Patent ID: 8677932
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: C23C,G01F

Abstract:
1. A feed system for continuously feeding measured doses of source material to a vapor deposition apparatus, said feed system comprising: a bulk material hopper; an upper dose receptacle disposed to receive source material from said hopper; a transfer mechanism disposed downstream of said upper dose receptacle, said transfer mechanism configured to transfer the source material to a downstream deposition head while isolating the deposition conditions within the deposition head and blocking upstream diffusion of sublimated source from said vapor deposition apparatus to said feed system; a metering mechanism operatively disposed upstream of said transfer mechanism and positioned between said upper dose receptacle and said transfer mechanism, said metering mechanism further comprising: wherein the amount of source material transferred from said upper dose receptacle to said transfer mechanism is a function of the volume of said passage and the reciprocating rate of said delivery member in said metering mechanism.