Active viewport detection assembly for substrate detection in a vapor detection system

1. An active viewport assembly for use in detecting substrates conveyed through a vapor deposition system, said viewport assembly comprising:

a casing configured for mounting to a wall of a vapor deposition module, said casing further comprising an enclosed chamber, an exterior side port, and an interior side port;

a lens assembly disposed within said chamber and extending through said interior side port;

a heater element configured on said lens assembly within said chamber; and,

one of an active transmitter or an active signal receiver configured with said exterior side port external of said chamber, said transmitter or receiver axially aligned with and spaced from said lens assembly.

2. The viewport assembly as in claim 1 , wherein said lens assembly comprises a tube and a lens disposed within said tube at a location within said chamber, said heater element disposed concentric around said tube so as to surround said lens.

3. The viewport assembly as in claim 2 , further comprising an elastomeric seal disposed between said tube and said interior side port, said seal spaced from said heater element a distance sufficient to prevent thermal damage to said seal.

4. The viewport assembly as in claim 1 , wherein said interior port has an axial length sufficient so as to extend through the wall in the vapor deposition module on which said viewport assembly is mounted, said lens assembly comprising a tube disposed with said interior port and a lens disposed within said tube at a location so as to be within said chamber.

5. The viewport assembly as in claim 1 , comprising an active transmitter configured with said exterior side port to transmit an active signal into said chamber, through said lens assembly, and into the vapor deposition module.

6. The viewport assembly as in claim 1 , comprising an active signal receiver configured with said exterior side port and aligned to receive an active signal conducted into said lens assembly, through said chamber, and through said exterior side port.

7. The viewport assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a leak check port in communication with said chamber.

8. The viewport assembly as in claim 1 , wherein said lens assembly is disposed at a non-horizontal angle relative to said casing so as to receive or transmit a non-horizontal signal transmitted through a vapor deposition module in which said viewport assembly is mounted that crosses a horizontal plane of a substrate conveyed through the vapor deposition module.

9. A module for use in a vapor deposition system, wherein substrates are conveyed through said module, said module comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising first and second walls;

an interior conveyor within said housing and configured for transport of a substrate through said housing;

a first viewport assembly mounted on said first wall, said first viewport assembly further comprising

a casing mounted to said first wall, said casing further comprising an enclosed chamber, an exterior side port, and an interior side port that extends through said respective wall;

a lens assembly disposed within said chamber and extending through said interior side port;

a heater element configured on said lens assembly within said chamber; and,

one of an active transmitter or an active signal receiver configured with said exterior side port external of said chamber, said transmitter or receiver axially aligned with and spaced from said lens assembly.

10. The module as in claim 9 , further comprising a second viewport assembly mounted to said second wall, said second viewport assembly further comprising:

a casing mounted to said second wall, said casing further comprising an enclosed chamber, an exterior side port, and an interior side port that extends through said second wall;

a lens assembly disposed within said chamber and extending through said interior side port;

a heater element configured on said lens assembly within said chamber; and,

one of an active transmitter or an active signal receiver configured with said exterior side port external of said chamber, said transmitter or receiver axially aligned with and spaced from said lens assembly;

wherein an active signal is conveyed between said first and second viewport assemblies, the active signal passing through said interior side port, said chamber, and said lens assembly of each of said first and second viewport assemblies.

11. The module as in claim 10 , wherein said lens assembly in said first and second viewport assemblies comprises a tube and a lens disposed within said tube at a location within said chamber, said heater element disposed concentric around said tube so as to surround said lens.

12. The module as in claim 11 , further comprising an elastomeric seal disposed between said tube and said interior side port in said first and second viewport assemblies, said seal spaced from said heater element a distance sufficient to prevent thermal damage to said seal.

13. The module as in claim 10 , wherein said interior port in each of said first and second viewport assemblies has an axial length sufficient so as to extend through said respective wall, said lens assemblies comprising a tube disposed with said interior port and a lens disposed within said tube at a location within said chamber.

14. The module as in claim 10 , wherein said first and second viewport assemblies comprise a leak check port in communication with said chamber.

15. The module as in claim 10 , wherein said first and second viewport assemblies are disposed in a non-horizontal plane relative to said first and second walls such that said active signal crosses a horizontal plane of said conveyor within said housing.

16. The module as in claim 15 , wherein said conveyor comprises a plurality of spaced apart rollers, said first and second viewport assemblies disposed so that said active signal passes through said conveyor between adjacent said rollers.