Patent ID: 8658010

Claim:
An apparatus for the application of coatings in a vacuum, comprising: at least one plasma source comprising a cathode contained within a cathode chamber, at least one proximal anode associated with the cathode for generating an arc discharge, a plasma duct in communication with the cathode chamber and with a coating chamber containing a substrate holder for mounting substrates to be coated, the substrate holder being positioned off of an optical axis of the cathode, a deflecting conductor positioned adjacent to the plasma duct for generating a deflecting magnetic field for deflecting plasma from the optical axis of the cathode toward the coating chamber, a focusing conductor positioned adjacent to the plasma duct for generating a focusing magnetic field for focusing plasma entering the coating chamber, and at least one deflecting electrode disposed downstream of the plasma source and positioned within the plasma duct, in alignment with a plane of symmetry between opposite walls of the plasma duct and generally parallel to a direction of plasma flow through the plasma duct, for deflecting plasma toward the coating chamber.