Resistance temperature detector (RTD) formed with a surface-mount-device (SMD) structure

The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a surface mount resistance-temperature-detector (RTD) on a substrate. The manufacture method includes the steps of (a) depositing a resistive thin film on a top surface of the substrate having a substantially linear temperature resistance coefficient (TCR) over a predetermined temperature range for temperature measurement; (b) patterning the resistive film into a plurality of resistive strips and a plurality of top terminals near two opposite edges on the top surface of the substrate with each resistive strip connected between two top terminals; (c) forming a bottom electrode on a bottom surface of the substrate underneath each of the top terminals; (d) depositing two edge conductive plates on edge surfaces of the substrate for connecting one of the top terminals to a bottom terminal thereunder; and (e) forming two surface mount solder electrodes with a conductive layer overlying the top terminal, the edge conductive plate and the bottom terminal provided for performing a surface-mount soldering operation thereon.