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US4448805A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Methods of producing devices comprising metallized regions on dielectric substrates

Assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
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Filing: 1981-10-12
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Granted: 1984-05-15
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Expires: 2001-10-12
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Abstract

Abstract In devices comprising closely spaced metallized regions deposited upon a dielectric substrate, in particular acoustic wave devices, electric fields may arise between the regions due to pyroelectic effects or acquired static charges during production or subsequently. These fields can cause damage by arcing or cracking of the substrate. The present method overcomes this problem by providing resistive links between such regions so that the fields do not arise. Preferably the links are of metallizing formed simultaneously with the metallized regions. Application to a SAW convolver is described in which the links are strips of metallizing (7,8,9).

Inventors

  • 👤 Meirion F. Lewis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 16:38
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03H; H03H9/00; H03H9/02; H03H9/02535; H03H9/02818; H03H9/02921; H10; H10N; H10N30/00; H10N30/01; H10N30/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/42

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of producing a device comprising a dielectric substrate and metallised regions superimposed upon the substrate constituting elements of the device, said method comprising the steps of forming at least one resistive link connected between at least two otherwise mutually insulated metallised regions, said link being inessential to the required function of the device when subsequently connected into an external circuit but acting to prevent establishment of a damaging electric field between adjacent ones of said metallised regions due to unwanted electric charge storage not arising from the in-circuit operation of the device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of producing a device comprising a dielectric substrate and metallised regions superimposed upon the substrate constituting elements of the device, said method comprising the steps of forming at least one resistive link connected between at least two otherwise mutually insulated metallised regions, said link being inessential to the required function of the device when subsequently connected into an external circuit but acting to prevent establishment of a damaging electric field between adjacent ones of said metallised regions due to unwanted electric charge storage not arising from the in-circuit operation of the device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two metallised regions are adjacent one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the links are strips of metallising.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the strips of metallising are formed at the same time as the two metallised regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein all the metallised regions which constitute elements or part-elements of the device are interconnected by said resistive links.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein a said link is broken after an external circuit connection is made between the metallised regions linked thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the resistive links are constituted by a substantially uniform relatively high-resistance coating of material extending between the elements of the device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the high-resistance coating is a coating of metallising deposited substantially uniformly on the substrate before the metallising which forms the elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the high-resistance coating is one which serves to improve the adhesion of the metallising which forms the elements.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 30 words
A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of pyroelectric and piezoelectric substrates and substrates which are both pyroelectric and piezoelectric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the device is an acoustic wave device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the device is a surface acoustic wave device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 66 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the device is a surface acoustic wave convolver whereof the elements comprise a pair of input interdigital transducers, a pair of horns which receive and focus the respective transducer outputs, and an acoustic waveguide whose opposite ends receive the respective horn outputs, and in which resistive links are formed at least between each horn and the waveguide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein resistive links are also formed between each horn and its adjacent input transducer and between the two sets of digits of each input transducer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB1355418A Cited
US3857683A Cited
US4224733A Cited
US4330768A Cited
US4410824A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-05-15 1987-11-14 1988-05-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-05-15 1991-11-14 1992-05-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-05-15 1995-11-14 1996-05-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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