Abstract:
A printed circuit board composed of a low Tg epoxy filled with a low CTE filler in the range of 45 to 65 % by volume and laminated to electrically conductive sheets is presented. The printed circuit board of this invention does not include any woven or nonwoven fabrics. The printed circuit board is flexible in the sense that it can be bent to any desired multiplanar shape and will retain that shape after installation as required by electronic interconnection systems.
Abstract:
An electrical connector (10) is presented for effecting a non-wiping pressure mated connection between at least a pair of flexible circuits (18, 20) and another circuit device (22) in a compact package with allowance for very tight tolerances on pad width and spacing.
Abstract:
A highly accurate circuit pattern (14) in intimate contiguous relationship with a curved plastic body (12) and a method of manufacture thereof. In accordance with the present invention, circuit pattern (14) is detachably fixed to a flexible substrate (16) and is placed into a mold (20). A molding compound (22) is then forced into the mold pressing the circuit against the mold wall and filling all of the mold voids. The molded product is thereafter removed from the mold. The flexible substrate (16), on which the metallic circuit is printed, is removed from the molded product leaving the metallic circuit pattern (14) imbedded into the molded product.
Abstract:
A multilayer through-hole contacted flexible circuit and method of manufacture thereof is presented. The flexible circuit is made by providing through-holes (58) to a standard single sided laminate (50). Conductive material (60) is vacuum deposited into the through-holes and at the same time a conductive seed-layer is deposited on the polymer side of the standard laminate. Plating resist (62) is applied to both sides of the material and the seed-layer side of the material is patterned such that circuit traces, pads, and through-holes can be electroplated with additional copper (64). The plating resist (62) is stripped and the very thin layer of copper in the non-conductive areas is flash etched to produce semi-additive circuit features on the seed-layer side. Etch resist is then applied to both sides of the material and circuit patterns fabricated on the foil-side of the material. A cover film (66) and (68) coated with adhesive (70) and (72) is then provided over the exposed circuit patterns.
Abstract:
A flexible circuit connector (10) is presented which is used to electrically and mechanically connect a flexible circuit (20) to a circuit board (18) or other electronic device. The connector (10) also functions to wipe off any residue or debris on the electrical contacts before final connection. The connector (10) is comprised of a male plug (12) and a female adapter (14). The male plug (12) comprises two interlocking pieces including a block (22) and a cover (24). These two pieces allow for easy assembly and disassembly of the plug (12) in conjuction with a flexible circuit (20). The female adapter (14) comprises a hood (70) which may be fastened directly to a circuit board. Alternatively, the hood (70) may be fastened to a base plate (68) which has gold plated contacts (88) and conductive pins (90) which pass through and which are soldered to the circuit board.
Abstract:
A high capacitance flexible dielectric sheet material (10) is comprised of a monolayer of multilayer or single layer high dielectric (e.g. ceramic) chips or pellets (12) of relatively small area and thickness which are arranged in a planar array. These high dielectric constant chips (12) are spaced apart by a small distance. The spaces between the chips are then filled with a flexible polymer/adhesive (14) to define a cohesive sheet with the polymer (14) binding the array of high dielectric (e.g. ceramic) chips (12) together. Next, the opposite planar surfaces of the array (including the polymer) are electroless plated or electroded by vacuum metal deposition, or sputtering, to define opposed metallized surfaces (28 and 30). The end result is a relatively flexible high capacitance dielectric film or sheet material (10) which is drillable, platable, printable, etchable, laminable and reliable.
Abstract:
A method of ablating fluoropolymer composite materials is presented wherein it has been found that small holes (less than 100 mu m) can be formed in fluoropolymer composite laminate materials using UV lasers. The resulting holes can be used to produce vias and plated through-holes having smooth side walls with little or no debris or residue remaining in the holes and minimal damage to the polymer. Thus, the vias and plated through-holes can be plated without further cleaning processes. In addition, the holes are formed at a relatively fast rate.
Abstract:
A high frequency electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting corresponding first and second circuit elements includes a first planar array (14) of pad-type contact terminals disposed on a substrate (11) and connected to a first circuit on the substrate, together with first guide structure (18) adjacent the first array of contact terminals. A cooperating second array (40) of pad-type contact terminals is mounted on a rigid nonconductive contact support structure (42) that includes a resilient contact terminal array mounting (74), camming structure (90) and second guide structure (84, 86) for cooperation with the first guide structure. The contact support structure is resiliently coupled to a carrier structure (44) that includes cooperating camming structure (56). Flexible multi-conductor interconnection structure (36) has one end electrically connected to a cooperating electrical circuit secured to the carrier structure and its other end connected to corresponding terminals of the second array. Fastener structure (88) is adapted to secure the carrier structure and the substrate together with guide structures in engagement. As the fastener structure moves the carrier structure towards the substrate, the camming structures interact and move the contact support structure laterally (parallel to the plane of the contact arrays) in transverse wiping action, as directionally guided by the engaged first and second guide structures, to remove debris or other foreign matter (such as corrosive films) which may adversely affect electrical circuit performance.
Abstract:
Area array connector device (12) for providing electrical interconnection from contacts on a first printed circuit board surface (15) to corresponding contacts on a second opposed surface (17) consists of an electrically nonconductive support member (13) disposed between opposed board surfaces, the support member having apertures therethrough in regions of the support member generally corresponding to alignment of corresponding opposed pairs of contacts (34, 36), and electrically conductive metallic interconnect members (22) extending in elastomeric material in the regions. The metallic interconnect members extend through the elastomer, and have end surfaces (26, 28) exposed for metal-to-metal, electricity-conductive contact with the contacts, with total resistance between contacts less than about 25 milli-ohms. The member end surfaces deflect under pressure and are restored upon release of pressure, at least in part by the restorative effect of the elastomer. Preferably, the interconnect member is bodily-rotatable.
Abstract:
Extremely smooth surface on conductive foam cellular elastomeric rollers used in electrophotographic printing is provided, through the use of electrically conductive heat shrinkable tubing. The electrical conductivity of such rollers is insensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. The smooth surfaced rollers produced from the disclosed method increase the quality of the electrophotographic printing.