Abstract: The invention relates to a method for soldering together a first, in particular electrical, component with a second, in particular electrical, component, where a solder preform is disposed between the components and is fixed by pressing it against edges of at least one depression in one of the components to prevent lateral dislocation and where subsequently the soldering process takes place, preferably in a soldering furnace. A special feature is that the depression is formed as grooves (10) extending in a closed loop (11), in particular in the shape of a circle.

Abstract: Multi-layer silicon structures particularly micromechanical sensors, can be made by cleaning and polishing respective surfaces of two silicon wafers, assembling the wafers together under clean room conditions and adhering them together by temperature treatment. This method is improved by the pretreatment of the wafer surfaces using fuming nitric acid (e.g., 100% HNO.sub.3), rinsing with de-ionized water, drying, and temperature treatment at a lower temperature than was previously thought necessary, namely between 100.degree. and 400.degree. C. This has the advantage that such gentler treatment preserves previously-applied integrated circuit structures, which can therefore be applied before the wafer assembly steps. The method is particularly suitable for producing pressure sensors having a pressure-responsive silicon membrane, and an evaluation circuit integrated on the silicon wafer.

Abstract: An x-ray diffractometer is disclosed having a position-sensitive detector which is quasi-continuously movable in stepped fashion around a sample by a stepping motor. Output signals triggered by x-ray quanta are output from the position-sensitive detector and converted by an electronic evaluation unit into a time duration corresponding to a position of a particular x-ray quantum in the detector. The time-digital converter connected to the evaluation unit converts the time duration to a digital signal. A digital adder is provided having three inputs. The first input connects to an output of the time-digital converter, the second input connects to receive a digital value generated by a counter associated with the stepping motor, and a third input connects with a digital region selector. An output of the adder connects to a multi-channel analyzer having a plurality of regions therein for analyzing various desired measurement applications.

Abstract: An X-ray powder diffractometer functioning as a goniometer is disclosed wherein a monochromatic X-ray source is provided together with a sample to be analyzed and a detector means with position sensitive behavior. A transport system for digitally controllable advance drive is provided so as to advance the detector along an arc suited for a Guinier method for transmission and/or back reflection beam direction. An electronic analysis system is provided for preparing an intensity diagram of a local distribution of diffracted radiation for a given position location 2.theta. of the detector. The analysis system includes an amplifier/discriminator for delivering a time signal corresponding to the position/location of a respective single photon event received from the detector. A time-digital converter connected to the amplifier/discriminator is also provided together with a multichannel analyzer connected to the time-to-digital converter by a digital adder.

Abstract: An X-ray powder diffractometer and associated computing system is disclosed for diffraction analysis of samples by the generation of an intensity diagram. A detector having a position sensitive element is advanced along an arc over a desired angle by a step motor. A control circuit connected to the step motor produces impulses corresponding to advancement of the step motor. These impulses are continually summed as an indication of the current position of the detector along the arc. The position sensitive element in the detector produces position signals corresponding to the position at which the detected X-rays strike the element. These position signals are digitallized. The position address is added to the sum of the impulses from the step motor control means to produce a composite sum which is indicative of the precise angle at a given moment at which an X-ray photon is detected by the sensitive element in the detector. As the detector moves along the arc, the composite sum is continually updated.