Abstract: The present invention relates to a sputtering cathode of the magnetron type and a control method for such a device for, in a vacuum process, depositing very thin films on substrates for a wide variety of commercial and scientific purposes including production of circular optical discs such as CD- or DVD-discs. In particular, the sputtering device comprises a magnet system disposed behind the target and comprising at least three permanent magnets connected to each other by means of a yoke, each of the permanent magnets having a different polarity, wherein the permanent magnets is adapted to interact with each other so as to form a magnetic flux line plateau having magnetic flux lines being substantially parallel with the sputtering surface of the target.

Abstract: A compact disc manufacturing machine carrying out a plurality of manufacturing stages including a vacuum stage. A central manipulator has a plurality of radially and outwardly extending manipulator arms which move the discs successively into program-determined working locations necessary for carrying out successively the manufacturing process. The vacuum chamber houses a multi-arm inner manipulator. The disk is moved to and from the vacuum chamber through a vacuum sluice having upper, intermediate and lower parts. The lower part is mounted on an outer end of an arm of the internal manipulator, and the upper part is affixed to an outer end of one of the arms of the central manipulator. When a disk is to be introduced into the vacuum chamber, the arm of the central manipulator delivers the disk into the intermediate part, and the upper part is positioned by the arm over the intermediate part.

Abstract: A method of bonding together a first disc element (1) and a second disc element (2) with the aid of glue (10) to form a DVD comprises applying a quantity of glue (10) in the form of a ring on the first disc element, said ring being disposed concentrically with a center hole through the first disc element (1), and moving a second disc element, which also has a center hole and which is parallel with the first disc element, towards the glue ring in parallel with said first disc element and with the centre holes of said disc elements in coaxial alignment, such as to enable the glue to spread between the surfaces of the disc elements through the effect of pressure and capillary action. A center peg (14) is inserted sealingly in the centre hole of the first disc element and the glue ring is applied in contact with the perimeter surface of the peg.

Abstract: A method for automatically checking circular information carriers that includes identifying the information carrier, checking for possible defects in the information carrier, and presenting detected defects graphically. To identify the information carrier, a first process is carried out of image recognition within a label sector on the information carrier having sight-readable characters. To check the information carrier, a second process is carried out within an information sector of the information carrier that has stored data. Defects detected in the information sector are presented in the graphic presentation in relation to the label sector, thereby enabling the position of a detected defect to be determined more readily as a result of obtained directional information.