Patent ID: 7905995

Claim:
A rotary cathode assembly comprising: a rotary cathode having a cathode target and a rotatable drive shaft connectable to a drive mechanism, said rotary cathode being connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; a vacuum chamber surrounding at least a portion of said cathode, including said cathode target, said vacuum chamber defined in part by a chamber housing having first and second ends; a non-rotatable drive shaft housing connected in sealed relationship to said chamber housing and surrounding at least a portion of said rotatable drive shaft; a vacuum seal surrounding said drive shaft and positioned between said rotatable drive shaft and said non-rotatable drive shaft housing, said seal isolating the outside atmosphere from said vacuum chamber; a fluctuating current power supply located outside said vacuum chamber and having a power supply lead; a power connection contacting a portion of the drive shaft housing outside of the chamber housing and electrically engaging a portion of said cathode between said first and second ends of said chamber housing; a non-rotatable electrically conductive member electrically connecting said power supply lead and said power connection, said electrically conductive member extending past said vacuum seal in a direction substantially parallel to said drive shaft; wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a portion of the drive shaft housing.