Abstract: A transferred-electron photocathode or other opto-electronic device having one light-receiving side and one electronic side, in which multiple photocathodes are processed concurrently on a wafer for front and back side contacts and anti-reflection layers. After the wafer-level processing, the individual cells are diced, and each is placed in a rectangular recess formed in a window body with the light-receptive part of the photocathode facing the window. The integration is aided by several novel processes including coining a chip recess into a window, selective etching of titanium over chromium, and using a single metal sheet member for electrically contacting the photocathode, forming part of the vacuum envelope, and providing an exterior electrical tab.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes a housing that encloses a sputtering chamber, a substrate holder for positioning a substrate in the sputtering chamber and a sputtering gun, including a sputtering target, for depositing a film of atoms of the target on a surface of the substrate. The chamber contains a gas which forms a plasma. An electrical potential is applied to the substrate for accelerating ions from the plasma toward the substrate. The apparatus includes a substrate electrode for controlling trajectories of ions accelerated from the plasma toward the substrate. The substrate electrode permits movement of the substrate by the substrate holder and establishes a substantially uniform electrical potential around the periphery of the substrate as viewed from the plasma. The substrate electrode may be biased so that ions substantially uniformly bombard the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A magnetron sputtering source for depositing a material onto a substrate includes a target from which the material is sputtered, a magnet assembly disposed in proximity to the target for confining a plasma at the surface of the target and a drive assembly for scanning the magnet assembly relative to the target. The sputtering source may further include an anode for maintaining substantially constant plasma characteristics as the magnet assembly is scanned relative to the target. The anode may be implemented as variable voltage stationary electrodes positioned at or near the opposite ends of the scan path followed by the magnet assembly, spaced-apart anode wires positioned between the target and the substrate or a movable anode that is scanned with the magnet assembly. The magnet elements of the magnet assembly may have different spacings from the surface of the target to enhance depositional thickness uniformity.

Abstract: A magnetron sputtering source for forming a sputtered film on a substrate in a magnetron sputtering apparatus includes a target having a surface from which material is sputtered and a magnet assembly that is rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to the target. The magnet assembly produces on the target an erosion profile that is calculated to yield a desired depositional thickness distribution and inventory. A method for configuring the rotatable magnet assembly includes the steps of determining an optimal erosion profile that yields the desired depositional thickness distribution and inventory, determining a plasma track on the surface of the target that produces an acceptable approximation to the optimal erosion profile, and determining a magnet structure that produces the plasma track.

Abstract: A vacuum processing system for handling and processing rectangular glass panels for flat panel displays has a cluster configuration. The system includes a central buffer chamber, with multiple processing chambers, a load lock and an unload lock positioned around the buffer chamber and coupled to the buffer chamber through gate valves. The buffer chamber contains a turntable that is rotatable about a vertical axis. The system further includes substrate carriers, each for supporting a substrate in a vertical orientation as it is transported through the system and is processed. The turntable has dual substrate carrier positions for rotating substrate carriers into alignment with a selected processing chamber, the load lock or the unload lock. Multiple substrates can be handled and processed concurrently to achieve a high throughput rate. The system is typically used for sputter deposition of ITO films and metal films on the glass substrate.

Abstract: An electron source includes a negative electron affinity photocathode on a light-transmissive substrate and a light beam generator for directing a light beam through the substrate at the photocathode for exciting electrons into the conduction band. The photocathode has at least one active area for emission of electrons with dimensions of less than about two micrometers. The electron source further includes electron optics for forming the electrons into an electron beam and a vacuum enclosure for maintaining the photocathode at high vacuum. In one embodiment, the active emission area of the photocathode is defined by the light beam that is incident on the photocathode. In another embodiment, the active emission area of the photocathode is predefined by surface modification of the photocathode. The source provides very high brightness from an ultra-small active emission area of the photocathode.

Abstract: A smooth and monotonic potential energy gradient was established at a p-type (InGa)As--undopad InP heterojunction to efficiently transfer conduction electrons from the (InGa)As:p layer to the InP:.o slashed. layer. This potential energy gradient was established with a compositionally graded p-type semiconductor alloy layer and an n-type InP built-in field layer interposed at the heterojunction. The compositionally graded semiconductor alloy layer spatially distributes the conduction band discontinuity of the (InGa)As--InP heterojunction and the InP:n built-in field layer eliminates potential energy barriers from the conduction band over a wide range of externally-applied biases including no externally applied bias. The smooth and monotonic potential energy gradient thus established promotes efficient transfer of the conduction electrons due to drift from the (InGa)As:p layer to the large bandgap InP collector layer where they contribute to the output current of any number of electronic devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for improved heating uniformity during rapid thermal annealing through the use of a sacrificial layer covering the surface to be annealed. The composition and thickness of the layer are chosen to be opaque at the frequencies emitted by a radiant energy source, usually a xenon arc lamp, and also to be thermally conductive. The sacrificial layer absorbs the radiant energy and conducts the resulting heat to the surface to be annealed. After the annealing is complete, the sacrificial layer is etched away or left as an overcoat.

Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers can be grown on a multi-layer substrate which has a crystalline pseudomorphic layer with an exposed surface used for the epitaxial growth. The pseudomorphic layer of the substrate has a thickness at or below the pseudomorphic limit so it will be deformed as stress forces are developed during epitaxial growth of heteroepitaxial structures. A plastically deformable layer is bonded to the pseudomorphic layer, This plastically deformable layer is made of material that plastically flows at epitaxial growth temperatures.

