Patent GB-771009-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in semiconductor devices
IPC: H01L31/06
Filed: 1954-10-15
Abstract: 771,009. Semi-conductor devices; batteries. WESTERN ELECTRIC CO., Inc. Oct. 15, 1954 [Oct. 16, 1953], No. 29759/54. Classes 37 and 53. [Also in Group XL (c)] The invention is a transistor-primary cell structural combination. The primary cell may be wet or dry and supply collector or emitter voltages or both. The semi-conductor (e.g. germanium or silicon) constitutes the cell anode or cathode and the semi-conductor-electrolyte interface is an emitter or collector PN junction or an ohmic contact. If the semi-conductor is anodic and N-type or cathodic and P-type the semi-conductor-electrolyte interface forms a rectifying junction; if cathodic and N-type or anodic and P-type the interface forms an ohmic contact. In the example of Fig. 1 a glass tube 13 closed at one end by an N-type germanium wafer/anode 10 contains a silver-silver oxide mesh cathode 15 immersed in an electrolyte 14 consisting of an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide. The emitter E is connected to a P- type (indium impurity) zone 12 and the collector junction is a further P zone or layer formed spontaneously at the germanium-electrolyte interface. The electrolyte 14 and electrode 15 constitute a connection to the collector junction. Figs. 2 and 3 show amplifiers comprising the semi-conductor-electrolyte interface as collector junction. In Fig. 3 collector and emitter voltages are derived from the primary cell whilst in Fig. 2 the primary cell supplies collector voltage only and a battery 18 biases the emitter. In the self-energizing amplifier of Fig. 6 the semi-conductor-electrolyte interface forms the emitter junction and the collector is a point contact 150. The self-energizing transistor amplifier of Fig. 5 comprises emitter and collector junctions formed by semi-conductorelectrolyte interfaces. As shown, a germanium wafer 10 partitions a vessel 130 into two electrolytic cells and the right-hand or collector cell is similar to Fig. 1, i.e. the electrolyte 14 and electrode 15 are the same. The left-hand or emitter cell has a different electrode 15A and electrolyte 14A; 15A is 'silver-silver chloride and 14A is aqueous potassium chloride. Wafter 10 has one face in contact with electrolyte 14 to form the collector junction and one face in contact with electrolyte 14A to form the emitter junction. The invention may also provide self-powered oscillators and the example of Fig. 4 comprises a cell similar to Fig. 1 and tuned circuit 20/21 with transformer feedback to emitter. Solid or gel electrolytes may be used and Fig. 7 shows a mass 140 of kieselguhr containing a suitable electrolyte on one face of the semi-conductor 10 and an electrode 150 of suitable material embedded in the mass; the emitter connection may be a point contact 120. Fig. 8 shows a germanium PNP junctionprimary cell combination wherein the primary cell merely serves to provide collector bias; in this arrangement the electrolyte 140B forms an ohmic connection to collector zone 24; the electrolyte 140B may be sodium hydroxide solution and collector electrode 150B silver-silver oxide. The Specification also comprises performance characteristics, Fig. 9 (not shown), and mentions various electrolytes and electrode materials. The injection of minority carriers may be effected through a light beam. It is also stated that two electrolytic contacts both biased as collectors may compete for minority carriers. Specifications 694,021, 694,023, [Group XXXIX], and 700,231 are referred to.