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US5168197A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ion beam generating apparatus, film-forming apparatus, and method for formation of film

Assignee: Chubu Electric Power Co Inc
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Filing: 1992-03-27
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Granted: 1992-12-01
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Expires: 2012-03-27
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Abstract

Abstract An ion beam generating apparatus including a vacuum chamber for retaining a vacuum therein, a microwave being introduced therein through at least one portion thereof, at least one vacuum arc plasma generating source having a cathode, an anode, and arc generating device and disposed inside the vacuum chamber, and ion extracting device for extracting ions from the plasma.

Inventors

  • 👤 Moritake Tamba
  • 👤 Katushige Yamada
  • 👤 Kazuhiko Kawamura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 07:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/02; H01J37/04; H01J37/08; H01J27/00; H01J27/02; H01J27/16; H01J37/30; H01J37/317; H01J37/3178

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 74 words
An ion beam generating apparatus comprising: a vacuum chamber for retaining a vacuum therein, a microwave being introduced therein through at least one portion thereof, at least one vacuum arc plasma generating source having a cathode, an anode, and arc generating means using a microwave plasma produced by said microwave to imitate a vacuum arc plasma and disposed inside said vacuum chamber, and ion extracting means for extracting ions from the vacuum arc plasma.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 74 words
An ion beam generating apparatus comprising: a vacuum chamber for retaining a vacuum therein, a microwave being introduced therein through at least one portion thereof, at least one vacuum arc plasma generating source having a cathode, an anode, and arc generating means using a microwave plasma produced by said microwave to imitate a vacuum arc plasma and disposed inside said vacuum chamber, and ion extracting means for extracting ions from the vacuum arc plasma.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
An ion beam generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said anode is formed of the microwave plasma which is produced by introducing the microwave into an inert gas inside said vacuum chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
An ion beam generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cathode concurrently serves as an inlet part for introducing said microwave into said vacuum chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
An ion beam generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to contain said plasma within a prescribed region inside said vacuum chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 99 words
A film-forming apparatus comprising; a vacuum chamber for retaining a vacuum therein, a holder, disposed in the vacuum chamber, for holding a substrate intended for the formation of a film thereon, a microwave introducing mechanism for introducing a microwave into said vacuum chamber, and a vacuum arc plasma generating source, furnished with a cathode made of a film-forming material, for producing a vacuum arc plasma by using a microwave plasma produced by said microwave introduced into said vacuum chamber by said microwave introducing mechanism concurrently serving as arc generating means, and an anode for consequently inducing vacuum arc discharge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 99 words
A film-forming apparatus comprising; a vacuum chamber for retaining a vacuum therein, a holder, disposed in the vacuum chamber, for holding a substrate intended for the formation of a film thereon, a microwave introducing mechanism for introducing a microwave into said vacuum chamber, and a vacuum arc plasma generating source, furnished with a cathode made of a film-forming material, for producing a vacuum arc plasma by using a microwave plasma produced by said microwave introduced into said vacuum chamber by said microwave introducing mechanism concurrently serving as arc generating means, and an anode for consequently inducing vacuum arc discharge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A film-forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to contain said vacuum arc plasma within a prescribed region in said vacuum chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
A film-forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising magnetic field generating means for generating magnetic field thereby expanding said vacuum arc plasma and supplying the expanded plasma to said substrate retained in place by said holder.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 105 words
A method for the formation of a film comprising the steps of; disposing inside a vacuum chamber a cathode made of a metal destined to serve as a film-forming material and a substrate for allowing formation of the film thereon, creating a prescribed gaseous atmosphere inside said vacuum chamber and, at the same time, introducing a microwave into said vacuum chamber thereby inducing generation of a microwave plasma therein, and thereafter causing said microwave plasma to serve as an anode and induce vacuum arc discharge thereby giving rise to a vacuum arc plasma containing ions of said metal and forming the film on said substrate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 105 words
A method for the formation of a film comprising the steps of; disposing inside a vacuum chamber a cathode made of a metal destined to serve as a film-forming material and a substrate for allowing formation of the film thereon, creating a prescribed gaseous atmosphere inside said vacuum chamber and, at the same time, introducing a microwave into said vacuum chamber thereby inducing generation of a microwave plasma therein, and thereafter causing said microwave plasma to serve as an anode and induce vacuum arc discharge thereby giving rise to a vacuum arc plasma containing ions of said metal and forming the film on said substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said gaseous atmosphere contains nitrogen gas and the formed film is a nitride film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said gaseous atmosphere contains oxygen gas and the formed film is an oxide film.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4612477A Cited
US4785220A Cited
US5022977A Cited
US4924102A Cited
US4883968A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-12-01 1996-06-01 1996-12-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-12-01 2000-06-01 2000-12-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-12-01 2004-06-01 2004-12-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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