US3602190A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple vaporizing system
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1968-10-30
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1988-10-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for depositing a metal coating on a wide strip of dielectric material wherein the thickness of deposition is maintained uniform across the width of the dielectric by vaporizing the metal in a plurality of individually controlled electric pots positioned across the width of the dielectric strip and wherein the energy supplied to each individual pot is controlled by an individual circuit sensing the resistance of the deposited metal at a lateral position across the width of the dielectric that is the same as the lateral position of the associated vaporizing pot that the circuit controls.
Inventors
- 👤 James Kral Jr
- 👤 Otto T Masopust Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:30
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/56; C23C14/562; C23C14/54; C23C14/542; C23C14/545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for applying an electrically conductive metal coating to a sheet-dielectric material, including an enclosed chamber adapted to be maintained at an internal pressure substantially less than atmospheric, and means for moving the sheet dielectric material in a path within the chamber, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of individual pots for vaporizing the electrically conductive metal, each of said pots associated with a different location across the width of the sheet-dielectric material; means located downstream of said pots along the path of movement of the sheet-dielectric material and associated with each pot for sensing the thickness of the coating applied to the sheet dielectric material at the location across the width of the sheet-dielectric mAterial at which the associated pot is located; said sensing means comprising means for measuring the resistance of the coating applied to the sheet-dielectric material over a predetermined length of the material said measuring means comprising a first contact common to all areas of the sheet-dielectric material across the width of the material and a plurality of second contacts displaced longitudinally from the first contact along the length of the sheet-dielectric material, each of said second contacts being individual to a predetermined location across the width of the sheet material, and means responsive to the sensing means and independently associated with each pot for applying a controlled amount of energy thereto in order to control the amount of metal vapor generated so as to maintain a uniform, predetermined thickness of metal coating at each location across the width of the sheet-dielectric material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for applying an electrically conductive metal coating to a sheet-dielectric material, including an enclosed chamber adapted to be maintained at an internal pressure substantially less than atmospheric, and means for moving the sheet dielectric material in a path within the chamber, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of individual pots for vaporizing the electrically conductive metal, each of said pots associated with a different location across the width of the sheet-dielectric material; means located downstream of said pots along the path of movement of the sheet-dielectric material and associated with each pot for sensing the thickness of the coating applied to the sheet dielectric material at the location across the width of the sheet-dielectric mAterial at which the associated pot is located; said sensing means comprising means for measuring the resistance of the coating applied to the sheet-dielectric material over a predetermined length of the material said measuring means comprising a first contact common to all areas of the sheet-dielectric material across the width of the material and a plurality of second contacts displaced longitudinally from the first contact along the length of the sheet-dielectric material, each of said second contacts being individual to a predetermined location across the width of the sheet material, and means responsive to the sensing means and independently associated with each pot for applying a controlled amount of energy thereto in order to control the amount of metal vapor generated so as to maintain a uniform, predetermined thickness of metal coating at each location across the width of the sheet-dielectric material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pots are electrically heated and wherein said energy applying means comprises an electronic amplifier and inverter individual to each pot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said energy applying means comprises a resistance-responsive amplifier for increasing the electrical energy applied to said associated pot in response to the measurement of a resistance higher than a predetermined value, and for decreasing the energy applied to said associated pot in response to the measurement of a resistance lower than a predetermined value.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |