Abstract:
A workpiece carrier includes a first carrier and a second carrier. The first carrier includes a plurality of first posts substantially parallel to each other. Each of the first posts is rotatable about a central axis thereof. The second carrier includes a plurality of second posts substantially parallel to each other. Each of the second posts is rotatable about a central axis thereof. The first carrier surrounds the second carrier therein. The workpiece carrier further includes at least one connecting arm interconnected between the first carrier and the second carrier, such that the first carrier and the second carrier are jointly rotatable about a rotation axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a workpiece carrier and a related deposition device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Physical vapor deposition (PVD) devices are widely used to form functional or decorative metallic films on workpieces. A typical PVD device usually includes a deposition chamber, and a workpiece carrier positioned in the deposition chamber. The workpiece carrier is a single assembly with a number of posts for supporting a number of workpieces. 
         [0005]    In order to increase the yield of the deposited workpieces, it needs to arrange more posts on the workpiece carrier. However, the posts arranged on the workpiece carrier will become crowded. Thus, the deposition quality of the workpieces will be influenced. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a workpiece carrier which can overcome the above-mentioned problems is desired. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a workpiece carrier according to a first embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top planer view of the workpiece carrier of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a tray of the workpiece carrier of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cutaway view of the workpiece carrier of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the workpiece carrier of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top planer view of a deposition device according to a second embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Embodiments will now be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a workpiece carrier  100  for supporting workpieces in accordance with a first embodiment is provided. The workpiece carrier  100  includes a first carrier  10 , a second carrier  20 , and two connecting arms  30 . 
         [0016]    The first carrier  10  has a first annular frame  11 , and a plurality of first posts  13 . The first posts  13  extend from the first annular frame  11 , and substantially parallel to each other. In this embodiment, the first posts  13  are arranged on the first annular frame  11  with uniform intervals. Each of the first posts  13  is able to rotate around its central axis. 
         [0017]    The second carrier  20  has a second annular frame  21 , and a plurality of second posts  23 . The second posts  23  extend from the second annular frame  21 , and substantially parallel to each other. In this embodiment, the second posts  23  are arranged on the second annular frame  21  with uniform intervals. Each of the second posts  23  is able to rotate around its central axis. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20  are concentric with a rotation axis. In this embodiment, the second carrier  20  is inside the first carrier  10 . The first posts  13  of the first carrier  10  are surrounding the second carrier  20 . Each of the first posts  13  and the second posts  23  are substantially parallel to each other, and substantially parallel to the rotation axis. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the connecting arms  30  are used to fixedly fasten the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20 . Therefore, the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20  can simultaneously rotate around the rotation axis. In this embodiment, the connecting arms  30  are located on the top of the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20 , and opposite to each other. The connecting arms  30  are between the first carrier  10  and the second carrier, and fastening the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20 . Each of the connecting arms  30  has a first end  31 , and a second end  32  opposite to the first end  31 . The first end  31  is fastened to the first annular frame  11  of the first carrier  10 . The second end  32  is fastened to the second annular frame  21  of the second carrier  20 . Therefore, the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20  cooperatively form the workpiece carrier  100 . 
         [0020]    The connecting arms  30  can fasten the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20  with bolts and nuts, or pins and holes, or other mechanisms. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, each of the first posts  13  and the second posts  23  is arranged with a number of trays  40  (see  FIG. 3 ) for supporting workpieces. In this embodiment, the trays  40  mounted on the first posts  13  are similar to the trays  40  mounted on the second posts  23 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , each of the trays  40  includes four fixing parts  41 . The four fixing parts  41  surround the respective second post  23  with uniform intervals. Each of the fixing parts  41  is used for fixing a workpiece. 
         [0022]    In this embodiment, the rotation axis of the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20  is not simultaneously coaxial with any one of the first posts  13  and any one of the second posts  23 . Therefore, workpieces supported on the first posts  13  and the second post  23  would not be blocked to be deposited. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , a gear transmission mechanism is equipped to the workpiece carrier  100 , and located in the bottom of the workpiece carrier  100 . In this embodiment, the gear transmission includes a first drive gear  53 , a second drive gear  55 , a plurality of first slave gears  15  and second slave gears  25 , at least one first idler gear  17 , and a plurality of second idler gears  27 . The first slave gears  15  are coupled to the respective first posts  13 . The second slave gears  25  are coupled to the respective second posts  23 . The first slave gear  15  meshes with the second slave gear  25  with the first idler gear  17 . Every two adjacent first slave gears  15  directly mesh with each other. Each two adjacent second slave gears  25  mesh with each other with one of the second idler gears  27 . The second drive gear  55  engages with a first slave gear  15  coupled to the first posts  13 . Therefore, the second drive gear  55  can drive each of the first posts  13  and second posts  23  to rotate around its own axis. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, the workpiece carrier  100  includes a drive member  50 . The drive member  50  drives the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20  to simultaneously rotate around the rotation axis, and each of the first posts  13  and second posts  23  rotates around its own axis. In this embodiment, the drive member  50  includes a motor (not shown) having a drive shaft  51 . The first drive gear  53  and the second drive gear  55  are coupled to the drive shaft  51 . The first drive gear  53  engages with the teeth (see  FIG. 5 ) formed on circumferential periphery of the first annular frame  11  of the first carrier  10 . The gear ratio between the first drive gear  53  and the first carrier  10  is different from the gear ratio between the second drive gear  55  and the first slave gear  15 . Therefore, the drive member  50  can drive the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20  to simultaneously rotate around their common axis, and each of the first posts  13  and second posts  23  to rotate around its own axis. 
         [0025]    It is to be understood that in an alternative embodiment, a belt transmission mechanism or a chain transmission mechanism can be equipped to the workpiece carrier  100 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a deposition device  200  in accordance with an alternative embodiment is provided. The deposition device  200  includes a coating chamber  210 , a target  220 , and a workpiece carrier  100 . 
         [0027]    The coating chamber  210  is a vacuum chamber. The target  220  is located in the center area of the deposition chamber  210 . The target  220  is used to support deposition sources. 
         [0028]    The workpiece carrier  100  is located in the coating chamber  210 , and surrounding the target  220 . The rotation axis of the workpiece carrier  100  is coaxial with the central axis of the deposition chamber  210 . 
         [0029]    In operation, the drive member  50  drives the workpiece carrier  100  rotate around the rotation axis, and each of the first posts  13  and second posts  23  rotates around its own central axis. Therefore, the workpieces supported on the first posts  13  and the second posts  23  can face the deposition sources on the target  220  in different directions. Accordingly, the deposition angel of the workpieces can be adjusted. Finally, the resultant material from the deposition source is deposited onto the workpieces from different direction. 
         [0030]    Due to the first carrier  10  and the second carrier  20  being concentric to each other, the workpiece carrier  100  can have more posts arranged for supporting more workpieces. Therefore, the yield of the deposited workpieces can be substantially increased. Additionally, the posts can be arranged at suitable intervals. Therefore, it can greatly reduce the possibility of influence between different workpieces on different posts. 
         [0031]    It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The above-described embodiments illustrate the scope of the disclosure but do not restrict the scope of the disclosure.