An object is to extend the life of the target member. The target (TA2) is designed to have a symmetrical structure so as to realize an invertible configuration. According to this, even if the consumption of the target member (71) is large on the side closer to the plasma generation unit where the plasma density is high, the portion of the target member (71) which has been located on the side closer to the film formation object where the plasma density is low and is thus consumed less can be rearranged on the side closer to the plasma generation unit where the plasma density is high, by inverting the target (TA2).

A method for initial treatment of a target material based on a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process and a controller includes: enhancing a turn-on current on a new target material multiple times from zero to a preset current. The method for initial treatment of a target material provided by the disclosure can avoid the occurrence of electric arc causing downtime for maintenance when the new target material participates in a cavity cleaning process.

A device may include one or more memories and one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the one or more memories, to receive design information, wherein the design information identifies desired values for a set of layers of an optical element to be generated during one or more runs; receive or obtain historic information identifying a relationship between a parameter for the one or more runs and an observed value relating to the one or more runs or the optical element; determine layer information for the one or more runs based on the historic information, wherein the layer information identifies run parameters, for the set of layers, to achieve the desired values; and cause the one or more runs to be performed based on the layer information.

A pulsed power system and a pulsed power sputtering system are disclosed. The pulsed power system includes a first power source that is configured to apply a first voltage at a first power lead that alternates between positive and negative relative to a second power lead during each of multiple cycles. A second power source is coupled to a third power lead and the second power lead, and the second power source is configured to apply a second voltage to the third power lead that alternates between positive and negative relative to the second power lead during each of the multiple cycles. A controller is configured to control the first power source and the second power source to phase-synchronize the first voltage with the second voltage, so both, the first voltage and the second voltage, are simultaneously negative during a portion of each cycle and simultaneously positive relative to the second power lead during another portion of each cycle.

Electrochromic devices and methods may employ the addition of a defect-mitigating insulating layer which prevents electronically conducting layers and/or electrochromically active layers from contacting layers of the opposite polarity and creating a short circuit in regions where defects form. In some embodiments, an encapsulating layer is provided to encapsulate particles and prevent them from ejecting from the device stack and risking a short circuit when subsequent layers are deposited. The insulating layer may have an electronic resistivity of between about 1 and 10.sup.8 Ohm-cm. In some embodiments, the insulating layer contains one or more of the following metal oxides: aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silicon aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, tungsten oxide, nickel tungsten oxide, and oxidized indium tin oxide. Carbides, nitrides, oxynitrides, and oxycarbides may also be used.

A sputtering apparatus has a vacuum chamber capable of arranging a target material and a substrate therein so as to face each other, a DC power supply capable of electrically being connected to the target material, and a pulsing unit pulsing electric current flowing in the target material from the DC power supply, in which plasma is generated in the vacuum chamber to form a thin film on the substrate, including an ammeter measuring electric current flowing in the pulsing unit from the DC power supply, a power supply controller performing feedback control of the DC power supply so that a current value measured by the ammeter becomes a prescribed value and a pulse controller indicating a pulse cycle shifted from a control cycle of the DC power supply by the power supply controller to the pulsing unit.

An electrical power pulse generator system and a method of the system's operation are described herein. A main energy storage capacitor supplies a negative DC power and a kick energy storage capacitor supplies a positive DC power. A main pulse power transistor is interposed between the main energy storage capacitor and an output pulse rail and includes a main power transmission control input for controlling power transmission from the main energy storage capacitor to the output pulse rail. A positive kick pulse power transistor is interposed between the kick energy storage capacitor and the output pulse rail and includes a kick power transmission control input for controlling power transmission from the kick energy storage capacitor to the output pulse rail. A positive kick pulse power transistor control line is connected to the kick power transmission control input of the positive kick pulse transistor.

Provided is a measuring apparatus, comprising a measuring unit that irradiates a film with light and measures the light transmitted through the film or the light reflected by the film, a moving mechanism that allows the measuring unit to move in a first direction intersecting the direction in which the film is conveyed, the measuring unit includes a light projecting unit that irradiates the film with light, an integrating sphere that collects light from the film, and a light receiving portion that receives the light collected by the integrating sphere.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor device with target sputtering, including a chamber for accommodating a consumable target, a target accumulative consumption counter, wherein the target accumulative consumption counter provides a signal correlated to an amount of the consumable target being consumed, and a power supply communicates with the consumable target counter, wherein the power supply provides a power output according to the signal.

A sputtering system and method are disclosed. The system includes a first power source that is configured to apply a first voltage at a first electrode that alternates between positive and negative relative to a second electrode during each of multiple cycles. A second power source is coupled to a third electrode and the second electrode, and the second power source is configured to apply a second voltage to the third electrode that alternates between positive and negative relative to the second electrode during each of the multiple cycles. A controller is configured to control the first power source and the second power source to phase-synchronize the first voltage with the second voltage, so both, the first voltage and the second voltage, are simultaneously negative during a portion of each cycle and simultaneously positive relative to the second electrode during another portion of each cycle.