Patent EP0853411A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3932777A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3932777A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vacuum electrolysis of quartz
Assignee: Bliley Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-11-29
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Granted: 1976-01-13
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Expires: 1994-11-29
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is directed to a method for processing quartz used in fabricating crystal resonators such that transient frequency change of resonators exposed to pulse irradiation is virtually eliminated. The method involves heating the crystal quartz in a hydrogen-free atmosphere while simultaneously applying an electric field in the Z-axis direction of the crystal. The electric field is maintained during the cool-down phase of the process.
Inventors
- 👤 James Claude King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:47
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03H; H03H3/00; H03H3/007; H03H3/02; H03H3/04; H10; H10N; H10N30/00; H10N30/01; H10N30/04; H10N30/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of processing crystal quartz material comprising the steps of, maintaining the quartz at thermal equilibrium at a temperature of 500°C to 570°C in an atmosphere substantially free of hydrogen, while applying an electric field along theh Z-axis of the crystal quartz between anode and cathode electrodes of a strength from 1 to 5 kV/cm for a period of 72 to 120 hours, and maintaining said electric field while said crystal is cooled.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of processing crystal quartz material comprising the steps of, maintaining the quartz at thermal equilibrium at a temperature of 500°C to 570°C in an atmosphere substantially free of hydrogen, while applying an electric field along theh Z-axis of the crystal quartz between anode and cathode electrodes of a strength from 1 to 5 kV/cm for a period of 72 to 120 hours, and maintaining said electric field while said crystal is cooled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said temperature equilibrium is 550°C and said electric field is 2 kV/cm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the subsequent step of, removing from 10 to 40 thousandths of an inch of the crystal perpendicular to the Z axis from the surface adjacent to said cathode electrode, and then repeating the steps of claim 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the subsequent step of, removing from 10 to 40 thousandths of an inch of the crystal perpendicular to the Z-axis from the surface adjacent to said cathode electrode, and then repeating the steps of claim 1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the atmosphere is a dry gas selected from the group consisting of helium neon, argon and nitrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said crystal quartz is natural quartz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said crystal quartz is synthetic quartz.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said synthetic quartz is of homogeneous Z-growth material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of subjecting the crystal quartz to ionizing radiation of 10 5 to 10 6 rad simultaneously to said step of applying an electric field to said crystal quartz.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of processing crystal quartz material comprising the steps of maintaining the quartz at thermal equilibrium in the beta phase at a temperature of 700° to 900°C in an atmosphere substantially free of hydrogen while applying an electric field between anode and cathode electrodes along the Z-axis of the crystal quartz of a strength from 1 to 5 kV/cm for a period of 6 to 12 hours, and cooling said quartz while maintaining said electric field and applying a compression stress which induces a strain no less than 10 - 4 in the X direction of said crystal as the quartz cools from the beta phase through 573°C to the alpha phase.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of processing crystal quartz material comprising the steps of maintaining the quartz at thermal equilibrium in the beta phase at a temperature of 700° to 900°C in an atmosphere substantially free of hydrogen while applying an electric field between anode and cathode electrodes along the Z-axis of the crystal quartz of a strength from 1 to 5 kV/cm for a period of 6 to 12 hours, and cooling said quartz while maintaining said electric field and applying a compression stress which induces a strain no less than 10 - 4 in the X direction of said crystal as the quartz cools from the beta phase through 573°C to the alpha phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said thermal equilibrium temperature is 800°C and wherein said electric field strength is 2 kV/cm.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of processing crystal quartz material comprising the steps of maintaining the quartz at thermal equilibrium in the beta phase at a temperature of 700° to 900°C in an atmosphere substantially free of hydrogen, while applying an electric field between anode and cathode electrodes along the Z axis of the crystal quartz of a strength from 1 to 5 kV/cm for a period of 6 to 12 hours, and cooling said quartz while maintaining said electric field along the Z axis and applying an electric field along the X axis sufficient to create a strain no less than 10 - 4 as the quartz cools from the beta phase through 573°C to the alpha phase.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of processing crystal quartz material comprising the steps of maintaining the quartz at thermal equilibrium in the beta phase at a temperature of 700° to 900°C in an atmosphere substantially free of hydrogen, while applying an electric field between anode and cathode electrodes along the Z axis of the crystal quartz of a strength from 1 to 5 kV/cm for a period of 6 to 12 hours, and cooling said quartz while maintaining said electric field along the Z axis and applying an electric field along the X axis sufficient to create a strain no less than 10 - 4 as the quartz cools from the beta phase through 573°C to the alpha phase.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are thin platinum sheets of 99.9 to 99.99% purity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
A quartz crystal for use in a crystal resonator comprising a quartz crystal which has been treated by the steps of, maintaining the quartz at thermal equilibrium at a temperature of 500°C to 570°C in an atmosphere substantially free of hydrogen, while applying an electric field between anode and cathode electrodes along the Z axis of the crystal quartz of a strength from 1 to 5 kV/cm for a period of 72 to 120 hours, and maintaining said electric field while said crystal is cooled.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
A quartz crystal for use in a crystal resonator comprising a quartz crystal which has been treated by the steps of, maintaining the quartz at thermal equilibrium at a temperature of 500°C to 570°C in an atmosphere substantially free of hydrogen, while applying an electric field between anode and cathode electrodes along the Z axis of the crystal quartz of a strength from 1 to 5 kV/cm for a period of 72 to 120 hours, and maintaining said electric field while said crystal is cooled.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-12 | 1979-07-14 | 1980-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-12 | 1983-07-14 | 1984-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-12 | 1987-07-14 | 1988-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |