Abstract: The present disclosure has an apparatus for detecting fibers in a gas flowing along a passageway. A laser beam is provided at one end of the passageway and the beam is directed along a length of the passageway through which the gas flows. An electrode system, as disclosed, a quadrupole electrode system is mounted along the passageway to cause fibers carried in the gas to oscillate in a detection zone. A photo detector is positioned laterally of the passageway and detects light scattered by the oscillating fibers and projected through an opening in the passageway to provide an output signal that is a function of the light scattered by the fibers in the detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for atomizing a precursor liquid for vapor generation and thin film deposition on a substrate. The precursor liquid is atomized by a carrier gas to form a droplet aerosol comprised of small precursor liquid droplets suspended in the carrier gas. The droplet aerosol is then heated to form vapor, producing a gas/vapor mixture that can be introduced into a deposition chamber to form thin films on a substrate. The liquid is introduced into the atomizing apparatus in such a manner as to avoid excessive heating that can occur or lead to the formation of undesirable by-products due to material degradation as result of thermal decomposition. The apparatus is particularly suited for vaporizing high molecular weight substances with a low vapor pressure that requires a high vaporization temperature for the liquid to vaporize. The apparatus can also be used to vaporize solid precursors dissolved in a solvent for vaporization.

Abstract: An apparatus removes particles from a gas/vapor mixture while at the same time improves the uniformity of gas/vapor mixture to create a more uniformly-mixed mixture stream for thin film deposition and semiconductor device fabrication.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a method and apparatus to permit changing a filter on the input line to a vacuum deposition chamber without breaking or reducing the vacuum for the deposition chamber and other components in the deposition system. Isolation valves are provided at the inlet and outlet of the filter so the filter can be isolated from the source of vacuum and the deposition chamber for removal and replacement of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for aerosol measurement having a high concentration of particles the apparatus comprising a diluter for diluting the concentration of particles in a sample aerosol stream to form a diluted aerosol stream, and a sensor for detecting the particles in the diluted aerosol stream by vapor condensation, droplet growth and optical detection. Such apparatus may be housed in a common housing along with the electronics for operating the apparatus and components such as pumps and filters that may be necessary. The diluter includes an input for an aerosol stream having an initial particle concentration, and a dilution stream. The aerosol stream and the dilution stream flow through a restriction which is sized such that turbulent flow is created so that the dilution stream and the aerosol stream are mixed to produce a diluted aerosol stream.

Abstract: A personal mask testing system (PMTS) is of a size of a human hand. The PMTS has several energy efficient features that permit running the PMTS from a battery source within the housing. The PMTS also includes a replaceable vapor source.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for aerosol measurement having a high concentration of particles the apparatus comprising a diluter for diluting the concentration of particles in a sample aerosol stream to form a diluted aerosol stream, and a sensor for detecting the particles in the diluted aerosol stream by vapor condensation, droplet growth and optical detection. Such apparatus may be housed in a common housing along with the electronics for operating the apparatus and components such as pumps and filters that may be necessary. The diluter includes an input for an aerosol stream having an initial particle concentration, and a dilution stream. The aerosol stream and the dilution stream flow through a restriction which is sized such that turbulent flow is created so that the dilution stream and the aerosol stream are mixed to produce a diluted aerosol stream.

Abstract: A compact electrostatic precipitator is designed specifically for use in connection with eliminating particles from crankcase emissions of a Diesel engine. Such emissions may carry solid soot particles as well as suspended oil droplets. The electrostatic precipitator has an electrode housing in which a high voltage electrode is mounted, and the emissions from the crankcase of a Diesel engine are passed across the electrode to an outlet. A high voltage power supply is mounted in a separate housing, and the output of the high voltage power supply is connected to the electrode only when the electrode housing and the power supply housing are properly mated, to thereby disable the high voltage connection to the electrode when the power supply housing is removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for vaporizing a liquid for subsequent thin film deposition on a substrate. The apparatus comprises a housing with an inlet and an outlet and a liquid reservoir. A mechanism controls the liquid level in the reservoir to a substantially constant level. A gas flow passageway extends along side a porous metal wall with interstitial spaces for containing liquid from the reservoir and with a package for a carrier gas to flow along side the porous metal wall, forming a gas/vapor mixture suitable for thin film deposition.

Abstract: A system identifies or screens one or more biological materials. The system includes at least one bioreactor adapted to provide biological samples and an automated sample handler comprising at least one bi-directional pump to transport biological samples, reagents and fluids, at least one reaction chamber with at least two regions separated by a semi-permeable membrane and fitted with a thermoelectric module for cooling and heating the chamber. At least one multi-positional valve directs transport of the biological samples, reagents and fluids into and out of the reaction chamber and a micro-processor to control operations of the sample handler. A detector is used to identify the biological material in the samples and a sample repository collects the identified biological samples.

Abstract: A cascade impactor apparatus has a series of vertically stacked impactor housing sections. Each of the impactor housing sections has an upper portion that supports a motor for driving an impactor plate that is positioned below a nozzle through which flow passes. Each housing section also has an outlet passageway leading to a lower impactor chamber for the next in a series of impactor chambers, except the last outlet passageway is coming through a filter to exhaust. The impactor chambers are defined by a skirt that seals on the neck of the next downstream housing section. The impactor plates are each driven by a separate motor, and held onto a hub on the motor output shaft with a magnetic coupling so the plates can be removed when the housings are separated.

