Abstract: In an apparatus for coating substrates (9), especially with magnetizable materials such as NiFe, with a circular, disk-shaped, rotatably supported substrate holder (3), which is subjected to an HF bias voltage, which is provided around its circumference and on the back with dark-space shield (1), and which rotates under at least one opposing cathode (7), and with a device for generating a magnetic field (13) parallel to the plane of the substrate (9), the magnetic field is generated by an electromagnet, the exciter coil of which, together with the lower part of the yoke (10), is housed in the dark-space shield (1), whereas the extended pole pieces (12, 12'), which are electrically insulated from the coil yoke (10) via the dark space gap (2), are housed in the substrate holder (3) in proximity to the substrate (9).

Abstract: In a moisture sensor (1), the effective sensor field (4) is formed by two sensor elements (8a, 8b,) having interdigitating parallel tracks. These sensor elements consist of layers of a metal nitride compound, especially a chromium-nitrogen compound, deposited by means of magnetron cathode sputtering or glow discharge onto a dielectric substrate (2), the metal nitride layers being deposited onto the substrate surface which has first been cleaned by ion sputtering. These sensor element layers (8a, 8b) have a high hardness of about 2,000 on the Vickers scale, as a result of which the sensor elements (8a, 8b) are highly resistant to abrasive wear such as that caused by windshield wipers or scratching from ice. The moisture sensor can be produced with a low electrical surface resistivity of <100 ohms.quadrature. and is chemically stable with respect to environmental effects such as salt water and/or windshield cleaning fluids.

Abstract: A pot-shaped hollow target (4) is open toward the substrate (3) that is to be coated, a dark-space shield (6) surrounds the lateral wall (5) of the target (4), and a cathode base body (11) is supported on an insulator (8) on the roof (9) of the vacuum chamber (2) and is connected electrically to a power source (10). A magnet belt (12) formed of a plurality of magnets (18, 18') surrounds the dark-space shield (6). A turntable (15) having an axis of rotation (16) parallel to and offset from the target's (4) perpendicular plane of symmetry (17) is provided for holding the substrates (3).

Abstract: A pot-shaped hollow target (4) open toward the substrate (3) to be coated is surrounded by a dark-space shield (7) adjacent the lateral wall (5) of the target (4), and a cathode base body (11) is supported on an insulator (9) on the roof (10) of the vacuum chamber (2) and connected electrically to a power source (6). A hanger (15) reaches through a central opening (12) in the cathode base body (11) and through a central opening in the top (8) of the target (4) and is supported on the cathode base by an insulator (14), and holds a disk (16) shielding the top (8) of the target (4). A motor-driven turntable (18) forms the substrate holder (17), whose axis of rotation (19) is parallel to but offset laterally from the plane of symmetry (20) of the target by an amount (A).

Abstract: A barrier discharge device (4a, 4b, 4c) installed in a vacuum chamber (1) consists essentially of at least two facing electrodes (20, 22); a dielectric (22) situated between the electrodes (20, 22) and in the immediate proximity of one of these electrodes (20); and a power source (26), which is connected electrically to the electrodes (20, 22). The plasma particles and UV radiation generated during the electrical discharge between the electrodes (20, 22) pass through the electrode (22), which is permeable to UV radiation and plasma particles, and thus emerge from the discharge space. On the surfaces (5a, 5b), the UV radiation induces a photochemical cleaning process, and the impinging plasma particles induce a plasma-chemical cleaning process. The cleaning process is essentially independent of pressure and can be used at pressures of up to 10 bars, which means that the cleaning process can be operated in particular during the time in which the vacuum chamber (1) is being pumped out.

Abstract: In a moisture sensor (1), the effective sensor field (4) is formed by two sensor elements (8a, 8b,) having interdigitating parallel tracks. These sensor elements consist of layers of a metal nitride compound, especially a chromium-nitrogen compound, deposited by means of magnetron cathode sputtering or glow discharge onto a dielectric substrate (2), the metal nitride layers being deposited onto the substrate surface which has first been cleaned by ion sputtering. These sensor element layers (8a, 8b) have a high hardness of about 2,000 on the Vickers scale, as a result of which the sensor elements (8a, 8b) are highly resistant to abrasive wear such as that caused by windshield wipers or scratching from ice. The moisture sensor can be produced with a low electrical surface resistivity of <100 ohms.quadrature. and is chemically stable with respect to environmental effects such as salt water and/or windshield cleaning fluids.

Abstract: In a coating apparatus, a sputter cathode (1) has, directly side by side, two electrodes (2, 3) connected in common to a high-frequency generator and having each a target (9, 10). The targets (9, 10) of both electrodes (2, 3) abut one another each with a straight edge (11, 12). A dark space shield surrounds both electrodes (2, 3) and targets (9, 10) together.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode configuration for a device for generating a plasma. RF is coupled contactlessly via a capacitive coupling electrode disposed at the dark space distance into a carrier backside of a coating installation. Dark space shields on the coating side define the plasma zone and prevent the formation of parasitic plasmas. HF substrate bias voltage on the moving substrate carrier is achieved with a defined plasma zone and the development of parasitic plasmas is avoided.

Abstract: A pair of magnetron cathodes in an evacuable coating chamber are connected to the outputs of the secondary winding of a transformer, the primary winding being connected to the outputs of a medium frequency A.C. generator. An oval target is mounted on each cathode and surrounded by stainless steel bars. As an alternative the bars may be configured as plates connected to ground and mounted to the target by insulating spacers.

