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At least 145 records · Page 8

Factors affecting laser-trim stability of thick film resistors

Various factors affecting precision of trim and resistor stability were considered. The influence of machine operating parameters on resistor performance was examined and quantified through statistically designed experiments for a Q switched YAG laser system. Laser kerf quality was studied by scanning electron microscopy and related to kerf isolation resistance measurements. A relatively simple production oriented, quality control test is proposed for rapid determination of kerf electrical stability. In addition, the effect of cut design and extent of trim on precision and stability were discussed.

Cote, R. E.↗

Development of economical improved thick film solar cell contact

Materials were surveyed to provide candidates for an all metal electrode paste system. These consisted of a major constituent metal powder, a low melting metal powder suitable for a liquid phase sintering medium, and a powder material suitable as an etchant for silicon dioxide at sintering temperatures. By means of thermal gravimetric analysis a suitable binder was identified for low temperature fired inks. The all metal ink concept was first demonstrated with the silver system to avoid the problems of limited process windows encountered with base metal systems. A number of solid materials capable of selectively etching silicon dioxide at modest temperatures were identified. A paste with silver fluoride was screened onto N-type silicon with 5 ohm cm resistivity. The resulting contact pads had excellent adhesion but were not electrically ohmic. Metallurgically, these contacts have equal or better grain structure as commercial inks fired at the same temperatures.

Ross, B.↗

Development of Economical Improved Thick Film Solar Cell Contact

Materials were surveyed to provide candidates for an all metal electrode paste system. These consisted of a major constituent metal powder, a low melting metal powder suitable for a liquid phase sintering medium, and a powder material suitable as an etchant for silicon dioxide at sintering temperatures. By means of thermal gravimetric analysis a suitable binder was identified for low temperature fired inks.

Ross, B.↗

Development of economical improved thick film solar cell contact

Metal screened electrodes were investigated with base metal pastes and silver systems being focused upon. Contact resistance measurements were refined. A facility allowing fixing in hydrogen and other atmospheres was acquired. Several experiments were made applying screenable pastes to solar cells. Doping investigations emphasized eutectic alloys reduced to powders. Metal systems were reviewed and base metal experiments were done with nickel and copper using lead and tin as the frit metals. Severe adhesion problems were experienced with hydrogen atmospheres in all metal systems. A two step firing schedule was devised. Aluminum-silicon and aluminum-germanium eutectic doping additions to copper pastes were tried on 2 1/4 in diameter solar cell back contacts, both with good results.

Ross, B.↗

Development of an All-Metal Thick Film Cost Effective Metallization System for Solar Cells

Materials including copper powders, silver-fluoride, and silicon wafers were procured and copper pastes were prepared. Electrodes made with copper pastes were analyzed and compared with the raw materials. A needle-like structure was observed on the electroded solar cells, and was identified as eutectic copper-silicon by electron probe X-ray spectroscopy. The existence of this phase was thought to benefit electrical and metallurgical properties of the contact. Subsequently electrodes made from new material were also shown to contain this phase while simultaneously having poor adhesion.

Ross, B.↗

Development of an all-metal thick film cost effective metallization system for solar cells

The objectives of the investigation were to provide all-metal screenable pastes using economical base metals, suitable for application to low-to-high conductivity silicon of either conductivity type and possibly to aluminum surfaces. Experiments were conducted with variations in paste parameters, firing conditions, including gas ambients, furnace furniture, silicon surface and others. A liquid medium, intended to provide transport during the carbon fluoride decomposition was incorporated in the paste with promising results.

Ross, B.↗

Development of an all-metal thick-film cost-effective metallization system for solar cells

Screened electrodes made from fluorocarbon activated copper paste and silver fluoride activated copper paste, tape adhesion and scratch tests were studied. Experiments were conducted with variations in past parameters, firing conditions, including gas ambients, furnace furniture, silicon surface and others. A liquid medium intended to provide transport during the carbon fluoride decomposition, is incorporated in the paste.

Ross, B.↗

Development of an all-metal thick film cost effective metallization system for solar cells

Electrodes made with pastes produced under the previous contract were analyzed and compared with raw materials. A needle-like structure observed on the electroded solar cell was identified as eutectic copper-silicon, a phase considered to benefit the electrical and metallurgical properties of the contact. Electrodes made from copper fluorocarbon and copper silver fluoride also contained this phase but had poor adhesion. A liquid medium, intended to provide transport during carbon fluoride decomposition was incorporated into the paste resulting in better adhesion. The product survived preliminary environmental tests. A 2 cm by 2 cm solar cell made with fluorocarbon activated copper electrodes and gave 7% AMI efficiency (without AR coating). Both silver fluoride and fluorocarbon screened paste electrodes can be produced for approximately $0.04 per watt.

Ross, B.↗

Polymer thick-film conductors and dielectrics for membrane switches and flexible circuitry

The fabrication and operation of membrane switches are discussed. The membrane switch functions as a normally open, momentary contact, low-voltage pressure-sensitive device. Its design is a three-layer sandwich usually constructed of polyester film. Conductive patterns are deposited onto the inner side of top and bottom sheets by silk screening. The center spacer is then placed between the two circuit layers to form a sandwich, generally held together by an adhesive. When pressure is applied to the top layer, it flexes through the punched openings of the spacer to establish electrical contact between conductive pads of the upper and lower sheets, momentarily closing the circuit. Upon release of force the top sheet springs back to its normal open position. The membrane touch switch is being used in a rapidly expanding range of applications, including instrumentation, appliances, electronic games and keyboards. Its board acceptance results from its low cost, durability, ease of manufacture, cosmetic appeal and design flexibility. The principal electronic components in the membrane switch are the conductor and dielectric.

Nazarenko, N.↗

A computer solution for the dynamic load, lubricant film thickness and surface temperatures in spiral bevel gears

A complete analysis of spiral bevel gear sets is presented. The gear profile is described by the movements of the cutting tools. The contact patterns of the rigid body gears are investigated. The tooth dynamic force is studied by combining the effects of variable teeth meshing stiffness, speed, damping, and bearing stiffness. The lubrication performance is also accomplished by including the effects of the lubricant viscosity, ambient temperature, and gear speed. A set of numerical results is also presented.

Chao, H. C.↗

Unusual Contact-Line Dynamics of Thick Films and Drops

We report several novel phenomena In contact-line and fingering dynamics of macroscopic spinning drops and gravity-driven films with dimensions larger than the capillary length. It is shown through experimental and theoretical analysis that such macroscopic films can exhibit various interfacial shapes, including multi valued ones, near the contact line due to a balance between the external body forces with capillarity. This rich variety of front shapes couples with the usual capillary, viscous, and intermolecular forces at the contact line to produce a rich and unexpected spectrum of contact-line dynamics. A single finger develops when part of the front becomes multivalued on a partially wetting macroscopic spinning drop in contrast to a different mechanism for microscopic drops of completely wetting fluids. Contrary to general expectation, we observe that, at high viscosity and low frequencies of rotation, the speed of a glycerine finger increases with increasing viscosity. Completely wetting Dow Corning 200 Fluid spreads faster over a dry inclined plane than a prewetted one. The presence of a thin prewetted film suppresses fingering both for gravity-driven flow and for spin coating. We analyze some of these unique phenomena in detail and offer qualitative physical explanations for the others.

Veretennikov, Igor↗

Thick-Film Thermoelectric Microdevices

Miniaturized thermoelectric devices integrated into thermal management packages and low power, high voltage, electrical power source systems are of interest for a variety of space and terrestrial applications.

Thermoelectric Microdevices Energy Conversion Elec↗

Method of measuring the thickness of radioactive thin films

Thickness monitor consists of proportional X-ray counter coupled to pulse counting system, copper filter over face of counter, rotatable collimator containing radioactive source, and rotatable shutter. Monitor can be used as integral part of neutron generator. It has been used to measure titanium tritide film thicknesses from 0.1 to 30 micrometers.

Alger, D. L.↗

Superconducting properties as a function of thickness in NbN films.

Measurement of the superconducting properties of NbN films prepared by a high purity reactive sputtering process. The transition temperature was found to decrease with decreasing film thickness, while in contrast the critical current vs magnetic field was largely independent of film thickness and even slightly increased when the film thickness went down to 100 A. The average resistivity of the NbN films was 1000 microohm-cm.

Gavaler, J. R.↗