Mask registration during continuous photoetching of strip material
Abstract
Abstract PRINTED CIRCUITS ARE MADE FROM A STRIP OF INSULATIVE MATERIAL HAVING METAL FILMS BONDED ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF. HOLES ARE PUNCHED IN SUCCESSIVE SECTIONS OF THE STRIP TO RECEIVE COMPONENT LEADS OR TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN CIRCUITS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BOARD. THE METAL FILMS ARE COVERED WITH A RADIANT ENERGY SENSITIVE RESIST AND THE RESIST COVERED STRIP IS MOVED CONTINUOUSLY PAST A FIRST RADIANT ENERGY SOURCE ADJACENT A FIRST SIDE OF THE STRIP AND PAST A SECOND RADIANT ENERGY SOURCE ADJACENT THE SECOND SIDE OF THE STRIP. A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL MASKS ARE BROUGHT INTO SUCCESSIVE ENGAGE MENT WITH THE FIRST SIDE OF THE STRIP SUCH THAT A SINGLE MASK IS IN REGISTRATION WITH EACH SECTION PASSES THE FIRST RADIANT ENERGY SOURCE. A SECOND PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL MASKS ARE BROUGHT INTO SUCCESSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SECOND SIDE OF THE STRIP SUCH THAT A SINGLE MASK IS IN REGISTRATION WITH EACH SECTION AS THE STRIP PASSES THE SECOND RADIANT ENERGY SOURCE. THE RESIST MATERIAL IS THEN DEVELOPED AND THE METAL COATING IS ETCHED TO PRODUCE THE DESIRED CIRCUIT PATTERN. ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS MAY THEN BE FORMED THROUGH HOLES CONNECTING CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STRIP.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas E Campbell
- 👤 Richard A Harris
Bibliographic Details
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