Method and apparatus for thin film coating an article
AssigneeViratec Thin Films, Inc.
InventorsErik J. Bjornard, Eric W. Kurman, Debra M. Steffenhagen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for coating a CRT screen after assembly. The method and apparatus includes isolating a surface portion of the CRT to be coated from the remaining surface to prevent or minimize coating problems resulting from outgassing and to isolate noncompatible components from the deposition environment.
Claims16
An apparatus for providing a thin film coating to an assembled cathode ray tube in which said cathode ray tube includes a front face portion to be coated and a rearward funnel portion comprising the remaining surface of said cathode ray tube, said apparatus comprising:
- a process chamber having an interior surface, first and second ends, a deposition zone and an exhaust zone;
- a plurality of cathode ray tube carriers moveable through said process chamber from said first end to said second end, said carriers associated with the interior surface of said process chamber and with adjacent carriers to substantially define said deposition and exhaust zones, each of said carriers having a first surface facing said deposition zone and a second, opposite surface facing said exhaust zone, at least one of said carriers having a mounting opening for a cathode ray tube and a cathode ray tube support for supporting a cathode ray tube in said opening with said front face portion facing and exposed to said deposition zone and said funnel portion facing and exposed to said exhaust zone;
- and
- a thin film deposition device in said deposition zone.
An apparatus for selectively providing a thin film coating to an article in which said article includes a first surface portion to be coated and a second surface portion which is uncoated and which comprises the remaining surface of said article, said apparatus comprising:
- a process chamber having an interior surface and first and second ends;
- a plurality of carriers movable through said process chamber from said first end to said second end, said carriers comprising a separation barrier having an outer edge associated with the interior surface of said process chamber and with adjacent carriers to substantially define and separate said process chamber into a deposition zone and an exhaust zone;
- a thin film deposition device in said deposition zone;
- each of said barriers having a first surface facing said deposition zone and a second surface facing said exhaust zone and at least one of said barriers having an article support comprised of a mounting opening for supporting an article in which the first surface portion of said article is exposed to said deposition zone and the second surface portion of the article is exposed to said exhaust zone.
A carrier for supporting a fully assembled CRT for use in a coating process in an apparatus having a deposition zone and an exhaust zone and a deposition device for providing a thin film coating to the front face portion of the CRT in the deposition zone, said carrier comprising:
- a base;
- a barrier plate having at least one mounting opening for mating association with a peripheral surface portion of said CRT and further having an outer edge having a first edge portion for mating association with the barrier plate of an adjacent carrier and a second edge portion for mating association with said apparatus to substantially separate said deposition zone from said exhaust zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.