Abstract: A vacuum coating apparatus has a pot-like tank (2) against whose open side a portion of a substrate (1) can be held sealingly. In the tank (2) there is disposed a target (7). A shut-off plate (9) makes it possible after lowering the substrate (1) to hold this target (7) under vacuum in a source chamber (11) protected against intrusion of air.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sputtering unit with an electrode (3) and a target (2) connected with this electrode (3) wherein this target (2) is interchangeable. Herein a consumed target (2) is replaced by a fresh and pre-sputtered target (7) thereby that the complete electrode (3) is replaced by a new electrode (6).

Abstract: A pair of magnetron cathodes in an evacuable coating chamber are each connected to an ungrounded output of an A.C. power supply. The discharge voltage of at least one of the cathodes is measured and the flow of reactive gas into the chamber is controlled so that the measured voltage is identical to a desired voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for the vapor deposition of thin layers on a substrate. This arrangement comprises a magnetron cathode with a target disposed opposite the substrate. With the aid of a particle generator ions of a reactive gas are generated and accelerated toward the substrate where a reaction takes place between target particles and reactive gas particles.

Abstract: In a device for transporting substrates in vacuum coating systems with several stations, comprising several substrate holders 16 of plate-like configurations which can e moved across the stations along a prescribed path of transportation in a vertical position and which interact with rails 13, 14 being provided in the area of their foot part 15 below the substrates 22, 23 to be mounted to the substrate holders 16, the foot part 15 of the substrate holder 16 has a pair of rails 13, 14 spaced parallel apart and disposed in a vertical plane. The smaller sides thereof, which face one another, have longitudinal grooves 13a, 14 which correspond with rollers 7, 8 or sliding pads being disposed stationary on the bottom part of the device and being provided in rows corresponding to the course of the grooves and in planes that are on top of each other and spaced vertically apart.

Abstract: A device for coating a substrate 1 with electrically conductive materials 2 includes a direct current and/or alternating current source 10, 38 which is connected to an electrode 44 disposed in an evacuable coating chamber 15, 15a, 15b and electrically connected to a target 43 which is to be sputtered and the sputtered particles of which are deposited on the substrate a process gas can be introduced into the coating chamber 15, 15a, 15b and wherein toroidal magnetic fields penetrate the target and the magnetic flux lines thereof exit from the surface of the target in the area of the magnetic poles 45, 46, 47. The target 43 has essentially an oval layout enclosed by a dark space shield 34 having circumferential front 35 which faces the substrate 1 and is slightly set back behind the front of the target 34.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microwave cathode sputtering arrangement in which a cathode is disposed opposite a substrate. In the immediate vicinity of the substrate is located at least one magnetic field whose strength leads to an electron cyclotron resonance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for coating a substrate (1) with dielectrics which has a dc current source (10) connected to an electrode (5) which is connected to a target (3) which is being sputtered. The sputtered particles of the target (3) form a compound with an introduced substance which is deposited on the substrate (1). Permeating the target (3) are toroidal maganetic fields whose field lines emerge in the region of magnetic poles from the surface of the target (3). Under the invention an ac voltage source (30) is provided whose output voltage is superimposed on the dc voltage of the dc current source (10). Here, the electrical output of the ac current source (30) which is supplied to the electrode (5) corresponds to 5% to 25% of the output supplied by the dc current source (10) to the electrode (5).

Abstract: Process and apparatus for coating a tool with a layer of a compound which contains at least one of carbon and nitrogen and at least one of titanium, zirconium, chromium, tungsten, tantalum, vanadium, niobium, hafnium and molybdenum. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber and a substrate holder for accommodating at least one tool with the substrate holder at a bias of between -40 and -200 V relative to ground. The apparatus includes at least two magnetron sputtering cathodes disposed in mirror symmetry to the substrate holder. The target contains at least one metal selected from the group consisting of T, Zr, Cr, W, Ta, V, Nb, Hf and Mo. The apparatus includes at least one gas source for supplying the vacuum chamber with a noble gas and a reaction gas. The reaction gas contains at least one of nitrogen and a gaseous carbon compound. The apparatus includes at least one anode in the edge region of each target so that the anodes are positioned in mirror symmetry with respect to the target holder.

Abstract: Sputtering system for cathode sputtering apparatus, having a cathode base body with a target of the material to be sputtered. In the marginal part of the target an anode is disposed which is provided with at least one groove. For the solution of the problem of obtaining stable operating conditions in the lengthy coating of substrates with insulating materials and of drawing a high portion of the cathode current to the anode for a long period of time, the at least one groove opens, in accordance with the invention, on a side of the anode that is not in line of sight with the target.

Abstract: Method for reactive vapor deposition of compounds of metals and semi-conductors on at least one substrate by glow discharge. Into a space between a magnetron cathode (1) with a target (5) and the substrate (11) an inert gas and a reaction gas for the formation of the desired compound with the target material are separately introduced. Two solve the problem of making it possible to maintain the vapor deposition process stable over long time periods, according to the invention, a flow restriction is introduced between the target (5) and the substrate (11) by a diaphragm (20), which amounts to at least 40% of the cross-section of the space. Further, the inert gas is fed between target (5) and aperture (20) at the periphery of the target.