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US5414588A
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High performance capacitors using nano-structure multilayer materials fabrication
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1993-09-20
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Granted: 1995-05-09
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Expires: 2013-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A high performance capacitor fabricated from nano-structure multilayer materials, such as by controlled, reactive sputtering, and having very high energy-density, high specific energy and high voltage breakdown. The multilayer capacitors, for example, may be fabricated in a "notepad" configuration composed of 200-300 alternating layers of conductive and dielectric materials so as to have a thickness of 1 mm, width of 200 mm, and length of 300 mm, with terminals at each end of the layers suitable for brazing, thereby guaranteeing low contact resistance and high durability. The "notepad" capacitors may be stacked in single or multiple rows (series-parallel banks) to increase the voltage and energy density.
Inventors
- 👤 Troy W. Barbee, Jr.
- 👤 Gary W. Johnson
- 👤 Dennis W. O'Brien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01G; H01G4/00; H01G4/30; H01G4/306; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/0021; C23C14/0036; C23C14/04; C23C14/042; C23C14/06; C23C14/14; C23C14/18; C23C14/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A capacitor comprising: a plurality of submicron thick layers of a conductive material; said layers of conductive material being continuously tapered in cross-section along a length thereof; a plurality of layers of a dielectric material; one of said layers of dielectric material being intermediate adjacent layers of said conductive material; said layers of dielectric material being interconnected; and conductive terminals operatively connected to said layers of conductive material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A capacitor comprising: a plurality of submicron thick layers of a conductive material; said layers of conductive material being continuously tapered in cross-section along a length thereof; a plurality of layers of a dielectric material; one of said layers of dielectric material being intermediate adjacent layers of said conductive material; said layers of dielectric material being interconnected; and conductive terminals operatively connected to said layers of conductive material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The capacitor of claim 1, wherein said plurality of layers of dielectric material are interconnected so as to form a continuous serpentine dielectric barrier between said plurality of layers of conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The capacitor of claim 1, wherein said plurality of layers of conductive material are interleaved with at least one of said interleaved layers of conductive material being connected to one of a plurality of said conductive terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The capacitor of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of layers of conductive material is composed of a plurality of sub-layers of conductive material operatively connected to a conductive terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
The capacitor of claim 1, wherein certain of said plurality of layers of conductive material are connected to one of said conductive terminals, wherein certain of said plurality of layers of conductive material are connected to another of said conductive terminals, wherein said plurality of layers of conductive material connected to said conductive terminals are interleaved, spaced from one another, and spaced from an opposite conductive terminal, and wherein said plurality of layers of dielectric material are interconnected to form a continuous serpentine dielectric barrier between said plurality of layers of conductive material and between said layers of conductive material and said opposite conductive terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The capacitor of claim 1, wherein said plurality of layers of conductive material comprises at least two such layers attached to each of said conductive terminals so as to define two sets of interleaved conductive layers, with terminal ends of said layers of one set being in spaced relation to the conductive terminal of another set, and wherein said plurality of layers of dielectric material extend between said interleaved conductive layers and are interconnected at the space formed intermediate said terminals ends of said conductive layers and said conductive terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The capacitor of claim 1, wherein said conductive material is selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, zirconium, and titanium, and wherein the dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, calcium titanate, zirconium dioxide, barium titanate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The capacitor of claim 1, wherein each of said layers of conductive material is integral with a conductive terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The capacitor of claim 1, wherein one end of said layer of conductive material has a cross-section of about one-half the cross-section of another end of said layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The capacitor of claim 9, wherein said conductive material is copper, and wherein said one end of said tapering cross-section has a thickness of about 0.1 μm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The capacitor of claim 10, wherein said dielectric material is silicon dioxide, and wherein said layers of dielectric material have a cross-sectional distance of about 3.7 μm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The capacitor of claim 11, wherein said terminal 5 are constructed of copper and have a width of about 1 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The capacitor of claim 12, wherein said another end of each said tapering cross-section layers of conductive material is integral with a conductive terminal and has a thickness of about 0.2 μm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The capacitor of claim 13, wherein each of said layers of conductive material has one end which terminates in spaced relation to another of said conductive terminals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The capacitor of claim 14, wherein said one end of said layers of conductive material is spaced about 100 μm from an adjacent conductive material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The capacitor of claim 15, electrically connected to a plurality of similarly constructed capacitors to form a bank of such capacitors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
A nano-structure multilayer capacitor comprising: a plurality of conductors having one end thereof electrically connected to one of at least two conductive tabs, each of said conductors having a continuously tapering cross-section along a length thereof; and a plurality of interconnected dielectric layers, each of said dielectric layers being at least partially located between adjacent conductors and between a second end of said conductors and said conductive tabs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
A nano-structure multilayer capacitor comprising: a plurality of conductors having one end thereof electrically connected to one of at least two conductive tabs, each of said conductors having a continuously tapering cross-section along a length thereof; and a plurality of interconnected dielectric layers, each of said dielectric layers being at least partially located between adjacent conductors and between a second end of said conductors and said conductive tabs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The multilayer capacitor of claim 17, wherein said second end of each of said conductors is of a lesser cross-section than said one end of said conductors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The multilayer capacitor of claim 17, wherein alternate conductors extend from alternate conductive tabs, such that space between said alternate conductors is remained substantially constant along a length of said conductors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The multilayer capacitor of claim 17, wherein said conductors and said dielectric layers are formed in a configuration of a notepad having a length, width and thickness, and include from about 10 to several thousand alternating layers of conductors and dielectric material and with an overall thickness of about 1 mm.
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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) | 1998-05-08 | 1998-11-07 | 1999-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-08 | 2002-11-07 | 2003-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-08 | 2006-11-07 | 2007-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |