IP Library Granted Patent US 8,230,722
Granted Patent B1
US 8,230,722 · App. 12/724,476 · Granted Jul 31, 2012

Residual gas analysis device

Assignee: Sandia Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,230,722
App. No.
12/724,476
Granted
Jul 31, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system is provided for testing the hermeticity of a package, such as a microelectromechanical systems package containing a sealed gas volume, with a sampling device that has the capability to isolate the package and breach the gas seal connected to a pulse valve that can controllably transmit small volumes down to 2 nanoliters to a gas chamber for analysis using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy diagnostics.

Claims (10)

1. A device, comprising:

a top section and a bottom section, said bottom section comprising a top surface, said top surface having a cavity into which a package is situated, said package having a sealed gas volume, said top section mated to the top surface of said bottom section to hermetically seal said cavity; and a plunger or screw device for hermetically breaching the sealed gas volume of said package; and wherein said device is fluidically connected to a vacuum system and a pulse valve, said pulse valve fluidically connected to a chamber, and said chamber connected to a gas analysis means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said cavity is fluidically connected to a pressure measurement device.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said gas analysis means is a gas chromatograph.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said gas analysis means is a mass spectrometer.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein a filter is fluidically connected between said device and said pulse valve.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said pulse valve can release volumes of gas from said device to said gas chamber in the range of 2 nanoliters to 1 milliliter.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein a cylindrical disk is situated into said cavity, said cylindrical disk having a top surface with a recessed opening into which the package is situated.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said vacuum system has a capability of producing a vacuum of less than 10 −8 Torr in said device.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the top section and bottom section have screw threads that allow the top section and bottom section to be screwed together to mate the top section and bottom section to provide a hermetic seal.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 17, 2018
From: SANDIA CORPORATION
To: NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC
Reel/Frame 046183/0802 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 7, 2010
From: SANDIA CORPORATION
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 024493/0891 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 7, 2010
From: SANDIA CORPORATION
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 024493/0925 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2010
From: THORNBERG, STEVEN M.
To: SANDIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024236/0537 →