US3589704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Holders for irregularly formed integrated circuit devices
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1968-11-12
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A fluid underlying or encasing a thin multilayer printed circuit device with an irregular underside structure provides uniform backing support for electrical probing of the device. In this instance the irregular structure is formed in relief from a main substrate board by joinder to the board of external circuit chip elements and discrete point-to-point connection wires. In one embodiment the device is clamped in a work holder with which it forms an airtight chamber. This chamber is filled to capacity with an incompressible dielectric fluid which supports the device and enables it to withstand substantial external forces as might be caused by the pressure of a matrix of test probes. Supply and vent valves are manipulated first to admit the fluid while releasing entrapped air and then to isolate the fluid when the chamber is filled so that external forces are transferred to the fluid only through the chamber wall formed by the device. The same valves are manipulated in reverse to remove fluid as one device is uncoupled from the fixture and replaced by another.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank J Kurtz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:32
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q3/00; B23Q3/02; B23Q3/06; B23Q3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
The method of providing firm backing support for an electrical circuit device having delicate electrical structures supported on a backed surface thereof whereby substantial forwardly directed forces can be received unyieldingly on a surface thereof opposite said backed surface without risk of deformation or destruction of said delicate electrical structures, said medium having compliant and unyielding conditions of backing support which can be established selectively, said medium being a substance which is in a liquid state in both its compliant and unyielding conditions of support and said unyielding condition being established by: first forming a chamber with said device incorporated as an element; next feeding said liquid into said chamber, while allowing entrapped air and excess liquid to escape, thereby filling said chamber with said liquid in a compliant condition; and then locking said liquid in said chamber temporarily, by use of movable gating means, to establish said liquid temporarily in said unyielding condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
The method of providing firm backing support for an electrical circuit device having delicate electrical structures supported on a backed surface thereof whereby substantial forwardly directed forces can be received unyieldingly on a surface thereof opposite said backed surface without risk of deformation or destruction of said delicate electrical structures, said medium having compliant and unyielding conditions of backing support which can be established selectively, said medium being a substance which is in a liquid state in both its compliant and unyielding conditions of support and said unyielding condition being established by: first forming a chamber with said device incorporated as an element; next feeding said liquid into said chamber, while allowing entrapped air and excess liquid to escape, thereby filling said chamber with said liquid in a compliant condition; and then locking said liquid in said chamber temporarily, by use of movable gating means, to establish said liquid temporarily in said unyielding condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said substance is a poor conductor of electricity and wherein said step of locking said liquid in said chamber is followed by said applying of external forces, unlocking and removal of said liquid, and disassembly of said chamber.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of providing firm backing support for an electrical circuit device having a fragile and irregularly formed electrical underside structure, whereby said device may receive substantial external forces without damaging and without risk of damage to said underside structure, comprising successive steps of: contacting a major portion of said underside structure with a compliant supporting medium which can be established alternately in compliant and unyielding conditions of backing support; establishing said medium initially in said compliant condition while contact is made between said device underside structure and said medium; establishing said medium in said unyielding condition; and applying said substantial forces to said device; wherein said medium is a substance which is plastic when heated and fluid when cooled, and said compliant and unyielding conditions are established alternately by: maintaining said substance in said plastic condition while initial contact is made with said device underside structure; and thereafter permitting said substance to cool to the solid condition.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of providing firm backing support for an electrical circuit device having a fragile and irregularly formed electrical underside structure, whereby said device may receive substantial external forces without damaging and without risk of damage to said underside structure, comprising successive steps of: contacting a major portion of said underside structure with a compliant supporting medium which can be established alternately in compliant and unyielding conditions of backing support; establishing said medium initially in said compliant condition while contact is made between said device underside structure and said medium; establishing said medium in said unyielding condition; and applying said substantial forces to said device; wherein said medium is a substance which is plastic when heated and fluid when cooled, and said compliant and unyielding conditions are established alternately by: maintaining said substance in said plastic condition while initial contact is made with said device underside structure; and thereafter permitting said substance to cool to the solid condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said substance is removed from said device by: reheating said substance to said plastic condition; manually removing a major portion of the substance while it is in said plastic condition; and chemically removing any residue of said substance with a solvent effective to dissolve the substance and yet not damage or contaminate said underside structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said substance is the material commonly identified in the jewelry trade as engraver''s cement, and said solvent is acetone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus to provide firm underlying support for a circuit device having a fragile and irregularly formed underside structure, whereby said device may safely receive substantial external forces without deforming and without damage to said structure, comprising: means for engaging said device to form a completely enclosed chamber; movable gating means communicating with said chamber; means to operate said gating means to opened and closed conditions; and means to supply an Incompressible fluid to fill said chamber and simultaneously release entrapped air from said chamber through said opened gating means; said fluid being in a compliant condition, when filling said chamber while said gating means is opened, and in an unyielding condition of support relative to said device when it fills said chamber and said gating means is closed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus to provide firm underlying support for a circuit device having a fragile and irregularly formed underside structure, whereby said device may safely receive substantial external forces without deforming and without damage to said structure, comprising: means for engaging said device to form a completely enclosed chamber; movable gating means communicating with said chamber; means to operate said gating means to opened and closed conditions; and means to supply an Incompressible fluid to fill said chamber and simultaneously release entrapped air from said chamber through said opened gating means; said fluid being in a compliant condition, when filling said chamber while said gating means is opened, and in an unyielding condition of support relative to said device when it fills said chamber and said gating means is closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said fluid is a poor conductor of electricity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said fluid is a fluorocarbon liquid having a low boiling point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said fluid supply and air release means comprises a network of at least one fluid supply duct and at least two air-venting ducts, the latter ducts having openings in said chamber adjacent said device understructure and a common manifold duct.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said gating means comprises manually controllable valves controlling flow of fluid in said supply duct and said manifold venting duct.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including sighting means coupled to said manifold venting duct through one of said valves permitting indirect visual observation of the level of fluid in said chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 including a container holding a supply of said fluid and means coupling said container to said supply duct through another of said valves for entering said fluid into said chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said last-mentioned coupling means is flexible and said container is mounted for vertical movement enabling it to be elevated and depressed to positions at which the level of fluid therein is respectively higher and lower than said vent duct openings in said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |