Ion beam printer

Claim 2

An ion beam printer comprising, in combination, an ion beam source that includes a container adapted to hold a liquid in which ions may be formed and removed therefrom, a conductive capillary tube adapted to extend into the liquid, a source of electric potential connected between the tube and and an electrode to effect removal of ions from the opening in the tube and initiate acceleration thereof, a web positioned to have one major surface thereof in the path of the beam to receive ions from said ion beam source, means adapted to modulate the beam in a determined pattern, means for driving the web along a path substantially orthogonal to the beam direction, and a developer positioned along the path, the developer being adapted to develop an image as the web moves therealong.

Claim 3

A printer as claimed in claim 1 in which the relaxation time of the material of which the web is made is long compared to the time lapse between the instant ions are received by the web and the instant the ions are reacted with a developer material in the developer.

Claim 4

A printer as claimed in claim 1 in which the modulation means is a digital computer in combination with a source of electric potential.

Claim 5

A printer as claimed in claim 1 and in which the modulation means is adapted to effect translation movement of the ion beam and which is further adapted to vary the intensity of the beam.

Claim 6

A printer as claimed in claim 1 in which the modulation means is adapted to effect at least one of translational movement and variations of the intensity of the ion beam.

Claim 7

A printer as claimed in claim 2 in which the ions are of a material from the group consisting of gallium, indium, mercury, woods metal, or other nonvolatile conductors.

Claim 8

A printer as claimed in claim 2 in which the ions are tannic acid ions and the developer material is ferric chloride.

Claim 9

A printer as claimed in claim 2 in which the ions are of an oil and the developer material is a pigment or dust which will adhere to the oily surface.

Claim 10

A printer as claimed in claim 8 in which the oil is one of 2 ethyl hexyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, a silicone oil, and light petroleum oil.

Claim 11

An ion beam printer comprising, in combination, an ion beam source that includes a container adapted to hold a liquid in which ions may be formed and removed therefrom, a conductive capillary tube adapted to extend into the liquid A source of electric potential connected between the tube and an electrode to effect removal of ions from the opening in the tube and initiate acceleration thereof, a web positioned to have one major surface thereof in the path of the beam to receive ions from said ion beam source, means adapted to modulate the beam in a determined pattern, and in which the web is a thin conductive layer on an insulating substrate and the ion beam comprises multiatomic particles adapted to remove portions of said layer in a determined fashion.

Claim 12

An ion beam printer comprising, in combination, an ion beam source that includes a container adapted to hold a liquid in which ions may be formed and removed therefrom, a conductive capillary tube adapted to extend into the liquid A source of electric potential connected between the tube and an electrode to effect removal of ions from the opening in the tube and initiate acceleration thereof, a web positioned to have one major surface thereof in the path of the beam to receive ions from said ion beam source, means adapted to modulate the beam in a determined pattern, and in which the web is a thin conductive layer on an insulating substrate and the ion beam comprises multiatomic particles adapted to remove portions of said layer in a determined fashion.

Claim 13

An ion beam printer comprising, in combination, an ion beam source that includes a container adapted to hold a liquid in which ions may be formed and removed therefrom, a conductive capillary tube adapted to extend into the liquid, a source of electric potential connected between the tube and an electrode to effect removal of ions from the opening in the tube and initiate acceleration thereof, a web positioned to have one major surface thereof in the path of the beam to receive ions from said ion beam source, means adapted to modulate the beam in a determined pattern, and in which the web comprises a semiconductor layer on a substrate and the ion beam comprises a multiatomic particles adapted to etch portions of said layer in a determined fashion.

Claim 14

An ion beam printer comprising, in combination, an ion beam source that includes a container adapted to hold a liquid in which ions may be formed and removed therefrom, a conductive capillary tube adapted to extend into the liquid, a source of electric potential connected between the tube and an electrode to effect removal of ions from the opening in the tube and initiate acceleration thereof, a web positioned to have one major surface thereof in the path of the beam to receive ions from said ion beam source, means adapted to modulate the beam in a determined pattern, and in which the web comprises a semiconductor layer on a substrate and the ion beam comprises a multiatomic particles adapted to etch portions of said layer in a determined fashion.

Claim 15

An ion beam printer comprising, in combination, an ion beam source that includes a container adapted to hold a liquid in which ions may be formed and removed therefrom, a conductive capillary tube adapted to extend into the liquid, a source of electric potential connected between the tube and an electrode to effect removal of ions from the opening in the tube and initiate acceleration thereof, a web positioned to have one major surface thereof in the path of the beam to receive ions from said ion beam source, means adapted to modulate the beam in a determined pattern, and in which the ion beam source comprises a plurality of particle emitters focused to deposit simultaneously at the same location on the web particles of various reactant materials which interact with one another upon the web, thereby to form on the web a chemical compound of deposited material formed from said reactant materials.

Claim 16

An ion beam printer comprising, in combination, an ion beam source that includes a container adapted to hold a liquid in which ions may be formed and removed therefrom, a conductive capillary tube adapted to extend into the liquid, a source of electric potential connected between the tube and an electrode to effect removal of ions from the opening in the tube and initiate acceleration thereof, a web positioned to have one major surface thereof in the path of the beam to receive ions from said ion beam source, means adapted to modulate the beam in a determined pattern, and in which the ion beam source comprises a plurality of particle emitters focused to deposit simultaneously at the same location on the web particles of various reactant materials which interact with one another upon the web, thereby to form on the web a chemical compound of deposited material formed from said reactant materials.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the particles emitted are monatomic or multiatomic ions.

Claim 18

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which two particle emitters are provided, one of which emits cadmium ions and the other of which emits sulfur ions which combine on the web to form cadmium sulfide.

Claim 19

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which three particle emitters are provided: one of which emits gallium ions, another of which emits arsenic ions, and still another of which emits phosphorus ions.