Method for high resolution trimming of PCB components
US6134117A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K2203/171
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for high resolution trimming of PCB components, such as capacitors, inductors, transmission lines, transformers, antennas, resistors, etc. The method includes drilling or milling the PCB to effect the electrical characteristics of the component. The actual component can be machined to reduce the size of the component, or electrical connections to the component can be severed. The method can be used to set the capacitance of a tuning capacitor for an oscillator circuit. The tuning capacitor is etched out of the conductive planes on opposing sides of the PCB. The dielectric substrate of the PCB acts as the dielectric for the capacitor. The conductive planes are also etched to define conductive traces and connection pads suitable for surface mounting and electrically connecting the various electrical components on the PCB. The area of the selectively etched capacitive plates has a capacitance that is predetermined. By reducing the area of the capacitive plates, the capacitance is reduced, affecting the tuning. By knowing how much material to remove to get a certain capacitance, the capacitor can be selectively reduced to obtain the desired output frequency, or the capacitor c…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.