EP0329314A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Uses of uniaxially electrically conductive articles
Assignee: Raychem Ltd
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Filing: 1989-02-03
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Polymer (preferably polyimide) sheets (10) with laser ablated through-holes plated with metal (20) are used for making electrical connections to specified microcircuits, especially unbumped microchips and Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) articles. Bonding with different melting-point materials at opposite ends of the plated holes is disclosed. Preferred polyimides are those derived from polymerisation of 4,4'-biphenyldianhydride and (4,4'-diaminobiphenyl, or 4,4'-diaminobiphenylether, or phenylenediamine, preferably p-phenylenediamine).
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas J. G. Smith
- 👤 Michael Joseph Ludden
- 👤 Peter Nyholm
- 👤 Paul James Gibney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:04
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/20; B; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/0008; B23K1/0016; B23K20/00; B23K20/02; B23K20/023; B23K31/00; B23K31/02; H10W40/00; H10W40/20; H10W40/25; H10W40/257; H10W70/00; H10W70/01; H10W70/05; H10W70/095; H10W70/20; H10W70/22; H10W70/60; H10W70/62; H10W70/63; H10W70/635; H10W70/67; H10W70/688; H10W70/69; H10W70/695; H10W72/071; H10W72/077; H10W72/701; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/36; B23K2101/40; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/03; H05K1/0313; H05K1/032; H05K1/0326; H05K1/0333; H05K1/0346; H05K1/0353; H05K1/036; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/01; H05K2201/0104; H05K2201/0116; H05K2201/0137; H05K2201/0154; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/10378; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/10; H05K2203/107; H05K3/00; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0017; H05K3/0026; H05K3/0032; H10W70/65; H10W70/654; H10W70/655; H10W72/01; H10W72/012; H10W72/01212; H10W72/01221; H10W72/01225; H10W72/072; H10W72/07231; H10W72/07236; H10W72/251; H10W72/281; H10W72/90; H10W72/951; H10W72/952; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/721; H10W90/724
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of making substantially permanent electrical connections between connection sites on a first substrate and corresponding connection sites on a second substrate, comprising (a) aligning the connection sites of the first substrate face to face with the corresponding connection sites on the second substrate, (b) placing between the facing substrates a uniaxially electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material with at least one through-hole aligned between each pair of facing connection sites, the through-holes being internally plated with electrically conductive material which provides an electrically conductive path between, and projects beyond, the main surfaces of the sheet material and including bonding material capable of bonding to the said connection sites, and (c) bonding the ends of the electrically conductive material in the through-holes to the respective corresponding pairs of facing connection sites, one or both of the connection sites in each pair prior to the bonding being substantially free of fusible bonding material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of making substantially permanent electrical connections between connection sites on a first substrate and corresponding connection sites on a second substrate, comprising (a) aligning the connection sites of the first substrate face to face with the corresponding connection sites on the second substrate, (b) placing between the facing substrates a uniaxially electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material with at least one through-hole aligned between each pair of facing connection sites, the through-holes being internally plated with electrically conductive material which provides an electrically conductive path between, and projects beyond, the main surfaces of the sheet material and including bonding material capable of bonding to the said connection sites, and (c) bonding the ends of the electrically conductive material in the through-holes to the respective corresponding pairs of facing connection sites, one or both of the connection sites in each pair prior to the bonding being substantially free of fusible bonding material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a tube of the plated metal in each through-hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the bonding material is solder at least at one end of each through-hole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the bonding material is gold at least at one end of each through-hole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to Claim 4 wherein the gold has a thickness of at least 1.5, preferably at least 2, micrometres.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the electrically conductive material is bonded to the connection sites by thermocompression bonding.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the uniaxially electrically conductive article has only one through-hole containing the electrically conductive material between each pair of facing connection sites.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
33 words
A method according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the uniaxially electrically conductive article has more than one through-hole containing the electrically conductive material between each pair of facing connection sites.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
