Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
In a process for making a circuit board having a substrate with metal circuit patterns on each side with at least one connection extending through the substrate to electrically interconnect portions of the circuit patterns on opposite sides of the substrate by providing a substrate with metal conducting layers on opposite surfaces, removing portions of the metal layers to form the metal circuit patterns on opposite sides of the substrate, and forming at least one through connection to electrically connect portions of the metal circuit patterns on opposite sides of the substrate, the improvement comprising the steps of forming the through connection comprising forming an aperture having a diameter through the substrate and the metal layers on opposite sides of the substrate, increasing the diameter of the aperture in the substrate to produce an enlarged aperture with the overlying portions of the metal layers providing unsupported annular portions, deforming the unsupported annular portions of the layers towards each other into the enlarged aperture, and subsequently forming an electrical connection between the deformed annular portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a process for making a circuit board having a substrate with metal circuit patterns on each side with at least one connection extending through the substrate to electrically interconnect portions of the circuit patterns on opposite sides of the substrate by providing a substrate with metal conducting layers on opposite surfaces, removing portions of the metal layers to form the metal circuit patterns on opposite sides of the substrate, and forming at least one through connection to electrically connect portions of the metal circuit patterns on opposite sides of the substrate, the improvement comprising the steps of forming the through connection comprising forming an aperture having a diameter through the substrate and the metal layers on opposite sides of the substrate, increasing the diameter of the aperture in the substrate to produce an enlarged aperture with the overlying portions of the metal layers providing unsupported annular portions, deforming the unsupported annular portions of the layers towards each other into the enlarged aperture, and subsequently forming an electrical connection between the deformed annular portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a process according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming the electrical connection comprises galvanically depositing metal on the deformed annular portions to complete the connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a process according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming the connection between the deformed annular portions comprises welding the deformed annular portions together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a process according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming the electrical connection comprises soldering the deformed annular portions together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a process according to claim 1, wherein the step of enlarging the diameter of the aperture includes applying an etching solution to selectively etch the substrate without substantial etching of the metal layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a process according to claim 5, wherein the step of forming the electrical connection between the deformed annular portions comprises galvanically depositing metal on the deformed portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a process according to claim 5, wherein the step of forming the electrical connection between the deformed annular portions of the metal layer comprises welding the deformed portions together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a process according to claim 5, wherein the step of forming the electrical connection between the deformed annular portions comprises applying solder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a process according to claim 1, wherein the step of increasing the diameter of the aperture in the substrate increases the diameter of a sufficient distance so that the subsequent step of deforming the unsupported annular portions deforms the portions into engagement with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a process according to claim 9, wherein the step of forming the connection between the deformed annular portions comprises galvanically depositing metal on the engaged deformed annular portions to complete the connection.