Test circuit on flexible membrane with adhesive

• US 6,351,120 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jentek Sensors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jentek Sensors, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldfine, Neil J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US09/750,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207-3-2, 324/209, 324/226, 324/239-243, 336/200, 336/206
• US Class Current: 324/262
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/16 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. by resistance strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/34 for measuring roughness or irregularity of surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/82 for investigating the presence of flaws

Abstract

A meandering winding magnetometer (MWM) includes a meandering primary winding and at least one sensing winding or coil on a membrane to be pressed against a test surface. The membrane may be supported on a flexible carrier which is translatable into a probe. Abutments in the probe press the carrier against the test surface but allow the carrier and membrane to conform to the test surface. One MWM circuit includes meandering primary and secondary windings. The return leads from the secondary winding return to connector pads in close alignment with the test array, while leads from the primary winding are spaced at least one wavelength from the array. In another MWM circuit, individual sensing loops are positioned within the meandering primary winding. The MWM circuit may be provided on an adhesive tape which may be cut to length.

Claims

1. A test circuit comprising:

an extended length of flexible membrane having adhesive along the surface thereof for bonding the membrane to a test substrate; and

a conductive pattern on the membrane forming a meandering primary winding for imposing a spatially periodic magnetic field in a test substrate and at least one sensing coil for sensing the imposed magnetic field.

2. The test circuit of claim 1 wherein the pattern adapts the membrane to be cut at desired lengths.

3. A test circuit tape comprising:

a flexible supporting membrane;

a meandering primary winding, on the supporting membrane, having extended portions for imposing a spatially periodic magnetic field in a test substrate, the meandering primary winding having connecting points such that the tape is adapted to be cut at selected increments of the spatial wavelengths while providing electrical connections to the primary winding; and

a sensing winding array, on the supporting membrane, with a winding element positioned every half wavelength of the meandering primary winding between respective adjacent extended portions of the primary winding;

the primary winding and sensing winding array having electrical contact points along the length thereof such that the tape is adapted to be cut at selected increments of the spatial wavelengths.

4. A test circuit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the membrane includes an adhesive on a surface thereof for bonding the circuit to a test substrate.

5. A test circuit as claimed in claim 3 further comprising bonding pads to the meandering primary winding and sensing coils along the length of the membrane.

6. A test circuit as claimed in claim 5 further comprising supplemental bonding pads along the length of the membrane.