US3979232A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mercury cadmium telluride annealing procedure
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1975-02-28
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Granted: 1976-09-07
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Expires: 1995-02-28
Abstract
Abstract The stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration of mercury cadmium telluride is adjusted by a heat treatment. Mercury cadmium telluride is heat treated in the presence of mercury and cadmium vapor.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Hager
- 👤 Joseph L. Schmit
- 👤 M. Walter Scott
- 👤 Ernest L. Stelzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:04
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B33/00; C30B29/00; C30B29/10; C30B29/46; C30B29/48; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/064; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/971
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A process for controlling the stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration of a mercury cadmium telluride alloy, the process comprising: providing a body of the alloy; and heat treating the body in the presence of mercury vapor and cadmium vapor from a mercury vapor source and a cadmium vapor source other than the body and maintaining the body at a temperature for a time of sufficient duration to adjust stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process for controlling the stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration of a mercury cadmium telluride alloy, the process comprising: providing a body of the alloy; and heat treating the body in the presence of mercury vapor and cadmium vapor from a mercury vapor source and a cadmium vapor source other than the body and maintaining the body at a temperature for a time of sufficient duration to adjust stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature is between about 200°C and about 500°C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the temperature is between about 250°C and about 350°C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the time of sufficient duration is greater than about 10 days.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of adjusting the stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration of a body of mercury cadmium telluride, the method comprising heat treating, within a temperature range sufficient to adjust stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration, the body in a closed container in the presence of mercury vapor and cadmium vapor provided by a mercury vapor source and a cadmium vapor source within the closed container and placed remote from the body.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of adjusting the stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration of a body of mercury cadmium telluride, the method comprising heat treating, within a temperature range sufficient to adjust stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration, the body in a closed container in the presence of mercury vapor and cadmium vapor provided by a mercury vapor source and a cadmium vapor source within the closed container and placed remote from the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the body is maintained at an essentially constant temperature for greater than about 10 days.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the temperature is between about 200°C and about 500°C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the temperature is between about 250°C and about 350°C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the closed container also contains a tellurium vapor source placed remote from the body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the mercury, cadmium, and tellurium vapor sources comprise finely divided mercury cadmium telluride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the finely divided mercury cadmium telluride has approximately the same composition as that of the body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein excess mercury is also provided.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of adjusting the stoichiometry of a body of mercury cadmium telluride, the method comprising heat treating the body in the presence of mercury and finely divided mercury cadmium telluride within a temperature range sufficient to adjust stoichiometry of the body, the mercury and finely divided mercury cadmium telluride being placed remote from the body and within a closed container to provide mercury, cadmium, and tellurium vapors during the heat treating.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of adjusting the stoichiometry of a body of mercury cadmium telluride, the method comprising heat treating the body in the presence of mercury and finely divided mercury cadmium telluride within a temperature range sufficient to adjust stoichiometry of the body, the mercury and finely divided mercury cadmium telluride being placed remote from the body and within a closed container to provide mercury, cadmium, and tellurium vapors during the heat treating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a method of controlling the stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration of a mercury cadmium telluride alloy by heat treating the body in the presence of mercury vapor in a closed environment within a temperature range sufficient to control stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration, the improvement comprising: inclusion of a quantity of finely divided mercury cadmium telluride as an additional constituent, the finely divided mercury cadmium telluride being placed remote from the body and within the closed environment, the finely divided mercury cadmium telluride being a source of mercury, cadmium, and tellurium vapors during the heat treating.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a method of controlling the stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration of a mercury cadmium telluride alloy by heat treating the body in the presence of mercury vapor in a closed environment within a temperature range sufficient to control stoichiometry and free-carrier concentration, the improvement comprising: inclusion of a quantity of finely divided mercury cadmium telluride as an additional constituent, the finely divided mercury cadmium telluride being placed remote from the body and within the closed environment, the finely divided mercury cadmium telluride being a source of mercury, cadmium, and tellurium vapors during the heat treating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3723190A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-07 | 1980-03-08 | 1980-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-07 | 1984-03-08 | 1984-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-07 | 1988-03-08 | 1988-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |