Patent ID: 7060167

Claim:
A vacuum arc vapor deposition apparatus for depositing a film on a deposition target object by using a vapor source inducing vacuum arc discharge between a cathode and an anode by a trigger electrode opposed to the cathode, comprising: a shield member moved to and away from a position between said vapor source and a holder for supporting the deposition target object; a drive device for locating said shield member selectively in a shield position between said vapor source and the holder, and a retracted position shifted from said shield position; a detector detecting turn-on/off of vacuum arc discharge of said vapor source; and a control portion controlling said drive device to locate said shield member in said shield position when said detector detects turn-off of the vacuum arc discharge, and to locate said shield member in said retracted position when a time required for stabilizing vacuum arc discharge elapses after said detector detected turn-on of the vacuum arc discharge.