Four-Terminal Resistor With Interchangeable Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional four-terminal resistors face issues with reduced measurement precision and unnecessary power consumption due to the orientation and area inefficiencies between voltage-testing and current terminals, limiting their suitability for high-precision instruments.
Innovation Solution
A symmetrical design for four-terminal resistors with interchangeable voltage-testing and current terminals, where the resistor layer covers the substrate maximally, and the electrode layer is composed of two sub-electrode layers with the same shape, allowing for improved heat dissipation and flexibility, reducing resistance between terminals to near zero.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the voltage-testing terminal and current terminal are oriented in a specific direction, then the measurement precision is improved, but the usage flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing the voltage-testing terminal and current terminal with different geometrical shapes. The voltage-testing terminal has a first geometrical shape while the current terminal has a second geometrical shape that is different from the first. This asymmetrical design allows the terminals to be distinguished and connected in the correct orientation, ensuring measurement precision while still providing usage flexibility through the symmetrical arrangement of the overall terminal structure.
2Temperature
If the resistor layer covers the entire substrate surface, then the heat dissipation capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the electrode layer into two separate sub-electrode layers: a first sub-electrode layer and a second sub-electrode layer. These sub-layers are disposed on opposite sides of the resistor layer and extend in different directions. This segmentation allows for better heat dissipation through increased surface area while simplifying the manufacturing process by enabling independent patterning and deposition of each sub-electrode layer.
3Loss of energy
If the resistance between voltage-testing terminal and current terminal is reduced to near zero, then the power consumption is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies equipotentiality by designing the first sub-electrode layer and second sub-electrode layer to be electrically connected to the same potential points on the resistor layer. The sub-electrodes are positioned and dimensioned such that they create equipotential regions, minimizing the resistance between the voltage-testing terminal and current terminal. This reduces power consumption while the symmetrical design maintains reasonable manufacturing precision requirements.
4Temperature
If the sub-electrode layers are disposed symmetrically with a space between them, then the heat dissipation is improved, but the area utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by having the first sub-electrode layer and second sub-electrode layer extend in different directions and dispose on opposite sides of the resistor layer. Instead of placing sub-electrodes adjacent to each other in the same plane, they are positioned in different dimensional orientations, allowing for better heat dissipation through increased spacing while maintaining effective use of the substrate area through their directional extension patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a four-terminal resistor. A resistor layer is made to have a big area and symmetrical shape on a substrate. On the resistor layer, an electrode layer is deposed. The electrode layer has two sub-electrode layers, and each sub-electrode layer has the same shape and is disposed with a space to each other. Each sub-electrode layer comprises two terminals, one is a current terminal and the other is a voltage-testing terminal. Especially, the current terminal and the voltage-testing terminal could be exchanged when connecting to the external circuit to enhance the usage flexibility of the four-terminal resistor.