US3665570A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for monitoring the capacitance of a capacitor while adjusting its capacitance
Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-07
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-04-07
Abstract
Abstract The capacitance of a planar capacitor, having a common plate separated from two bottom plates by a dielectric material, is monitored with an AC-capacitance bridge while the common plate is trimmed with an abrasive material until the capacitor acquires a desired value of capacitance. An electrostatic charge formed on the common plate by the trimming operation is discharged to ground via a high resistance path so as not to interfere with the monitoring operation. A pair of probes connected to monitoring apparatus and a probe for connecting the high resistance path to the common plate are physically connected to a common support for applying the probes to the capacitor simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Lee Brooks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01G; H01G4/00; H01G4/002; H01G4/255; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/43; Y10T29/435; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
In a method of trimming a plate of a capacitor while electrically monitoring the capacitance of said capacitor, wherein an electrostatic charge is formed on said plate during the trimming operation, the improvement comprising: discharging said electrostatic charge through a high resistance path of greater than 20 megaohms during said trimming operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a method of trimming a plate of a capacitor while electrically monitoring the capacitance of said capacitor, wherein an electrostatic charge is formed on said plate during the trimming operation, the improvement comprising: discharging said electrostatic charge through a high resistance path of greater than 20 megaohms during said trimming operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a method as described in claim 1, wherein said trimming operation comprises directing an abrasive material onto said plate to remove a portion thereof, and said discharging said electrostatic charge comprises connecting a resistor of between 20 and 60 megohms between said plate and a point of reference potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a method as described in claim 1, wherein said capacitor is a planar capacitor having a capacitance in the range between 1 and 200 picafarads, said plate comprises the common plate of said planar capacitor, said discharging said electrostatic charge comprises connecting a resistor of between 20 and 60 megohms between said common plate and ground, and said monitoring the capacitance of said capacitor comprises connecting two probes to the remaining two plates, respectively, of said capacitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a method of trimming the common plate of a planar capacitor, comprising said common plate and two bottom plates, while electrically monitoring the capacitance of said planar capacitor, wherein an abrasive material is directed onto a portion of said common plate to remove a portion thereof, and an electrostatic charge is produced on said common plate during the trimming operation, the improvement comprising: connecting capacitance measuring apparatus between said bottom plates of said planar capacitor, and providing a high resistance path of greater than 20 megaohms between said common plate and ground, whereby to discharge said electrostatic charge on said common plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a method of trimming the common plate of a planar capacitor, comprising said common plate and two bottom plates, while electrically monitoring the capacitance of said planar capacitor, wherein an abrasive material is directed onto a portion of said common plate to remove a portion thereof, and an electrostatic charge is produced on said common plate during the trimming operation, the improvement comprising: connecting capacitance measuring apparatus between said bottom plates of said planar capacitor, and providing a high resistance path of greater than 20 megaohms between said common plate and ground, whereby to discharge said electrostatic charge on said common plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a method as described in claim 4, wherein said planar capacitor has a capacitance in the range between 1 and 200 picafarads, and said providing a high resistance path comprises providing a circuit between said common plate and ground, said circuit comprising a resistor whose resistance is in the rang between 20 and 60 megohms.
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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) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |