Plasma CVD apparatus and method for forming a diamond-like carbon film

Claim 2

A Plasma CVD apparatus comprising: a first vacuum enclosure (28) provided with a plasma generating means (29) for producing plasma gas from reactive gas or mixed gas of reactive gas and inert gas, an accelerating means (30) for accelerating at least ions in said plasma against a substrate (31), a second vacuum enclosure (27) which is connected to said first vacuum enclosure (28) in a manner that said plasma gas can flow into said second vacuum enclosure (27) for containing said substrate (31) therein.

Claim 3

A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said accelerating means (30) is an accelerating electrode disposed in said first vacuum enclosure (28) in a manner to face said substrate (31), and a potential difference is impressed between said accelerating electrode (30) and said substrate (31) are impressed with different potentials in n manner that the potential of said accelerating electrode (30) is higher than that of said substrate (31).

Claim 4

A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said plasma generating means is disposed between said substrate and said accelerating electrode.

Claim 5

A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with 1, /wherein said accelerating means comprises at least two accelerating electrodes facing said substrate in said first and/or second vacuum enclosure, at least one of said accelerating electrodes is disposed in said first vacuum enclosure, said accelerating electrode which is nearer to said substrate is supplied with lower potential, and said accelerating electrode which is closest to said substrate is supplied with ground potential.

Claim 6

A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with 1, /wherein said accelerating means comprises at least two accelerating electrodes facing said substrate in said first and/or second vacuum enclosure, at least one of said accelerating electrodes is disposed in said first vacuum enclosure, said accelerating electrode which is nearer to said substrate is supplied with lower potential, and said accelerating electrode which is closest to said substrate is supplied with ground potential.

Claim 7

A plasma CVD apparatus comprising: a first vacuum enclosure provided with a plasma generating means for making reactive gas or mixed gas of reactive gas and inert gas being plasma gas, an accelerating and neutralizing means (43, 44) for accelerating at least ions in said plasma gas against said substrate and for making at least a part of said accelerated ions being neutral particles, a second vacuum enclosure connected to said first vacuum enclosure in a manner that said plasma gas can flow into said second vacuum enclosure, and said substrate being disposed in said second enclosure (corresponding to FIG.4).

Claim 8

A plasma CVD apparatus comprising: a first vacuum enclosure provided with a plasma generating means for making reactive gas or mixed gas of reactive gas and inert gas being plasma gas, an accelerating and neutralizing means (43, 44) for accelerating at least ions in said plasma gas against said substrate and for making at least a part of said accelerated ions being neutral particles, a second vacuum enclosure connected to said first vacuum enclosure in a manner that said plasma gas can flow into said second vacuum enclosure, and said substrate being disposed in said second enclosure (corresponding to FIG.4).

Claim 9

G. A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said accelerating means comprises an accelerating and neutralizing electrode (44) which is disposed in said second vacuum enclosure and is near and facing said substrate being impressed with an earth potential, and at least one accelerating electrode which is disposed in said first vacuum enclosure and facing said substrate, potential difference is made on said accelerating electrodes and said accelerating and neutralizing electrode in a manner that said electrode which is nearer to said substrate among said accelerating electrodes and said accelerating and neutralizing electrode, is made lower potential, said accelerating and neutralizing electrode emitting secondary electrons.

Claim 10

A plasma CVD . apparatus.in accordance with claim 5, wherein said plasma generating means is disposed between said accelerating and neutralizing electrode and said accelerating electrode.

Claim 11

A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with claim 5 or 6, wherein said accelerating and neutralizing electrode is moving on a plane substantially parallel with said substrate.

Claim 12

A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said accelerating means comprises a filament electrode (51) which is disposed in said second vacuum enclosure and is near and facing said substrate, and is to be impressed with ground potential and to be heated for emission of thermoelectrons, and at least one accelerating electrode which is disposed in said first vacuum enclosure and facing said substrate, said filament electrode and said accelerating electrodes being impressed with different potentials in a manner that the potential of said electrode which is nearer to said substrate among said accelerating electrodes and said filament electrode, is lower than the other.

Claim 13

A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said filament electrode is shifted in parallel with said substrate.

Claim 14

A plasma CVD apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said plasma generating means is disposed between said filament electrode and said accelerating electrode.

Claim 17

A method for composing diamond-like carbon film in accordance with claim 12, wherein said accelerating means comprises an accelerating electrode disposed in said first vacuum enclosure, facing to said substrate, a potential difference is impressed on said accelerating electrode and said substrate in a manner that the potential of said accelerating electrode is higher than that of said substrate, thereby to accelerate said ion seed in said plasma against said substrate.

Claim 18

A method for composing diamond-like carbon film in accordance with claim 12, wherein said accelerating means comprises at least two accelerating electrodes facing said substrate in said first and/or second vacuum enclosure, at least one of said accelerating electrodes is disposed in said first vacuum enclosure, said accelerating electrode which is nearer to said substrate is supplied with lower potential, and said accelerating electrode which is nearest to said substrate is supplied with an earth potential, thereby to accelerate said ion in said plasma to said substrate.

Claim 21

A method for composing diamond-like carbon film in accordance with claim 15, wherein said accelerating and neutralizing electrode is disposed in a second vacuum enclosure, in a manner to be near to and facing to said substrate, being impressed with a ground potential, at least one accelerating electrode is disposed in said first vacuum enclosure and facing said substrate, potential difference is made on said accelerating electrodes and said accelerating and neutralizing electrode in a manner that said electrode which is nearer to said substrate among said accelerating electrodes and said accelerating and neutralizing electrode, is made lower potential, and said accelerating and neutralizing electrode is for emitting secondary electrons by impingement of ions thereto and for accelerating at least ions in said plasma gas to said substrate and to make at least a part of said accelerated ion being neutral particles.

Claim 22

A method for composing diamond-like carbon film in accordance with claim 16, wherein said accelerating and neutralizing electrode is driven on a plane parallel with said substrate, emitting said secondary electron.

Claim 23

A method for composing diamond-like carbon film in accordance with claim 15, wherein said accelerating and neutralizing electrode comprises filament electrode which is disposed in said second vacuum enclosure and is near and facing, said substrate, being impressed with earth potential and emitting thermoelectron, one accelerating electrode which is disposed in said first vacuum enclosure and facing said substrate, potential difference is made on said filament electrode and said accelerating electrodes in a manner that said electrode which is nearer to said substrate among said accelerating electrode and said filament electrode, thereby to accelerate at least the ion in the plasma and make at least a part of the accelerated ion.

Claim 24

A method for composing diamond-like carbon film in accordance with claim 18, wherein said filament electrode is shifted in parallel with said substrate.