Thin-Film Back Contact Resistors Provide Industry-Best Film Stability

Single-Wire Bond Design and Small Footprint Enable Compact Hybrid Assembly Designs, Reduce Manufacturing Costs

MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA — April 4, 2003 — Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) today announced a series of thin-film resistors that will help makers of commercial- and military-grade hybrid assemblies to create more compact designs while significantly reducing assembly costs.

The Vishay Electro-Films Back Contact Resistor (BCR) series combines the industry's best film stability over time and temperature with a single-bond design that reduces the number of steps required to manufacture hybrid circuits and minimizes the resistor footprint, ultimately reducing board space.

With dimensions of just 0.020" by 0.020" (0.50 mm by 0.50 mm) the BCR devices are among the smallest resistor chips available on the market. The resistor chips require just one wire bond because a second electrical connection is made through the back of the chip, which may be attached to the substrate either eutectically or with conductive epoxy.

Available in a resistance range from 10 Ω to 1 MΩ, with tight tolerance values down to 0.1% and TCR values ranging from ±250 ppm/°C down to ±25 ppm/°C, the new BCR resistor chips feature a maximum operating voltage of 75 V, a breakdown voltage of 200 V, and a DC power rating of 250 mW at +70°C.

With fewer wire bonds and a smaller footprint than alternative chip configurations, the BCR devices reduce manufacturing costs by requiring fewer process steps while allowing designers to increase board density. The substrate material is readily available, providing a stable and reliable source for cost-efficient chip manufacture.

Devices in the new BCR family of thin-film resistors are 100% electrically tested and visually inspected to MIL-STD-883 and conform to MIL-STD-202 specifications for noise, moisture resistance, and thermal shock. BCR resistors also feature superior stability under normal and harsh operating conditions, with an operating temperature range of –55°C to +125°C.

Samples and production quantities of the BCR series are available now, with lead times of two weeks for stock orders and 12 weeks for custom orders.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors, and transducers). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Its product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, and ability to provide "one-stop shop" service have made Vishay a global industry leader. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.