US3880725A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Predetermined thickness profiles through electroplating
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-10
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1994-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A metal film having a predetermined thickness profile is obtained on a surface of an article through electroplating. The electroplating of the metal film on the article is done with an apparatus including a plurality of modifying electrodes and a body of plating material suspended in a plating solution. Electrical potentials are established at the article to be plated, the body of plating material, and at each one of the modifying electrodes. The particular electrical potential at the article, the body of plating material and at each one of the modifying electrodes is chosen to provide differences in electrical potential which result in a metal film having the predetermined thickness profile.
Inventors
- 👤 Raalte John A Van
- 👤 Victor Christiano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:45
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D21/00; C25D21/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
AN ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING A METAL FILM HAVING A PREDERMINED THICKNESS PROFILE ON A SURFACE OF AN ARTICLE COMPRISING: A BODY OF PLATING MATERIAL, SAID BODY SPACED FROM SAID SURFACE OF SAID ARTICLE WITH THE SURFACE AREAS OF SAID ARTICLE TO BE MOST HEAVILY PLATED IN ACTIVE RELATION WITH SAID BODY, A PLURALITY OF MODIFYING ELECTRODES, EACH ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES SPACED FROM SAID SURFACE OF SAID ARTICLE WITH THE SURFACE AREAS OF SAID ARTICLE TO BE LEAST HEAVILY PLATED IN ACTIVE RELATION WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES, AND MEANS FOR PROVIDING DIFFERENCES IN ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL BETWEEN SAID ARTICLE, SAID BODY OF PLATING MATERIAL AND SAID MODIFYING ELECTRODES WHEREIN AT LEAST SOME OF SAID MODIFYING ELECTRODES CAN BE PROVIDED WITH ELECTRICAL POTENTIALS WHICH ARE DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
AN ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING A METAL FILM HAVING A PREDERMINED THICKNESS PROFILE ON A SURFACE OF AN ARTICLE COMPRISING: A BODY OF PLATING MATERIAL, SAID BODY SPACED FROM SAID SURFACE OF SAID ARTICLE WITH THE SURFACE AREAS OF SAID ARTICLE TO BE MOST HEAVILY PLATED IN ACTIVE RELATION WITH SAID BODY, A PLURALITY OF MODIFYING ELECTRODES, EACH ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES SPACED FROM SAID SURFACE OF SAID ARTICLE WITH THE SURFACE AREAS OF SAID ARTICLE TO BE LEAST HEAVILY PLATED IN ACTIVE RELATION WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES, AND MEANS FOR PROVIDING DIFFERENCES IN ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL BETWEEN SAID ARTICLE, SAID BODY OF PLATING MATERIAL AND SAID MODIFYING ELECTRODES WHEREIN AT LEAST SOME OF SAID MODIFYING ELECTRODES CAN BE PROVIDED WITH ELECTRICAL POTENTIALS WHICH ARE DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of electroplating a surface of an article with a metal film having a predetermined thickness profile comprising the steps of: a. placing said article into a plating solution, b. placing a body of plating material into said solution, said body spaced from said article with the surface areas of said article to be most heavily plated in active relation with said body, c. placing a plurality of modifying electrodes into said solution, each one of said electrodes spaced from said article with the surface areas of said article to be least heavily plated in active relation with at least one of said electrodes, and d. providing differences in electrical potential between said article, said body of plating material and said modifying electrodes with at least some of said modifying electrodes being provided with electrical potentials which are different from each other.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of electroplating a surface of an article with a metal film having a predetermined thickness profile comprising the steps of: a. placing said article into a plating solution, b. placing a body of plating material into said solution, said body spaced from said article with the surface areas of said article to be most heavily plated in active relation with said body, c. placing a plurality of modifying electrodes into said solution, each one of said electrodes spaced from said article with the surface areas of said article to be least heavily plated in active relation with at least one of said electrodes, and d. providing differences in electrical potential between said article, said body of plating material and said modifying electrodes with at least some of said modifying electrodes being provided with electrical potentials which are different from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 in which an electrical potential is provided to each one of said modifying electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 which includes adjusting the position of each one of said modifying electrodes in order to obtain said metal film.
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) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |