pole arrangement of S—N—S, each of which may be processed and magnetized by an iron-cobalt-nickel material, and of course, the magnet may also be other ferromagnetic materials. One or more magnets213may be disposed on the same yoke212. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the arrangement of the magnetic poles may also be in the form of N—S—N or other forms, which will not be enumerated herein.

It should be understood that the structure of the magnetic circuit unit21is merely exemplary. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the magnetic circuit unit21may be other structures as long as they can perform the same function, contents of which will not be described in detail.

As shown inFIG. 1, in one embodiment, the transmission component3may simultaneously be connected to each of the magnetic circuit units21of the magnetic circuit component2, so as to drive the magnetic circuit component2to integrally reciprocate in a preset direction. For example, the transmission component3may include a drive screw31and a driving slider32, wherein:

The drive screw31may be disposed in the preset direction. For example, the drive screw31may be disposed at a side of the magnetic circuit component2away from the target material component1, and projection of the drive screw31on the magnetic circuit component2coincides with a central axis of the magnetic circuit component2, and projections of both ends of the drive screw31may extend beyond edges of the magnetic circuit component2. Of course, the drive screw31may be disposed at a position offset from the central axis of the magnetic circuit component2.

The number of the driving slider32may be the same as that of the magnetic circuit units21, that is, the driving slider32may also be plural. The plurality of driving sliders32may be sequentially sleeved on the drive screw31along the axial direction of the drive screw31, and each of the driving sliders32is threaded connected with the drive screw31, so that each driving slider32may constitute a feed screw nut pair with the drive screw31. Thus, by rotating the drive screw31, each of driving sliders32is simultaneously linearly moved along the drive screw31so as to drive each magnetic circuit unit21to move synchronously in a preset direction, so that the magnetic circuit component2moves integrally and synchronously in a preset direction. By changing the direction of rotation of the drive screw31, the driving slider32may be reciprocated to reciprocate the magnetic circuit component2. For example, as shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, each of the driving sliders32may be connected to the side of the insulating mat211of each magnetic circuit unit21away from the yoke212, thereby moving the magnetic circuit units21. The connection method may be snap fit connection or threaded connection, and will not be particularly limited herein. It should be understood that, in order to simplify the structure, the driving slider32and the corresponding insulating mat211of the magnetic circuit unit21may be integrally formed.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmission component3may also be other structures as long as the magnetic circuit component2can be driven to reciprocate in a preset direction. For example, the transmission component3may also be a straight rod disposed in the preset direction, and the straight rod may be connected with each of magnetic circuit units21. The movement of the magnetic circuit component2may also be achieved by driving the straight rod to reciprocate.

As shown inFIG. 1, in one embodiment, the driving component4may be connected with the transmission component3, and may drive each of magnetic circuit units21to the driving component4may be connected with the transmission component3so as to reciprocate the magnetic circuit component2in a preset direction. For example, for the transmission component3using the above-mentioned drive screw31and the driving slider32, the driving component4is a servo motor, and the servo motor may be connected with one end of the drive screw31through a universal joint, of course, it may be directly connected with the drive screw31thereby driving the drive screw31to be rotated. The reciprocating movement of the magnetic circuit component2may be realized by controlling forward and reverse rotation of the servo motor. The specific transmission principle may refer to example descriptions of the transmission component3, and will not be described in detail herein.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmission component3is a straight rod disposed in a preset direction, the straight rod may connected with each of magnetic circuit units21. The driving component4may be a cylinder, and the cylinder may be connected with the straight rod, so as to drive the reciprocating movement of the straight rod, and then the reciprocating movement of the magnetic circuit component2may also be achieved. Of course, the cylinder may also be replaced by a linear motor or the like that can output linear motion.

As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, in an embodiment, the cathode device of the embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a guide component5, and the guide component5may be connected with the magnetic circuit component2for guiding the magnetic circuit component2to move in a preset direction. For example, the guide component5may include a guide rail51and a guide slider52, wherein:

The guide rail51may be disposed at a side of the magnetic circuit component2away from the target material component1in the above-mentioned preset direction, and may be parallel to the drive screw31.

The number of the guide sliders52may be the same as that of the magnetic circuit units21, that is, the number of the guide sliders52is plural. Each of the guide sliders52may be distributed along an extending direction of the guide rail51, and may be slidably engaged with the guide rail51. At the same time, each of the guide sliders52may be connected with the insulating mat211of the magnetic circuit units21in a one-to-one correspondence by threaded connection or the like. Of course, the guide sliders52may be integrally formed with the corresponding insulating mat211. Thus, the magnetic circuit unit21may be guided to reciprocally slide in a preset direction by cooperation of the guide slider52and the guide rail51, thereby preventing deflection while supporting the magnetic circuit unit21.

The number of the guide components5may be two. The guide rail51of two guide components5may be arranged in parallel and symmetrically distributed on both sides of the feed screw31. The guide slides52on the two guide rails51are connected with magnetic circuit units21in one-to-one correspondence, that is, each magnetic circuit unit21is connected to two guide sliders52. Of course, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of the guide components5may also be one, three or more, and will not be described in detail herein.

As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, in an embodiment, the cathode device of the embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a first limit component6and a second limit component7, the first limit component6and the second limit component7may be in the same plane as the magnetic circuit component2, and the first limit component6and the second limit component7may be separately disposed on two sides of the at least one magnetic circuit unit21, that is, at least one magnetic circuit unit21is provided between the first limit component6and the second limit component7and may be triggered by the magnetic circuit component2as the magnetic circuit component2moves. At the same time, both the first limit component6and the second limit component7may use a proximity switch. Of course, other limiting switches and the like may be configured to limit components of the magnetic circuit component2moving between the first position and the second position, which will not be enumerated herein.

For example, as shown inFIG. 3, both the first limit component6and the second limit component7are proximity switches, and the driving component4is a motor. When the magnetic circuit component2is moved to the position, the first limit component6is triggered by the magnetic circuit component1. At this time, the first limit component6may control the driving component4to change the steering, so that the magnetic circuit component2is moved to the second position. As shown inFIG. 4, when the magnetic circuit component2is moved to the second position, the second limit component7is triggered. At this time, the second limit component7may control the driving component4to change the direction of rotation again so that the magnetic circuit component2is moved to the first position. The arrangement of the first limit component6and the second limit component7may automatically and accurately reciprocate the magnetic circuit component2between the first position and the second position, thereby avoiding manual control, improving work efficiency, and simultaneously ensuring sputtering area of the target material of each product to be consistent, and improving sputtering quality of the product.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 5, in an embodiment, the cathode device of the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a cathode conductive component8which may be disposed between the target material component1and the magnetic circuit component2, and the target material component1is adhered to the cathode conductive component8.

The cathode conductive component8has a cooling water passage, and the cooling water passage may have a water inlet801and a water outlet802, so that cooling water may be supplied into the cooling water passage to cool the target material, so that it is advantageous to improve the sputtering effect. Meanwhile, the cooling water passage may include at least two independent branches, for example, the number of which is two, three, etc. Each branch is communicated between the water inlet801and the water outlet802and does not intersect each other, thereby expanding the heat dissipation area and improving heat radiation. In addition, the cooling water passage may extend in a curved shape, for example, in a smooth wave line shape, but which will not be limited thereto, and may also extend in a folded line shape, such as a zigzag shape, a square wave shape and the like, which is advantageous for increasing the length of the cooling water passage and improving the heat dissipation. Of course, the cooling water passage may also extend in a straight line.

For example, the cathode conductive component8may include a cathode conductive plate81and a cooling partition82, wherein:

As shown inFIG. 5, the shape of the edge profile of the cathode conductive plate81may be the same as that of the target material component1, and the material of the cathode conductive plate81is processed from high-purity copper, and the surface is passivated to prevent oxidation. Of course, other conductive materials are also possible. The magnetron sputtering power source is connected to the back plate102and the target material101of the target material component1by the cathode conductive plate81through the electrical connection copper to form an electric field. Meanwhile, the surface of the cathode conductive plate81adjacent to the target material component1is provided with two cooling grooves for forming the cooling water passage, which include a first cooling groove811and a second cooling groove812. Both the first cooling groove811and the second cooling groove812may extend in a square wave shape and may not intersect each other. Meanwhile, both the water inlet801and the water outlet802may be disposed on the cathode conductive plate81, and the first cooling tank811and the second cooling tank812are both communicated between the water inlet801and the water outlet802to form two branches for flowing cooling water, thereby ensuring better heat dissipation of the target material component1.

The first cooling groove811and the second cooling groove812are mechanically formed on the cathode conductive plate81. The structure of the cooling water passage is advantageous for increasing a flowing area of the cooling water on the cathode conductive plate81, so that the cooling water of the entire back of the target material component1uniformly flows. Compared to a cathode cooling system of a single cooling water passage, consumption of the cooling water is not increased, thereby improving the cooling effect and simultaneously reducing consumption of the cooling water.

The shape of the cooling partition82may be the same as that of the cathode conductive plate81, and the material may be brass or other materials. At the same time, the cooling partition82may be disposed on the surface of the cathode conductive plate81adjacent to the target material component1, and may shield the first cooling groove811and the second cooling groove812. Moreover, the cooling partition82may be sealingly fitted to the cathode conductive plate81through the cooling seal washer14, and may be press-fitted to the cathode conductive plate81through the partition pressure block11located above, thereby making the cathode conductive member8more stable. The first cooling groove811and the second cooling groove812are covered by the cooling partition82to enclose a cooling water passage having two branches. Further, the back plate102of the target material component1may be press-fitted to the cooling partition82by the target material pressure block12located above, thereby making the target material component1more stable.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the cathode conductive plate81and the cooling partition82may be of a unitary structure as long as they are electrically conductive and can form the above-described cooling water passage.

As shown inFIG. 1, in one embodiment, the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a protective cover9having a receiving cavity91and an open end communicating with the receiving cavity91. The cathode conductive component8may cover the open end, and the target material component1may be disposed on the surface of the cathode conductive component8away from the protective cover9. The magnetic circuit component2, the transmission component3, the driving component4and the guide component5may be disposed within the receiving cavity91, and the magnetic circuit component2may slide within the receiving cavity91.

For example, a bracket92may be provided with the receiving cavity91, the drive screw31of the transmission component3may be rotatably disposed to penetrate through the bracket92. At the same time, the guide rail51of the guide component5may also be disposed to penetrate through the bracket92, thereby supporting the drive screw31and the guide rail51by the bracket92. Of course, the drive screw31and the guide rail51may also be disposed within the receiving cavity91in other ways. The magnetic circuit component2may be connected with the transmission component3and the guide component5. For the connection manner, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail herein.

The insulating block10may be fixed on both sides of the open end, and the insulating block10may be an insulating material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Both sides of the cathode conductive plate81of the cathode conductive member8may be mounted on the insulating block10and may be sealingly fitted to the insulating block10through the sealing ring15. Of course, the cathode conductive plates81may also be directly mounted on both sides of the open end. The back plate102of the target material component1may be disposed on the cooling partition82of the cathode conductive component8, and may be press-bonded and fixed by the target material pressure block12. A vacuum pressure block13is press-bonded to the insulating block10, and the vacuum pressure block13is located outside the target material pressure block12. The vacuum pressure block13may be sealingly fitted to the insulating block10through the vacuum seal washer16. In addition, an anode cover17may be disposed on the target material pressure block12.

Advantageous effects of the present disclosure over the related art are as below. Since the magnetic circuit component contains a plurality of magnetic circuit units, and each magnetic circuit unit may generate magnetic field independently so as to form a matrix magnetic field, and to simultaneously provide a plurality of magnetic fields to the target material component, so that spurring efficiency is improved with respect to the single magnetic field in the related art. At the same time, the driving component may be connected with respective magnetic circuit unit of the magnetic circuit component by the transmission component, so that the magnetic circuit component may be driven to integrally reciprocate so as to enlarge effective range of the magnetic field on the target material component, and then to decrease the non-etched region on the target material component and increase the etching region, so that use ratio of the target material component is increased to improve sputtering efficiency, production efficiency and production capacity, and thus it is suitable for industrial production. In addition, sputtering of the edge region of the target material component becomes even to ensure a more uniform sputtering coating. Moreover, for the target material component with a larger width, the plurality of magnetic circuit units are only required to move by a short displacement to enable their effective range to cover the target material component, so that position offset caused by excessive movement displacement may be avoided, thereby achieving accuracy control and enabling stability of the magnet field of the target surface in the preset direction.

It should be noted that the cathode device of the magnetron sputtering apparatus of the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include other components, which specifically refer to the existing cathode device and will not be described in detail herein.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a magnetron sputtering apparatus, which may include the cathode device of any of the above embodiments. Moreover, a base material may be further included, and the base material may be disposed on a side of the target material component1away from the magnetic circuit component2, and of course, other components may also be included, which will not be described in detail herein. The cathode device used in the magnetron sputtering apparatus of the embodiment of the present disclosure is the same as the cathode device in the embodiment of the cathode device described above, and therefore has the same advantageous effects, which will not be described herein.

Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art when considering the specification and implementing the present disclosure. The present application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure, which are in accordance with the general principles of the present disclosure and include common general knowledge or conventional technical means in the art that are not disclosed in the present disclosure. The specification and examples are to be regarded as illustrative only, and the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.