Abstract: A focused electron/bombarded hybrid photomultiplier tube comprising a photocathode, focusing electrodes, and a collection anode disposed in a detector body. The collector anode includes a diode for receiving the focused output electron beam from the photocathode. The current gain between the photocathode output current and the detector output signal from the diode is over 1000 at a tube operating voltage of 7 kV. The noise factor has been determined to be 1.1. A hybrid photomultiplier tube includes a photocathode, a photodiode for collecting and multiplying electrons emitted by the photocathode and providing an output signal and electrodes for focusing the electrons on the photodiode. A vacuum envelope encloses a vacuum region between photocathode and the detector. A conductor disposed on or adjacent to a sidewall of the vacuum envelope reduces the effect of electrical charges on the inside wall of the vacuum envelope on the trajectories of the electrons.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for handling and processing thin substrates, such as substrates for magnetic disks. The system includes a main chamber, entrance and output load locks, a buffer chamber, substrate load/unload structure, and a plurality of substrate processing stations positioned contiguous with the main vacuum chamber. The system further includes a transport for moving a plurality of cassettes carrying vertically oriented substrates into the entrance load lock, to the buffer chamber where the substrates are transferred into the main chamber, and to the output load lock where processed substrates are placed back in the cassettes. The substrates are transferred to and from the cassettes to and from the substrate load/unload structure by way of dedicated lift blades.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a low noise microchannel plate which limits feedback includes creating a conductive layer on the output side of the microchannel plate so that portions of the open areas in the output end are closed off.

Abstract: A vacuum gate valve includes a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening, and a swing gate assembly rotatable about a pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. The swing gate assembly includes a swing gate body, a resilient seal gasket mounted to the swing gate body so as to sealingly engage the valve seat in the closed position, and a spreader for flattening the resilient seal gasket in a region that engages the valve seat. The gate valve further includes an actuator for rotating the swing gate assembly between the open position and the closed position. In a preferred embodiment, the seal gasket is a resilient tube, and the spreader is located within the tube. The swing gate assembly may include a mechanism for adjusting the spreader to thereby adjust the tension applied to the seal gasket.

Abstract: A bundle of multiglass fibers are assembled within an outer glass tube. An intermediate glass structure is interposed between the bundle of multifibers and the outer glass tube. The intermediate glass structure has a softening temperature within the range of minus 5% and plus 15% of the softening temperature of the multifibers and less than the softening temperature of the outer glass tube. The assembly is heated and the outer glass tube is pressurized from the outside to produce a uniform compressive force for fusing the multifibers and the intermediate glass structure around the multifibers. The intermediate glass structure may include a glass tube, multiple layers of glass fibers or an inner layer of glass fibers surrounded by a glass tube.

Abstract: A focused electron/bombarded (FEB) ion detector comprising an MCP, focusing means, and a collection anode disposed in a detector body. The collector anode includes a diode for receiving the focused output electron beam from the MCP. The gain between the input ion current to the MCP and the detector output signal from the diode is on the order of 1-100 million, depending on the device configuration and applied biasing voltages. A hybrid photomultiplier tube includes a photocathode, a photodiode for collecting and multiplying electrons emitted by the photocathode and providing an output signal and electrodes for focusing the electrons on the photodiode. A vacuum envelope encloses a vacuum region between photocathode and the detector. A conductor disposed on or adjacent to a sidewall of the vacuum envelope reduces the effect of electrical charges on the inside wall of the vacuum envelope on the trajectories of the electrons.

Abstract: A camera attachment converts a standard day-light video camera into a day/night-vision video camera. The attachment device has a threaded input and output to physically and optically interconnect an auto-iris lens to a video camera. The attachment device contains an image intensifier tube and a fiber optic image conduit either of which may be switched into the through optical path to receive and either amplify or simply conduct the light image to a relay lens. The relay lens focuses the output image from either the image tube or the fiber optic image conduit onto the optical input of the video camera. The switching of the image intensifier tube or the fiber optic image conduit is dependent upon the ambient light conditions of the camera so that if there is insufficient lighting for normal daytime viewing the image tube is activated and switched into the through optical path of the camera.

Abstract: A low cost image intensifier tube is provided which has an improved vacuum sealing mechanism and improved optical transmission. Glass windows on both the input and output of the tube are vacuum sealed within the housing by a ring of indium that contacts the interface between each of the windows and the housing. A pair of raised pointed flanges each positioned along the inner housing surface interfacing the windows protrude into the adjacent ring of indium for improving the vacuum seal of both input and output windows and for controlling the spacing of the elements within the tube. Sealing the photocathode from the rest of the tube is a ceramic cathode cork. The cathode cork is a solid sealing ring press fit within the tube housing and colocated between the input window at the outer edge of the photocathode and the microchannel plate.

Abstract: A microchannel plate (MCP) apparatus and method in which the output metalization layer or electrode is covered with a thin coating to reduce the number of spurious electron emissions striking the phosphor screen or other collection anode in an image intensifier. Microchannel plates manufactured in this way have the beneficial effect of improving yield in the manufacture of night vision devices.

Abstract: A focused electron-bombarded (FEB) ion detector comprising an MCP, focusing means, and a collection anode disposed in a detector body. The collection anode includes a diode for receiving the focused output electron beam from the MCP. The gain between the input ion current to the MCP and the detector output signal from the diode is on the order of 1-100 million, depending on the device configuration and applied biasing voltages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed using a combination of convection and conduction cooling to cool an article in an evacuated environment. A processing chamber is used which includes at least one heat sink. A flat surface of the article to be cooled is positioned within the chamber in a spaced apart facing parallel relationship to a facing surface of the heat sink. High conductivity gases are admitted into the chamber to accomplish cooling of the article.