Substrate Attenuator Circuit with Variable Line Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional attenuator circuits on substrates with thin, long conductive patterns experience increased power consumption and heat generation per unit area at low attenuation levels due to the smaller resistance values requiring smaller conductor areas.
Innovation Solution
A substrate attenuator circuit is designed with a linear conductive pattern having multiple bends, where output terminals are disposed at multiple locations, and the conductive pattern has a larger line width in portions closer to the input terminal, increasing the conductor area for lower resistance values and reducing heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a thin, long conductive pattern with uniform width is used to provide low resistance values, then the attenuation level is reduced, but the conductor area decreases leading to increased power consumption and heat generation per unit area
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive pattern employs varying line widths along its length, with wider sections positioned at specific locations and narrower sections at other locations. This local variation in geometry allows different portions of the pattern to provide different resistance values, enabling the circuit to achieve low attenuation levels while maintaining sufficient conductor area to control power consumption and heat generation per unit area.
2Temperature
If the conductor area is reduced to achieve lower resistance values, then the attenuation level decreases, but heat generation per unit area increases
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing local quality variations through non-uniform line widths, the conductive pattern can provide low resistance values in specific regions while maintaining adequate conductor area in those same regions. The wider portions compensate for the lower resistance, ensuring that power consumption per unit area and heat generation remain controlled even when achieving low attenuation levels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively suppresses heat generation per unit area even at low attenuation levels by increasing the conductor area for smaller resistance values, providing a reliable attenuator circuit with reduced power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the smaller the conductor area to be used to provide that resistance value is. For this reason, a lower attenuation level entails increased power consumption per unit area, hence an increased amount of heat generation per unit area
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a substrate attenuator circuit having a thin, long conductive pattern with a plurality of bends on a substrate, with heat generation per unit area reduced to a small amount even at a low attenuation level. A linear conductive pattern configured to have a plurality of bends on a substrate is provided with output terminals at n portions thereof. The conductive pattern has a larger line width at a first stage conductive pattern portion defined in a portion from an input terminal to m output terminals (m<n) than the line widths of the conductive pattern portions defined in the remaining portion, the m output terminals being disposed closer to the input terminal of the output terminals of the n portions. The first stage conductive pattern portion is thus increased in conductor area, and heat generation per unit area is reduced to a small amount even when only the first stage conductive pattern portion is used to obtain a low attenuation level.