Abstract: A gas ring for a PVD-source with a cathode having a target for material deposition. The gas ring includes an inner rim and an outer rim and at least one flange between the inner and the outer rim. The gas ring further includes: —a gas inlet; —gas openings arranged circumferentially in or near the inner rim; —at least one circumferential gas channel connected to the gas inlet and/or the gas openings; —a cooling duct.

Abstract: Rf power is supplied to a vacuum processing module in that in the plasma processing module a time invariant impedance transform is performed by an impedance transform network in the plasma processing module and a time variable matching is performed by a matchbox connected to the impedance transform network. The impedance transform network includes an inductive element of a hollow conductor. A cooling medium is flown through the hollow conductor of the impedance transform network as well as through a part of the plasma processing module to be cooled and not being part of the impedance transform network at the plasma processing module.

Abstract: Rf power is supplied to a vacuum processing module in that in the plasma processing module a time invariant impedance transform is performed by an impedance transform network in the plasma processing module and a time variable matching is performed by a matchbox connected to the impedance transform network. The impedance transform network includes an inductive element of a hollow conductor. A cooling medium is flown through the hollow conductor of the impedance transform network as well as through a part of the plasma processing module to be cooled and not being part of the impedance transform network at the plasma processing module.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a flexible triplate stripline that can operate in temperatures of 150 C-250 C, flexible to move up/down with the top of a plasma reactor, and prevent plasma generation near the power transmission line in the stripline. The transmission line may be exposed to ambient conditions. The risk of generating plasma near the transmission line may be minimized by optimizing the height and width of the air gap adjacent to the transmission line and decreasing the voltage in a portion of the stripline by widening the transmission line.

Abstract: Process for the recognition of the rectifier effect appearing in a gas discharge lamp (G1, G2) and an electronic ballast, for the operation of gas discharge lamps (G1, G2), with which such a process finds employment. The electronic ballast includes a monitoring or control circuit (IC2) which monitors an operating parameter of a load circuit (E) of the electronic ballast, whereby this operating parameter corresponds to the lamp voltage or is dependent thereon. The monitoring circuit (IC2) integrates this monitored operating parameter over a full period and determines upon the presence of a rectifier effect if the integration result deviates from a predetermined integration desired value. Further, for the recognition of the rectifier effect, the duration of the positive and negative half-waves of the monitored parameter can be compared.