Patent ID: 8585873

Claim:
A method of sputtering comprising: correlating respective magnetic motor frequencies of a magnetron relative to a sputter target with respective deposition thickness uniformity percentages to which a material will be deposited uniformly in thickness on a substrate during a sputtering process by: (a) changing a magnetic motor frequency of the magnetron relative to the sputter target over a range of magnetic motor frequencies while carrying out a process of sputtering the sputter target; and (b) monitoring the uniformity of a result of the sputtering of the sputter target during the time the magnetic motor frequency is changed relative to the sputter target of the range of magnetic motor frequencies; and processing the substrate, using the magnetron, to deposit material on the substrate including by producing a magnetic field that moves relative to a surface of the sputter target, and controlling a rotational speed of the magnetron based on said correlating to regulate a speed of movement of the magnetic field relative to the sputter target such that a desired degree of uniformity of deposition thickness on the substrate is provided, and wherein the magnetron is situated behind the sputter target with respect to the sputter target being processed, and the controlling comprises changing the frequency at which the surface of the sputter target is swept by the magnetic field produced by the magnetron, and varying the power speed of movement of the magnetic field in accordance with the accumulated power of the sputter target.