Abstract: A method for establishing a calibrating standard for wafer inspection includes depositing solid ionized particles of a known size range with an aerosol onto a wafer. The method also includes depositing particles onto a wafer in a deposition chamber by using an aerosol stream and the solid particles suspended in a gas; ionizing the aerosol stream with a negative or positive charge polarity or both by passing the aerosol stream through a non-radioactive ionizer to produce charged particles and supplying such aerosol stream to the deposition chamber. An apparatus for producing charged particles includes an atomizer and a non-radioactive ionizer in fluid communication with each other. The apparatus may also include an electrospray droplet generator for producing an aerosol with dry-solid particles and an ionizer that ionizes the molecules of the gas.

Abstract: A personal mask testing system (PMTS) is of a size of a human hand. The PMTS has several energy efficient features that permit running the PMTS from a battery source within the housing. The PMTS also includes a replaceable vapor source.

Abstract: A vaporization system for thin film formation and for introducing vapors into a deposition chamber for depositing films onto a semi-conductor surface has a vaporization chamber that is selectively provided with at least two different, separate, precursor liquids carried in a gas stream that may be a single carrier gas, or a selected one of a plurality of carrier gasses. When the liquids being introduced are likely to be subject to thermal decomposition from contact with high temperature surfaces, an atomizer is used at the inlet of the vaporization chamber to provide an aerosol to the vaporization chamber from one or more individual sources of liquid combined with one or more individual carrier gasses for simultaneous or sequential introduction into the vaporization chamber. The vaporization chamber may be designed to insure complete vaporization by incorporating a recirculating gas flow through heated passageways before the vaporized gas/vapor mixture exits the vaporization chamber.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator, including for a diesel engine electrostatic crankcase ventilation system for blowby gas, includes a corona discharge electrode assembly in a housing, an insulator extending along an internal surface of a wall of the housing, a power supply in the housing on the opposite side of the insulator from the housing wall such that the insulator is between the housing wall and the power supply, and a low voltage lead extending through the housing wall and through the insulator to the power supply, eliminating pass-through of a high voltage lead through the housing wall and through the insulator. The power supply is preferably provided in the hollow interior of the corona discharge electrode assembly.

Abstract: A compact electrostatic precipitator is designed specifically for use in connection with eliminating particles from crankcase emissions of a Diesel engine. Such emissions may carry solid soot particles as well as suspended oil droplets. The electrostatic precipitator has an electrode housing in which a high voltage electrode is mounted, and the emissions from the crankcase of a Diesel engine are passed across the electrode to an outlet. A high voltage power supply is mounted in a separate housing, and the output of the high voltage power supply is connected to the electrode only when the electrode housing and the power supply housing are properly mated, to thereby disable the high voltage connection to the electrode when the power supply housing is removed.

Abstract: A cascade impactor apparatus has a series of vertically stacked impactor housing sections. Each of the impactor housing sections has an upper portion that supports a motor for driving an impactor plate that is positioned below a nozzle through which flow passes. Each housing section also has an outlet passageway leading to a lower impactor chamber for the next in a series of impactor chambers, except the last outlet passageway is coming through a filter to exhaust. The impactor chambers are defined by a skirt that seals on the neck of the next downstream housing section. The impactor plates are each driven by a separate motor, and held onto a hub on the motor output shaft with a magnetic coupling so the plates can be removed when the housings are separated.

Abstract: A compact cascade impactor is formed to classify particles carried in a flow through the impactor. The impactor has collection chambers that are arranged to conserve space and yet provide a large flow passageway. The collection chamber may be tear drop shaped and being nested together. The impactor includes nozzles that are used across a desired range without.

Abstract: A condensation nucleus counter has a series of flow passageways forming a flow path, including a first passageway for carrying the gas stream having the particles to be detected which is preferably preheated A saturator is positioned to receive the flow of the gas stream and is made of a porous material of a controlled pore size having a portion immersed in a liquid working fluid. The liquid working fluid moves by capillary action along the length of the saturator. Vapor from the working liquid will be transferred to the gas stream as it moves through the saturator. The gas stream then passes to a condenser that reduces the temperature of the gas stream and causes the working fluid vapor to condense on the particles in the gas stream to form droplets that can be detected and counted.

Abstract: A vapor generator (19, 62) and connected chemical vapor deposition chamber (28) for providing a vapor for operations such as chemical vapor deposition has an atomizer (16, 16A, 38, 50) for forming an aerosol or droplet spray (36, 58, 74, 80) separate from a vaporization chamber (19, 62). The aerosol is passed into a heated vaporization chamber (19, 62) wherein the particles or droplets are flash vaporized and larger droplets are vaporized by direct contact with heated surfaces. The resulting gas/vapor stream is then used for chemical vapor deposition, in a separate chemical vapor deposition chamber (26). The vapor and gas stream is preferably passed through a restricted passageway (22, 44, 68) for mixing before being introduced into the chemical vapor deposition chamber (26).