Patent ID: 7325715

Claim:
The method of creating a unitary vacuum microelectronic imaging device comprising: laminating a structure comprising first and second planar end plates and a plurality of insulating intermediate planar plates disposed therebetween, one of said end plates comprising a transparent wall with a photocathode on a surface, forming a cavity in said laminated structure by positioning at least three of said intermediate plates against each other, each of said intermediate plates being selected as to have an aperture therein as to form a cavity in said laminated structure when said plates are positioned against each other, said at least three plates having apertures that vary non-monotonically when positioned in series with one another, positioning and bonding said transparent end plate onto an intermediate plate by flowing an indium seal between said end plate and said intermediate plate with said photocathode surface on said end plate facing said cavity, positioning and bonding a microelectronic device at the other said end plate opposite to said end plate with a transparent wall, and creating a vacuum pocket within said cavity, said indium seal being pressed into said bonding relationship sealing said vacuum device while the assembly of said device is maintained in an ultra high vacuum environment.