Thick-film resistor having concentric terminals and method therefor

Abstract

A thick-film resistor and a process for forming the resistor to have accurate dimensions, thereby yielding a precise resistance value. The resistor generally includes an electrically resistive layer and a pair of terminals, a first of which is surrounded by the second terminal, so as to form a region therebetween that surrounds the first terminal and separates the first and second terminals. The terminals are preferably concentric, with the second terminal and the region therebetween being annular-shaped. The resistive layer electrically connects the first and second terminals to complete the resistor. Each of the terminals has a surface that is substantially parallel to an upper and/or lower surface of the resistive layer and contacts the resistive layer. The surfaces of the terminals may be embedded in the resistive layer by printing the resistive material over the terminals, or may contact the upper or lower surface of the resistive layer by locating the terminals above or below the resistive layer. In each of these embodiments, the terminals are not limited to having edge-to-edge contact with the resistive layer, such that the interfacial resistance therebetween is minimized.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.