Resistor with reduced parasitic capacitance

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes an electrical resistor design that significantly reduces parasitic capacitance by adding a shielding element (conductive or semiconductive) connected to a charge reservoir. The shielding element is strategically positioned to intercept a large portion of the electric field that would otherwise exist between the resistor's electrodes, thus reducing unwanted capacitive effects and improving high-frequency performance.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Precision current measurement equipment, especially where very small currents must be detected
• High-value resistor applications in scientific instruments, such as picoammeters and electrometers
• Low-noise amplifier circuits for signal processing
• Medical diagnostic devices requiring highly stable and accurate resistors
• High-frequency or microwave circuits where parasitic capacitance limits performance
• Integration in surface-mount technology (SMT/SMD) resistors for advanced electronics

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significant reduction of parasitic capacitance, improving frequency bandwidth and accuracy
• Enhanced signal integrity, enabling more precise measurements of small currents or voltages
• Reduced noise in sensitive electronic measurement circuits
• No need for complex compensation circuitry, simplifying system design and increasing reliability
• Improves the utility of resistors with very high resistance values, which are typically limited by parasitic effects
• Can be implemented with little modification to conventional resistor designs, enabling ease of adoption

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

In the context of the invention, an electrical resistor with two electrically conductive electrodes and at least one resistive element that provides a current path between the two electrically conductive electrodes has been developed. According to the invention, in this resistor an electrically conductive or semiconductive shielding element, which is connected to a charge reservoir, is arranged at least partially in a region in which an electric field generated by applying a voltage across the resistor has at least 20%, preferably at least 50%, and most preferably at least 80% of the maximum field strength that this field has on a plane perpendicular to the shortest connecting line between the electrically conductive electrodes and arranged centrally along this connecting line between the electrically conductive electrodes. It has been recognized that the two electrically conductive electrodes of the resistor act in first approximation as plates of a parallel plate capacitor, which embodies the parasitic capacitance of the resistor. Upon charging one of the electrodes of the resistor, the shielding element is charged with a charge opposite to this charging and ensures that at least part of the field lines emanating from this electrode terminate at the shielding element instead of at the second electrode. This makes it more difficult for both electrodes to be charged simultaneously with charges of equal magnitude but opposite polarity.