Appeal No. 1998-2103 Page 2
Application No. 08/674,243
piezoelectric substrate having electrodes formed on its
opposing surfaces. The electrodes are normally made from
silver. The metal terminals are typically made from a metal
plate member, which is coated with silver to improve the
electrical contact with the electrodes and lead electrodes.
While silver possesses excellent conducting
characteristics, it tends to self-weld. Consequently, self-
welding can occur at positions where the silver coated
terminals contact the electrodes. If this occurs, the
electrodes may be peeled off the substrate when the substrate
vibrates, thus causing inferior electrical conduction between
the electrodes and the terminals.
The appellant's invention deposits a high fusion point
metal on the electrodes over the silver. The high fusion
point metal may be deposited either as a layer on the entire
surface of the electrode, as a layer on only the portion in
contact with the terminal, or as fine particles. Either means
of deposition reduces self-welding of the electrode to the
terminal.
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