Non-contact electrical pathway
AssigneeRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
InventorsDon L. Millard, Robert C. Block
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for establishing a non-contact signal pathway to conductive surfaces of a circuit includes a laser beam generator and an optical system for focussing a laser beam from the beam generator onto a plasma forming foil. The foil is positioned near the conductive surface so that the plasma touches the foil at a spot. The signal pathway is thus established between the foil and the conductive surface through the plasma. Signals can be applied to and read from the conductive surface through the pathway.
Claims17
An apparatus for establishing a signal pathway in ambient air, to at least one conductive surface of a circuit, comprising:
- a pulsed laser for forming a laser beam pulse;
- a plasma forming member which forms a photoionization plasma when struck by a laser beam pulse, said plasma forming member being mounted at a non-contained, open location in ambient air, adjacent to and spaced by a small distance from the at least one conductive surface of the circuit by an open space containing air;
- and
- beam directing means for directing the laser beam pulse toward the plasma forming member for creating a plasma in the open space which strikes the conductive surface, a signal pathway being established in the open space between the plasma forming member and the conductive surface through the plasma.
An apparatus for establishing a signal pathway to at least one conductive surface of a circuit, comprising:
- a pulsed laser for forming a laser beam pulse;
- a plasma forming member which forms a photoionization plasma when struck by a laser beam pulse, said plasma forming member being mounted at a non-contained, open location adjacent to and spaced from the at least one conductive surface of the circuit by an open space;
- and
- beam directing means for directing the laser beam pulse toward the plasma forming member for creating a plasma in the open space which strikes the conductive surface, a signal pathway being established in the open space between the plasma forming member and the conductive surface through the plasma.
A method of establishing a signal pathway in ambient air, to at least one conductive surface of a circuit, comprising:
- generating a laser beam pulse;
- focussing the laser beam pulse onto a plasma forming member to form a plasma;
- and
- directing the plasma in an open, non-contained space containing ambient air toward the conductive surface for establishing a signal pathway over the plasma between the plasma forming member and the conductive surface in the open space containing ambient air, the plasma forming member being very close to the conductive surface.
A method of establishing a signal pathway to at least one conductive surface of a circuit, comprising:
- generating a laser beam pulse;
- focussing the laser beam pulse onto a plasma forming member to form a plasma;
- and
- directing the plasma in an open, non-contained space toward the conductive surface for establishing a signal pathway over the plasma between the plasma forming member and the conductive surface in the open space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.