Charge transfer signal processor and charge transfer feedthrough plate fabrication assembly and method

A method for producing high spatial resolution charge transfer feedthrough plates utilizing a liquid metal material, comprising the steps of:

• coating a glass capillary array to be impregnated by the liquid metal material with a film of the metal to reduce the pressure needed to impregnate the glass capillary array with the liquid metal material;
• supporting the coated glass capillary array at a glass capillary array receiving site in such a way that pores of the coated glass capillary array are able to be impregnated with the liquid metal material;
• moving the liquid metal material along a liquid metal fluid flow path selected to impregnate the pores of the glass capillary array substantially uniformly along each of their lengths without any entrapped air or other defilements;
• moving the flow of the liquid metal material along the reciprocal flow path through the glass capillary array to move the liquid metal material back through the pores of the glass capillary array in the reciprocal direction to further ensure that no air or other defilements are entrapped in any of the pores of the glass capillary array;
• and
• changing the state of the liquid metal material stuffed in the pores of the glass capillary array into the solid phase,
• whereby vacuum-tight, high spatial resolution charge transfer feedthrough plate assemblies are produced.

A high spatial resolution charge transfer feedthrough plate production assembly utilizing a liquid metal material, comprising:

• means for providing a liquid metal fluid flow path in communication with the liquid metal material;
• self-compressible gas means for providing gas pressure to cause the liquid metal material in said liquid metal fluid flow path to flow along said liquid metal fluid flow path in response to a first gas pressure imparted thereto by said self-compressible gas means;
• means for providing a site in communication with said liquid metal fluid flow path for receiving a glass capillary array;
• means coupled to said site and cooperative with said liquid metal fluid flow path for sealing the peripheral interface defined between the glass capillary array in the received condition at said site and confronting surfaces of said site in such a way that the liquid metal material delivered to said site by said liquid metal fluid flow path is caused to flow into pores of the glass capillary array received on said site by actions of the first pressure imparted to the liquid metal material by said self-compressible gas means;
• and
• means coupled to said site for providing a second pressure opposite to and partially cancelling the first pressure so that it is a differential pressure that the glass capillary array "sees" at said site permitting higher absolute pressures.