The Thin-Film Approach to Fabrication of Hybrid Integrated Circuits

A pulse generator test circuit was fabricated utilizing thin-film technology in conjunction with discrete components to form the final hybrid configuration. The completed functional electronic device contains a unijunction oscillator, an amplifier stage and a pulse shaping circuit to produce a pulse output with a variable repetition rate from less than 5 kilocycles to greater than 100 kilocycles. A detailed discussion is presented on thin-film circuit design, masking techniques, vacuum deposition processes, discrete component attachment, element interconnection, and packaging. A comparative evaluation is made of the thin film hybrid pulse generator and its electronic equivalent in printed circuit board form with respect to performance, size and weight, and apparent reliability.