Patent ID: 7837836

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a first group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies operable to deposit a first sublayer on a substrate, wherein a thickness of said first sublayer increases from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of said substrate; a second group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies operable to deposit a second sublayer on said substrate, wherein a thickness of said second sublayer increases from said inner diameter to said outer diameter of said substrate; a third group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies operable to deposit a third sublayer on said substrate, wherein a thickness of said third sublayer decreases from said inner diameter to said outer diameter of said substrate; and a transportation unit for transporting said substrate/workpiece past said first group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies, said second group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies, and said third group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies, wherein said first sublayer, said second sublayer, and said third sublayer collectively form a substantially uniform thickness layer.