Abstract: Apparatus for decoding multiple input lines includes a line selector and a line deselector. The line selector is capable of receiving a plurality of closely spaced input lines and simultaneously decoding the input lines into at least one output line having an effective pitch which can be arbitrarily greater than the pitch of the input lines. An array of MOS transistors is formed in the line selector to decode the input lines while increasing the output pitch relative to the input pitch. Similarly, the line deselector receives the same plurality of input lines and insures that deselected lines are connected to an appropriate voltage potential in order to prevent them from "floating".

Abstract: An automatic photomask alignment system for projection printing includes a monochromatic light source, such as a laser, a series of diffraction patterns which are located on a semiconductor wafer in locations where alignments are to be made, at least one key which is located on a photomask with which the wafer is to be aligned, and a projection lens system. A light beam from the monochromatic light source is directed about the key on the photomask and through the projection lens system onto one of the diffraction patterns on the substrate to provide a pattern of light spots whose intensities at various locations are determined by the relative alignment of the key and the diffraction grating.

Abstract: A major surface of a disc-shaped plastic base is coated with two or more nonconformal coating layers with a solvent barrier layer interposed between said coating layers. The nonconformal coating layers fill in surface imperfections of the base while the solvent barrier layers allow an efficient stacking of said coating layers to yield a surface suitable for optical recording.

Abstract: A first compound semiconductor layer is epitaxially formed on a surface of a semi-insulating substrate. The first semiconductor layer is then removed and a second compound semiconductor layer is epitaxially formed on the substrate surface which is now exposed.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a recorded disc with a thin layer of a lubricant includes a chamber which is divided into two sections by a baffle extending across the chamber and vertically downwardly from the top of the chamber to a point spaced from the bottom of the chamber. An atomizer is mounted at the top of one section of the chamber and is connected to a source of air under pressure and a supply of lubricant. The atomizer is adapted to generate droplets of lubricant in the one section. An air inlet port in the side of the chamber opens into the one section and is connected to a source of air under pressure. An outlet opening is at the top of the other section of the chamber. The flow of air into the one section is controlled to carry the smaller droplets of the lubricant around the bottom of the baffle and up the other section to flow out of the chamber through the outlet port. The larger droplets fall to the bottom of the chamber and are carried away through a drain outlet in the bottom of the chamber.

Abstract: A process for reverse etching a layer of chromium on a substrate is provided wherein a layer of resist is formed on the chromium and developed, thus exposing a portion of the chromium. The exposed chromium is passivated by backscattering from a suitable backing plate in a plasma, the resist is removed and the unpassivated chromium etched with a conventional liquid etchant. The pattern formed in the chromium layer is the opposite of that original formed in the resist material.

Abstract: A stylus is attached to one end of a stylus holder which is mounted on a trunnion and adapted to rotate about a first axis. Attached to the trunnion is means for pivoting the trunnion about a second axis transverse to the first axis, in order to position the tip of the stylus adjacent a surface of a rotating scaife. A stream of fluid is directed against a vane attached to the stylus holder in a manner such that the fluid causes the holder to rotate about the trunnion, thereby changing the rotational position of the stylus without significantly altering the force of the stylus against the scaife.

Abstract: A technique for testing for heavy metal contamination in semiconductor processing furnaces includes use of a chip having a plurality of PN- junctions, at least one of which is completely isolated from the sides of the chip. The chip is manufactured to exhibit a high reverse recovery time and this can be conveniently accomplished by a combination of a gettering layer to getter the heavy metal atoms away from the junction and by never raising the temperature of the chip above 800.degree. C. after the gettering layer is provided.In use, the chip is fed through a furnace either with or, preferably before the wafers being processed, which is operating at the conditions under which semiconductor devices are to be processed. After the chip is removed from the furnace, its reverse recovery time is measured and compared to its initial reverse recovery time to determine if it has decreased.

Abstract: A method of reducing the time and temperature for either flowing or re-flowing a glass layer on a semiconductor device is described. The method involves conducting the flow or re-flow process steps at an elevated pressure which reduces both the time and the temperature required to achieve proper flow and re-flow characteristics.

