Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and a method for depositing material onto substrates, particularly optical substrates, to form a coating thereon. The apparatus and method incorporates the use of a series of magnetrons provided to be controlled to sputter deposit material provided in targets mounted therein, on to the substrates. There is provided a voltage to the magnetrons to operate the same and the level of voltage which is required to form required coating or coating layer characteristics is determined by using monitoring apparatus, at least when forming the coating or coating layer for the first time. The appropriate voltage level data for operation of the magnetrons can be held in a database and subsequently used to control the voltage level when forming an identified coating or layers of coatings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the generation of multilayered coatings onto substrates. Typically the apparatus used is a closed field unbalanced magnetron configuration in conjunction with one or more cylindrical and rotatable shields and a substrate carrier on which the substrates to be coated are carried. The shields and substrate holder are provided for rotation about a common axis of rotation. The shields are provided with apertures to allow the selective positioning of the apertures to define a passage or passages along which material from the targets can pass onto the substrates. The targets can be cleaned prior to the coating stage by operation of the targets with the shields selectively positioned to prevent the deposited material from reaching the substrates.