37 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the uniaxially electrically conductive article has through-holes containg the electrically conductive material in areas of the sheet material which are not aligned between the facing pairs of connection sites.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly comprising a first substrate electrically connected to a second substrate by a method according to any of Claims 1 to 9.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly according to Claim 10, wherein at least one of the said substrates is a microcircuit chip.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of making electrical connections between an array of connection sites on an integrated circuit microelectronic device and electrical conductors carried on a film or tape support material with an array of unsupported end portions of the conductors projecting beyond an edge of the support material, wherein:- (a) the said end portions of the conductors are respectively aligned with the said connection sites to which connections are to be made, (b) an anisotropically electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material with through-holes containing electrically conductive material which provides an electrically conductive path from one of the main surface regions of the sheet material to the other is positioned with the respective ends of at least one such path aligned between each connection site and the conductor end portion aligned therewith, and (c) the ends of the path(s) so aligned are bonded respectively to the connection sites and to the conductor end portions.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of making electrical connections between an array of connection sites on an integrated circuit microelectronic device and electrical conductors carried on a film or tape support material with an array of unsupported end portions of the conductors projecting beyond an edge of the support material, wherein:- (a) the said end portions of the conductors are respectively aligned with the said connection sites to which connections are to be made, (b) an anisotropically electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material with through-holes containing electrically conductive material which provides an electrically conductive path from one of the main surface regions of the sheet material to the other is positioned with the respective ends of at least one such path aligned between each connection site and the conductor end portion aligned therewith, and (c) the ends of the path(s) so aligned are bonded respectively to the connection sites and to the conductor end portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
An anisotropically electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material and electrically conductive material providing electrically separate conductive paths (preferably close-fitting within holes in the sheet material) between the opposed main surface regions thereof, wherein the conductive material at one end of the said paths (preferably projecting beyond one of the sheet surface regions) is bondable by thermocompression, and the conductive material at the other end of the said paths is bondable by solder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
An anisotropically electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material and electrically conductive material providing electrically separate conductive paths (preferably close-fitting within holes in the sheet material) between the opposed main surface regions thereof, wherein the conductive material at one end of the said paths (preferably projecting beyond one of the sheet surface regions) is bondable by thermocompression, and the conductive material at the other end of the said paths is bondable by solder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
An article according to Claim 13 which is substantially uniaxially conductive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein the sheet material has through-holes therein containing the electrically conductive material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article according to Claim 15, wherein the conductive material in each through-hole is electrically separate from that in the other through-holes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to Claim 14 or 15, wherein the through-holes are internally plated with a tubular formation of metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article according to any of Claims 13 to 17, wherein the thermocompression-bondable material comprises gold metal and the solder-bondable material comprises at least one other metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to any of Claimss 13 to 18 comprising gold metal at both ends of the said paths.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
An article according to Claim 18 or 19, wherein the conductive paths comprise at least one metal which is not thermocompression-bondable carrying at least two micrometres thickness of gold metal at one or both ends.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
An article according to any of Claims 13 to 20, wherein the conductive material carries solder for bonding the solder-bondable ends of the paths.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article according to any of Claims 13 to 21, wherein the solder bondable conductive material projects beyond the adjacent sheet surface region.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
An article according to any of Claims 13 to 21, wherein the solder-bondable conductive material ends in a recess below the level of the sheet surface in the sense that it ends sufficiently far below the surface to avoid making electrical contact with an electrically conductive member when a surface of that member which is wider than the recess is brought into contact with the sheet surface containing the recess so as to overlie the recess.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
101 words
An article according to any of Claims 13 to 23, for making electrical connections to a predetermined pattern of connection sites on a first substrate when arranged in face-to-face alignment with a corresponding pattern of connection sites on a second substrate, the article having a pattern of the said conductive paths corresponding to the said patterns of connection sites to make electrical connections between facing pairs of the connection sites when the sheet material in use is arranged between the substrates with the conductive material at the respective ends of each path in contact with its corresponding pair of connection sites.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
