IP Library Granted Patent US 7,018,720
Granted Patent B1
US 7,018,720 · App. 09/532,144 · Granted Mar 28, 2006

Layer sequence built on a substrate in thin-film technology

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,018,720
App. No.
09/532,144
Granted
Mar 28, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

The layer sequence built on a substrate in thin-film technology includes an electrically conductive sputtered layer and an electrically conductive reinforcing layer for reinforcing or strengthening the sputtered layer, which is applied on the sputtered layer by a method other than sputtering. In order to remove conducting material from the conductive layers with the aid of a laser for the purposes of adjustment while producing as little contaminating material as possible, the electrically conductive reinforcing layer has a reduced thickness or is completely eliminated in regions of the electrically conductive layers to be adjusted than in other regions outside of the regions to be adjusted.

Claims (10)

1. In a substrate and layer sequence built on said substrate in thin-film technology, said layer sequence comprising an electrically conductive sputtered layer, an electrically conductive reinforcing layer provided on the sputtered layer to reinforce or strengthen the sputtered layer and at least one electronic component, said reinforcing layer being provided by a method other than sputtering and material being removed from regions of said sputtered layer and said reinforcing layer by means of laser erosion in order to perform an electronic adjustment of said at least one electronic component, said laser erosion producing contaminating conductive deposits on said layer sequence, the improvement characterized by at least partially eliminating said electrically conductive reinforcing layer from said regions prior to said laser erosion;

whereby said contaminating conductive deposits produced by said laser erosion are at least partially eliminated.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive reinforcing layer is formed with a smaller thickness in said regions than outside of said regions.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive reinforcing layer is formed so that said reinforcing layer does not cover or extend over said sputtering layer in said regions.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein a resistor layer is provided between said electrically conductive sputtered layer and said substrate and said electrically conductive reinforcing layer is provided on a side of said electrically conductive sputtered layer opposite from said resistor layer.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , 2 , 3 or 4 , wherein said electrically conductive sputtered layer consists of gold.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , 2 , 3 or 4 , wherein said electrically conductive reinforcing layer consists of gold.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein said regions are located in portions of said layer sequence carrying less current than other portions.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , 2 or 3 wherein at least one of said regions is located at an end of an open strip line.

9. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one electronic component is a resistor, a capacitor or a ring resonator.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2007
From: MARCONI COMMUNICATIONS GMBH (NOW KNOWN AS TELENT GMBH)
To: ERICSSON AB
Reel/Frame 020218/0769 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2003
From: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
To: MARCONI COMMUNICATIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 014235/0806 →