Method of and apparatus for photoprinting conductor patterns on the curved surfaces of transducers

Claim 2

Apparatus for positioning and photoprinting a predetermined conducting pattern of repeatable and identically configured units on the curved surface of revolution of a transducer, said surface being coated with a film conductor which, in turn, is coated with photoresist material, said apparatus comprising in combination: a. a primary mask of one of said units conforming in shape to that of said curved surface; b. means for mounting said curved surface of said transducer; c. means for mounting said primary mask as close as possible to, but not in contact with, said curved surface; d. a source of light; e. means for directing said light through said primary mask onto said curved surface for a predetermined period of time, thereby exposing said unit onto said surface; f. means for rotating said primary mask and said curved surface relative to each other through an angular displacement corresponding to said predetermined pattern of repeatable units.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said primary mask is a stationary frame and said means for mounting said curved surface is a rotatable indexing mount having an axis of symmetry coincident with the axis of revolution of said transducer, and further wherein said curved surface is rotated relative to said stationary frame.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said curved surface is a stationary frame and said means for mounting said primary mask is a rotatable indexing mount, and further wherein said primary mask is rotated relative to said stationary frame.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 further including a secondary mask positioned between said light source and said primary mask and moveable relative to said primary mask for printing connections between said repeatable units.

Claim 6

Apparatus for positioning and photoprinting a predetermined conducting pattern of repeatable and identically configured units on the curved surface of revolution of a transducer, said surface being coated with a film conductor which, in turn, is coated with photoresist material, said apparatus comprising in combination: a. a primary mask of one of said units conforming in shape to that of said curved surface; b. a stationary frame for mounting said primary mask as close as possible to, but not in contact with, said curved surface of said transducer; c. a precisely calibrated and circular indexing mount for mounting said curved surface, said mount being rotatable; d. means for mounting said curved surface on said indexing mount such that the axis of symmetry of said indexing mount coincides with the axis of revolution of said transducer; e. a source of light; f. a secondary mask positioned between said light source and said primary mask, said secondary mask moveable relative to said primary mask such as to prevent the passage of said light through a predetermined section of said primary mask; g. a collimating lens for collimating said light source and for directing said light through said secOndary mask and said primary mask onto said curved surface, thereby exposing said repeatable unit onto said surface; h. means for controlling said exposure time for a predetermined time period; i. means for rotating said indexing mount relative to said primary mask through an angular displacement corresponding to said predetermined pattern of repeatable units.

Claim 7

Apparatus for positioning and photoprinting a predetermined conducting pattern of repeatable and identically configured units on the curved surface of revolution of a transducer, said surface being coated with a film conductor which, in turn, is coated with photoresist material, said apparatus comprising in combination: a. a primary mask of one of said units conforming in shape to that of said curved surface; b. a stationary frame for mounting said primary mask as close as possible to, but not in contact with, said curved surface of said transducer; c. a precisely calibrated and circular indexing mount for mounting said curved surface, said mount being rotatable; d. means for mounting said curved surface on said indexing mount such that the axis of symmetry of said indexing mount coincides with the axis of revolution of said transducer; e. a source of light; f. a secondary mask positioned between said light source and said primary mask, said secondary mask moveable relative to said primary mask such as to prevent the passage of said light through a predetermined section of said primary mask; g. a collimating lens for collimating said light source and for directing said light through said secOndary mask and said primary mask onto said curved surface, thereby exposing said repeatable unit onto said surface; h. means for controlling said exposure time for a predetermined time period; i. means for rotating said indexing mount relative to said primary mask through an angular displacement corresponding to said predetermined pattern of repeatable units.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 comprising the further steps of mounting a secondary mask between the source of said light and said primary mask and moving said secondary mask relative to said primary mask such as to prevent the passage of said light through a predetermined section of said primary mask, thereby printing connections between said repeatable units.