Patent · US Expired

Sputtering apparatus, device for exchanging target and method for the same

US5429729A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
7References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 21, 1990
Grant dateJul 4, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 21, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC23C14/56
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, in order to exchange a target under a vacuum condition without communicating a film-forming chamber with the atmosphere for exchange of the target, a substrate is located in a vacuum vessel and an opening portion is provided on a wall surface of the vacuum vessel opposite to the substrate which is formed with a thin film on its surface. A target exchanging chamber is disposed adjacent to the vacuum vessel so as to be communicated therewith through the opening portion. During film-formation, the interior of the vacuum vessel is maintained in a vacuum state by closing the opening portion with the target while the target exchanging chamber is communicated with the atmosphere and a spare target is contained therein. When exchanging the target, the air in the target exchanging chamber is exhausted to maintain the chamber in a vacuum state and the target is replaced with the spare target.

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