Abstract: The production of improved photovoltaic solar cells and the like comprising both p and n type deposited silicon film regions is made possible by a process which provides more efficient p-doped silicon films with higher acceptor concentrations. The process utilizes previously known p-dopant metal or boron gaseous materials in unique forms and conditions in a glow discharge silicon preferably hydrogen and fluorine compensated deposition process. Thus, p-dopant metals like aluminum may be used in an elemental evaporated form, rather than in a gaseous compound form heretofore ineffectively used and deposited with the glow discharge deposited silicon on substrates kept at lower temperatures where fluorine and hydrogen compensation is most effective.

Abstract: Apparatus for raising a continuous substrate to a predetermined deposition temperature and thereafter maintaining it at that temperature as it advances through a glow discharge chamber. A lamp holder having a plurality of heater lamps extends substantially the length of the chamber. The lamps are selectively spaced apart along the length of travel of said substrate to provide a desired heating profile. A detector is engaged to control circuitry for continuously adjusting the intensity of the lamps to regulate substrate temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing microform records from hard copy or a cathode ray tube image or the like fed from a selected data source, includes an image-reducing projection system into which is selectively directed light reflected from hard copy or light from the face of a remote cathode ray tube to which white background CRT image-forming signals are fed. The reduced image involved is preferably applied first to a non-archival heat developable mask-forming film, like a dry silver film, and then the image on this film is transferred preferably to an archival film capable of later receiving additional data on unused portions thereof and most advantageously arranged as a microfiche card. A cathode ray tube smaller than the hard copy is positioned below but in spaced relation to a hard copy receiving platform-containing or receiving image field area.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to photovoltaic devices having enhanced short circuit currents and efficiencies. The devices are made by depositing on a previously deposited doped amorphous semiconductor alloy layer a body of intrinsic amorphous semiconductor alloys including a first intrinsic layer, adjacent the doped layer, formed from the deposition of a non-etching starting material and a second intrinsic layer different in composition from the first intrinsic layer. The second intrinsic layer preferably includes silicon and fluorine while the first intrinsic amorphous alloy layer does not include fluorine. The first intrinsic layer may be formed by the glow discharge decomposition of silane gas alone. The thicknesses of the first and second intrinsic layers are adjusted so as to match the respective potential drops thereof with the first intrinsic layer being relatively thin as compared to the second intrinsic layer.

Abstract: A structure, and method, for producing images such as microform, particularly, microfilm. The structure in its preferred form comprises a flexible substrate having a film, layer or coating of a metal, or metal-like, image forming material on at least one surface thereof. The image forming material, in turn, is provided with a film, layer or coating of an energy sensitive material. The structure is characterized in that it can be exposed to actinic radiation, for example, and developed in a fraction of a second to provide a dry microform having high acuity, contrast and resolution, excellent archival properties, and, significantly, in the case of positive working energy sensitive materials, unique add-on capabilities. The structure and method also have utility in the graphic arts field.

Abstract: Improved method for the generation of and deposition of semiconductor alloys from a plasma are disclosed. The uniformity of deposited layers of amorphous semiconductor material is enhanced by maintaining the frequency of an ionizing a.c. field in the plasma region between the cathode of a glow discharge chamber and the active surface of a substrate at about 50 to 200 kiloHertz to allow the favorable deposition of material at relatively low power. Improved sample quality and deposition control (including uniformity) is realized at even high frequencies by the introduction of a quantity of inert gas into the chamber to alter the energy profile of the plasma.

Abstract: A cathode for use in a glow discharge chamber. A top surface electrode is adapted to provide a substantially uniform distribution of reaction gases at the active surface of an overlying substrate as it advances through the chamber. A plurality of baffles within the cathode creates equal path lengths for reaction gases from their source to the surface electrode and from the surface electrode to a vacuum. The electrode is electrically insulated from a plurality of gas exits so that the generation of plasma is confined solely to a region between the electrode and the active surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing microform records includes an image-reducing projection system positioned above a hard copy and transparency-receiving imaging station defining a horizontal document plane. An opaque platform is located at the document plane for supporting hard copy and a transparent plate is located at or near the document plane for supporting a transparency. Overhead lamps are provided to direct light downwardly upon the hard copy, and a light source, preferably a cathode ray tube, is provided below this document plane to project light upwardly through the document plane. The cathode ray tube or other light source produces a uniform light field or image-containing light field, the former when a transparency is placed at said document plane, the latter either when a transparency is or is not located at or near said document plane.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for producing a transmission barrier for inhibiting propagation of light into still unimaged transparent portions of microfiche recording system intermediate film strips by light-piping action are described. The barrier serves to optically isolate the subsequently-to-be-imaged still unexposed portion of the film strip in a dispensing film head from the illumination used to transfer the previously developed image on the exposed portion of the strip onto a permanent recording medium, such as a microfiche film card. In one exemplary form of the invention, the barrier regions are photographically produced dark bands or lines between the longitudinally spaced areas of the film strip to be imaged. These bands or lines are preferably created as latent images during the initial exposure of the intermediate film and subsequently developed at the same time as the record image.

