Patent Publication Number: US-2023156897-A1

Title: Over-voltage protection device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an over-voltage protection device, and more particularly, to an over-voltage protection device using air discharge technology. 
     DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND 
     During the operation of the electronic circuit, if an abnormal voltage or electrostatic discharge (ESD) occurs, the electronic devices on the electronic circuit may be damaged. For this reason, over-voltage protection devices are often installed in electronic circuits to protect the electronic devices on the electronic circuit from being affected by abnormal voltage or electrostatic discharge. 
     With the advancement of current electronic products and the improvement of process technology, the size of electronic products is gradually shrinking. As a result, the damage caused by electrostatic discharge to precision electronic elements is becoming more and more serious. In addition, in recent years, the handheld mobile devices have been rapidly developed, so the demands for electrostatic protection are increasing. Among the current methods applied to electrostatic protection, air discharge is the most common method. 
     This Discussion of the Background section is provided for background information only. The statements in this Discussion of the Background are not an admission that the subject matter disclosed in this section constitutes prior art to the present disclosure, and no part of this Discussion of the Background section may be used as an admission that any part of this application, including this Discussion of the Background section, constitutes prior art to the present disclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an over-voltage protection device. The over-voltage protection device includes a substrate; and a stack structure, disposed over the substrate. The stack structure includes a first insulation structure, a second insulation structure, and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is disposed on the first insulation structure, and the second insulation structure is disposed on the conductive layer. The second insulation structure has an insulation air gap, which has an upper width greater than a lower width. 
     In some embodiments, the second insulation structure has a thickness greater than that of the first insulation structure. 
     In some embodiments, the first insulation structure has a lower air gap, which is connected with the insulation air gap. 
     In some embodiments, the first insulation structure has a lower air gap, which has a width smaller than the lower width of the insulation air gap. 
     In some embodiments, the conductive layer has a conductive layer air gap, which has a width smaller than the lower width of the insulation air gap. 
     In some embodiments, the first insulation structure has a lower air gap, the conductive layer has a conductive layer air gap, and the lower air gap has a width greater than that of the conductive layer air gap. 
     In some embodiments, the second insulation structure includes a lower portion; an upper portion, disposed over the lower portion; and a top cover portion, disposed over the upper portion. 
     In some embodiments, the second insulation structure includes a lower portion, having a lower opening; an upper portion, disposed over the lower portion, the upper portion has an upper opening; and a top cover portion, disposed over the upper portion; wherein the lower opening is connected with the upper opening, and an upper end of the insulation air gap is sealed by the top cover portion. 
     In some embodiments, the second insulation structure includes a lower portion, having a lower opening; an upper portion, disposed over the lower portion, the upper portion has an upper opening; a top cover portion, disposed over the upper portion; a first conductive material portion, disposed within the lower opening; and a second conductive material portion; disposed on a lower surface of the top cover portion; wherein the first conductive material portion and the second conductive material portion are separated from each other. 
     In some embodiments, the second insulation structure includes a lower portion, having a lower opening; an upper portion, disposed over the lower portion, the upper portion has an upper opening; a top cover portion, disposed over the upper portion; a first conductive material portion, disposed within the lower opening; and a second conductive material portion, disposed on a lower surface of the top cover portion; wherein the second conductive material portion has a thickness smaller than that of the upper portion. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides an over-voltage protection device, including a substrate; a conductive layer, disposed on the substrate; and an insulation structure, disposed on the conductive layer; wherein the insulation structure has an insulation air gap, which has an upper width greater than a lower width. 
     In some embodiments, the substrate has a recessed slot, and the insulation air gap has a height greater than that of the recessed slot. 
     In some embodiments, the substrate has a recessed slot, which is connected with the insulation air gap. 
     In some embodiments, the substrate has a recessed slot, which has a width smaller than the lower width of the insulation air gap. 
     In some embodiments, the conductive layer has a conductive layer air gap, which has a width smaller than the lower width of the insulation air gap. 
     In some embodiments, the substrate has a recessed slot, the conductive layer has a conductive layer air gap, and the recessed slot has a width smaller than that of the conductive layer air gap. 
     In some embodiments, the insulation structure includes a lower portion; an upper portion, disposed over the lower portion; and a top cover portion, disposed over the upper portion. 
     In some embodiments, the insulation structure includes a lower portion, having a lower opening; an upper portion, disposed over the lower portion, the upper portion has an upper opening; and a top cover portion, disposed over the upper portion; wherein the lower opening is connected with the upper opening, and an upper end of the insulation air gap is sealed by the top cover portion. 
