Method for depositing electrically insulating layers

1. Method for producing a low-conductivity layer on a workpiece by vacuum coating, the method comprising: operating an electrical arc discharge between an anode and a cathode of an arc source in an atmosphere containing a reactive gas, the cathode being electrically connected to a target; and supplying to the cathode, from a current source, an excitation current conducted by a magnet system comprising at least one essentially axially-polarized coil with a geometry similar in size to that of the target to apply an external magnetic field essentially perpendicular to a target surface of the target electrically connected to the cathode, said magnetic field comprising a vertical component B z and a relatively smaller component B r parallel to the target surface, wherein the excitation current is (i) a direct current and/or a pulsed current or (ii) an alternating current that is supplied to the cathode through the coil.

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the vertical component B z at the target surface is set in a range between 3 and 50 Gauss.

3. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the magnet system is arranged behind the target surface, in a magnet plane that is separated from a target plane of the target surface, so that the magnet system is behind a plane in which a bottom surface of the target is located.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical arc discharge is powered simultaneously with (i) a direct current and with (ii) a pulsed current or an alternating current.

5. Method according to claim 4 , characterized in that an insulation coating present on the target surface results in an increase of a DC proportion of the excitation current of at least 10% compared to that on the target surface without the insulation coating.

6. Method according to claim 4 , characterized in that a pulse current supply is operated between the cathode of the arc source as a first electrode and a second electrode disposed separately from the arc source.

7. Method according to claim 6 , characterized in that the second electrode can be operated as a cathode of a further arc source that is electrically connected to a DC power supply.

8. Method according to claim 6 , characterized in that a sputter cathode is connected as the second electrode.

9. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least two targets are operated in an arrangement opposite each other defining a space between the targets and the workpiece is positioned in the space between the targets.

10. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the coil is designed in such a manner that the external magnetic field, when the excitation current flows, sets itself essentially to a value of an intrinsic magnetic field of an arc current.

11. Method according to claim 10 , characterized in that the coil comprises a winding number between 1 to 20.

12. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the target is formed from an aluminum alloy and the aluminum alloy or a compound of the aluminum alloy is evaporated from the target surface.

13. Method according to claim 12 , characterized in that the aluminum alloy comprises a transition metal selected from subgroup IV to subgroup VI, Fe, Si, B and C.

14. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the atmosphere containing the reactive gas comprises oxygen, and a layer comprising an oxide is deposited.

15. Method according to claim 14 , characterized in that in addition to the layer comprising the oxide, at least one other undercoating and/or hard layer is laid on the workpiece, an outermost coating comprises an oxide layer.

16. Method according to claim 15 , further comprising, between two directly successive layers of said undercoating and/or hard layers, forming a transition layer comprising elements of the two directly successive layers.

17. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the atmosphere containing the reactive gas includes a compound comprising boron, and a boridic layer is deposited.

18. Method for producing a low-conductivity layer on a workpiece by vacuum coating, the method comprising: operating an arc discharge between an anode and a cathode of an arc source in an atmosphere containing a reactive gas within a vacuum coating installation where at least one additional coating source is located; and applying an external magnetic field essentially perpendicular to a target surface of a target electrically connected to the cathode, said external magnetic field comprising a vertical component B z as well as an essentially smaller component B r radial or parallel to the surface, to assist an evaporation process, wherein the at least one additional coating source is arranged in the vacuum coating installation in such a manner that a degree of recoating of the target surface is less than 10% of a quantity of metal vaporized by the cathode.

19. Method according to claim 18 , characterized in that the vertical component B z at the target surface is set lower than 50 Gauss.

20. Method for producing a low-conductivity layer on a workpiece by vacuum coating, the method comprising: supplying a direct current and/or a pulse alternating current from a current generator to an arc source to operate an electrical arc discharge between a cathode and an anode of the arc source, the cathode and the anode being separated by a stop ring that is electrically insulated from both the cathode and the anode, in an atmosphere containing a reactive gas; and generating an external magnetic field essentially perpendicular to a target surface of a target electrically connected to the cathode to assist an evaporation process, wherein the stop ring is made either of an electrical insulator or of a highly conducting metal; and wherein the electrical arc discharge current is conducted to the arc source through a magnetic coil employed for generating the external magnetic field.