Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a detector of electromagnetic radiation includes: a substrate; at least one layer of semiconductor material formed on the substrate, said at least one layer of semiconductor material defining a radiation absorbing and detecting region; an electrical contact configured to couple said region to a readout circuit; and a fuse coupled between the region and the electrical contact. In another exemplary embodiment, a fusible link between a first component and a second component is provided and includes: a fuse with an undercut located underneath at least a portion of the fuse; a first contact coupling the first component to the fuse; and a second contact coupling the second component to the fuse, wherein the undercut is disposed between the first contact and the second contact. In another exemplary embodiment, a fusible link includes a fuse having a layer of material having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance.

Abstract: A method of monitoring electric battery capacity effects evaluation of battery capacity in terms of battery current and battery voltage in a succession of monitoring cycles, scales down an influence of battery current on the evaluation as the succession of monitoring cycles, progresses, and scales up an influence of battery voltage on such evaluation as the succession of monitoring cycles progresses. A similar method effects an assessment of battery capacity during alternating battery discharge operations and battery charging operations over a recurrence of monitoring cycles, detects a decline of attainable battery charge capacity during battery charging operations, and modifies its assessment in response to the detected decline of attainable battery charge capacity.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming the native oxide on a semiconductor surface comprising Hg.sub.1-x Cd.sub.x Te, where x ranges from 0 to 1. The process comprises exposing the semiconductor surfce to a mixture of ozone and oxygen containing an effective amount of ozone sufficient to form a native oxide thereon. The desired amount of ozone is conveniently obtained by passing oxygen from a source through an ozone generator provided with a source of high voltage.