     In some embodiments, the insulation structure includes a lower portion, having a lower opening; an upper portion, disposed over the lower portion, the upper portion has an upper opening; a top cover portion, disposed over the upper portion; a first conductive material portion, disposed within the lower opening; and a second conductive material portion, disposed on a lower surface of the top cover portion; wherein the first conductive material portion and the second conductive material portion are separated from each other. 
     In some embodiments, the insulation structure includes a lower portion, having a lower opening; an upper portion, disposed over the lower portion, the upper portion has an upper opening; a top cover portion, disposed over the upper portion; a first conductive material portion, disposed within the lower opening; and a second conductive material portion, disposed on a lower surface of the top cover portion; wherein the first conductive material portion has a thickness smaller than that of the lower portion, and the second conductive material portion has a thickness smaller than that of the upper portion. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter, and form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures or processes for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It should be noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an over-voltage protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    to  FIG.  13    illustrate a method for manufacturing the over-voltage protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14    illustrates an over-voltage protection device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  15    to  FIG.  25    illustrate a method for manufacturing the over-voltage protection device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the present disclosure is accompanied by the figures that are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification to illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. In addition, the following embodiments can be appropriately integrated to complete another embodiment. 
     “One embodiment”, “embodiment”, “exemplary embodiment”, “other embodiments”, “another embodiment”, etc. refer to that the embodiments described in this disclosure may include specific features, structures, or characteristics. However, not every embodiment has to include the specific features, structures, or characteristics. Furthermore, the repeated tel in “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but may be the same embodiment. 
     In order to make the present disclosure fully understandable, the following description provides detailed steps and structures. Obviously, the specific details known to those skilled in the art would not be limited by the implementation of the present disclosure. In addition, the known structures and steps will not be described in detail, so as not to unnecessarily limit the present disclosure. The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail as follows. However, in addition to detailed descriptions, the present disclosure can also be widely implemented in other embodiments. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the content of the detailed description, but is defined by the appended claims. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an over-voltage protection device  10  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the over-voltage protection device  10  includes a substrate  11  and a stack structure  20 . The stacked structure  20  is disposed on the substrate  11  and includes a first insulation structure  13 , a second insulation structure  23 , and a conductive layer  15 . The conductive layer  15  is disposed on the first insulation structure  13 , and the second insulation structure  23  is disposed on the conductive layer  15 . In one embodiment, the second insulation structure  23  has an insulation air gap  23 A, in which the upper width W 1  is greater than the lower width W 2 . In one embodiment, the insulation air gap  23 A has a trapezoidal profile. In one embodiment, the thickness T 2  of the second insulation structure  23  is greater than the thickness T 1  of the first insulation structure  13 . 
     In one embodiment, the first insulation structure  13  has a lower air gap  13 A, which is connected with the insulation air gap  23 A. The width W 3  of the lower air gap  13 A is smaller than the lower width W 2  of the insulation air gap  23 A. In one embodiment, the conductive layer  15  has a first electrode  15 A and a second electrode  15 B, both of which foam a discharge path. The conductive layer  15  has a conductive layer air gap  15 C between the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B. The width W 4  of the conductive layer air gap  15 C is smaller than the lower width W 2  of the insulation air gap  23 A. In one embodiment, the width W 3  of the lower air gap  13 A is greater than the width W 4  of the conductive layer air gap  15 C. In one embodiment, the width W 4  of the conductive layer air gap  15 C is greater than or equal to the lower width W 2  of the insulation air gap  23 A. 
     In one embodiment, the second insulation structure  23  includes a lower portion  17 A, an upper portion  17 B, and a top cover portion  19 . The upper portion  17 B is disposed over the lower portion  17 A, and the top cover portion  19  is disposed over the upper portion  17 B. In one embodiment, the lower portion  17 A has a lower opening  17 A 1 , the upper portion  17 B has an upper opening  17 B 1 , and the lower opening  17 A in connected with the upper opening  17 B to form the insulation air gap  23 A. The upper end of the insulation air gap  23 A is sealed by the top cover portion  19 . 
     In one embodiment, the substrate  11  includes alumina or ceramic material, the first insulation structure  13  includes polyimide, the conductive layer  15  includes copper, the lower portion  17 A and the upper portion  17 B include epoxy resin or polyimide, and the top cover portion  19  includes epoxy resin or polyimide. In one embodiment, in order to prevent substances from the external environment from falling between the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B, causing the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B to form a short circuit, the top cover portion  19  of the over-voltage protection device  10  is configured to isolate the conductive layer  15  from the external environment. In one embodiment, the lower portion  17 A and the upper portion  17 B isolate the top cover portion  19  and the conductive layer  15 , the insulation air gap  23 A and the lower air gap  13 A also provide additional space, so that the first tip and the second tip can discharge through air therebetween. 
