Leak testing hermetically sealed electronic articles
AssigneeWestern Electric Company, Inc.
InventorBernard M. Dick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hermetically sealed electronic articles (11) such as, for example, diodes are leak tested by exposing the articles to a fluid (28) under pressure. The fluid is capable of altering the electrical characteristics of the articles to a value outside of an acceptable range of values upon penetrating through faulty hermetic seals of the articles (11). After such exposure the articles (11) are routinely tested and the articles with values of their characteristics outside the range of acceptable values are identified or discarded. Ethylene glycol is an example of a preferred fluid (28) in that it has conductive properties which significantly increase the reverse bias leakage current of the diodes.
Claims11
A method of leak testing a hermetically sealed electronic article, which comprises:
- immersing the article into a fluid having an electrical conductivity capable of affecting a functional electrical characteristic of the article upon penetration of such fluid into an envelope of the article;
- raising the pressure of the fluid to increase the tendency of the fluid to penetrate through crevices into the envelope;
- and
- testing the functional electrical characteristics of the article across at least two terminals of the article, such test being indicative of the fluid having penetrated into the envelope.
A method of leak testing hermetically sealed electronic articles comprising:
- immersing the articles into a fluid having an electrical conductivity capable of altering the electrical characteristics between terminals of said articles upon penetrating through crevices into such articles;
- increasing the pressure of the fluid against the articles above atmospheric pressure for a predetermined period of time;
- vibrating the articles to distribute any amount of the fluid which may have penetrated into the articles within such articles to increase the effect of the fluid on the electrical characteristics of such articles;
- testing the articles across at least two terminals of the articles to ascertain the electrical characteristics of the exposed articles;
- and
- identifying those of the articles having such altered electrical characteristics in accordance with the results of such testing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.