Abstract: An integrated passive device (IPD) comprises a conductive substrate having a front side and a back side and a plurality of layers including front and back dielectric layers and front and back conductive polymer layers, the plurality of layers defining front and back isolation trenches revealing the front and back sides of the substrate. The IPD may comprise a first metal contact electrically connected to the substrate by way of a blind via defined from a front outer surface of the IPD to the front side of the substrate and positioned within the front isolation trench. The IPD may comprise a second metal contact electrically isolated from the first and electrically connected to the polymer layers, connection to the back polymer layer being by way of a through via defined from the front surface to a back surface of the IPD and positioned within the front and back isolation trenches.

Abstract: A capacitor includes a conductive substrate having a front side and a back side, a pre-drilled via that runs from the front side of the conductive substrate to the back side of the conductive substrate, a dielectric layer on the conductive substrate, a conductive polymer layer on the dielectric layer, a first metal contact electrically connected to the conductive substrate, and a second metal contact electrically isolated from the first metal contact and electrically connected to the conductive polymer on both sides of the conductive substrate through the pre-drilled via, the first and second metal contacts being formed on the front side of the conductive substrate. A portion of the conductive substrate may be removed to leave the capacitor structurally connected only by the insulating material to an adjacent device formed on the same conductive substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for making a metal product, comprising —a lubrication source (225) for applying a first lubricant (235) on a punch side of a sheet metal blank (205); —a controllable current source (250) for applying different amounts of current; and —a punch (215) and a die (220) for drawing the sheet metal blank (205) into a metal product, wherein the controllable current source (250) is electrically coupled to one or more of the punch (215), the die (220), or a contact point for applying current through the first lubricant (235) while the sheet metal blank (205) is drawn by the punch (215) and the die (220) into the metal product and while the metal product is being ejected from the punch (215). The application further relates to a method for making a metal product with a such system.

Abstract: Multi-terminal capacitor devices and methods of making multi-terminal capacitor devices are described herein. The multi-terminal capacitor devices may include a plurality of individual capacitors arranged in a single device layer, such as high surface area capacitors. A individual capacitor may include an aluminum foil-based electrode, an aluminum oxide dielectric layer conformal with the aluminum foil-based electrode, and a conductive material electrode, such as a conducting polymer or a conductive ceramic, in conformal contact with the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are welds formed from improved resistance spot welding, as well as methods of improved resistance spot welding. Resistance spot welding includes positioning a magnet carrier having a plurality of electromagnets on at least one electrode of two electrodes. The method includes positioning a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet between the two electrodes where at least one of the first metal sheet or the second metal sheet includes an aluminum alloy. The method includes positioning the forming a weld nugget by applying a magnetic field from the plurality of electromagnets through the weld while applying a current through the electrodes to stir a portion of the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet forming a weld nugget and adjusting the magnetic field to control at least one characteristic of the weld nugget. Forming the weld nugget joins the first metal sheet with the second metal sheet.