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US4017495A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Encapsulation of integrated circuits

Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1975-10-23
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Granted: 1977-04-12
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Expires: 1995-10-23
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is a method of encapsulating integrated circuit chips formed on an insulating substrate which permits complete filling of areas under the chip. The encapsulant employed is a dispersion of a material, such as a silicone elastomer, which cures by reaction with water vapor. Subsequent to application of the encapsulant over and under the chip, the solvent of the dispersion is evaporated during a pre-cure treatment by means of a dry ambient of less than 5% relative humidity which suppresses crosslinking. After essentially all the solvent is thus removed, the encapsulant is cured by exposure to a second ambient of higher relative humidity which enhances crosslinking.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald Jaffe
  • 👤 Nicholas Alec Soos

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 04:06
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W74/00; H10W74/01; H10W74/10; H10W74/111; H10W74/114; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49146

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 99 words
A method of encapsulating a circuit element formed on an insulating substrate wherein a gap exists between the element and the substrate and whereby the area under the element is filled with encapsulant comprising the steps of: applying over and under said element an encapsulant comprising a dispersion of a material which cures by reaction with moisture; evaporating the solvent of said dispersion by exposure to a first dry ambient with a relative humidity of less than 5%, which suppresses crosslinking and curing the material by exposure to a second ambient with a relative humidity of at least 20%.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 99 words
A method of encapsulating a circuit element formed on an insulating substrate wherein a gap exists between the element and the substrate and whereby the area under the element is filled with encapsulant comprising the steps of: applying over and under said element an encapsulant comprising a dispersion of a material which cures by reaction with moisture; evaporating the solvent of said dispersion by exposure to a first dry ambient with a relative humidity of less than 5%, which suppresses crosslinking and curing the material by exposure to a second ambient with a relative humidity of at least 20%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the circuit element is a beam-leaded integrated circuit chip which is raised above the surface of said substrate so as to form a gap between chip and substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the solvent of said dispersion comprises xylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the encapsulating material comprises a silicone elastomer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the first ambient comprises nitrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the second ambient comprises air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the solvent is evaporated for a time of at least one hour.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the relative humidity of the first ambient is less than 1%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the relative humidity of the second ambient is within the range 20-60%.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of encapsulating a beam-leaded integrated circuit chip formed on an insulating substrate wherein a gap exists between the chip and the substrate and whereby the area under the chip is filled with encapsulant comprising the steps of: applying over and under said chip and substrate an encapsulant comprising a dispersion of a room temperature vulcanizing silicone elastomer which cures by reaction with moisture; evaporating the solvent of said dispersion by exposure to a first dry ambient with a relative humidity of less than 5% for a minimum of 1 hour, which suppresses crosslinking; and curing the material by exposure to a second ambient with a relative humidity in the range 20-60%.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of encapsulating a beam-leaded integrated circuit chip formed on an insulating substrate wherein a gap exists between the chip and the substrate and whereby the area under the chip is filled with encapsulant comprising the steps of: applying over and under said chip and substrate an encapsulant comprising a dispersion of a room temperature vulcanizing silicone elastomer which cures by reaction with moisture; evaporating the solvent of said dispersion by exposure to a first dry ambient with a relative humidity of less than 5% for a minimum of 1 hour, which suppresses crosslinking; and curing the material by exposure to a second ambient with a relative humidity in the range 20-60%.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 130 words
A method of encapsulating a beam-leaded integrated circuit chip with sides at least 0.080 inches long formed on an insulating substrate wherein a gap exists between chip and substrate in the range of 0.01 - 0.003 inches and whereby the area under the chip is filled with encapsulant comprising the steps of: applying over and under said chip and substrate an encapsulant comprising a dispersion of a solvent comprising zylene and a room temperature vulcanizing silicone elastomer which cures by reaction with moisture; evaporating essentially all of the solvent by exposure to a first ambient comprising nitrogen with a relative humidity of less than 1% for a minimum of three hours which suppresses crosslinking; and curing the material by exposure to air with a relative humidity in the range 20-60%.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 130 words
A method of encapsulating a beam-leaded integrated circuit chip with sides at least 0.080 inches long formed on an insulating substrate wherein a gap exists between chip and substrate in the range of 0.01 - 0.003 inches and whereby the area under the chip is filled with encapsulant comprising the steps of: applying over and under said chip and substrate an encapsulant comprising a dispersion of a solvent comprising zylene and a room temperature vulcanizing silicone elastomer which cures by reaction with moisture; evaporating essentially all of the solvent by exposure to a first ambient comprising nitrogen with a relative humidity of less than 1% for a minimum of three hours which suppresses crosslinking; and curing the material by exposure to air with a relative humidity in the range 20-60%.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3661816A Cited
US3606673A Cited
US3631589A Cited
US3661817A Cited
US3845161A Cited
US3819772A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-04-11 1980-10-11 1981-04-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-04-11 1984-10-11 1985-04-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-04-11 1988-10-11 1989-04-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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