Abstract: A secondary ion collection and transport system, for use with an ion microprobe, which is very compact and occupies only a small working distance, thereby enabling the primary ion beam to have a short focal length and high resolution. Ions sputtered from the target surface by the primary beam's impact are collected between two arcuate members having radii of curvature and applied voltages that cause only ions within a specified energy band to be collected. The collected ions are accelerated and focused in a transport section consisting of a plurality of spaced conductive members which are coaxial with and distributed along the desired ion path. Relatively high voltages are applied to alternate transport sections to produce accelerating electric fields sufficient to transport the ions through the section to an ion mass analyzer, while lower voltages are applied to the other transport sections to focus the ions and bring their velocity to a level compatible with the analyzing apparatus.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC up-converter of the type wherein voltage is built up across a capacitor by alternately connecting a coil by means of a pulse width modulator-controlled switching transistor across a low DC voltage source and, in series with that source, across the capacitor. Operation is initiated by converting the switching circuit into a blocking oscillator, running the oscillator from the low DC voltage source, and using the up-converted voltage to power the rest of the up-converter, making it possible to run the entire up-converter circuit from a very low voltage source.

Abstract: An operational amplifier circuit including an output stage which requires relatively low operating current to achieve a desired transconductance in order to permit improved driving of a capacitive load.

Abstract: A modulator system for converting a three-channel input microwave signal to a single-channel output microwave signal is formed of two microwave sections which are joined together at both their inputs and their outputs by hybrid circuits, one of which serves as a power divider and the other which serves as a power combiner. Each of the microwave sections includes a pair of couplers which are joined by a Faraday rotator. First and second microwave input signals are applied to a first port of an input coupler in each of these sections. A third microwave signal is connected by the hybrid divider to a second input port in the input couplers of each of the microwave sections. Polarization of the third signal is vertical and is maintained through the two sections. Polarization of the first and second signals is horizontal and is maintained through the two sections.

Abstract: Stage 12 is moved into position by traction of capstan 38 on bar 42 which is pivoted under intermediate plate 20, and by traction on bar 66 which is pivoted under stage plate 12. Bar 42 is pressed against motor driven capstan 38 by pressure rollers 44 and 46. The pressure rollers are mounted on a rotatable yoke 50 so that the bar can freely swing and only applies longitudinal forces to the plate. This same structure is provided for drive bar 66.

Abstract: A general circuit design for the various functional types of modules used in the Elemental Processors of a Modular Array Processor. These modules nominally include an input-programmable logic circuit and closely associated memory register. They also include a common means of transferring data to and from a data bus for communicating data to the other modules present within their respective Elemental Processors. The various functional types of modules are realized through the use of logic circuits of different specific designs. Each particular type of logic circuit is designed to implement all of the related logical and data manipulative operations necessary to provide a general data processing function, such as those of accumulator, memory, counter, and comparator.

Abstract: Metallic contacts to compound semiconductor devices which employ a native oxide for passivation are provided. The metallic contacts of the invention comprise at least two metal layers: a first layer making non-rectifying contact with the semiconductor surface and providing a diffusion barrier and a second layer thereon comprising an easily oxidizable metal. A low resistivity metal layer may optionally be interposed between the two metal layers for improved conductivity.The metallic contact is formed prior to passivation. The diffusion barrier layer prevents diffusion of potentially deleterious materials into the semiconductor, while exposed portions of the oxidizable metal form an insulating oxide during anodic passivation in an electrolyte.

Abstract: A ball is formed at the tip of a wire by an arc. The arc is initiated and maintained across an air gap between the wire tip and an electrode by applying timed RF and DC voltages between them.

Abstract: A thin-line heading sensor is disclosed having an outside diameter of less than an inch which is accurate to within 1.degree. of arc. The invention includes a magnetic wheel having a reflective multifaceted perimeter. The facets are optically coded for identification. When the wheel is illuminated by a collimated beam of light, a beam is reflected onto an array of photodetectors. The photodetectors are coupled with an electronic circuit which decodes the position and pattern of illumination to determine the position of the magnetic wheel.

Abstract: A quartz crystal oscillator is controlled entirely by digital elements to phase lock with a reference square wavetrain by alternately switching the tuning circuit of the oscillator between first and second configurations. The ratio of the times during which the tuning circuit is in its respective configurations is a function of the relative phases of the oscillator output and the reference wavetrain and serves to determine the precise frequency of the oscillator so as to keep its output locked to the phase of the reference wavetrain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of pretreating a semiconductor wafer so that a solution coating of a positive resist of poly(methacrylic anhydride) can be directly applied to the treated surface. A typical semiconductor wafer of silicon is first precoated with a thin layer of poly(t-butyl methacrylate) and then heated to convert the poly(t-butyl methacrylate) to the anhydride. The thickness of this anhydride-precursor layer is less than about 1,000 Angstroms. Next, there is applied to the surface of the precursor layer a solution of the poly(methacrylic anhydride) dissolved in, for example, dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, or N-methylprrolidione. Such solvents, which are not capable of adequately wetting the silicon surface directly, are capable of wetting the precursor layer comprising poly(methacrylic anhydride), thus ensuring a uniform deposit of poly(methacrylic anhydride) upon the treated surface of the wafer.

Abstract: Laser apparatus is disclosed which employs the principles of phase conjugation to provide for short-pulse operation. A phase-conjugate reflector, lasing medium, and output coupling device are arranged to form a laser resonator. The lasing medium may be pumped by a conventional pump source to produce population inversion in the lasing medium. The phase-conjugate reflector is pulsed by means of a pulsed pump source which applies a periodic train of short laser pulses having high peak power and low average power thereto. The short-duration pulses create high reflective efficiencies in the phase-conjugate reflector, while minimizing the overall energy demands on the system. Additionally, the pump source which pumps the lasing medium may also provide pulsed energy thereto which is synchronous with the pulsed energy provided by the pulsed pump source to the phase-conjugate reflector. Accordingly, the system provides for a series of short pulsewidth laser pulses at its output.

Abstract: A laser system for providing a rapidly steerable laser output beam. The laser system includes a phase conjugate reflector, laser gain medium and its associated pump source, an output coupling device, and an optical element which selectably controls the transverse lasing mode of the laser system. The components are arranged to form a laser oscillator between the phase conjugate reflector and the optical device, and is operated in such a manner that each selected transverse mode of laser operation generates an output beam from the system which has a different wavefront tilt. Accordingly, the output beam is steerable and is dependent upon the selected transverse mode which is currently lasing in the oscillator.

Abstract: Contacts between polysilicon conductors on the surface of a silicon wafer and doped regions underlying them in the wafer, rendered defective by the growth of a thin intervening oxide layer between conductors and diffusions, are repaired by depositing dots of aluminum on the conductors in the contact areas and annealing the wafer so as to drive traces of the aluminum through the conductors and the intervening oxide into the underlying doped regions in the wafer.

Abstract: A method for use with a computer which directly transfers incoming data into the computer memory. A functional address contained in a received message is used to index a pointer in a vector table. The indexed pointer addresses an input control block associated with the functional address. The input control block is used to control the flow of data into the computer memory. The input control block also controls access to the computer memory for subsequent messages having the same functional address.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for detecting the presence of acoustic signals which includes a laser source, and a detector coupled to opposite end of an acousto-optic transducer. The transducer may employ fiber optic waveguides, etched to allow evanescent coupling therebetween, and disposed within a flexible housing. Integrated and planar optic transducers are provided in various forms employing two integrated optic waveguide channels, two planar waveguides, or a planar waveguide and absorber combination. Each configuration is disposed within a flexible housing and the waveguides are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. Any flexing of the housing is transformed into a displacement of the waveguides relative to one another. The coupling between the waveguides is a very sensitive function of distance, and hence detection of variations in the energy coupled by the waveguides provides an indication of the presence of the acoustic signals.

Abstract: This invention provides a unitary oil coupled optical arrangement for color selective prepolarization of the light incident upon two light valves. The optical arrangement is immersed within a single tank. It includes dichroic filters which act on polarized light from a light source which has been polarized into two beams by passing through and being reflected from a prepolarizing optical thin film stack. The first dichroic filter provides light of a first color and a first polarization while the second dichroic filter provides light of a second color and a second polarization. The light from each of the filters is then combined into a single beam by a thin film polarization-selective beam combiner prior to being applied to the main polarizing prism. The main prism then passes light of a first polarization and a first color to a first light valve and light of the second polarization and a second color to the second light valve in a conventional manner.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed which incorporates a color selective prepolarizer to improve contrast and reduce stress induced birefringence while allowing a blue mirror to be used to enhance the projected image. The invention includes a source lamp for providing a first beam of unpolarized white light energy; a prepolarizing beam splitter which extracts from the first beam, second and third beams. The second beam contains undesirable color components of a first polarization state, which are removed from the system by reflection to an optical dump. The third beam includes prepolarized light of one color and the first polarization and white light of the second polarization. A main polarizing prism is provided for splitting the third beam into fourth and fifth beams having the first and second polarizing states respectively. The main prism effectively directs the white light to the light valve where it is modulated and returned to the main prism for projection in the conventional manner.

Abstract: A first color selective beam splitter is provided for splitting light from a source into first and second beams, the first beam being blue and the second beam having red and green color components.A second beam splitter is provided for directing light of the first beam to a blue liquid crystal light valve. The light valve modulates the polarization of the light in the first beam and returns it to the second beam splitter which converts the modulations of polarization to modulations of intensity in the conventional manner and reflects it to a first projection lens.A third beam splitter is provided for splitting the second beam into third and fourth beams having first and second polarization states, respectively. The third beam is reflected to a red filter. The fourth beam is transmitted through a green filter.The output of each filter is a substantially monochromatic beam of a single polarization state. The filter outputs are recombined into a single beam which illuminates a fourth beam splitter.

Abstract: A polycrystalline silicon field plate underlies a polycrystalline silicon resistor and is heavily doped so that it is virtually a conductor while an aluminum field plate overlies the polycrystalline silicon resistor. Electrical potentials are applied to the polycrystalline field plate and the aluminum field plate, the potentials being selected so that an electric field is created at the boundary between the polycrystalline semiconductor resistor and the surrounding dielectric layer, the electric field forcing charge carriers in the resistor away from the boundary and toward a central region of the resistor. As a result, surface state noise in the resistor is significantly reduced.