Abstract: The present invention generally comprises one or more cooled anodes shadowing one or more gas introduction tubes where both the cooled anodes and the gas introduction tubes span a processing space defined between one or more sputtering targets and one or more substrates within a sputtering chamber. The gas introduction tubes may have gas outlets that direct the gas introduced away from the one or more substrates. The gas introduction tubes may introduce reactive gas, such as oxygen, into the sputtering chamber for depositing TCO films by reactive sputtering. During a multiple step sputtering process, the gas flows (i.e., the amount of gas and the type of gas), the spacing between the target and the substrate, and the DC power may be changed to achieve a desired result.

Abstract: A magnetron scanning and support mechanism in which the magnetron is partially supported from an overhead scanning mechanism through multiple springs coupled to different horizontal locations on the magnetron and partially supported from below at multiple locations on the target, on which it slides or rolls. In one embodiment, the yoke plate is continuous and uniform. In another embodiment, the magnetron's magnetic yoke is divided into two flexible yokes, for example, of complementary serpentine shape and each supporting magnets of respective polarity. In another embodiment, the target and magnetron are divided into respective strips separated by other structure. Each magnetron strip is supported partially from above from a common scanning plate and partially on a respective target strip. A centering mechanism may align the different magnetron strips.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a sputtering apparatus and method in which a sputtering target has a plurality of target sections bonded to a common backing plate. Each segment can be bonded to the common backing plate using a different bonding material. One target segment can be bonded to the backing plate using electrically conductive bonding material while another section is bonded to the backing plate using electrically insulating bonding material. Additionally, each different target section can be separately biased.

Abstract: A target assembly composed of multiple target tiles bonded in an array to a backing plate of another material. The edges of the tile within the interior of the array are formed with complementary structure edges to form a gap between the tiles having at least a portion that is inclined to the target normal. The gap may be simply beveled and slant at an angle of between 10° and 55°, preferably 15° and 50°, with respect to the target normal or they may be convolute with one portion horizontal or otherwise inclined to prevent a line of sight from the bottom to top. The area of the backing plate underlying the gap may be coated or overlain with a foil of the material of the target, for both perpendicular and sloping gaps, and have a polymeric foil adjacent an elastomeric bonding layer to exclude bonding material from the gap.