Abstract: A vacuum interrupter electrical contact which exhibits an improved voltage withstand characteristic. The electrical contact comprises a minor portion of selected refractory metal and a major portion of dispersion strengthened copper.

Abstract: A process for fabricating semiconductor devices including a field effect transistor has been described incorporating a substrate, a layer of thermal oxide having windows, a layer of polycrystalline silicon to form the gate electrode of field effect transistors and a first interconnection layer, a layer of silicon nitride, a layer of phosphorous doped silicon dioxide which have windows larger than the device windows and which is reflowed to smooth its upper surface over the polysilicon interconnections and to provide round edges, impurity regions formed on either side of the silicon gate electrode and bounded by the thermal oxide, forming openings to the drain and source regions, depositing a layer of metal over the substrate and defining the layer of metal to form a second layer of interconnections and also to provide ohmic contact to the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A system is detailed for adaptively compensating for gimbal bearing friction in a gimbal mounted electro-optical system. The system is based on real-time compensation of a predictive value for gimbal bearing friction based on input transducer data to produce a friction compensation output, which is applied to the gimbal drive producing a torque which is equal and opposed to the bearing friction torque to minimize stabilization errors. The system adapts to match friction behavior in both amplitude and transient response (i.e. bandwidth) characteristics.

Abstract: A circuit for compressing the dynamic range of a signal is described incorporating a semiconductor substrate, a charge barrier formed in the substrate having an aperture, charge indicative of the signal is introduced on one side of the barrier, two conductive regions spaced apart from said aperture for attracting the charge through the aperture and to its region. The charge being divided between the two regions as a function of the potential of each region, one of which may be fixed and the other allowed to float. Two potential wells of a charge-coupled device may be substituted for the two conductive regions having gate electrodes to provide a predetermined potential well for attracting charge. Alternatively, one conductive region and one potential well may be spaced apart from said aperture for attracting the charge to the aperture. The circuit may be combined with a photodetector on a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A mask and encapsulating layer suitable for use on gallium arsenide substrates is described incorporating a layer of germanium selenide which is photosensitive and may be exposed and developed to form a mask suitable for ion implantation and which may also remain as a capping layer during an anneal process of ion implanted regions in a controlled atmosphere and temperature furnace wherein the layer of germanium selenide is converted to germanium which may subsequently be removed from the gallium arsenide substrate after the step of annealing.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a charge-coupled device for accumulating charge in a potential well and a pair of metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors connected to form a differential amplifier. The gate of one transistor is coupled to the CCD potential well. The integrated circuit is provided with means for coupling the differential outputs, the drain of each transistor of the differential amplifier, to the differential inputs of an external op amp. Means are provided for coupling electrical feedback from the output of the op amp to the gate of the second transistor of the differential amplifier.

Abstract: An automated acousto-optic tunable filter infrared analyzer system useable in a variety of industrial and commercial control applications. The system relies upon a narrow band pass tunable acousto-optic filter which is selectively tuned by predetermined rf frequency signals to selectively transmit the narrow band pass of interest which corresponds to a specific molecular species for identification and analysis. The system includes a microcomputer and associated memory function to measure and compare detected signals from an infrared detector which converts the filtered infrared signal to an electrical signal. The memory provides control signals for the computer and for controlling the sequence and frequency of rf energy applied to tune the filter. In this way, the near to mid range infrared can be analyzed for absorption bands corresponding to predetermined molecular species such as combustion product gases, and a feedback signal generated to control the combustion process.

Abstract: An array of photodetectors is described incorporating a PNP vertical structure in a monosilicon substrate with individual photodetectors optically and electrically isolated from one another by open or oxide filled grooves. Both PN junctions of the PNP structure or originally reverse biased with one junction acting as the photodetector may operate in the forward biased photovoltaic mode with high radiant energy intensity. The minority carriers injected into the N region are absorbed by the other PN junction providing base-collector transistor action to prevent blooming.

Abstract: A transducer with thin films of gold having a high degree of orientation on surfaces previously yielding only unoriented gold has a layer of glass over the surface of the substrate material followed by a layer of oriented gold over the layer of glass. The added layer of piezoelectric material over the layer of oriented gold provides piezoelectric material having good orientation due to the oriented gold. Addition of a top conductive electrode forms a transducer wherein the piezoelectric material has a high degree of orientation.

Abstract: An improved vacuum interrupter structure with a unitary end closure and end seal shield member which is sealed to the end of the generally cylindrical body of the interrupter. This member performs the function of sealing the generally cylindrical body at the opposed ends, and also to shield the seal area from hot material which may evolve from the contacts during contact opening. The resultant end shield structure provides an improved breakdown voltage characteristic for the interrupter.

