Abstract:
A connector (10) for microelectronic elements includes a sheetlike body (24) having a plurality of active contacts (22) arranged in a regular grid pattern. The active contacts (22) may include several metallic projections (28) extending inwardly around a hole (27) in the sheetlike element (24), on a first major surface (32). A support structure such as a grid array of noncollapsing structural posts (23) is on a second major surface (33), and each of the posts (23) is electrically connected to one of the active contacts (22). The grid array of the posts (23) and the grid array of active contacts (22) are offset from one another so that an active contact (22) is surrounded by several posts (23). The posts (23) support the sheetlike element (24) spaced away from a substrate (41) to which the posts (23) are attached. A microelectronic element (45) having bump leads (46) thereon may be engaged by contacting the bump leads (46) with the active contacts (22), and deflecting the sheetlike element (24) between the bump leads (46) on one side and the posts (23) on the other side.
Abstract:
Contact structures exhibiting resilience or compliance for a variety of electronic components are formed by bonding a free end of a wire (502) to a substrate (508), configuring the wire (530) into a wire stem (530) having a springable shape, severing the wire stem (530), and overcoating the wire stem (530) with at least one layer of a material (522). In an exemplary embodiment, a free end of a wire stem (530) is bonded to a contact area on a substrate (508), the wire stem (530) is configured to have a springable shape, the wire stem (530) is severed to be free-standing by an electrical discharge, and the free-standing wire stem is overcoated by plating. A variety of materials for the wire stem (530) (which serves as a falsework) and for the overcoat (540) (which serves as a superstructure over the falsework) are disclosed. The resilient contact structures described herein are ideal for making a "temporary" (probe) connections to an electronic component such as a semiconductor die, for burn-in and functional testing.
Abstract:
Resilient contact structures extend from a top surface of a support substrate and solder-ball (or other suitable) contact structures are disposed on a bottom surface of the support substrate. Interconnection elements (110) are used as the resilient contact structures and are disposed atop the support substrate. Selected ones of the resilient contact structures atop the support substrate are connected, via the support substrate, to corresponding ones of the contact structures on the bottom surface of the support substrate. In an embodiment intended to receive an LGA-type semiconductor package (304), pressure contact is made between the resilient contact structures and external connection points of the semiconductor package with a contact force which is generally normal to the top surface of the support substrate (302). In an embodiment intended to receive a BGA-type semiconductor package (404), pressure contact is made between the resilient contact structures and external connection points of the semiconductor package with a contact force which is generally parallel to the top surface of the support substrate (402).
Abstract:
The process for producing subsequently contactable contact points between two conductive track planes on a circuit substrate separated by an electrically insulating layer makes it possible to produce, for example, a basic conductor pattern which can subsequently be easily adapted to requirements. By laying windows in the conductive track planes out in such a way that, when the electrically insulating layer is subsequently through-etched due to under-etching, rod-like parts connected to the aperture periphery are revealed between or in the apertures which can be brought into contact with electrically conductive parts of the other conductive track plane, these conductive tracks can be electrically interconnected by mechanical bending.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus (10) for forming power distribution systems or parts thereof during punching operations. A planar member (16) of conductive material is located proximate to a substrate (14) upon which the power distribution system or part thereof is to be formed. A punch (18) is used to form the conductors (12) from the planar member (16) and deposit the conductors (12) on the substrate (14). The action of the punch (18) causes mechanical interference between the conductor (12) and the substrate (14) thereby securing the conductor to the substrate. The power distribution system or part thereof may comprise a terminal assembly, an electric switch, a heat sink of an electronic module, or an electrical circuit board.
Abstract:
A resilient electrical connector assembly (100) includes a base PCB and stacked layers of interconnected resilient conductive structures where each structure has at least two resilient conductive strips (115, 130, 145) and at least two conductive contacts (105, 110, 135, 140, 150, 155, 160, 165). One contact is integrated with a conductive path on the base PCB (105, 110) and another contact pad (160, 165) is positioned to establish a conductive path with a target PCB when the latter is mounted parallel to the base PCB. The resilient conductive strips flex due to a compressive force exerted between the base PCB and target PCB on the stacked layers. The resilient conductive structures are formed by depositing metal to sequentially form each of the stacked layers with one contact being initially formed in engagement with the conductive path on the base PCB.
Abstract:
A multilayer structure (100) comprises a flexible substrate film (102) having a first side and opposite second side, a number of conductive traces (108), optionally defining contact pads and/or conductors, printed on the first side of the substrate film by printed electronics technology for establishing a desired predetermined circuit design, a plastic layer (104) molded onto the first side of the substrate film (102) so as to enclose the circuit between the plastic layer and the first side of the substrate film (102), and a connector (114) in a form of a flexible flap for providing external electrical connection to the embedded circuit from the second, opposite side of the substrate film (102), the connector being defined by a portion of the substrate film (102) accommodating at least part of one or more of the printed conductive traces (108) and cut partially loose from the surrounding substrate material so as to establish the flap, the loose end of which is bendable away from the molded plastic layer to facilitate the establishment of said electrical connection with external element (118), such as a wire or connector, via the associated gap. A related method of manufacture is presented.
Abstract:
Described is a process for assembling an electronic card (100) comprising at least one conductor track (102) and at least one electronic component (103, 104, 105) of the PTH type having at least one power supply pin (103a, 103b, 104a, 104b, 105a, 105b), comprising a step of soldering the power supply pin (103a, 103b, 104a, 104b, 105a, 105b) on the conductor track (102); the soldering step comprises a step of heating the conductor track (102) using a micro-flame device (6) and a step of dispensing a soldering material using a dispensing device (10); the process comprises a step of monitoring the temperature of the conductor track (102) to check the reaching of a first predetermined temperature value V1 of the conductor track (102) in the soldering zone (106, 107, 108) for dispensing the soldering material when the temperature of the conductor track (102) reaches the first predetermined temperature value V1.