Patent ID: 8202366

Claim:
A system for depositing a thin film on a flexible substrate, comprising: a first precursor zone into which a first precursor gas is introduced when the system is in use; a second precursor zone into which a second precursor gas is introduced when the system is in use; a third precursor zone into which a third precursor gas different from at least one of the first and second precursor gases is introduced when the system is in use, the third precursor zone interposed between the first and second precursor zones; a first isolation region interposed between the first and third precursor zones; a second isolation region interposed between the second and third precursor zones, an inert gas being introduced into the first and second isolation regions when the system is in use, the first isolation region including a first series of flow-restricting passageways opening into the first, and third precursor zones and the second isolation region including a second series of flow-restricting passageways opening into the second and third precursor zones, the first and second series of flow-restricting passageways arranged to provide a series of pathways along which a flexible substrate is threaded to traverse back and forth between the first precursor zone and the second precursor zone multiple times and each time through the first isolation region, the second isolation region, and the third precursor zone; and a substrate transport mechanism, including: a plurality of first turning guides spaced apart along the first precursor zone, at least some of the first turning guides adapted to support the substrate during a change in a direction of travel of the substrate toward the second and third precursor zones, and a plurality of second turning guides spaced apart along the second precursor zone, at least some of the second turning guides adapted to support the substrate during a change in a direction of travel of the substrate toward the first and third precursor zones.