       FIGS.  2  to  13    illustrates a method for manufacturing the over-voltage protection device  10  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference to  FIG.  2   , in one embodiment, a first insulation structure  13  (for example, a photosensitive polyimide layer) is first formed on a substrate  11  (for example, an alumina substrate or a ceramic substrate), and a predetermined area  13 B of the insulation structure  13  is subjected to an exposure process. Then, a developing process is performed to partially remove the predetermined area  13 B to form a lower air gap  13 A in the first insulation structure  13 , as shown in  FIG.  3   . 
     With reference to  FIG.  4   , a sputtering process is performed to form a seed layer  14  (for example, a titanium-tungsten alloy layer, a copper layer, a nickel-chromium alloy layer) on the first insulation structure  13  and the substrate  11 , and a coating process is performed to form a photoresist layer  16  over the seed layer  14 . An exposure process is then performed on a predetermined area  16 A of the photoresist layer  16 . Afterwards, a developing process is performed to partially remove the predetermined area  16 A to form a photoresist pattern  16 B, which fills the lower air gap  13 A and protrudes from the first insulation structure  13 , as shown in  FIG.  5   . In one embodiment, the photoresist pattern  16 B has a cross section with a narrow top and a wide bottom. 
     With reference to  FIG.  6   , an electroplating process is performed to form a conductive layer  15  on the first insulation structure  13 . The photoresist pattern  16 B separates the conductive layer  15  to form a first electrode  15 A and a second electrode  15 B. Afterwards, the photoresist pattern  16 B is removed, so the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B form a discharge path and the lower air gap  13 A is located below the discharge path, as shown in  FIG.  7   . In  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7   , the seed layer  14  has been incorporated into the conductive layer  15  and is not shown in the figures. In one embodiment, since the photoresist pattern  16 B has a cross section with a narrow top and a wide bottom, the cross section of the first electrode  15 A has a first tip, the cross section of the second electrode  15 B has a second tip, and the first tip and the second tip are disposed over the lower air gap  13 A. 
     With reference to  FIG.  8   , a coating process is performed to form a photoresist layer  18  on the conductive layer  15 , an exposure process is performed on a predetermined area  18 A of the photoresist layer  18 , and then a developing process is performed to partially remove the photoresist layer  18  in the predetermined area  18 A to form a photoresist pattern  18 B. Afterwards, the photoresist pattern  18 B is used to form a lower portion  17 A over the conductive layer  15 , as shown in  FIG.  9   . 
     With reference to  FIG.  10   , a coating process is performed to form a photoresist layer  181  on the conductive layer  15  and the lower portion  17 A. An exposure process is performed on a predetermined area  181 A of the photoresist layer  181 , and then a developing process is performed to partially remove the photoresist layer  181  in the predetermined area  181 A to form a photoresist pattern  18 C. The width of the photoresist pattern  18 C is greater than the width of the photoresist pattern  18 B. Afterwards, the photoresist pattern  18 C is used to form an upper portion  17 B over the lower portion  17 A, as shown in  FIG.  11   . 
     With reference to  FIG.  12   , the photoresist pattern  18 B and the photoresist pattern  18 C are removed to form a lower opening  17 A 1  within the lower portion  17 A and an upper opening  17 B 1  within the upper portion  17 B. The lower opening  17 A 1  and the upper opening  17 B 1  form an insulation air gap  23 A, which at least partially expose the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B. The cross-sectional width of the insulation air gap  23 A is larger than the cross-sectional width of the lower air gap  13 A of the first insulation structure  13 . Afterwards, a top cover portion  19  (for example, a polyimide dry film) is pasted on the upper portion  17 B and seals the insulation air gap  23 A. 
     With reference to  FIG.  13   , in one embodiment, when a high voltage is applied to the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B, the first tip and the second tip discharge through the air therebetween, which acts like an arc discharge, causing the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B to generate electrode debris. The lower air gap  13 A can accommodate the metal debris falling during the discharge, and avoid the accumulation of metal debris which causes the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B to form a short circuit. 
     In addition, the high temperature of the instantaneous point discharge of the first tip of the first electrode  15 A and the second tip of the second electrode  15 B will also cause the molten metal debris to spray upwards and adhere to the second insulation structure  23 , forming a first conductive material portion  30 A within the lower opening  17 A 1  or forming a second conductive material portion  30 B on the lower surface  19 A of the top cover portion  19 . The innovative technique of the present disclosure is designed to have a width of the upper opening  17 B 1  greater than that of the lower opening  17 A 1 . That is, the upper opening  17 B 1  of the second insulation structure  23  is provided with a dead corner  23 B. As a result, the first conductive material portion  30 A and the second conductive material portion  30 B formed by the molten metal debris sprayed upwards are separated by the dead corner  23 A of the upper opening  17 B 1  of the second insulation structure  23 , and cannot form a continuous conductive path, so as to prevent the first electrode  15 A and the second electrode  15 B from forming a short circuit. In one embodiment, the thickness T 4  of the second conductive material portion  30 B is smaller than the thickness T 3  of the upper portion  17 B, so as to prevent the first conductive material portion  30 A and the second conductive material portion  30 B from forming a short circuit. 
       FIG.  14    illustrates an over-voltage protection device  60  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the over-voltage protection device  60  includes an insulation substrate  61 , a conductive layer  65 , an insulation structure  73 , and a top cover portion  69 . In this embodiment, the insulation substrate  61  has a recessed slot  61 A. The conductive layer  65  is disposed over the insulation substrate  61  and has a first electrode  65 A and a second electrode  65 B, both of which form a discharge path, and the recessed slot  61 A is located below the discharge path. The insulation structure  73  is disposed over the conductive layer  65  and has an insulation air gap  73 A which at least partially exposes the first electrode  65 A and the second electrode  65 B. 
     In one embodiment, the upper width W 8  of the insulation air gap  73 A is greater than the lower width W 6 . In one embodiment, the insulation air gap  73 A has a trapezoidal profile. In one embodiment, the height H 1  of the insulation air gap  73 A is greater than the height H 2  of the recessed slot  61 A, the width W 5  of the recessed slot  61 A is smaller than the lower width W 6  of the insulation air gap  73 A, and the recessed slot  61 A is connected with the insulation air gap  73 A. In one embodiment, the conductive layer  65  has a conductive layer air gap  65 C. The width W 7  of the conductive layer air gap  65 C is smaller than the lower width W 6  of the insulation air gap  73 A, and the width W 5  of the recessed slot  61 A is greater than the width W 7  of the conductive layer air gap  65 C. In one embodiment, the width W 7  of the conductive layer air gap  65 C is greater than or equal to the lower width W 6  of the insulation air gap  73 A. 
     In one embodiment, the insulation structure  73  includes a lower portion  67 A, an upper portion  67 B, and a top cover portion  69 . The upper portion  67 B is disposed over the lower portion  67 A, and the top cover portion  69  is disposed over the upper portion  67 B. In one embodiment, the lower portion  67 A has a lower opening  67 A 1 , the upper portion  67 B has an upper opening  67 B 1 , the lower opening  67 A 1  is connected with the upper opening  67 B 1  to form an insulation air gap  73 A. The upper end of the insulation air gap  73 A is sealed by the top cover portion  69 . In one embodiment, the insulation substrate  61  includes alumina or ceramic material, the conductive layer  65  includes copper, and the insulation structure  73  includes epoxy or polyimide. 
       FIGS.  15  to  25    illustrate a method for manufacturing an over-voltage protection device  60  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference to  FIG.  15   , in one embodiment, first, a recessed slot  61 A is formed on the upper surface of an insulation substrate  61  (for example, an alumina substrate or a ceramic substrate). An infrared laser or ultraviolet laser may be used to engrave the upper surface of the insulation substrate  61  to form the recessed slot  61 A. 
     With reference to  FIG.  16   , a sputtering process is performed to form a seed layer  64  (for example, a titanium-tungsten alloy layer, a copper layer, a nickel-chromium alloy layer) over the insulation substrate  61 , and a coating process is performed to form a photoresist layer  66  on the seed layer  64 , and then an exposure process is performed on a predetermined area  66 A of the photoresist layer  66 . Afterwards, a developing process is performed to partially remove the predetermined area  66 A to form a photoresist pattern  66 B, which fills the recessed slot  61 A and protrudes from the insulation substrate  61 , as shown in  FIG.  17   . In one embodiment, the photoresist pattern  66 B has a cross section with a narrow top and a wide bottom. 
     With reference to  FIG.  18   , an electroplating process is performed to form a conductive layer  65  over the insulation substrate  61 , and the photoresist pattern  66 B separates the conductive layer  65  to form a first electrode  65 A and a second electrode  65 B. Afterwards, the photoresist pattern  66 B is removed, so the first electrode  65 A and the second electrode  65 B form a discharge path and the recessed slot  61 A is located below the discharge path, as shown in  FIG.  19   . In  FIG.  18    and  FIG.  19   , the seed layer  64  has been incorporated into the conductive layer  65  and is not shown in the figures. In one embodiment, since the photoresist pattern  66 B has a cross section with a narrow top and a wide bottom, the cross section of the first electrode  65 A has a first tip, the cross section of the second electrode  65 B has a second tip, and the first tip and the second tip are disposed over the recessed slot  61 A. 
     With reference to  FIG.  20   , a coating process is performed to form a photoresist layer  68  over the conductive layer  65 , an exposure process is performed on a predetermined area  68 A of the photoresist layer  68 , and then a developing process is performed to partially remove the photoresist layer  68  in the predetermined area  68 A to form a photoresist pattern  68 B. Afterwards, the photoresist pattern  68 B is used to form a lower portion  67 A over the conductive layer  65 , as shown in  FIG.  21   . 
     With reference to  FIG.  22   , a coating process is performed to form a photoresist layer  681  over the conductive layer  65  and the lower portion  67 A. An exposure process is performed on a predetermined area  681 A of the photoresist layer  681 , and then a developing process is performed to partially remove the photoresist layer  681  in the predetermined area  681 A to form a photoresist pattern  68 C. The width of the photoresist pattern  68 C is greater than the width of the photoresist pattern  68 B. Afterwards, the photoresist pattern  68 C is used to form an upper portion  67 B over the lower portion  67 A, as shown in  FIG.  23   . 
     With reference to  FIG.  24   , the photoresist pattern  68 B and the photoresist pattern  68 C are removed to form a lower opening  67 A 1  within the lower portion  67 A and an upper opening  67 B 1  within the upper portion  67 B. The lower opening  67 A 1  and the upper opening  67 B 1  form an insulation air gap  73 A, which at least partially expose the first electrode  65 A and the second electrode  65 B. The cross-sectional width of the insulation air gap  73 A is larger than the cross-sectional width of the recessed slot  61 A. Afterwards, a top cover portion  69  (for example, a polyimide dry film) is pasted on the upper portion  67 B and seals the insulation air gap  73 A. 
     With reference to  FIG.  25   , in one embodiment, when a high voltage is applied to the first electrode  65 A and the second electrode  65 B, the first tip and the second tip discharge through the air therebetween, which acts like an arc discharge, causing the first electrode  65 A and the second electrode  65 B to generate electrode debris. The recessed slot  61 A of the substrate  61  can accommodate the metal debris falling during the discharge, and avoid the accumulation of metal debris which causes the first electrode  65 A and the second electrode  65 B to form a short circuit. 
     In addition, the high temperature of the instantaneous point discharge of the first tip of the first electrode  65 A and the second tip of the second electrode  65 B will also cause the molten metal debris to spray upward and adhere to the insulation structure  73 , forming a first conductive material portion  80 A within the lower opening  67 A 1  or forming the second conductive material portion  80 B on the lower surface  69 A of the top cover portion  69 . The innovative technique of the present disclosure is designed to have the width of the upper opening  67 B 1  greater than that of the lower opening  67 A 1 . That is, the upper opening  67 B 1  of the insulation structure  73  is provided with a dead corner  73 B. As a result, the first conductive material portion  80 A and the second conductive material portion  80 B formed by the molten metal debris sprayed upwards are separated by the dead corner  73 A of the upper opening  67 B 1  of the insulation structure  73 , and cannot form a continuous conductive path, so as to prevent the first electrode  65 A and the second electrode  65 B from forming a short circuit. In one embodiment, the thickness T 6  of the second conductive material portion  80 B is smaller than the thickness T 5  of the upper portion  67 B, so as to prevent the first conductive material portion  80 A and the second conductive material portion  80 B from forming a short circuit. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an over-voltage protection device. The over-voltage protection device includes a substrate; and a stack structure, disposed over the substrate. The stack structure includes a first insulation structure, a second insulation structure, and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is disposed on the first insulation structure, and the second insulation structure is disposed on the conductive layer. The second insulation structure has an insulation air gap, which has an upper width greater than a lower width. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides an over-voltage protection device, including a substrate; a conductive layer, disposed on the substrate; and an insulation structure, disposed on the conductive layer; wherein the insulation structure has an insulation air gap, which has an upper width greater than a lower width. Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, many of the processes discussed above may be implemented in different methodologies and replaced by other processes, or a combination thereof. 
     Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, and steps.