Abstract: A hydrogen generator having a hydrogen generating reaction between a chemical hydride and vapor from a liquid having a freezing point below 0° C. The liquid is selected from alcohols such as ethanol and methanol used pure or diluted with distilled water, and distilled water that has had a non-reactive salt such as calcium chloride or magnesium chloride dissolved therein.

Abstract: A misfire monitor for detecting cylinder misfires in an internal combustion engine. The monitor has a light detector that senses infrared light signals emerging from combustion gases through a window inserted on an exhaust pipe or manifold. Characteristics of a detected light signal indicate whether there is a firing or a misfire in any cylinder. Other information about the engine is deduced with processing of the detected signals and misfire counts. The detection is real time and functions well at all normal engine speeds and operating conditions.

Abstract: A wafer-pair having at least one recess in one wafer and the recess formed into a chamber with the attaching of the other wafer which has a port plugged with a deposited layer on its external surface. The deposition of the layer may be performed in a very low pressure environment, thus assuring the same kind of environment in the sealed chamber. The chamber may enclose at least one device such as a thermoelectric sensor, bolometer, emitter or other kind of device. The wafer-pair typically will have numerous chambers, and may be divided into chips.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a wafer-pair having at least one recess in one wafer and the recess formed into a chamber with the attaching of the other wafer which has a port plugged with a deposited layer on its external surface. The deposition of the layer may be performed in a very low pressure environment, thus assuring the same kind of environment in the sealed chamber. The chamber may enclose at least one device such as a thermoelectric sensor, bolometer, emitter or other kind of device. The wafer-pair typically will have numerous chambers, with devices, respectively, and may be divided into a multiplicity of chips.

Abstract: A photoacoustic gas sensing system includes either separate lasers or an arrangement of emitters and filters, to provide infrared energy within at least two distinguishable frequency bandwidths, modulated at two or more associated and different modulating frequencies. The modulated energy signals illuminate a gas cell containing a mixture of gases that experience temperature and pressure fluctuations responsive to the radiant energy. An amplified microphone signal, produced responsive to the pressure fluctuations, is detected at the different modulation frequencies to provide two or more detector signals in digital form. These signals are processed in combination with predetermined constants derived by calibrating the system, to generate two or more concentration values corresponding to the individual gases involved. The system can utilize a photoacoustic cell with walls formed entirely of a polymer that is both gas-permeable and transparent to the infrared radiation.

Abstract: An efficient method brings together two wafers of dies that contain an infrared transparent window or top cap with either an infrared detector or emitter array to produce a low cost infrared package. A low thermal conductivity gas or a vacuum may be used between the wafers for enhanced thermal isolation. Joining of the wafers is preferably by solder, although ultrasonic bonding can be used.

Abstract: A micromachined integrated opto-thermal sensor having a rapidly intensity varying or pulsing light source, an interference filter, shadow masking or reflective blocking of light from thermal sensors, or differential operation, a gas cavity into which the detected gas can flow into via a channel or filter, and a thermal detector elements to sense the heating of the gas caused by the absorption of light at a particular wavelength by the specific gas to be detected. Another version of the sensor is one with a dual cavity. One cavity contains the gas to be detected and the other cavity is sealed from the ambient environment and contains no gas. Signals from the detectors from the cavities are subtracted from each other resulting in the elimination of a fixed signal due to radiation impinging the detectors.

Abstract: A micromachined integrated opto-thermal sensor having a rapidly intensity varying or pulsing light source, an interference filter, shadow masking or reflective blocking of light from thermal sensors, or differential operation, a gas cavity into which the detected gas can flow into via a channel or filter, and thermal detector elements to sense the heating of the gas caused by the absorption of light at a particular wavelength by the specific gas to be detected. Another version of the sensor is one with a dual cavity. One cavity contains the gas to be detected and the other cavity is sealed from the ambient environment and contains no gas. Signals from the detectors from the cavities are subtracted from each other resulting in the elimination of a fixed signal due to radiation impinging the detectors.

Abstract: A micromachined integrated opto-thermal sensor having a rapidly intensity varying or pulsing light source, an interference filter, shadow masking or reflective blocking of light from thermal sensors, or differential operation, a gas cavity into which the detected gas can flow into via a channel or filter, and a thermal detector elements to sense the heating of the gas caused by the absorption of light at a particular wavelength by the specific gas to be detected. Another version of the sensor is one with a dual cavity. One cavity contains the gas to be detected and the other cavity is sealed from the ambient environment and contains no gas. Signals from the detectors from the cavities are subtracted from each other resulting in the elimination of a fixed signal due to radiation impinging the detectors. A ratio of the signal from the detectors may be calculated for determining a presence of gas or fluid. The detector may have only a single cavity with two groups of thermal sensors.

Abstract: In a microbolometer infrared radiation sensor, a detector material (VO.sub.2) having a high thermal coefficient of resistance to increase the sensitivity of the apparatus.

Abstract: A camera system primarily for infrared radiation having a focal plane array of microbolometer elements in a vacuum package with inexpensive thermoelectric temperature stabilization is shown. The stabilization temperature may be selected by a designer or a user over a wide range of temperatures, but room temperature use is primarily expected. The microbolometers are passive elements and the readout scheme involves a sweep of the array with a short duration pulse-high level bias current.

Abstract: A two-dimensional bolometer array having electronic array uniformity correction. The individual resistive sensors in the bolometer array are not electrically uniform and uniformity is a requirement to permit efficient electrical readout of signals. An electronic correction circuit in this invention automatically corrects for non-uniformity in the array.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated focal plane sensor array having elements sensitive to IR radiation and elements sensitive to mm-wave radiation. The sensor elements of the array sensitive to mm-wave have microantennas coupled to the sensors.

Abstract: An improved electromagnetic radiation-sensitive semiconductor device together with a method of making same is disclosed in which surface regions directly beneath the active portion of the electrical contacts are provided with a layer of semiconductor material having a higher bandgap than the radiation sensitive material which repels minority carriers but allows the passage of majority carriers. Because the rate of annihilation of minority carriers at the contact to which they are attracted is reduced, the responsivity of the detector is greatly enhanced.

Abstract: In a covered graphite slider apparatus for the liquid phase epitaxial growth of mercury cadmium telluride this invention shows the addition of a wipe-off well into the moving part of the slider apparatus, which well contains pieces of CdTe to assist wipe-off of HgCdTe following LPE growth.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a wafer-pair having at least one recess in one wafer and the recess formed into a chamber with the attaching of the other wafer which has a port plugged with a deposited layer on its external surface. The deposition of the layer may be performed in a very low pressure environment, thus assuring the same kind of environment in the sealed chamber. The chamber may enclose at least one device such as a thermoelectric sensor, bolometer, emitter or other kind of device. The wafer-pair typically will have numerous chambers, with devices, respectively, and may be divided into a multiplicity of chips.

Abstract: In a microbolometer infrared radiation sensor, a detector material (VO.sub.2) having a high thermal coefficient of resistance to increase the sensitivity of the apparatus.