Patent · US Expired

Sputtering method and apparatus with small diameter RF coil

US6146508A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
57References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 22, 1998
Grant dateNov 14, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 22, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/3405
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for sputtering ionized material onto a workpiece with the aid of a plasma which ionizes the material, utilizing: a support member having a workpiece support area for supporting a workpiece that has a given diameter; a target constituting a source of material to be sputtered; and a coil located between the target and the workpiece support for creating a plasma which ionizes material sputtered from the target, the coil enclosing a region, the support member being maintained at a potential which causes ionized material to be attracted to the support member. The coil is configured and operated to shape the plasma in a manner to promote redirection of material sputtered from the center of the target back to the target.

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