Abstract: Series connected amorphous silicon solar cells which are formed on a single substrate are described. Also described are methods of inexpensively forming such series connected amorphous silicon solar cells.

Abstract: A method of accurately terminating the coating of a substrate in an aqueous coating solution is disclosed. The method comprises removing the substrate into an organic displacement liquid which overlies the aqueous coating solution.

Abstract: An electrically alterable, nonvolatile floating gate memory device is described having enhanced write efficiency by reason of an extension of the floating gate member. The extension is made to extend over the drain line of an adjacent memory device and serves to provide the floating gate member with additional capacitance during the write operation thereby permitting a higher write efficiency for a given voltage.

Abstract: A photodetector having a light transmissive and electrical conducting spacer layer interposed between a semiconductor body having a semiconductor junction therein and a light reflective electrical contact to the body. The spacer layer may have a thickness of about one-half the wavelength of light passing through the body and impinging on the spacer layer or the thicknesses of the spacer layer and the active body may be so adjusted that the reflectivity of the photodetector at a particular wavelength is reduced.

Abstract: An instrument for determining the alignment of two objects includes a support in the form of a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis. The support has means on one end for releasably mounting the support in an opening in one of the objects being aligned. The support fits into a recess in a housing which can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the support. A gauge carrier is pivotally mounted on the housing. A gauge is mounted on the gauge carrier and has a finger pivotally mounted thereon and projecting therefrom. The gauge is adapted to detect pivotal movement of the finger. The finger is adapted to contact the other object and as the housing is rotated about the support will pivot toward or away from the longitudinal axis if the other object is not in alignment with the one object. The pivotal movement of the finger is detected by the gauge.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a thin-walled article comprising a frame providing a forming station for positioning a preheated sheet of thermoplastic material, first and second mold sections mounted on the frame in opposed relation with the forming station disposed therebetween, the first mold section having a forming cavity therein, the second mold section having a forming portion insertable in the forming cavity of the first mold section when the mold sections are displaced toward each other, the forming portion of the second mold section having at least one wall cooperable with at least one wall of the forming cavity of the first mold section when a preheated sheet of thermoplastic material is positioned at the forming station and the mold sections are displaced toward each other for sequentially shearing a blank from the preheated sheet of thermoplastic material and compressing the blank between the mold sections to cause the blank material to flow and form the article, means for ejecting the formed article fr

Abstract: In the matrixing process used in the manufacture of lapping discs employed in the production of videodisc styli, it has been found that the separation of the electroformed parts from the parts on which they are formed can be performed effectively and simply by heating the assembly of the electroformed part and the part on which it is formed to an elevated temperature which causes the parts to separate from each other without distortion of the lapping grooves and without damage to either of the parts.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the contact resistance in a film of an aluminum-based metal deposited on a silicon substrate in a vacuum chamber is provided wherein a reference wafer containing contact resistance measurement circuits is utilized. A significant number of contact resistance measurements is utilized to determine the impurity level in the film and/or to predict the post alloy contact resistance distribution from pre-alloy values.

Abstract: A beam of electromagnetic radiation such as a pulsed laser beam is used to anneal materials, such as semiconductor materials, without the formation of puddles. Puddles are caused by raising the temperature of the material to its melting temperature by a laser beam. The beam of the pulsed laser can be scanned over the surface of the semiconductor material without raising the temperature to the melting temperature and with at least about 50% overlap of each irradiated surface portion whereby extensive surface areas can be annealed rapidly without puddling.

Abstract: A playback stylus comprising a dielectric support element having a conical end, two flats in the conical end, and a constricted terminal portion defined by side surfaces, shoulders interconnecting the side surfaces and the flats, a prow defined by a first region between the flats, a second region remote from the prow and a disc engaging surface defined by the prow, side surfaces, and the second region.

Abstract: A playback stylus for a capacitive information disc comprising a shank, a dielectric material at one end of the shank, a first conical region of a first angle in an end portion of the dielectric material, a second conical region adjacent to the first conical region of a second angle less than the first angle, and an information recovering terminal region in the first conical region for recovering information recorded in an information track of a capacitive information disc.

Abstract: A mold for molding recorded discs includes a pair of mold plates, at least one of which is movable toward and away from the other mold plate and a center hole forming pin slidably mounted in an opening in one of the mold plates for movement toward and away from the other mold plate. The center hole forming pin includes an elongated rod having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough from an outer end to a closed inner end. A tube is mounted in the passage and divides the passage into an inner portion within the tube and an outer portion between the tube and the wall of the passage. A pair of tubular fittings are mounted on the rod with one fitting being connected to the inner portion of the passage and the other fitting being connected to the outer portion of the passage. A tubular sleeve cap is threaded on the closed end portion of the rod and is of a material harder than the material of the rod.

Abstract: A capacitive information disc playback stylus comprising a dielectric support element having in one portion a conical body terminating in a constricted tip. The tip comprises a curved prow surface, a flat electrode surface remote from the prow, shoulders joining the constricted tip to the conical body, and side surfaces which join the prow and the flat surface. The side surfaces, the flat surface, and the prow surface define the edges of a disc-engaging surface.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for separating a replica from a matrix. The apparatus consists of a rotatable lower turntable and a movable upper turntable assembly between which the replica and matrix assembly to be separated are clamped during the separation process. A tool is provided to selectively apply pressure to the outer edge of the matrix to cause the seal between the replica and the matrix to be broken and also to provide a gap between the replica and the matrix. A pair of opposing clamp members having an aperture in the jaws of the clamps is inserted into the gap between the replica and the matrix. The clamp members are advanced so as to lock the matrix to the surface of the lower turntable. A pair of upper clamp members which are mounted on the support assembly for the upper turntable are moved into position so as to engage the replica.

Abstract: A movable control or reception chamber is provided at the loading-unloading chamber of a diffusion furnace to control the environment around the wafers both before and after the wafers are removed from processing in the furnace tube. The reception chamber is capable of controlling the heat-up temperature prior to insertion of the wafers into the furnace while during the cool-down phase the heat given off is both controlled and prevented from being dissipated into the room.

Abstract: A method and composition for the detection of microdefects in the surface layer of a substrate is disclosed. The composition utilizes dimethylsulfoxide as a primary solvent and a fluorescent organic compound which fluoresces principally in solution. The visibility of microdefects is enhanced by etching the substrate underlying them to form channels for the fluorescent compound.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for grinding the back surfaces of record molding stampers. The apparatus is comprised of a holder in which the stamper is mounted and rotated and a pressure-controlled grinder arm which is designed to engage the back surface of the stamper with an abrasive while the stamper is being rotated so as to remove surface defects.

Abstract: The invention is an improved optical recording medium and a method for making same in which the substrate has a raised center and peripheral portions. The sides of the raised portions and the upper surface of a light absorptive layer, which overlies the unraised portion, form a mold which is filled with the overcoat material.

Abstract: An improved self-aligned conductive gate member formed by suppressing or decreasing the size of the as-deposited grains of polysilicon and by suppressing further grain growth which may occur during a subsequent annealing or processing step. By maintaining the as-deposited grains as small as possible, the initiation of intergranular voids is minimized. This is accomplished by forming a low resistivity oxygen doped polycrystalline silicon layer in place of the conventional polysilicon.

Abstract: A jig comprises a housing which contains a storage channel and a feed channel. The feed channel communicates with the storage channel and extends to the front end of the housing. The jig also has a releasable gripping portion located at its front end. The releasable gripping portion grips and releases stylus blanks. The jig also has bolt for transporting blanks from the storage channel through the feed channel to the releasable gripping portion.