Patent US3217162A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3217162A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for producing a spectroscopic emission spectrum of a material

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
•
Filing: 1961-04-14
•
Granted: 1965-11-09
•
Expires: 1981-04-14
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

No abstract record available.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gottfried K Wehner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 12:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/34

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
A DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AN EMISSION SPECTRUM OF A TARGET MATERIAL, WHICH COMPRISES, A LOW PRESSURE HIGH DENSITY PLASMA DISCHARGE MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRODES FOR CONTROLLING SAID PLASMA DISCHARGE, A TARGET MATERIAL SUPPORTED ADJACENT TO AT LEAST A PAIR OF SAID ELECTRODES AND ADAPTED TO BE BOMBARDED BY SAID PLASMA DISCHARGE FOR SPUTTERING OFF ATOMS OF SAID MATERIAL, AND MAGNETIC MEANS TO CONCENTRATING AND ACCELERATING ELECTRONS OF SAID PLASMA WHICH ELECTRONS EXCITE THE SPUTTERED ATOMS FROM A STABLE LOWER ENERGY LEVEL TO AN UNSTABLE HIGHER ENERGY LEVEL, SO THAT WHEN SAID SPUTTERED ATOMS LOSE ENERGY AND RETURN TO SAID STABLE LOWER ENERGY LEVEL SAID EMISSION SPECTRUM IS PRODUCED.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 110 words
A DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AN EMISSION SPECTRUM OF A TARGET MATERIAL, WHICH COMPRISES, A LOW PRESSURE HIGH DENSITY PLASMA DISCHARGE MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRODES FOR CONTROLLING SAID PLASMA DISCHARGE, A TARGET MATERIAL SUPPORTED ADJACENT TO AT LEAST A PAIR OF SAID ELECTRODES AND ADAPTED TO BE BOMBARDED BY SAID PLASMA DISCHARGE FOR SPUTTERING OFF ATOMS OF SAID MATERIAL, AND MAGNETIC MEANS TO CONCENTRATING AND ACCELERATING ELECTRONS OF SAID PLASMA WHICH ELECTRONS EXCITE THE SPUTTERED ATOMS FROM A STABLE LOWER ENERGY LEVEL TO AN UNSTABLE HIGHER ENERGY LEVEL, SO THAT WHEN SAID SPUTTERED ATOMS LOSE ENERGY AND RETURN TO SAID STABLE LOWER ENERGY LEVEL SAID EMISSION SPECTRUM IS PRODUCED.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 81 words
A METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN EMISSION SPECTRUM OF A MATERIAL WHICH COMPRISES IMMERSING SAID MATERAIL IN A GAS DISCHARGE PLASMA OF HIGH DENSITY ESTABLISHED IN A CHAMBER, SUBJECTING SAID MATERAIL TO SELECTIVE AND ACCELERATED IONIC BOMBARDMENT SO THAT ATOMS OF SAID MATERIAL ARE SPUTTERED AWAY FROM SAID MATERIAL, EXCITING SAID SPUTTERED ATOMS TO HIGHER UNSTABLE ENERGY LEVELS, AND OBTAINING AN EMISSION SPECTRUM OF SAID MATERIAL WHEN THE SAID EXCITED SPUTTERED ATOMS LOSE ENERGY AND RETURN TO MORE STABLE LOWER ENERGY LEVELS.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 81 words
A METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN EMISSION SPECTRUM OF A MATERIAL WHICH COMPRISES IMMERSING SAID MATERAIL IN A GAS DISCHARGE PLASMA OF HIGH DENSITY ESTABLISHED IN A CHAMBER, SUBJECTING SAID MATERAIL TO SELECTIVE AND ACCELERATED IONIC BOMBARDMENT SO THAT ATOMS OF SAID MATERIAL ARE SPUTTERED AWAY FROM SAID MATERIAL, EXCITING SAID SPUTTERED ATOMS TO HIGHER UNSTABLE ENERGY LEVELS, AND OBTAINING AN EMISSION SPECTRUM OF SAID MATERIAL WHEN THE SAID EXCITED SPUTTERED ATOMS LOSE ENERGY AND RETURN TO MORE STABLE LOWER ENERGY LEVELS.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2258149A Cited
US2271666A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1968-11-08 1969-05-10 1969-11-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1972-11-08 1973-05-10 1973-11-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1976-11-08 1977-05-10 1977-11-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag