Methods of plating or coating ultrasound transducers
Inventors
Taylor, Kevin • Chandler, Paul
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10230041-B2
Publication Date
2019-03-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
According to some embodiments, a method of depositing at least one electrode on a base member of an ultrasound transducer comprises at least partially etching a surface of the base member using a first etching agent, catalyzing the surface of the base member using a first catalyst, plating copper on the surface of the base member using an electroless plating process, inspecting the copper plated on the surface of the base member, at least partially etching a surface of the copper-plated surface using a second etching agent, catalyzing the copper-plated surface using a second catalyst, plating nickel on the copper-plated surface using an electroless plating process and depositing at least one layer of gold on the nickel-plated surface.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention is a method for depositing at least one electrode on a ceramic base member of an ultrasound transducer. It forms copper, nickel, and gold layers on the base member, using electroless plating for the copper and nickel layers and including inspection of the copper-plated surface. Further process details are omitted for safety.
The document describes inspection-based copper re-plating and embodiments involving cylindrical PZT members, with coatings on interior and exterior surfaces and batch processing. It also states that immersion gold can reduce complications associated with electrolytic gold plating on small cylinder interiors. The background section is not included in the received content, so the problem being solved is not explicitly described.
Claims Coverage
The provided relevant claims identify one independent claim covering a method of depositing an electrode on a ceramic base member of an ultrasound transducer, comprising one inventive feature.
Electrode deposition on a ceramic ultrasound-transducer base
The claim covers electrode formation on a ceramic base member through surface preparation and catalytic treatment, electroless copper and nickel deposition, copper inspection, and deposition of a gold layer. Further procedural details are omitted for safety.
The independent claim centers on forming a copper, nickel, and gold electrode coating on a ceramic ultrasound-transducer base member, with inspection of the copper-plated surface as part of the claimed method.
Stated Advantages
Inspection-based rework can avoid restarting earlier preparation steps.
Immersion gold can reduce complications associated with electrolytic gold plating on small cylinder interiors.
Documented Applications
Electrode deposition on ceramic base members of ultrasound transducers, including cylindrical PZT members with coatings on their interior and exterior surfaces.
Batch processing of ultrasound-transducer base members.
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