Abstract: An improved annotatable microfiche film card archival recording system utilizes an intermediate film strip on a movable film head to transfer an image from an initial imaging station to a transfer station where the image on the intermediate film strip is transferred to the microfiche film card. There is provided an optical train including a pair of downwardly facing, inclined and horizontally spaced mirrors at the imaging station, the first of which mirror receives upwardly directed light reflected from hard copy. This mirror arrangement, cooperating with a horizontal film head movement in a direction transverse to the mirror spacing, minimizes the height and width requirements of the equipment. A ball joint supported backing means supporting the entire area of the active portion of the film improves image resolution.

Abstract: A reflection sensing apparatus detects the prior exposure history of an annotatable archival microfiche film card frame. A light source used to expose the microfiche to the record image is positioned to convert a reserved sensing area, which is outside the record image but within the frame, from an opaque and reflecting area to an irreversibly clear and transparent area upon exposure. The reserved area of the microfiche film card frame is interrogated by automatic photoreflection sensing immediately prior to exposure of a given frame to disclose its prior exposure history. Suitable warning systems indicate the imminence of multiple exposure, and an automatic disabling feature prevents accidental re-exposure. A manual override means controlled by the operator must be actuated to allow re-exposure of a previously exposed frame. An alternative pre-exposure sensing of the reserved area by optical transmission methods is described.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system is provided utilizing digital or analog data input signals to energize one or more data recording heads which can produce a selection of sizes of alpha-numeric, pictorial or digital coded images on a recording medium. Where alpha-numeric or pictorial images are produced, the images are both human and machine readable. Such alpha-numeric or pictorial images can be sequentially or simultaneously selectively produced full sized and/or reduced substantially in size to form at least 24:1 or greater size reductions of these images on the same or different recording media. Thus, for example, X-ray pictures or letters and the like can be simultaneously produced in reduced form on a microfilm recording medium for record storage purposes and full sized simultaneously on a recording medium for direct examination and delivery to third parties.

Abstract: A controllable film holding and tensioning system for a movable intermediate film strip dispensing head provides a stable and non-film damaging positioning of intermediate images carried on the film strip as it is moved from an exposure station to a final station for image transfer to an archival microfiche film under conditions where bowing stresses are applied to the intermediate film at one or more of the processing stations. An improved pretensioning feature for the source reel minimizes the occasional jamming encountered with conventional cassette film dispensers. Automatic protection is provided by an intermediate film strip break sensor and an end-of-film sensor to guard against archival record loss from these causes. Unique film cassette designs are also described.

Abstract: The production of improved photoresponsive amorphous alloys and devices, such as photovoltaic, photoreceptive devices and the like; having improved wavelength threshold characteristics is made possible by adding one or more band gap adjusting elements to the alloys and devices. The adjusting element or elements are added at least to the active photoresponsive regions of amorphous devices containing silicon and fluorine, and preferably hydrogen. One adjusting element is germanium which narrows the band gap from that of the materials without the adjusting element incorporated therein. Other adjusting elements can be used such as tin. The silicon and adjusting elements are concurrently combined and deposited as amorphous alloys by vapor deposition, sputtering or glow discharge decomposition. The addition of fluorine bonding and electronegativity to the alloy acts as a compensating or altering element to reduce the density of states in the energy gap thereof.

Abstract: The method for forming a metallic, dielectric or semiconductor modified amorphous glass material includes the steps of forming a fluid host matrix material on a substrate surface having relative movement thereto, such as a wheel; directing a fluid modifier material in a stream, as from a nozzle toward the substrate surface in a direction such that it converges with the host matrix material; maintaining the temperature of the substrate or wheel between 4.2.degree. K and ambient room temperature while rotating the wheel at a velocity of 1000 to 5000 rpm to obtain a surface velocity of between 1000 to 4000 centimeters per second thereby to obtain rapid quenching of the host and modifier materials as they contact one another at a rate of from 10.sup.4 to at least 10.sup.8 C per second or more to produce a ribbon of modified amorphous glass material in which the electrical and optical transport properties and the number and type of electronic configurations can be controlled.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing microform records from computer stored data or other electrical data signal sources forms on the screen of a cathode ray tube at rapidly occuring intervals successive hard copy-appearing images of such data which is reduced in size by a bundle of tapered fiber optic filaments with a wide light receiving end encompassing the screen of the cathode ray tube and a narrow light projecting end encompassing an area of the frame of a microfiche card. The successively produced images at the narrow end of the fiber optic filament bundle are applied to successive frames of a heat developable masking film strip requiring more time to develop than the imaging intervals and moved in step-by-step fashion past the narrow end of the fiber optic bundle, a heating bar and an image transfer station where a flash of light is passed through the masking film strip to transfer a negative image thereon to a frame of an archival add-on microfiche card-forming film.

Abstract: In an imaging film having a substrate over which is deposited a thin, opaque layer of an imaging material there is located on at least the outer side of said opaque imaging layer and, better still, on the opposite sides of said opaque layer of imaging material, thin, preferably vapor deposited, passivating layers forming a barrier against passage of oxygen and moisture. The passivating layer, or layers, in a flexible continuous amorphous film having a thickness generally no greater than about 500 Angstroms (A.degree.) and preferably less than 200 A.degree. and comprising an alloy or mixture of a Group IV oxide, most advantageously germanium oxide, and a stabilizing agent or agents, more particularly one or more different oxides of a metal or a semiconductor or a metal fluoride which stabilizes the amorphous character and chemical inertness of the Group IV oxide even when subjected to the elements of the surrounding atmosphere.