The sputtering cathode has a tubular shape having a pair of long sides facing each other in cross-sectional shape, has a sputtering target whose erosion surface faces inward, and a magnetic circuit is provided along the sputtering target. The pair of long sides are constituted by rotary targets each having a cylindrical shape. The rotary target is internally provided with a magnetic circuit and configured to allow the flow of cooling water. The magnetic circuit is provided parallel to the central axis of the rotary target and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a long side perpendicular to the radial direction of the rotary target.

A sputter device for depositing a layer on a substrate in a vacuum chamber and having a layer property in each point of the substrate surface. The sputter device comprises at least one end block adapted for holding a cylindrical target having a longitudinal axis in a first direction, and a first drive means for providing a rotational movement of the at least one cylindrical target around its longitudinal axis. The sputter device includes a second drive means for applying a translational movement to an end block in a second direction. The first and the second drive means are adapted for, during sputtering, being simultaneously operational in the vacuum chamber. The movement of the first drive means does not impact the uniformity of the layer sputtered on the substrate in the direction on the surface of the substrate corresponding to a perpendicular projection of the second direction onto the substrate.

Methods and systems for depositing a thin film are disclosed. The methods and systems can be used to deposit a film having a uniform thickness on a substrate surface that has a non-planar three-dimensional geometry, such as a curved surface. The methods involve the use of a deposition source that has a shape in accordance with the non-planar three-dimensional geometry of the substrate surface. In some embodiments, multiple layers of films are deposited onto each other forming multi-layered coatings. In some embodiments, the multi-layered coatings are antireflective (AR) coatings for windows or lenses.

A laminate structure having an indium target with the occurrence of defects being well controlled and excellent in adhesion between the indium target and a backing tube is provided. A laminate structure of an indium target and a backing tube wherein a defect area ratio at an indium-backing tube interface is 5.0% or less.

A magnet unit Mu is disposed inside a target of a cylindrical shape and generates a magnetic field that leaks from a surface of the target such that a line passing through a position in which a vertical component of the magnetic field becomes zero extends along a generating line of the target so as to close like a racetrack shape. The magnet unit is constituted into separate parts of: a first part which respectively forms a corner portion of the racetrack shape at both ends, in the direction of the generating line, of the target; a second part which is respectively disposed on the inside, as seen in the direction of the generating line, of the target, adjacent to the first part; and a third part which is positioned between the second parts.

A sputtering cathode includes a magnet having a body of length L1 defining a north magnetic pole at a first end of the body and a south magnetic pole at a second, opposite end of the body. A sputtering target of length L2 surrounds the body of the magnet, but not ends of the magnet.

This sputtering cathode has a sputtering target having a tubular shape in which the cross-sectional shape thereof has a pair of long side sections facing each other, and an erosion surface facing inward. Using the sputtering target, while moving a body to be film-formed, which has a film formation region having a narrower width than the long side sections of the sputtering target, parallel to one end face of the sputtering target and at a constant speed in a direction perpendicular to the long side sections above a space surrounded by the sputtering target, discharge is performed such that a plasma circulating along the inner surface of the sputtering target is generated, and the inner surface of the long side sections of the sputtering target is sputtered by ions in the plasma generated by a sputtering gas to perform film formation in the film formation region of the body to be film-formed.

An apparatus for coating a substrate is provided that includes a racetrack-shaped plasma source having two straight portions and at least one terminal turnaround portion connecting said straight portions. A tubular target formed of a target material that forms a component of the coating has an end. The target is in proximity to the plasma source for sputtering of the target material. The target is secured to a tubular backing cathode, with both being rotatable about a central axis. A set of magnets are arranged inside the cathode to move an erosion zone aligned with the terminal turnaround toward the end of the target as the target is utilized to deposit the coating on the substrate. Target utilization of up to 87 weight percent the initial target weight is achieved.

Some embodiments provide a magnetron sputtering apparatus including a vacuum chamber within which a controlled environment may be established, a target comprising one or more sputterable materials, wherein the target includes a racetrack-shaped sputtering zone that extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and comprises a straightaway area sandwiched between a first turnaround area and a second turnaround area, a gas distribution system that supplies a first gas mixture to the first turnaround area and/or the second turnaround area and supplies a second gas mixture to the straightaway area, wherein the first gas mixture reduces a sputtering rate relative to the second gas mixture. In some cases, the first gas mixture includes inert gas having a first atomic weight and the second gas mixture includes inert gas having a second atomic weight, wherein the second atomic weight is heavier than the first atomic weight.

A magnet bar assembly for a rotary target cathode comprises a support structure, a magnet bar structure movably attached to the support structure and including a plurality of magnets, and a positioning mechanism operatively coupled to the support structure and the magnet bar structure. The positioning mechanism is configured to move the magnet bar structure between a retracted position and a deployed position while inside a magnetic target material cylinder. The retracted position substantially reduces a magnetic force between the magnets and a magnetic target material of a target cylinder when the magnet bar assembly is inserted into the target cylinder or removed from the target cylinder. The deployed position substantially increases the magnetic force between the magnets and the magnetic target material when the magnet bar assembly is in the target cylinder, and allows a magnetic field from the magnet bar structure to penetrate through the magnetic target material.