Santa Barbara Research Center

Raytheon Company

Karl H Neumann

Timothy S Romano

Gary B Hughes

Tom K Evans

Leonard E Peck

Robert E Zahuta

An electrical feedthrough (34) is prepared by furnishing an aluminum oxide feedthrough plate (70) and at least one feedthrough pin (80) having a length greater than the thickness of the feedthrough plate (70). A pin bore (78) is formed through the feedthrough plate (70) for each feedthrough pin (80). Each pin bore (78) has a pin bore (78) size greater than the feedthrough pin (80) size, preferably by an amount no greater than that required to permit the penetration of a brazing metal (88) between the pin bore (78) and the feedthrough pin (80). Each feedthrough pin (80) is inserted into its respective pin bore (78) and brazed into place utilizing a metallic active braze alloy (88) and no glassy seal. The feedthrough plate (70) may be simultaneously brazed to a package structure (22) using active or nonactive brazing.

Electrical feedthrough and its preparation

A gold-coated molybdenum article (30) is made by furnishing a substrate (32) made of pure molybdenum or an alloy of molybdenum, and preparing a slurry of gold powder, acrylic binder, and acetone liquid carrier. The slurry is applied to a portion of a surface of the substrate. The substrate with applied slurry is heated in vacuum or inert atmosphere to an elevated temperature, preferably about 2040.degree. F., and thereafter cooled to ambient temperature. The result is an article (30) having at least a portion of the substrate (32) covered with an adherent gold coating (34).

Preparation of gold-coated molybdenum articles and articles prepared

A lower vacuum housing (34) of a sensor dewar (26) is fabricated in a single brazing operation from ceramic and metallic components. The components are assembled with ceramic-to-metal interfaces and metal-to-metal interfaces. Brazing is accomplished by active brazing of the ceramic-to-metal interfaces and non-active brazing of the metal-to-metal interfaces. Specific combinations of active braze alloys and non-active braze alloys are provided for various combinations of dewar materials.

Brazed lower vacuum housing for a dewar

A feedthrough (34) is formed of a feedthrough plate (44) having at least one bore (46) therethrough and a feedthrough pin (48) hermetically sealed into the bore (46). The feedthrough pin (48) includes an elongated pin (50) having an axis of elongation (52), a recess (54) in at least one end of the pin (50), the recess (54) extending parallel to the axis of elongation (52), and a gold coating (56) within the recess (54). There are preferably a plurality of bores (46) in the feedthrough plate (48) and a corresponding plurality of the feedthrough pins (48). The gold coatings (56) at the ends of the feedthrough pins (48) are desirably lapped to ensure coplanarity and a smooth surface finish especially suited for wire bonding or tab bonding.

Feedthrough pin and process for its preparation, and electrical

A vacuum package assembly (20) is prepared by self-welding the flanges (32 and 43) of two housings (28 and 36) together under an applied pressure, while the housings (28 and 36) and any enclosed structure or device are contained within an evacuated enclosure. The flanges (32 and 43) are preferably made of copper, with their respective self-welding members (34 and 46) specially prepared to enhance self-welding performance. The preferred treatment for the self-welding members (34 and 46) is to deposit a thin layer of nickel onto the self-welding members (34 and 46 ), deposit a thin layer of gold over the nickel, and heat the bonding member to elevated temperature to interdiffuse the gold into the self-welding member (34 and 46 ).

Vacuum package tubeless enclosure with self-welded flanges

An infrared detector assembly (10) of the type used in munition and night vision systems having an RF activated getter (50). Such detector assemblies (10) include a tubular coldfinger (22) surrounded by a vacuum and which supports infrared detector array (26) and related components. In accordance with this invention, RF getter (50) is located remote from detector array (26) and engages an inner wall surface (56) of a metallic dewar housing (14). The RF getter (50) is activated via RF inductive heating directly through the metal dewar housing (14) such that sensitive IR detector components and hermetic braze joints are kept below their critical temperature. As a result, the present invention provides longer vacuum life and greater operational reliability of infrared detector assembly (10).

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Karl H Neumann