US4243631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid state sensor
Assignee: Energy for Independence Inc
•
Filing: 1979-08-03
•
Granted: 1981-01-06
•
Expires: 1999-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A solid state sensor that is ideally well suited for detecting the presence of ozone in an atmosphere under ambient conditions. A metal oxide semiconductor is placed upon a glass substrate by heating the substrate to about 1200° F. and then depositing molten granules of the metal oxide upon the heated substrate whereby the granules become fused to the substrate and each other to form a rough textured coating. The oxide coating is machined to a desired thickness using any one of many suitable machining operations.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Ryerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C17/00; H01C17/06; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/12; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0036; G01N33/0039; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of producing a solid state detector including the steps of maintaining a glass substrate at an elevated temperature at which the substrate is at least in a semi-molten state, heating granules of a semiconductor to a molten state, and depositing the molten granules upon the heated substrate whereby the granules fuse to the substrate and to each other in a randomly dispersed manner to provide a rough textured sensing coating thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of producing a solid state detector including the steps of maintaining a glass substrate at an elevated temperature at which the substrate is at least in a semi-molten state, heating granules of a semiconductor to a molten state, and depositing the molten granules upon the heated substrate whereby the granules fuse to the substrate and to each other in a randomly dispersed manner to provide a rough textured sensing coating thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said granules are heated by dropping them through a flame onto the heated surface of said substrate whereby the granules melt while they are in transit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said flame provides a reducing atmosphere through which the granules fall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate is made of quartz that is heated to and maintained at a temperature wherein its surface is a dull red.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the semiconductor is the lowest valence oxide form of a multi-valent metal oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the semiconductor is stannous oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of connecting a pair of electrical contacts to the coating whereby an electrical current can be passed therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of machining the coating to a desired uniform thickness after it has cooled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 further including the step of machining the coating to a thickness of between 200,000 and 250,000 angstroms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A detector for sensing the presence of ozone in an atmosphere including a quartz substrate granules of a lower valence oxide of a multi-valence metal oxide that is capable of sensing the presence of ozone in an atmosphere randomly fused to the quartz substrate and to each other to provide a rough textured sensing coating on said substrate, and a pair of electrical connections in contact with the coating to permit a current to be passed therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A detector for sensing the presence of ozone in an atmosphere including a quartz substrate granules of a lower valence oxide of a multi-valence metal oxide that is capable of sensing the presence of ozone in an atmosphere randomly fused to the quartz substrate and to each other to provide a rough textured sensing coating on said substrate, and a pair of electrical connections in contact with the coating to permit a current to be passed therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The detector of claim 10 wherein the substrate is a hollow quartz cylinder and the coating extends longitudinally along the length thereof and covers about 90° of its circumference.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The detector of claim 11 wherein the coating is formed of stannous oxide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The detector of claim 12 wherein the stannous oxide coating is between 200,000 and 250,000 angstroms thick.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The detector of claim 11 wherein the quartz is transparent to light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
A solid state detector for sensing the presence of a gas in an atmosphere that is produced by maintaining a glass substrate at an elevated temperature in a semi-molten state, passing granules of a semiconductor through a flame front to melt the granules while they are in transit, and randomly depositing the molten particles upon the heated surface of the substrate to fuse the granules to the substrate and to each other thereby producing a rough-textured metal oxide coating that is securely bonded to the substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
A solid state detector for sensing the presence of a gas in an atmosphere that is produced by maintaining a glass substrate at an elevated temperature in a semi-molten state, passing granules of a semiconductor through a flame front to melt the granules while they are in transit, and randomly depositing the molten particles upon the heated surface of the substrate to fuse the granules to the substrate and to each other thereby producing a rough-textured metal oxide coating that is securely bonded to the substrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The product produced by the process of claim 15 that further includes the step of machining the fused coating to a uniform thickness.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The product produced by the process of claim 15 wherein said substrate is formed of quartz and said semiconductor is a metal oxide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The product produced by the process of claim 17 wherein the metal oxide is stannous oxide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The product produced by the process of claim 15 wherein a reducing flame is used to develop the flame front to promote melting of the granules while they are in transit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3611243A
Cited
US3625756A
Cited
US3695848A
Cited
US3699803A
Cited
US3778229A
Cited
US4001756A
Cited
US4039941A
Cited
US4045178A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-06 | 1984-07-07 | 1985-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-06 | 1988-07-07 | 1989-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-06 | 1992-07-07 | 1993-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |