Patent ID: 7798097

Claim:
Arrangement for boosting and/or igniting a glow discharge plasma for the treatment, in particular for the coating, of workpieces, comprising: at least one hollow body of an electrically conductive material, the hollow body comprising a hollow space and at least one opening at an entrance to the hollow space through which charge carriers can flow off into environs of the arrangement in order to make here possible ignition and operation of a plasma or to boost a plasma existing here, the hollow body comprising receptions for arranging workpieces at openings of the hollow body, wherein the hollow body is fastened on a carousel for the reception of workpiece carriers, wherein the hollow space of the hollow body is formed such that when an electric signal is applied to the hollow body, at least in a certain pressure and voltage range, geometric conditions for the ignition of a discharge in the interior of the hollow body are satisfied, and wherein the hollow space of the hollow body forms a hollow cathode space and with no workpiece arranged at said receptions, the geometric conditions for the ignition of a discharge at said at least one opening of the hollow body are satisfied, but with workpieces suitably arranged at said receptions, the geometric conditions for the ignition of a discharge are not satisfied at any opening of the hollow body, and wherein the arrangement comprises means which connect the hollow body electrically with the workpieces such that the hollow body is essentially at workpiece potential.