Temperature compensating device with embedded columnar thermistors
AssigneeLamina Ceramics, Inc.
InventorJoseph Mazzochette
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Abstract
A temperature compensating device comprises one or more columnar thermistors embedded within a substrate. Because the thermistors are substantially covered by the substrate, they are less susceptible to changes in air temperature and to temperature gradients. Moreover, within the substrate the thermistors can be made thicker and smaller in lateral area, permitting more compact, less expensive devices that exhibit improved high frequency performance. The devices can advantageously be fabricated using the low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) process.
Claims28
An attenuator device having at least two ports, the attenuator used to compensate the effect of temperature changes in an electronic circuit comprising:
- a substrate having a pair of major surfaces;
- a plurality of thermistors embedded within the substrate, at least one of the thermistors comprising a columnar body of thermistor material extending substantially in the direction between the major surfaces;
- and
- electrodes on the major surfaces interconnecting the thermistors in groups, the groups forming the components of an attenuator in a temperature compensating circuit, wherein one or more of the electrodes are trimmable to set the value of at least one of the components;
- at least three terminal forming the at least two ports, wherein one of the terminals comprises an input electrode connected to one group of columnar thermistors, one of the terminals comprises an output electrode connected to at least one different group of columnar thermistors, and one of the terminals comprises a common terminal.
A low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) radio frequency (RF) and microwave attenuator device having at least two ports, the attenuator used to compensate the effect of temperature changes temperature changes in an electronic circuit comprising:
- a substrate having a pair of major surfaces;
- a plurality of thermistors embedded within the substrate, at least one of the thermistors comprising a columnar body of thermistor material extending substantially in the direction between the major surfaces;
- and
- electrodes on the major surfaces interconnecting the thermistors in groups, the groups forming the components of an attenuator connected by the electrodes to form a temperature compensating circuit, wherein at least two groups have different temperature coefficients such that the temperature coefficient of the attenuator device compensates for the changes in the electronic circuit;
- at least three terminals forming the at least two ports, wherein one of the terminals comprises an input electrode connected to one group of columnar thermistors, one of the terminals comprises an output electrode connected to at least one different group of columnar thermistors, and one of the terminals comprises a common terminal.
A low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) radio frequency (RF) or microwave attenuator device having at least two ports, the attenuator used to compensate the effect of temperature changes 1 temperature changes in an electrical or electronic circuit comprising:
- an LTCC substrate having a pair of major surfaces;
- a plurality of thermistors embedded within the substrate, at least one of the thermistors comprising a columnar body of thermistor material extending substantially in the direction between the major surfaces;
- and
- electrodes on the major surfaces interconnecting the thermistors in groups, the groups forming the components of an attenuator in a temperature compensating circuit, wherein one or more of the electrodes are trimmable to set the value of at least one of the components;
- at least three terminals forming the at least two ports, wherein one of the terminals comprises an input electrode connected to one group of columnar thermistors, one of the terminals comprises an output electrode connected to at least one different group of columnar thermistors, and one of the terminals comprises a common terminal.
A row temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) radio frequency (RF) and microwave attenuator device having at least two ports, the attenuator used to compensate the effect of temperature changes temperature changes in an electronic circuit comprising:
- an LTCC substrate having a pair of major surfaces;
- a plurality or thermistors embedded within the substrate, at least one of the thermistors comprising a columnar body of thermistor material extending substantially in the direction between the major surfaces;
- and
- electrodes on the major surfaces interconnecting the thermistors in groups, the groups forming the components of an attenuator connected by the electrodes to form a temperature compensating circuit, wherein at least two of the groups of thermistors comprise different temperature coefficients;
- at least three terminals forming the at least two ports, wherein one of the terminals comprises an input electrode connected to one group of columnar thermistors, one of the terminals comprises an output electrode connected to at least one different group of columnar thermistors, and one of the terminals comprises a common terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.