Abstract: There is disclosed a semiconductor device having a PN junction terminating at a surface and passivated by a multi-layer passivant system comprising a first layer of semi-insulating material over the surface, a layer of dielectric material over the first layer and a second layer of semi-insulating material over the dielectric layer. Preferably, the first and second layers are oxygen doped polycrystalline silicon and the dielectric layer is either silicon dioxide of frit glass fused to the first layer.

Abstract: An evaporimeter formed of a capillary tube hydraulically coupled to a sheet of filter paper to form a capillary system establishing hydraulic continuity of liquid between the tube and the surface of the filter paper is automatically replenished with the liquid as the liquid evaporates. The rate of evaporation from the surface of the filter paper of a liquid, such as water, in the tube and filter paper is automatically measured using a photoelectric sensor as the air-liquid interface moves upwardly in the tube as the water is drawn from the tube to replace the evaporated water.

Abstract: The ROM utilizes a diode x-y memory array which can be comprised of a number of suitable materials which form rectifying junctions. The diodes are formed vertically in order to provide a very high density array. On pitch decoder circuitry which is capable of matching the high density of the memory cells in the x-y memory array is also described, as is a unique apparatus for joining adjacent ends of conductive lines which are spaced very close together without increasing their pitch.

Abstract: An apparatus for grinding two flats of substantially the same dimensions in portions of a conical tip of an element. The apparatus comprises, in combination, a rotatably mounted holding member for holding the element; a rotatably mounted abrasive surface for grinding the tip portion; an index wheel drivingly connected to a flipping lever on the holding member for rotating the element between the two tip portions wherein the point of the tip does not disturb or penetrate the abrasive surface during rotation; and a pivot bearing upon which the holding member is pivotally mounted for contacting the tip portions with the abrasive surface so that a constant force is applied to the tip portion being ground, wherein the tip point does not disturb or penetrate the abrasive surface and wherein the tip remains in contact with the abrasive surface during rotation.

Abstract: A playback stylus adapted for use in recovering information recorded in an information disc record which acts as a first conductive plate of a capacitor. The stylus includes a body of a first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant, a first layer of a second dielectric material having a dielectric constant less than the first dielectric constant overlaying the body, a second conductive layer overlaying the second dielectric material which acts as a second conductive plate of a capacitor, and a third layer of a dielectric material having a dielectric constant less than the first dielectric constant overlaying the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a face on a crystalline dielectric material having anisotropic crystallographic hardness. The method includes the steps of contacting the dielectric material with an abrasive surface having a loosely bound charge of abrasive particles, while maintaining relative motion between the dielectric material and the abrasive surface, and isotropically coning the dielectric material by continuously rotating the dielectric material and applying a force between a dielectric material and the abrasive surface which allows a face to be produced in the dielectric material because of its anisotropic crystallographic hardness.

Abstract: A novel, nonvolatile floating gate memory structure is described wherein the floating gate is substantially shielded from the substrate by the control gate. The control gate is provided with a pair of apertures, through which portions of the floating gate extends. One aperture serves as means for "writing" and "erasing" while the other aperture serves as means for "reading".

Abstract: High density information discs comprising a conductive carbon-loaded polyvinylchloride disc is lubricated with a fractionated methyl alkyl siloxane lubricant which contains a long chain alkyl substituted betaine.

Abstract: Conductive information discs comprised of conductive particles such as carbon black dispersed in a stable thermoplastic material comprising a homopolymer of styrene, an acrylic acid ester, or a methacrylic acid ester, a copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile, an acrylic acid ester, or a methacrylic acid ester, or mixtures thereof, is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is an improved buried heterostructure laser wherein the improvement comprises a cladding layer which is interposed between the mesa and the burying region and has a refractive index less than that of the burying region and the effective refractive index of the fundamental transverse mode. The discrimination against higher order modes of propagation provided by the structure permits the use of a wider active layer and thus a larger emitting area.

Abstract: Improved air-fireable resistor and conductor inks useful in constructing multilayer integrated circuits on porcelain-coated metal substrates are provided. The subject inks comprise a barium calcium borosilicate glass frit, a suitable organic vehicle, and a functional component, i.e., ruthenium dioxide, in the resistor inks and one or more precious metals plus bismuth oxide in the conductor inks.