Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system comprising: a vacuum chamber having a port allowing for access to a vacuum chamber interior, a positioning apparatus for locating a substrate within said vacuum chamber interior; a gas jet apparatus affixed to said vacuum chamber port and having an interior cavity, said gas jet apparatus including a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber and including a nozzle tip extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate; an evaporation means including feed means for controllably supplying first material to a heat source for evaporation at a rate of supply corresponding directly to a rate of film growth, said evaporation means configured within said gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said nozzle tip into said gas jet apparatus interior cavity; and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system comprising: a vacuum chamber having a port allowing for access to a vacuum chamber interior, a positioning apparatus for locating a substrate within said vacuum chamber interior; a gas jet apparatus affixed to said vacuum chamber port and having an interior cavity, said gas jet apparatus including a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber and including a nozzle tip extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate; an evaporation means including feed means for controllably supplying first material to a heat source for evaporation at a rate of supply corresponding directly to a rate of film growth, said evaporation means configured within said gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said nozzle tip into said gas jet apparatus interior cavity; and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said heat source comprises a heated filament and said feed means comprises an apparatus for feeding wire-shaped material to said heated filament.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said nozzle tip is in registration with and at a selected distance from a substrate upper surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said evaporation means comprises an electrically heated crucible.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said nozzle tip is circular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said nozzle tip has a substantially elongated cross sectional profile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a translation apparatus for moving said substrate between a first and a second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said translation apparatus further comprises a mechanism for rastering said substrate positioning apparatus with respect to said nozzle tip, thereby presenting substantially all of said substrate surface to be in registration with said nozzle tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
190 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a second gas jet apparatus affixed to said second vacuum chamber port and having an interior cavity, said gas jet apparatus including a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber and including a nozzle tip extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing, at a second position, a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate; an evaporation means including feed means for controllably supplying a second material to a heat source for evaporation at a rate of supply corresponding directly to a rate of film growth, said evaporation means configured within said gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said nozzle tip into said gas jet apparatus interior cavity; a translation fixture for moving said substrate between first and second positions within a time less than a time needed to complete film formation on said substrate, thereby ensuring that a film deposited on said substrate is chemically comprised of chemical reaction products of said first and second materials.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said translation apparatus further comprises a carrousel means within said vacuum chamber for receiving a plurality of substrates and sequentially presenting outer surfaces thereof to receive said supersonic gas jet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first material comprises metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a second gas jet apparatus affixed to a second vacuum chamber port for providing controlled gas entry into the interior of the vacuum chamber, said second gas jet apparatus including: a second gas jet apparatus nozzle having an interior cavity; a second gas jet apparatus means for providing reactant gas to said nozzle interior cavity; and a discharge means configured about said second gas jet apparatus for generating a discharge in said reactant gas only in said second nozzle interior cavity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises a member selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon dioxide, phosphate glass, gallium arsenide, metals, ceramics, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber, plastic and indium phosphide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said positioning apparatus further comprises a supply reel and a take up reel and a means for transferring a wire shaped substrate from said supply reel to said takeup reel during deposition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first material comprises at least one organo-metallic compound.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
189 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system including a vacuum chamber having a port allowing for access to an interior, an apparatus for receiving a substrate positioned within said vacuum chamber interior and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber, a gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to said vacuum chamber port, said gas jet apparatus comprising: a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber; a nozzle tip at a distal end of said gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate, an evaporation means configured within said gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said nozzle tip into said gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said evaporation means for evaporating material stored in said evaporation means; and a means for providing reactant gas to said gas jet downstream from said evaporation means and prior to said gas jet impacting said substrate outer surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
189 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system including a vacuum chamber having a port allowing for access to an interior, an apparatus for receiving a substrate positioned within said vacuum chamber interior and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber, a gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to said vacuum chamber port, said gas jet apparatus comprising: a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber; a nozzle tip at a distal end of said gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate, an evaporation means configured within said gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said nozzle tip into said gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said evaporation means for evaporating material stored in said evaporation means; and a means for providing reactant gas to said gas jet downstream from said evaporation means and prior to said gas jet impacting said substrate outer surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said nozzle further is in registration with a substrate upper surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said nozzle is centrally positioned within said gas jet apparatus interior cavity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said nozzle comprises tubular chemical and heat resistant glass.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said nozzle tip is circular.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said nozzle tip has a substantially elongated cross sectional profile.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gas jet apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a translation mechanism for moving said substrate positioning apparatus between a first and a second position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The gas jet apparatus of claim 22 wherein said translation apparatus further comprises a mechanism for rastering said substrate positioning apparatus with respect to said nozzle tip, thereby presenting substantially all of said substrate surface to be in registration with said nozzle tip.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
365 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system comprising: a vacuum chamber having a plurality of ports allowing for access to an interior of said vacuum chamber, a translation fixture for receiving a substrate positioned within said vacuum chamber interior and for moving said substrate between first and second positions; a first gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to a first vacuum chamber port, including: a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber; a first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip at a distal end of said first gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing, at said first position, a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate; and a first evaporation means configured within said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said first evaporation means for evaporating a first material stored in said evaporation means; a second gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to a second vacuum chamber port, including: a means for providing carrier gas to said second gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber; a second gas jet apparatus nozzle tip at a distal end of said second gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing at said second position, a supersonic jet of gas directly to said outer surface of said substrate; and a second evaporation means configured within said second gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said second gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said second gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said second evaporation means for evaporating a second material stored therein; and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber; said translation fixture being capable of moving said substrate between said first and second positions at a speed sufficient to ensure the substrate film is comprised of chemical reaction products of said first and second evaporated materials.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
365 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system comprising: a vacuum chamber having a plurality of ports allowing for access to an interior of said vacuum chamber, a translation fixture for receiving a substrate positioned within said vacuum chamber interior and for moving said substrate between first and second positions; a first gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to a first vacuum chamber port, including: a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber; a first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip at a distal end of said first gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing, at said first position, a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate; and a first evaporation means configured within said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said first evaporation means for evaporating a first material stored in said evaporation means; a second gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to a second vacuum chamber port, including: a means for providing carrier gas to said second gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber; a second gas jet apparatus nozzle tip at a distal end of said second gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing at said second position, a supersonic jet of gas directly to said outer surface of said substrate; and a second evaporation means configured within said second gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said second gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said second gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said second evaporation means for evaporating a second material stored therein; and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber; said translation fixture being capable of moving said substrate between said first and second positions at a speed sufficient to ensure the substrate film is comprised of chemical reaction products of said first and second evaporated materials.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
300 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system comprising: a vacuum chamber having a plurality of ports allowing for access to an interior of said vacuum chamber, a translation fixture positioned within said vacuum chamber interior for receiving a substrate and for moving said substrate between a first position and a second position; a first gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to a first vacuum chamber port, including: a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure within said vacuum chamber; a first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip at a distal end of said first gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing, at said first position, a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate; and an evaporation means configured within said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said evaporation means for evaporating material stored in said evaporation means; a second gas jet apparatus affixed to a second vacuum chamber port for providing controlled gas entry into the interior of the vacuum chamber, said second gas jet apparatus including a second gas jet apparatus nozzle having an interior cavity for providing a supersonic jet of reactant gas directly towards said substrate second position; and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber; wherein said translation moves said substrate between said first and second positions within a time less than a time needed to complete film formation on said substrate to ensure that a film deposited on said substrate is chemically comprised of chemical reaction products of said material and said reactant gas.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
300 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system comprising: a vacuum chamber having a plurality of ports allowing for access to an interior of said vacuum chamber, a translation fixture positioned within said vacuum chamber interior for receiving a substrate and for moving said substrate between a first position and a second position; a first gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to a first vacuum chamber port, including: a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure within said vacuum chamber; a first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip at a distal end of said first gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing, at said first position, a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate; and an evaporation means configured within said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said evaporation means for evaporating material stored in said evaporation means; a second gas jet apparatus affixed to a second vacuum chamber port for providing controlled gas entry into the interior of the vacuum chamber, said second gas jet apparatus including a second gas jet apparatus nozzle having an interior cavity for providing a supersonic jet of reactant gas directly towards said substrate second position; and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber; wherein said translation moves said substrate between said first and second positions within a time less than a time needed to complete film formation on said substrate to ensure that a film deposited on said substrate is chemically comprised of chemical reaction products of said material and said reactant gas.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said second gas jet apparatus further comprises a discharge means configured about said second gas jet apparatus for generating a discharge in said reactant gas only in a portion of said second gas jet apparatus interior cavity.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said translation fixture comprises a means for heating said substrate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said translation fixture includes a surface for mounting said substrate substantially perpendicular to a direction of said reactant gas jet and rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to said substrate plane.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said translation fixture includes a surface for mounting said substrate substantially perpendicular to a direction of said gas jets and is displaceable relative thereto.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said second gas jet apparatus further comprises a means for providing a second reactive gas.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said substrate comprises a member selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon dioxide, phosphate glass, gallium arsenide, metals, ceramics, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber, plastics and indium phosphide.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said reactant gas comprises a member selected from the group consisting of SiH 4 , SiH 2 Cl 2 , SiCl 4 , SiF 4 , WF 6 , TiCl 4 , BCl 3 , B 2 H 6 , GeH 4 , AsH 5 , C 2 H 2 , and W(CO) 6 .
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said reactive gas is an organo-metallic vapor.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said translation fixture further comprises a supply reel and a take up reel and a means for transferring a wire shaped substrate from said supply reel to said takeup reel during deposition.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
466 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system comprising: a vacuum chamber having a plurality of ports allowing for access to an interior of said vacuum chamber; a translation fixture positioned within said vacuum chamber interior for receiving said substrate and for moving said substrate between a first position, a second position and a third position; a first gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to a first vacuum chamber port, including a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber; a first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip at a distal end of said first gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate at said first position; an evaporation means configured within said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said evaporation means for evaporating material stored in said evaporation means; a second gas jet apparatus affixed to a second vacuum chamber port for providing controlled gas entry into the interior of the vacuum chamber, said second gas jet apparatus including a second gas jet apparatus nozzle having an interior cavity for providing a supersonic jet of a first reactant gas directly towards said substrate at said second position: a third gas jet apparatus affixed to a third vacuum chamber port for providing controlled gas entry into the interior of the vacuum chamber, said third gas jet apparatus including a third gas jet apparatus outer nozzle having an interior cavity; a third gas jet apparatus means for providing carrier gas within said third gas jet apparatus outer nozzle interior cavity; a third gas jet apparatus inner nozzle located within said third gas jet apparatus interior cavity for providing, at said third substrate position, a supersonic jet of a second reactant gas from a third gas jet apparatus inner nozzle tip; a discharge means configured about said third gas jet apparatus for generating a discharge in said carrier gas and said second reactant gas only in a portion of said third gas jet apparatus outer nozzle interior cavity extending from approximately from said third gas jet apparatus inner nozzle tip towards said vacuum chamber; and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber: wherein said translation fixture further moves said substrate between said first, second and third positions within a time less than a time needed to complete film formation on said substrate to ensure that a film deposited on said substrate is chemically comprised of chemical reaction products of said material and said first and second reactant gasses.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
466 words
A system for depositing a film upon a substrate, said system comprising: a vacuum chamber having a plurality of ports allowing for access to an interior of said vacuum chamber; a translation fixture positioned within said vacuum chamber interior for receiving said substrate and for moving said substrate between a first position, a second position and a third position; a first gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and affixed to a first vacuum chamber port, including a means for providing carrier gas to said gas jet apparatus interior cavity at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber; a first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip at a distal end of said first gas jet apparatus extending into said vacuum chamber interior for providing a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate at said first position; an evaporation means configured within said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said first gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity, said evaporation means for evaporating material stored in said evaporation means; a second gas jet apparatus affixed to a second vacuum chamber port for providing controlled gas entry into the interior of the vacuum chamber, said second gas jet apparatus including a second gas jet apparatus nozzle having an interior cavity for providing a supersonic jet of a first reactant gas directly towards said substrate at said second position: a third gas jet apparatus affixed to a third vacuum chamber port for providing controlled gas entry into the interior of the vacuum chamber, said third gas jet apparatus including a third gas jet apparatus outer nozzle having an interior cavity; a third gas jet apparatus means for providing carrier gas within said third gas jet apparatus outer nozzle interior cavity; a third gas jet apparatus inner nozzle located within said third gas jet apparatus interior cavity for providing, at said third substrate position, a supersonic jet of a second reactant gas from a third gas jet apparatus inner nozzle tip; a discharge means configured about said third gas jet apparatus for generating a discharge in said carrier gas and said second reactant gas only in a portion of said third gas jet apparatus outer nozzle interior cavity extending from approximately from said third gas jet apparatus inner nozzle tip towards said vacuum chamber; and a pump means for evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber: wherein said translation fixture further moves said substrate between said first, second and third positions within a time less than a time needed to complete film formation on said substrate to ensure that a film deposited on said substrate is chemically comprised of chemical reaction products of said material and said first and second reactant gasses.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for depositing a film upon a substrate, said method comprising the steps of: providing a vacuum chamber having a port allowing for access to a vacuum chamber interior, positioning a substrate within said vacuum chamber interior; providing controlled entry of a carrier gas into the interior of the vacuum chamber at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber by means of a gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and being affixed to said vacuum chamber port, providing a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate by means of a gas jet apparatus nozzle tip extending into said vacuum chamber interior; evaporating material stored in an evaporation means configured within said gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity; providing a first reactant gas to said gas jet downstream from said evaporation means prior to said gas jet impacting said substrate outer surface and evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber to maintain a pressure in said vacuum chamber.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for depositing a film upon a substrate, said method comprising the steps of: providing a vacuum chamber having a port allowing for access to a vacuum chamber interior, positioning a substrate within said vacuum chamber interior; providing controlled entry of a carrier gas into the interior of the vacuum chamber at a pressure greater than a pressure in said vacuum chamber by means of a gas jet apparatus having an interior cavity and being affixed to said vacuum chamber port, providing a supersonic jet of gas directly to an outer surface of said substrate by means of a gas jet apparatus nozzle tip extending into said vacuum chamber interior; evaporating material stored in an evaporation means configured within said gas jet apparatus interior cavity registered with and inwardly displaced from said gas jet apparatus nozzle tip into said first gas jet apparatus interior cavity; providing a first reactant gas to said gas jet downstream from said evaporation means prior to said gas jet impacting said substrate outer surface and evacuating gas from said vacuum chamber to maintain a pressure in said vacuum chamber.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps of moving said substrate between a first position and a second position.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the steps of: providing controlled entry of a second reactant gas into an interior cavity of a nozzle of a second gas jet apparatus affixed to a second vacuum chamber port directly towards said substrate; and generating a discharge in said second reactant gas only in a portion of said gas jet apparatus nozzle interior cavity extending from approximately said nozzle tip.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of moving said substrate between said first and second positions within a time less than a time needed to complete film formation on said substrate, thereby ensuring the substrate film is chemically comprised of said evaporated material and said first and second reactant gases.