Patent ID: 6524460
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: G01B,G01N

Abstract:
A method for determining the characteristics of metal electrodes of a ceramic sensor element, the metal electrodes being deposited as layers, during the manufacturing of the metal electrodes in a specimen-specific manner, comprising the steps of:placing the ceramic sensor element in a magnetic field of an a.c. current-carrying measuring coil, which is for detecting the electrical and the magnetic properties of the layers to be evaluated in the magnetic field, and for analyzing them with respect to specific criteria; using the measuring coil to measure the ceramic sensor element having a first metal electrode layer, resulting in a reference measurement; using the measuring coil to measure the sensor element following a deposition of a second metal electrode layer, resulting in a second measurement; subtracting to determine a difference between the reference measurement and the second measurement to determine characteristics of at least one of a thickness and a quantity of a deposited metal; annealing a metal electrode of the sensor element; using the measuring coil to measure the annealed electrode, resulting in a third measurement; and subtracting to determine a difference between the second measurement and the third measurement to determine characteristics of a mixed crystal formation and distribution resulting from annealing.