Patent US3699649A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3699649A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for regulating the resistance of film resistors
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-11-05
•
Granted: 1972-10-24
•
Expires: 1989-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for automatically trimming film resistors in production quantities. The method includes the steps of placing a substrate with a film resistance to be trimmed on a support beneath a grid mask of desired pattern; extending fiber optics from the grid mask to a fiber optic receiving support; directing a laser beam towards the receiving support; and moving the receiving support relative to the beam in a controlled manner. Apparatus may include a support table for supporting a substrate carrying a film to be trimmed in position to be in contact with a set of electrical probes connected with a sensor circuit for monitoring the actual resistance value of the film. Positioned above the film and substrate is a fixed aperture mask carrying the geometric requirements of the circuit with openings at required precision adjustment points. A fiber optic pipe joins each opening so as to focus light conducted by the fiber optic in the thin film plane of the resistor matrix. The fiber optic light pipes terminate in a common plane to receive a laser beam. The receiving end of the fiber optic light pipes and the laser beam are movable relative to one another so that the beam may be directed to select pipes. The relative movement is controlled dependent upon the desired pattern and actual monitored resistance value.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald A Mcwilliams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C17/00; H01C17/22; H01C17/24; H01C17/242; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49099
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of trimming film resistors comprising the steps of: placing a substrate with the film resistor to be trimmed on an article support beneath a grid mask of a desired pattern, projecting a laser beam toward a fiber optic receiving support, conducting the laser beam by fiber optic means from the fiber optic receiving support to the grid mask for impingement of the laser beam on the film resistor to trim the film resistor, and moving the fiber optic receiving support relative to the projecting laser beam in a controlled manner for controlling the intensity of the laser beam impinging on the film resistor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of trimming film resistors comprising the steps of: placing a substrate with the film resistor to be trimmed on an article support beneath a grid mask of a desired pattern, projecting a laser beam toward a fiber optic receiving support, conducting the laser beam by fiber optic means from the fiber optic receiving support to the grid mask for impingement of the laser beam on the film resistor to trim the film resistor, and moving the fiber optic receiving support relative to the projecting laser beam in a controlled manner for controlling the intensity of the laser beam impinging on the film resistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 and further including the step of monitoring the resistance value of the film by sensing the resistance thereof through probes and a sensor network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 and further including the step of controlling the intensity of the laser beam in response to a monitoring signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 in which the receiving support and the beam are moved relative to one another in discrete steps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for trimming film resistor comprising, in combination: a laser beam source for generating a laser beam, a plurality of fiber optic means with receiving ends to receive the laser beam, a mask of a select grid pattern with a plurality of openings, each of said openings receiving respectively one of said fiber optic means, a support for supporting a film resistor substrate beneath and in alignment with the mask, and means for imparting relative movement between the laser beam and said receiving ends of said plurality of fiber optic means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for trimming film resistor comprising, in combination: a laser beam source for generating a laser beam, a plurality of fiber optic means with receiving ends to receive the laser beam, a mask of a select grid pattern with a plurality of openings, each of said openings receiving respectively one of said fiber optic means, a support for supporting a film resistor substrate beneath and in alignment with the mask, and means for imparting relative movement between the laser beam and said receiving ends of said plurality of fiber optic means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 and including a support member for supporting the receiving ends of said plurality of fiber optic means in a select format.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which the support member supports said receiving ends of the plurality of fiber optic means in an aligned pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which the support member supports said receiving ends of the plurality of fiber optic means in an aligned pattern with the spacing between centers of the openings exceeding the diameter of the beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 7 and further including a monitor for monitoring the resistance value of the film on said film resistor substrate by sensing the resistance thereof through probes and a sensor network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the monitor provides a control signal for controlling the intensity of the laser beam in response to the resistance value of said film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 and further including driver means for moving the support member across the laser beam in a controlled format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the driver means is adapted to move the support member in discrete steps in response to a command.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 10 and further including mirror means for receiving the laser beam and directing the laser beam toward the support member and the receiving ends of the plurality of fiber optic means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 and further including driver means for moving the mirror means relative to the support member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which the driver means is adapted to move the mirror means in discrete steps relative to the support member in response to command signals.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of trimming film resistors comprising the steps of: placing a substrate with the film resistor to be trimmed on an article support beneath a grid mask of a desired pattern, projecting a laser bean toward an optic receiving support, conducting the laser beam by optic means from the optic receiving support to the grid mask for impingement of the laser beam on the film resistor to trim the film resistor, and moving the optic receiving support relative to the projecting laser beam in a controlled manner for controlling the intensity of the laser beam impinging on the film resistor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of trimming film resistors comprising the steps of: placing a substrate with the film resistor to be trimmed on an article support beneath a grid mask of a desired pattern, projecting a laser bean toward an optic receiving support, conducting the laser beam by optic means from the optic receiving support to the grid mask for impingement of the laser beam on the film resistor to trim the film resistor, and moving the optic receiving support relative to the projecting laser beam in a controlled manner for controlling the intensity of the laser beam impinging on the film resistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for trimming film resistors comprising, in combination: a laser beam source for generating a laser beam, a plurality of optic means with receiving ends to receive the laser beam, a mask of a select grid pattern with a plurality of openings, each of said openings receiving respectively one of said optic means, a support for supporting a film resistor substrate beneath and in alignment with the mask, and means for imparting relative movement between the laser beam and said receiving ends of said plurality of optic means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for trimming film resistors comprising, in combination: a laser beam source for generating a laser beam, a plurality of optic means with receiving ends to receive the laser beam, a mask of a select grid pattern with a plurality of openings, each of said openings receiving respectively one of said optic means, a support for supporting a film resistor substrate beneath and in alignment with the mask, and means for imparting relative movement between the laser beam and said receiving ends of said plurality of optic means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus for trimming film resistors as claimed in claim 17 wherein each of said optic means is an optic light pipe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |