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:
Dec. 14, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 05, 2002
Andrew P. Clarke, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Tegal Corporation, Petaluma, CA (US);
Abstract
A cathode for a cluster tool in accordance with the present invention includes a base, a disc-shaped target mounted to the base and a magnetic source for establishing magnetic flux lines through the target. The target further comprises a top plate with a plurality of through holes; and a bottom plate with a plurality of bottom plate openings which interconnect distribution grooves formed in one surface with base face channels formed in the other surface. When the top plate is mated to the bottom plate, a path of fluid communication is established from the base face channels to the through holes to allow for inert gas to pass through the target. During operation, the through holes act as micro-cathodes to more efficiently cause material to be sputtered from the target. Each through hole defines a through hole axis, and the magnetic flux lines are parallel with the through holes axes. This ensures the sputtered material from the hollow cathode leaves the target and impinges on a flat, spaced-apart substrate at a normal angle.