Patent US5876580A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5876580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rough electrical contact surface
Assignee: Nidec SV Probe Pte Ltd
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Filing: 1996-01-12
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Granted: 1999-03-02
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Expires: 2016-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for rendering a surface of a contact rough includes submerging the surface of the contact in an electroplating bath having a dissolved metal salt, and pulsing an electric current through the contact and the bath to form a rough metallic structure on the surface of the contact.
Inventors
- 👤 II James L. Lykins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:59
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D5/00; C25D5/18; C25D5/60; C25D5/605; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/03; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/40; H05K3/4007; C25D3/00; C25D3/02; C25D3/12; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/03; H05K2201/0332; H05K2201/0364; H05K2201/0373; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/03; H05K2203/0307; H05K2203/07; H05K2203/0703; H05K2203/0723; H05K3/22; H05K3/24; H05K3/241; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12535; Y10T428/12556; Y10T428/12569; Y10T428/12993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for rendering a surface of a contact rough comprising; (a) wetting the surface of the contact in an electroplating bath having a dissolved nickel salt; and (b) pulsing an electric current through the contact and the bath, the electric current being pulsed with a duty cycle having an on period and an off period, where the on period is between about 0.4 seconds and about 0.8 seconds, and the off period is about 0.1 seconds, to form a metallic structure on the surface of the contact, the metallic structure comprising metallic spikes having angular tips.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for rendering a surface of a contact rough comprising; (a) wetting the surface of the contact in an electroplating bath having a dissolved nickel salt; and (b) pulsing an electric current through the contact and the bath, the electric current being pulsed with a duty cycle having an on period and an off period, where the on period is between about 0.4 seconds and about 0.8 seconds, and the off period is about 0.1 seconds, to form a metallic structure on the surface of the contact, the metallic structure comprising metallic spikes having angular tips.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dissolved nickel salt comprises nickel chloride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the electroplating bath comprises a concentration of about 150 to about 400 grams of nickel chloride dissolved in a liter of water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the electroplating bath to about 55 degrees C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the electroplating bath to 55 degrees C. about 5 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electric current has a current density of between about 35 amps per square foot to about 75 amps per square foot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electric current has a current density of about 35 amps per square foot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of plating the spiked metallic structure with gold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electric current is pulsed for a length of time no longer than about 3 minutes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electric current is pulsed for a length of time of about 3 minutes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the spikes are substantially conical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the spikes have a height between about 0.350 microns and about 1.275 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the spikes have a base between about 0.345 microns and about 1.250 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a side of each of the spikes has an angle from normal of between about 10 degrees and about 45 degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the spikes have a density of between about 1 and about 2 spikes per square micrometer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the spikes are capable, when urged against another metallic layer, to pierce the another metallic layer to form electrical contact.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for rendering a surface of a contact rough comprising: (a) wetting the surface of the contact in an electroplating bath having a dissolved metal salt; (b) pulsing an electric current through the contact and the bath, the electric current being pulsed with a duty cycle having an on period and an off period, where the on period is between about 0.4 seconds and about 0.8 seconds and the off period is about 0.1 seconds to form a rough metallic structure on the surface of the contact, the metallic structure comprising metallic spikes having angular tips.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for rendering a surface of a contact rough comprising: (a) wetting the surface of the contact in an electroplating bath having a dissolved metal salt; (b) pulsing an electric current through the contact and the bath, the electric current being pulsed with a duty cycle having an on period and an off period, where the on period is between about 0.4 seconds and about 0.8 seconds and the off period is about 0.1 seconds to form a rough metallic structure on the surface of the contact, the metallic structure comprising metallic spikes having angular tips.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the on period is about 0.6 seconds.
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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) | 2002-03-01 | 2002-08-31 | 2003-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-08-31 | 2007-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-01 | 2010-08-31 | 2011-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |