PVD target with end of service life detection capability

Abstract

A PVD target structure for use in physical vapor deposition. The PVD target structure includes a consumable slab of source material and one or more detectors for indicating when the slab of source material is approaching or has been reduced to a given quantity representing a service lifetime endpoint of the target structure. Each detector includes an enclosure which may be made by forming a plurality of bores in a bulk material and separating the bulk material into a plurality of discrete enclosure units each including one of the bores. Alternatively, the enclosure of the detector may be made using a mold having one or more mold members and an extrusion, casting, electrical chemical plating, and/or sheet forming method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.