An article according to any of Claims 13 to 23, at least a portion of which has at least 25 of the conductive paths per square millimetre of the sheet surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article according to any of Claims 13 to 25, having the thermocompression-bondable ends of at least some of the conductive paths thermocompression-bonded to connection sites on an integrated circuit semiconductor device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
An article according to Claim 26, having the solder-bondable ends of at least some of the conductive paths solder bonded to microelectronic interconnect circuitry.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article according any of the Claims 13 to 25, having the thermocompression-bondable ends of at least some of the conductive paths thermocompression-bonded to microelectronic interconnect circuitry.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
An article according to Claim 28, having the solder-bondable ends of at least some of the conductive paths solder bonded to connection sites on an integrated circuit semiconductor device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
70 words
An anisotropically (preferably substantially uniaxially) electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material and electrically conductive material providing electrically separate conductive paths close-fitting within holes in the sheet material between the opposed main surface regions thereof, wherein the conductive material at one end of the said paths is bondable at a temperature lower than the minimum bonding temperature of the conductive material at the other end of the said paths.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
70 words
An anisotropically (preferably substantially uniaxially) electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material and electrically conductive material providing electrically separate conductive paths close-fitting within holes in the sheet material between the opposed main surface regions thereof, wherein the conductive material at one end of the said paths is bondable at a temperature lower than the minimum bonding temperature of the conductive material at the other end of the said paths.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
An article according to Claim 19 wherein the bondable material comprises a first solder at one end of the said paths and a second solder at the other end of the said paths.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of making electrical connections wherein an anisotropically electrically conductive article according to any of Claims 13 to 31:- (a) is thermocompression bonded to electrical conductors at one end of the said paths, and is solder bonded to electrical conductors at the other end of the said paths, or (b) is solder bonded to electrical conductors at one end of the said paths by solder having a first minimum bonding temperature, and is solder bonded to electrical conductors at the other end of the said paths at a temperature below the said first minimum bonding bonding temperature by solder having a second minimum bonding temperature which is lower than the first minimum bonding temperature.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
A uniaxially electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material with through-holes individually containing electrically conductive material which provides an electrically conductive path between the main surfaces of the sheet material, the surface of the electrically conductive material which is exposed to contact comprising at least 2 micrometres thickness of gold.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
51 words
A uniaxially electrically conductive article comprising electrically insulating sheet material with through-holes individually containing electrically conductive material which provides an electrically conductive path between the main surfaces of the sheet material, the surface of the electrically conductive material which is exposed to contact comprising at least 2 micrometres thickness of gold.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article according to Claim 33, wherein the gold is plated on at least part of a tubular formation of another metal plated in the through-holes.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article comprising a strip of electrically insulating sheet material carrying two or more arrays of the through-holes containing electrically conductive material as specified in any preceding claim.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article according to Claim 35 adapted for feeding to processing equipment by mechanical, preferably automatic, feed means.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
53 words
A method, assembly, or article according to any preceding claim, wherein the said insulating sheet material is a polyimide capable of retaining at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 85%, of its original elongation after immersion in water of pH10 at 100°C for 4 days according to ASTM D882.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
35 words
A method, assembly, or article according to any preceding claim, wherein the said insulating sheet material is a polyimide derived from polymerisation of 4,4′-biphenyl dianhydride and (4,4′-diaminobiphenyl, or 4,4′ diaminobiphenyl ether, or phenylenediamine, prefereably p-phenylenediamine).
Claim 44
Independent Claim
37 words
A method, assembly, or article according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some, preferably substantially all, of the conductive paths are not more than 200 micrometres in diameter, preferably not more than 100 micrometres in diameter.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
24 words
A method, assembly, or article according to any preceding claim, wherein the said holes are made by laser drilling, preferably by U.V. laser ablation.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
30 words
A method, assembly, or article according to any preceding claim, wherein the said holes have a taper relative to the hole axis of less than 10°, preferably less than 8°.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method, assembly, or article according to claim 41, wherein the taper is less than 6°, preferably less than 4°.
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