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US4022939A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Synchronous shielding in vacuum deposition system

Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1975-12-18
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Granted: 1977-05-10
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Expires: 1995-12-18
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Abstract

Abstract A sputtering apparatus of the bell-jar type includes a high-vacuum pump disposed centrally of, and directly within a vacuum chamber of the apparatus. A separate enclosing member is disposed within the chamber and allows selective exposure of the pump to the chamber. An annular workholder is mounted in concentric surrounding relation with the pump, and an apertured, annular shutter is mounted in concentric surrounding relation with the workholder. Targets of materials to be sputter deposited on the workpieces are mounted on the inside wall of the main enclosure of the apparatus. The shutter and the workholder are moved in synchronism at the beginning and at the end of the deposition cycle to provide a uniform exposure of all the workpieces to the targets.

Inventors

  • 👤 Marvin E. Roth
  • 👤 Donald J. Vallere

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 07:15
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/56; C23C14/568; C23C14/50; C23C14/505; C23C14/564

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 195 words
In a method of depositing a material onto a work assembly in which different portions of the work assembly are successively exposed to a source of the material by moving the work assembly past a shutter opening in alignment with said source, the improvement comprising: initiating emission of said material from said source in directions towards said work assembly while said shutter opening is disposed out of of alignment with said source, said shutter thus shielding said work assembly from said source; synchronously advancing said opening, and a particular portion of said work assembly in alignment with said opening, into the path of material from said source until said opening is in fully aligned relation with said source; while said opening is maintained in said aligned relation, continuing movement of said work assembly past said opening to expose successive portions of said work assembly to said source; and when the trailing edge of the last portion of said work assembly to be exposed to said source reaches the near edge of said opening, again synchronously advancing said shutter and said work assembly until said work assembly is fully shielded from said source by said shutter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 195 words
In a method of depositing a material onto a work assembly in which different portions of the work assembly are successively exposed to a source of the material by moving the work assembly past a shutter opening in alignment with said source, the improvement comprising: initiating emission of said material from said source in directions towards said work assembly while said shutter opening is disposed out of of alignment with said source, said shutter thus shielding said work assembly from said source; synchronously advancing said opening, and a particular portion of said work assembly in alignment with said opening, into the path of material from said source until said opening is in fully aligned relation with said source; while said opening is maintained in said aligned relation, continuing movement of said work assembly past said opening to expose successive portions of said work assembly to said source; and when the trailing edge of the last portion of said work assembly to be exposed to said source reaches the near edge of said opening, again synchronously advancing said shutter and said work assembly until said work assembly is fully shielded from said source by said shutter.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2341827A Cited
US3740327A Cited
US3853091A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-05-09 1980-11-08 1981-05-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-05-09 1984-11-08 1985-05-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-05-09 1988-11-08 1989-05-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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