Patent · US Expired

Magnetron method and apparatus for producing high density ionic gas discharge

US5045166A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
42References
52Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 21, 1990
Grant dateSep 3, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 21, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01J2219/0894
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus for magnetron gas discharge processing of substrates using a remote plasma source provides a uniform magnetic field (B) created across the surface of a substrate in an evacuable chamber. An electric field (E) is created perpendicular to the substrate by an electrically powered cathode located beneath the substrate. The magnetic and electric fields interact with the plasma to create an E.times.B electron drift region adjacent to the surface of a substrate. A remote plasma source is provided and oriented so that the plasma stream from the remote source is coupled to the E.times.B region adjacent to the substrate surface parallel to the magnetic field with minimal movement of the plasma stream perpendicular to the magnetic field to thereby provide a high density plasma stream into the E.times.B drift region.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.