The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 1992
Filed:
Nov. 21, 1990
Eric R Dickey, Northfield, MN (US);
Erik J Bjornard, Northfield, MN (US);
James J Hoffmann, Boise, ID (US);
Viratec Thin Films, Inc., Faribault, MN (US);
Abstract
An in-line sputtering system with rotating cylindrical magnetrons is fitted with a system of anodes having a large surface area. The surface area is equal to or greater than the surface area of the sputtering chambers' internal walls. The anodes may be grounded, allowed to float electrically, or connected to a separate bias power supply. The anode surfaces are protected from contamination by sputtered material or are designed so the electron collecting surface may be replaced during the sputtering process. The anodes may be equipped with a magnet array for improving electron collecting efficiency.