Radiant energy soldering

Claim 2

Heat treating apparatus for attaching an element to a terminal extending from a workpiece by applying radiant energy to the element and the terminal, wherein the flux density of the radiant energy required to attach the element is deleterious to at least some areas of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising: means for generating radiant energy; means for condensing said radiant energy, said condensing means having an exit end and an entrance end, said condensing means further having reflective inner walls and having convergent surfaces so angled along an axial direction of convergence from said entrance end to said exit end that at the exit end the rays of energy exit substantially parallel to a flat surface disposed perpendicularly to said axial direction of convergence; and means for reflecting radiant energy from said radiant energy generating means to said entrance end along said axial direction of convergence, said exiting rays having sufficient flux density within a first predetermined distance of said exit end along said axial direction of convergence to heat treat the element and the terminal so as to attach the element to the terminal and having sufficient divergence to reduce the flux density to a level insufficient to damage heat sensitive areas of the workpiece lying a second predetermined distance from said exit end along said axial direction of convergence greater than said first predetermined distance.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the element is heat sensitive, said apparatus including: means for directing a fluid across the heat sensitive element at a sufficiently rapid rate to maintain the temperature of said heat sensitive element below the temperature at which deleterious damage occurs thereto.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said reflecting means is an ellipsoidal reflector and said condensing means is a condenser cone, and wherein said fluid is directed through the exit end of said condenser cone to preclude fumes from entering said exit end to coat reflecting surfaces of said condenser cone and said ellipsoidal reflector.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said reflecting means is a cylindroidal Reflector and said condensing means is a condenser channel, and wherein said fluid is directed through the exit end of said condenser channel to preclude fumes from entering said exit end to coat reflecting surfaces of said condenser channel and said cylindroidal reflector.

Claim 6

Heat treating apparatus for soldering an element to a terminal extending from a workpiece by applying radiant energy to the element and the terminal, wherein the flux density of the radiant energy required to solder the element to the terminal is deleterious to at least some areas of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising: an ellipsoidal reflector having an image focal point and a source focal point; means for generating radiant energy at said source focal point; a condenser cone having an exit end and an entrance end, said image focal point lying substantially in the plane of said entrance end, said condenser cone having reflective inner walls and having convergent surfaces so angled along an axis of the cone that at said exit end the rays of energy exit substantially parallel to a flat surface disposed perpendicularly to said cone axis, said exiting rays having sufficient flux density within a first predetermined distance of said exit end along said cone axis to heat treat the element and the terminal so as to solder the element to the terminal and having sufficient divergence to reduce the flux density to a level insufficient to damage heat sensitive areas of the workpiece lying a second predetermined distance from said exit end along said cone axis greater than said first predetermined distance; and means for directing a fluid out through said exit end to preclude fumes from entering said condenser cone.

Claim 7

Heat treating apparatus for soldering an element to a terminal extending from a workpiece by applying radiant energy to the element and the terminal, wherein the flux density of the radiant energy required to solder the element to the terminal is deleterious to at least some areas of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising: an ellipsoidal reflector having an image focal point and a source focal point; means for generating radiant energy at said source focal point; a condenser cone having an exit end and an entrance end, said image focal point lying substantially in the plane of said entrance end, said condenser cone having reflective inner walls and having convergent surfaces so angled along an axis of the cone that at said exit end the rays of energy exit substantially parallel to a flat surface disposed perpendicularly to said cone axis, said exiting rays having sufficient flux density within a first predetermined distance of said exit end along said cone axis to heat treat the element and the terminal so as to solder the element to the terminal and having sufficient divergence to reduce the flux density to a level insufficient to damage heat sensitive areas of the workpiece lying a second predetermined distance from said exit end along said cone axis greater than said first predetermined distance; and means for directing a fluid out through said exit end to preclude fumes from entering said condenser cone.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said element is heat sensitive and said fluid is directed across said element at a rate sufficient to maintain the temperature thereof below the temperature at which deleterious damage occurs.

Claim 9

Heat treating apparatus for soldering an element to a terminal extending from a workpiece by applying radiant energy to the element and the terminal, wherein the flux density of the radiant energy required to solder the element to the terminal is deleterious to at least some areas of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising: a cylindroidal reflector having an image focal line and a source focal line; means for generating radiant energy at said source focal line; a condenser channel having an exit end and an entrance end, said image focal line lying substantially in the plane of said entrance end, said condenser channel having reflective inner walls and converging surfaces so angled along an axial plane of the condenser channel that at said exit end the rays of energy exit substantially parallel to a flat surface disposed perpendicularly to said axial plane, said exiting rays having a sufficient flux density within a first predetermined distance of said exit end along said axial plane to heat treat the element and the terminal so as to solder the element to the terminal and having sufficient divergence to reduce the flux density to a level insufficient to damage heat sensitive areas of the workpiece lying a second predetermined distance from said exit end along said axial plane greater than said first predetermined distance; and means for directing a fluid out through said exit end to preclude fumes from entering said condenser cone.

Claim 10

Heat treating apparatus for soldering an element to a terminal extending from a workpiece by applying radiant energy to the element and the terminal, wherein the flux density of the radiant energy required to solder the element to the terminal is deleterious to at least some areas of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising: a cylindroidal reflector having an image focal line and a source focal line; means for generating radiant energy at said source focal line; a condenser channel having an exit end and an entrance end, said image focal line lying substantially in the plane of said entrance end, said condenser channel having reflective inner walls and converging surfaces so angled along an axial plane of the condenser channel that at said exit end the rays of energy exit substantially parallel to a flat surface disposed perpendicularly to said axial plane, said exiting rays having a sufficient flux density within a first predetermined distance of said exit end along said axial plane to heat treat the element and the terminal so as to solder the element to the terminal and having sufficient divergence to reduce the flux density to a level insufficient to damage heat sensitive areas of the workpiece lying a second predetermined distance from said exit end along said axial plane greater than said first predetermined distance; and means for directing a fluid out through said exit end to preclude fumes from entering said condenser cone.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said element is heat sensitive and said fluid is directed across said element at a rate sufficient to maintain the temperature thereof below the temperature at which deleterious damage occurs.