Hybrid resistance cards and methods for manufacturing same
First Claim
1. A method of making a hybrid R-Card having both a length and a width, comprising the steps of applying a conductive ink layer and a resistive ink layer onto a surface, said conductive ink layer being selectively applied to electrically short out portions of said resistive ink layer, thereby permitting the card to have a predetermined resistive taper across the width thereof according to a desired resistivity curve, with the resistive taper being substantially continuous along the length of the R-Card.
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Abstract
A hybrid resistance card (R-Card) is manufactured using a two-step process wherein an electrically conductive ink layer and an electrically resistive ink layer are printed onto a surface, which may be either a substrate or the part on which the R-Card is to be used. The conductive ink layer is selectively applied in a pattern of shapes to electrically short out portions of the resistive ink layer, thereby permitting the R-Card to have a predetermined resistive taper across its width according to a desired resistivity curve. The resistive ink layer comprises grid-like lines bordering and separating the conductive shapes. The resistive taper is substantially continuous along the length of the R-Card, at least linearly, though if the card is designed to cover an entire part, it is substantially continuous along a plurality of directions on the card, with the tapers being designed to round into one another. The inventive process permits much greater uniformity and predictability of result, as well as producing a much more versatile card, and is also much less expensive than currently employed processes.
58 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A method of making a hybrid R-Card having both a length and a width, comprising the steps of applying a conductive ink layer and a resistive ink layer onto a surface, said conductive ink layer being selectively applied to electrically short out portions of said resistive ink layer, thereby permitting the card to have a predetermined resistive taper across the width thereof according to a desired resistivity curve, with the resistive taper being substantially continuous along the length of the R-Card.
Specification