The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 1991
Filed:
May. 07, 1990
David J Gowlett, Hampshire, GB;
U.S. Philips Corp., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A device chamber (12) is evacuated by pumping via an evacuation tube (35) to produce a vacuum space in communication with a chemically-active getter (30) which is provided in the tube (35) to getter gases from the evacuated chamber (12). In accordance with the invention, the getter (30) in the form of one or more movable bodies of the getter material is activated by heating in the evacuation tube (35) at a safe location (36) distant from the chamber (12). It is then moved towards the chamber (12) and is retained in the sealed evacuation-tube outlet (31) of the device. A vacuum-permeable screen (12) in the evacuation-tube outlet (31) inhibits passage of the getter material (30) into the chamber (12) where it might, for example, otherwise damage or obscure an infrared detector element. This permits the inclusion of the getter (30) in an inexpensive manner which does not require the use of a getter unit with a support element and/or vacuum-sealed electrical connections, and is compatible with space limitations and standard device envelope requirements for infrared detectors. Furthermore, the getter (30) is activated by heating at a location which avoids damage to the device, and after moving towards the chamber (12) the evacuation tube (35) is shortened to provide a short (or even non-protruding) outlet (31) from the chamber (12).