Abstract: An improved minimum light reflectivity, light transmissive vitreous member and method of fabrication in which an ion implanted, buried ion phase layer is provided within the light transmissive member closely spaced from the light output surface. This buried phase layer has an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of the vitreous member such that the optical impedance of the buried phase layer and the vitreous material are closely watched to minimize reflectivity from the light output surface of the vitreous member.

Abstract: An attitude independent, evaporative cooling system used in airborne systems for cooling electronic components. The coolant is water contained within ducts in heat transfer relationship with the electronic components. The ducts are sealed to water passage by porous membranes which permit passage of steam into a manifold which is sealed by a normally closed pressure relief valve. The relief valve is operable at a selected steam pressure which corresponds to the desired maximum operating temperature for the electronic components.

Abstract: A controller is described for limiting the rate and acceleration of a device positioned by at least one actuator which responds to a sequence of position commands separated by time intervals incorporating a subtractor for taking the difference of two consecutive position commands to provide a difference signal in vector form, means for determining the magnitude of the difference signal, a comparator for comparing the magnitude of the difference signal with a predetermined value, a switch for coupling the desired position command to the actuator at times the magnitude of the difference signal is less than or equal to the predetermined value, two dividers, two multipliers, an adder and normalizer for providing a new position command between the past command and the desired position command at times the magnitude of the difference signal exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: An electrical shorting switch assembly for use with an electrolytic cell includes a plurality of parallel path electrical switches. One of the switches is an arcing switch which is designed to be a last-to-open and last-to-close switch of the assembly. A common rotatable operating shaft is used to actuate opening and closing of the electrical switches. The arc switch has separate linking means between the arc switch and the shaft which permits sequential operation of the arc switch relative to the main current-carrying switch or switches. The arc switch linking means in conjunction with the linking means for the current switches determine that the arc switch is the last to open and last to close.

Abstract: A hollow cathode type light source is provided having improved operating stability by forming the cathode of an alloy of a highly reactive, unstable prime metal of interest for spectral emission, and of a chemically stable, readily sputtered metal. An alloy of silver and calcium with a small amount of magnesium provides a hollow cathode device which exhibits stable operation after a minimum warm-up time.

Abstract: A self-powered nuclear radiation detector with an emitter electrode of an alloy of a first major constituent metal having a desired high radiation response, and a second minor constituent which imparts to the alloy a desired thermal or mechanical characteristic without diminishing the desired high radiation response. A gamma responsive self-powered detector is detailed which has an emitter with lead as the major constituent, with the minor constitutent selected from aluminum, copper, nickel, platinum, or zinc.

Abstract: An improved electrical output connection means is provided for a high temperature solid oxide electrolyte type fuel cell generator. The electrical connection of the fuel cell electrodes to the electrical output bus, which is brought through the generator housing to be connected to an electrical load line maintains a highly uniform temperature distribution. The electrical connection means includes an electrode bus which is spaced parallel to the output bus with a plurality of symmetrically spaced transversely extending conductors extending between the electrode bus and the output bus, with thermal insulation means provided about the transverse conductors between the spaced apart buses. Single or plural stages of the insulated transversely extending conductors can be provided within the high temperatures regions of the fuel cell generator to provide highly homogeneous temperature distribution over the contacting surfaces.

Abstract: An electrical switch for efficient, high continuous current carrying operation, with at least one movable contact for effecting current interruption. The ambient pressure within the volume defined by the electrical switch body is maintained at or is reducible during contact opening to between 10.sup.-1 to 10.sup.2 Torr to minimize contact erosion. A preferred electrical switch is a hermetically sealed, low voltage d.c., device for shunting an electrolyte cell. The sealed switch module has a reduced pressure atmosphere of inert fill gas at a pressure of from 10.sup.-1 to 10.sup.2 Torr.

Abstract: A low voltage, high continuous current DC switch assembly is provided having integral switch operating means with the switch and a resistance means which is fluid cooled. This switch assembly is particularly adapted to function as a shunt switch assembly connectable between generally parallel spaced apart electrical terminals which extend from or are connectable to an electrochemical cell. The switch assembly is modular in that a plurality can be assembled together as electrically parallel shunt paths.

Abstract: An improved long operating lifetime ionization chamber type neutron detector for use within a nuclear reactor. The chamber contains uranium U-235 as the neutron sensitive material and helium or argon fill gas. The atom rate of U-235 to fill gas is from 0.45 to 1.8 for helium, and 2.3 to 9 for argon.