Patent ID: 6858118

Claim:
An apparatus for masked ion-beam irradiation wherein a beam consisting of energetic ions is radiated through a substantially flat stencil mask, said stencil mask comprising a stencil pattern made up of a plurality of transparent structures, and said beam transfers the stencil pattern to a substrate, the apparatus comprising a mask holding means to position said stencil mask in the path of the beam, the apparatus further comprising: first means for depositing material to said mask, said first means comprising at least one deposition source being positioned in front of the mask as seen in the direction of the beam and outside the path of the beam, the at least one deposition source being suitable for depositing material to the side of the mask irradiated by the beam, and second means for sputtering off material from said mask, said second means comprising at least one sputter source producing a sputter ion beam directed to the mask, the at least one sputter source being positioned in front of the mask holder means as seen in the direction of the beam of energetic ions and outside the path of the beam of energetic ions.