Patent US233968A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3955013A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3955013A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Novel process for producing a thin film of germanium

Assignee: Grumman Corp
•
Filing: 1974-06-21
•
Granted: 1976-05-04
•
Expires: 1994-06-21
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A process is disclosed for producing a thin film of elemental germanium on the surface of a germanate glass composition by means of a focused laser.

Inventors

  • 👤 Herbert D. Kivlighn, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 04:15
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C23/00; C03C23/007; C03C17/00; C03C17/06; C03C23/0005; C03C23/0025; C03C3/00; C03C3/12; C03C3/253; C03C2217/00; C03C2217/20; C03C2217/25; C03C2217/263; C03C2217/268; C03C2218/00; C03C2218/30; C03C2218/35; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/967

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 76 words
A process for the preparation of a thin film of elemental germanium on the surface of a selected area of a germanate glass composition which includes at least 60 mole percent of germanium dioxide, said method consisting essentially of heating a selected area of said germanate glass composition with a laser beam of effective wave length and power in the presence of a reducing atmosphere until formation of said thin film of elemental germanium is complete.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 76 words
A process for the preparation of a thin film of elemental germanium on the surface of a selected area of a germanate glass composition which includes at least 60 mole percent of germanium dioxide, said method consisting essentially of heating a selected area of said germanate glass composition with a laser beam of effective wave length and power in the presence of a reducing atmosphere until formation of said thin film of elemental germanium is complete.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said reducing gas is hydrogen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 76 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said germanate glass composition is an oxygen deficient germanate glass which is prepared by a process which consists essentially of melting together a mixture which consists essentially of 0.85 to 0.95 moles of powdered germanium dioxide with a minor non-equimolar amount of silicon carbide at a temperature of between about 1200°C and 1600°C in a container free of platinum and then allowing the melt to cool and solidify.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the layer of elemental germanium is amorphous.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein a carbon dioxide laser is employed at a wave length of about 10.6 μm and a power of about 3 watts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
A process for forming a semiconducting circuit pattern which consists essentially of selectively heating a germanate glass composition with a laser beam of effective wave length and power in the presence of a reducing atmosphere in a configuration that corresponds to said circuit pattern until said circuit pattern is formed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 50 words
A process for forming a semiconducting circuit pattern which consists essentially of selectively heating a germanate glass composition with a laser beam of effective wave length and power in the presence of a reducing atmosphere in a configuration that corresponds to said circuit pattern until said circuit pattern is formed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 79 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said germanate glass composition is an oxygen deficient germanate glass which is prepared by a process which consists essentially of melting together a mixture which consists essentially of 0.85 to 0.95 moles of powdered germanium dioxide and from 0.15 moles to about 0.05 moles of silicon carbide at a temperature of between about 1200°C and 1600°C in a container free of platinum and then allowing the melt to cool and solidify.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 80 words
A process for the preparation of a thin film of elemental germanium on the surface of a selected area of a germanate glass composition which includes at least 60 mole percent of germanium dioxide, said method consisting essentially of heating a selected area of said germanate glass composition with a laser beam in the presence of a reducing atmosphere until said selected area is heated to a temperature of 350°-800°C to cause formation of a thin film of elemental germanium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 80 words
A process for the preparation of a thin film of elemental germanium on the surface of a selected area of a germanate glass composition which includes at least 60 mole percent of germanium dioxide, said method consisting essentially of heating a selected area of said germanate glass composition with a laser beam in the presence of a reducing atmosphere until said selected area is heated to a temperature of 350°-800°C to cause formation of a thin film of elemental germanium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
A process as defined in claim 8 wherein said selected area is heated to a temperature of 450°-750°C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 18 words
A process as defined in claim 8 wherein said selected area is heated to a temperature of 400°-500°C.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2927042A Cited
US3211366A Cited
US3401056A Cited
US3401054A Cited
US3801366A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-05-04 1979-11-03 1980-05-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-05-04 1983-11-03 1984-05-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-05-04 1987-11-03 1988-05-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag