Leak detection in hermetically sealed devices
Halogen detector for leakage in hermetically sealed devices
Litant, I.↗
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Tube sealing device Patent
Hermetic sealing device for ends of tubular bodies during materials testing operations
Campbell, J. G.↗
Valveless Laser Processing
Los Alamos National Laboratory staff has developed a technique for testing inside hermetically sealed devices.
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
Evaluation of Silicon-on-Insulator HTOP-01 Operational Amplifier for Wide Temperature Operation
Electronics capable of operation under extreme temperatures are required in many of NASA space exploration missions. Aerospace and military applications, as well as some terrestrial industries constitute environments where electronic systems are anticipated to be exposed to extreme temperatures and wide-range thermal swings. Electronics that are able to withstand and operate efficiently in such harsh environments would simplify, if not eliminate, traditional thermal control elements and their associated structures for proper ambient operation. As a result, overall system mass would be reduced, design would be simplified, and reliability would be improved. Electronic parts that are built utilizing silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology are known to offer better radiation-tolerance compared to their conventional silicon counterparts, provide faster switching, and consume less power. They also exhibit reduced leakage current and, thus, they are often tailored for high temperature operation. These attributes make SOI-based devices suitable for use in harsh environments where extreme temperatures and wide thermal swings are anticipated. A new operational amplifier, based on silicon-on-insulator technology and geared for high temperature well-logging applications, was recently introduced by Honeywell Corporation. This HTOP-01 dual precision operational amplifier is a low power device, operates on a single supply, and has an internal oscillator and an external clocking option [1]. It is rated for operation from -55 C to +225 C with a maximum output current capability of 50 mA. The amplifier chip is designed as a 14-pin, hermetically-sealed device in a ceramic package. Table I shows some of the device manufacturer s specifications.
Patterson, Richard↗
Internal fuse modules for solid tantalum capacitors
Miniature fuse modules were designed for and incorporated into two styles of solid tantalum capacitors. One is an epoxy molded, radial leaded, high frequency decoupling capacitor; the other is an hermetically sealed device with axial lead wires. The fusible element for both devices consists of a fine bimetallic wire which reacts exothermically upon reaching a critical temperature and then disintegrates. The desirability of having fused devices is discussed and design constraints, in particular those which minimize inductance and series resistance while optimizing fuse actuation characteristics, are reviewed. Factors affecting the amount of energy required to actuate the fuse and reliability of acuation are identified.
Dematos, H. V.↗
Device for tensioning test specimens within an hermetically sealed chamber
The device is characterized by a support column adapted to be received within an insulated, hermetically sealable chamber. A plurality of anchor pins are mounted on the column for releasibly connecting thereto a plurality of test specimens. A plurality of axially displaceable pull rods are received by the column in coaxial alignment with the anchor pins. One end of each pull rod is provided with a coupling for connecting the pull rod to a test specimen. The opposite end of the pull rod is entended through a cover plate and adapted to be connected with a remotely related linear actuator through a connecting link including a load cell for measuring stress as the pull rod is placed in tension by the actuator.
Evans, P. K.↗
Methods of fabricating vacuum housings with hermetic solder seals using capillary solder wicks
Hermetically sealed electronic devices and methods for fabricating the hermetically sealed electronic devices are provided. The devices include a solder sealed vacuum housing. The solder seal is formed using a solder wick having an external solder reservoir. When the reservoir is filled with molten solder, the solder is drawn via capillary action into a precisely defined narrow gap between two components of the housing where it forms an airtight and vacuum-tight seal.
Frisch, Henry J.↗
Hydrogen Effects on GaAs, Status and Progress
It has been observed that GaAs devices in hermetically sealed packages when exposed to temperatures as low as 125oC can exhibit unacceptable degradation in both RF and DC characteristics. The source of the problem was found to be hydrogen that has been absorbed in the package's metals (Kovar, plating, etc.) and converted into atomic hydrogen within the Pt metallization of the gate structure. Subsequently, atomic hydrogen diffuses into the channel region of the FET structure and neutralizes the Si donors, resulting in a degradation of the device characteristics. Most of the data indicates the onslaught of the problem to occur after 500 hours at 125oC. This onslaught has been observed to be dependent on the thickness and processing conditions of the passivation layer, the sealing environment, and the amount of Pt or Pd in the gate structure of the device.
Hydrogen GaAs↗
Hydrogen Effects on GaAs Device Reliability
GaAs and InP devices in hermetically sealed packages have been observed to exhibit unacceptable degradation in both RF and DC characteristics. This degradation has been observed to occur at temperatures as low as 125oC. The source of the degradation has been linked to hydrogen gas that has been absorbed in the package's metals (Kovar, plating, etc.) and converted into atomic hydrogen within the Pt or Pd metallization of the gate structure. Subsequently, atomic hydrogen diffuses into the channel region of the FET structure and neutralizes the Si donors, resulting in a degradation of the device characteristics.
Gallium Arsenide↗
Energy Storage and Generation for Extreme Temperature and Pressure and Directional Measurement While Drilling Applications
FastCAP Systems Corporation has successfully completed all milestones defined by the award DE-EE0005503. Under this program, FastCAP developed three critical subassemblies to TRL3 demonstrating proof of concept of a geothermal MWD power source. This power source includes an energy harvester, electronics and a novel high temperature ultracapacitor (“ultracap”) rechargeable energy storage device suitable for geothermal exploration applications. FastCAP’s ruggedized ultracapacitor (ultracap) technology has been proven and commercialized in oil and gas exploration operating to rated temperatures of 150°C. Characteristics of this technology are that it is rechargeable and relatively high power. This technology was the basis for the advancements in rechargeable energy storage under this project. The ultracap performs reliably at 250°C and beyond and operates over a wide operating temperature range: -5°C to 250°C. The ultracap has significantly higher power density than lithium thionyl chloride batteries, a non-rechargeable incumbent used in oil and gas drilling today. Several hermetically sealed, prototype devices were tested in our laboratories at constant temperatures of 250°C showing no significant degradation over 2000 hours of operation. Other prototypes were tested at Sandia National Lab in the month of April, 2015 for a third party performance validation. These devices showed outstanding performance over 1000 hours of operation at three rated temperatures, 200°C, 225°C and 250°C, with negligible capacitance degradation and minimal equivalent series resistance (ESR) increase. Similarly, FastCAP’s ruggedized electronics have been proven and commercialized in oil and gas exploration operating to rated temperatures of 150°C. This technology was the basis for the advancements in downhole electronics under this project. Principal contributions here focused on design for manufacture innovations that have reduced the prototype build cycle time by a factor of 10x. The electronics have demonstrated a substantially reduced design cycle time by way of process and material selection innovations and have been qualified for 250°C / 10 Grms for at least 200 hours. FastCAP has also invented a rotary inertial energy generator (RIEG) to harvest various mechanical energy sources that exist downhole. This device is flow-independent and has been demonstrated as a proof of concept to survive geothermal well temperatures under this project. The herein energy harvester has been developed to provide operational power by harvesting rotational mechanical energy that exists downhole in geothermal drilling. The energy harvester has been tested at 250°C / 10 Grms for 200 hours. Deployment of these technologies in geothermal drilling and exploration applications could have an immediate and significant impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of drilling processes, particularly with regard to use of advanced logging and monitoring techniques. The ultimate goal of this work is to reduce drilling risk to make geothermal energy more attractive and viable to the customer. Generally speaking, we aim to support the transfer of MWD techniques from oil and gas to geothermal exploration with considerations toward the practical differences between the two. One of the most significant obstacles to the deployment of advanced drilling and production techniques in the geothermal context are limitations related to the maximum operating temperatures of downhole batteries used to provide power for downhole sensors, steering tools, telemetry equipment and other MWD/LWD technologies. FastCAP’s higher temperature ultracapacitor technology will provide power solutions for similar advanced drilling and production techniques, even in the harsher environments associated with geothermal energy production. This ultracapacitor will enable downhole power solutions for the geothermal industry capable of the same reliable and safe operation our team has demonstrated in the oil and gas context. Without batteries, geothermal MWD is left without a downhole power source. Some very high temperature turbines exist but provide unsteady, intermittent power and no power when the flow is off. In high loss formations common to geothermal exploration, it will be auspicious to support air drilling in which case there is no flow to power a turbine at all. In the best case, rechargeable energy storage will help to buffer unsteady power from non-battery power sources and in the worst case it will be needed to store energy from highly intermittent sources to provide a continuously operable power source to the tool.
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
Multiple internal seal right micro-electro-mechanical system vacuum package
A Multiple Internal Seal Ring (MISR) Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) vacuum package that hermetically seals MEMS devices using MISR. The method bonds a capping plate having metal seal rings to a base plate having metal seal rings by wafer bonding the capping plate wafer to the base plate wafer. Bulk electrodes may be used to provide conductive paths between the seal rings on the base plate and the capping plate. All seals are made using only metal-to-metal seal rings deposited on the polished surfaces of the base plate and capping plate wafers. However, multiple electrical feed-through metal traces are provided by fabricating via holes through the capping plate for electrical connection from the outside of the package through the via-holes to the inside of the package. Each metal seal ring serves the dual purposes of hermetic sealing and providing the electrical feed-through metal trace.
Hayworth, Ken J.↗
Multiple internal seal ring micro-electro-mechanical system vacuum packaging method
A Multiple Internal Seal Ring (MISR) Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) vacuum packaging method that hermetically seals MEMS devices using MISR. The method bonds a capping plate having metal seal rings to a base plate having metal seal rings by wafer bonding the capping plate wafer to the base plate wafer. Bulk electrodes may be used to provide conductive paths between the seal rings on the base plate and the capping plate. All seals are made using only metal-to-metal seal rings deposited on the polished surfaces of the base plate and capping plate wafers. However, multiple electrical feed-through metal traces are provided by fabricating via holes through the capping plate for electrical connection from the outside of the package through the via-holes to the inside of the package. Each metal seal ring serves the dual purposes of hermetic sealing and providing the electrical feed-through metal trace.
Hayworth, Ken J.↗
Device transmits rotary motion through hermetically sealed wall
A wobble plate, metal bellows, and two shafts, assembled in a four-section housing, make it possible to transmit rotary motion through a hermetically sealed wall. In operation a rotational torque is developed by the wobble plate.
Porter, R. N.↗
Method and apparatus for detecting gross leaks Patent
Volume displacement transducer for leak detection in hermetically sealed semiconductor devices
Orner, J. W.↗
Hermetic Seal Leak Detection Apparatus with Variable Size Test Chamber
The present invention is a versatile hermetic seal leak detection apparatus for testing hermetically sealed containers and devices for leaks without the need to create a custom or specially manufactured testing chamber conforming to the dimensions of the specific object under test. The size of the testing chamber may be mechanically adjusted by the novel use of bellows to reduce and optimize the amount of gas space in a test chamber which surrounds the hermetically sealed object under test. The present invention allows the size of the test chamber to be selectively adjusted during testing to provide an optimum test chamber gas space. The present invention may be further adapted to isolate and test specific portions of the hermetically sealed object under test for leaks.
Kelley, Anthony R.↗
SRC seal testing
Small venthole drilled in semisealed silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) cavity eliminates entrapped helium. Although these devices show slightly greater leak than those before lead installation, it is now possible to distinguish device with good hermetic seal from defective one.
Miller, E. D.↗
Determination of water equivalent content in fuel rods
In water-cooled reactors, hydriding failure of zircaloy cladding tubes can be easily caused by high content of total water in fuel rods. WEC, which is the water equivalent content within the cold space of a fuel rod, directly reflects the total water content of the fuel rod. A device measuring WEC has been designed, manufactured and tested. This extraction device is a hermetically sealed system consisting of six parts: the break-off part, the heating unit, the reduction unit, the sample storage part, the collecting unit and the gas flow system. Each part is connected to another one using a special connection, and the device's end part is connected to a gas chromatograph. The determination procedure can be briefly summarized as follows: first, a test fuel rod should be put into the sealed device after lathing two circular grooves on both ends, so that it can be easily broken at these points in the break-off part. Driven by carrier gas, water and hydrogen both contained in helium gas and absorbed on the rod in-wall pass over the hot uranium filament where water is converted into hydrogen. After being concentrated by the collecting unit, hydrogen flows into the gas chromatograph for measurement and data are calculated as total water content A. UO{sub 2} pellets in the test rod should be taken out from the sample storage part and the total hydrogen content of these pellets is determined according to ASTM C1457 standard, followed by its conversion into total water content B. Finally, the sum of A and B being divided by the free volume of the cold space within the test rod, gives the value of WEC.
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