Patent US4105478A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4105478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Doping hgcdte with li
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1978-02-03
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Granted: 1978-08-08
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Expires: 1998-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Mercury cadmium telluride carrier concentration can be adjusted by having a quantity of lithium dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to measurably increase the acceptor concentration of the semiconductor. Methods of forming the acceptor doped mercury cadmium telluride include diffusion of a quantity of lithium into an already existing body of mercury cadmium telluride. Formation of NP junctions and P-P+ regions are disclosed using the compositions and methods of the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric S. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:20
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P32/00; H10P32/10; H10P32/14; H10D; H10D62/00; H10D62/80; H10D62/86; H10D62/862; H10D62/864; H10P32/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of adjusting the acceptor concentration in a body of mercury cadmium telluride, comprising the steps of: contacting said body of mercury cadmium telluride with a quantity of lithium; and heating said body for a time sufficient to distribute said lithium within said body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of adjusting the acceptor concentration in a body of mercury cadmium telluride, comprising the steps of: contacting said body of mercury cadmium telluride with a quantity of lithium; and heating said body for a time sufficient to distribute said lithium within said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said quantity of lithium ranges from 10 10 atoms per cubic centimeter to 10 20 atoms per cubic centimeter.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of adjusting the acceptor concentration in a body of mercury cadmium telluride, comprising the steps of: suspending a quantity of lithium in an inert medium; contacting said lithium and said medium with said body; depositing said lithium on said body by heating said solvent to strip that solvent therefrom; allowing said lithium by further heating said body with said lithium deposited thereon to alloy said lithium into said body; and heating said body to distribute said lithium over a portion of said body.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of adjusting the acceptor concentration in a body of mercury cadmium telluride, comprising the steps of: suspending a quantity of lithium in an inert medium; contacting said lithium and said medium with said body; depositing said lithium on said body by heating said solvent to strip that solvent therefrom; allowing said lithium by further heating said body with said lithium deposited thereon to alloy said lithium into said body; and heating said body to distribute said lithium over a portion of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 which further includes the step of removing unalloyed lithium from said body prior to heating said body during said distribution step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said alloying is carried out at a temperature of at least 290° C to alloy said lithium into said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said distribution is carried out at a temperature from 100° to 350° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said quantity of lithium diffused therein ranges from 10 10 atoms per cubic centimeter to 10 20 atoms per cubic centimeter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of increasing the acceptor concentration of a first region of mercury cadmium telluride with respect to a second adjacent region of mercury cadmium telluride, comprising the steps of: contacting said first region with a quantity of lithium; and heating said first region to distribute said lithium within said first region.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of increasing the acceptor concentration of a first region of mercury cadmium telluride with respect to a second adjacent region of mercury cadmium telluride, comprising the steps of: contacting said first region with a quantity of lithium; and heating said first region to distribute said lithium within said first region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the quantity of lithium ranges from 10 10 atoms per cubic centimeter to 10 20 atoms per cubic centimeter.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of increasing the acceptor concentration of a first region of mercury cadmium telluride with respect to a second adjacent region of mercury cadmium telluride, comprising the steps of: suspending a quantity of lithium in an inert medium; contacting a body of mercury cadmium telluride with said lithium and said medium; depositing said lithium on said body by heating said solvent to strip said solvent therefrom; alloying said lithium by further heating said body with said lithium deposited thereon to diffuse a quantity of lithium into said body; and further heating said body to distribute said lithium over said first region.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of increasing the acceptor concentration of a first region of mercury cadmium telluride with respect to a second adjacent region of mercury cadmium telluride, comprising the steps of: suspending a quantity of lithium in an inert medium; contacting a body of mercury cadmium telluride with said lithium and said medium; depositing said lithium on said body by heating said solvent to strip said solvent therefrom; alloying said lithium by further heating said body with said lithium deposited thereon to diffuse a quantity of lithium into said body; and further heating said body to distribute said lithium over said first region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 which further includes the step of removing undiffused lithium from said region prior to said distribution step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said concentration of lithium ranges from 10 10 atoms per cubic centimeter to 10 20 atoms per cubic centimeter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said alloying is carried out at a temperature of at least 290° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said distribution is carried out at a temperature ranging from 100° to 350° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said second region is N-type, and said quantity is sufficient to render said first region P-type thereby forming a PN junction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said second region is P-type and said quantity of lithium is sufficient to render said first region P+ type.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3496024A
Cited
US4060432A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-08-07 | 1982-02-06 | 1982-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-08-07 | 1986-02-06 | 1986-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-08-07 | 1990-02-06 | 1990-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |