US4362903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical conductor interconnect providing solderable connections to hard-to-contact substrates, such as liquid crystal cells
Assignee: Amespace Inc
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Filing: 1980-12-29
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Granted: 1982-12-07
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Expires: 2000-12-29
Abstract
Abstract An electrical conductor interconnect is disclosed which permits hard-to-contact substrates, such as the glass substrate in liquid crystal display cells, to be connected to electrical apparatus by conventional soldering techniques. The interconnect conductor involves the use of a polymer loaded with both a conducting powder and a non-noble metal powder whose top surface is coated with a contiguous layer of an adherent solderable metal by an augmentation replacement reaction.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Eichelberger
- 👤 Wesley K. Waldron
- 👤 Robert J. Wojnarowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:51
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/24; H05K3/245; H05K3/246; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/09; H05K1/092; H05K1/095; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/03; H05K2201/032; H05K2201/0326; H05K2201/0332; H05K2201/0335; H05K2201/0347; H05K3/244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An electrical conductor interconnect, comprising: a first conductor; a formation of a cured polymer containing a finely-divided first metallic composition and a second metal, said formation being positioned in electrical contact to said first conductor; and a contiguous layer of said second metal, wherein said second metal is below the metal of said first metallic composition in the activity series and wherein both said formation and said contiguous layer are electrically conductive and in electrical contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electrical conductor interconnect, comprising: a first conductor; a formation of a cured polymer containing a finely-divided first metallic composition and a second metal, said formation being positioned in electrical contact to said first conductor; and a contiguous layer of said second metal, wherein said second metal is below the metal of said first metallic composition in the activity series and wherein both said formation and said contiguous layer are electrically conductive and in electrical contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 1, further comprising a second conductor having a portion thereof electrically contacting at least said contiguous layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical conductor of claim 2, wherein said contiguous layer is soldered to said second conductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 2, further comprising a substrate, said first conductor being disposed on selected portions of said substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 4, wherein said substrate comprises glass; and said first conductor comprises a tin oxide conductive pattern upon a surface of said substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 5, wherein the metal of said first metallic composition comprises nickel and zinc, and said second metal comprises copper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 6, wherein said first metallic composition comprises about 20-45% zinc and about 55-80% nickel before said polymer is cured.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 6, wherein said first metallic composition comprises about 25% zinc and about 75% nickel, before said polymer is cured.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 6, wherein the polymer comprises a polyester.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 1, wherein said finely-divided first metallic composition has a particle size of less than about 50 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 1, wherein said finely-divided first metallic composition is conductive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 1, wherein said formation further includes a conductive powder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 12, wherein said first metallic composition is not conductive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 12, wherein said conductive powder comprises tungsten oxide and said second metal comprises copper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 14, wherein said polymer comprises a polyester.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 15, wherein said first metallic composition comprises iron.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical conductor interconnect of claim 15, wherein said first metallic composition comprises nickel and zinc.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for fabricating an electrical conductor interconnect, comprising the steps of: providing a first conductor pattern; applying to selected areas of the pattern a metal ink comprising a curable polymer and a finely-divided composition of a first metal; at least partially curing said metal ink; contacting the resulting substrate with a solution of a salt of a second metal in which the second metal is below said first metal of said finely-divided composition in the activity series and whose anion forms soluble salts with the cation of said first metal, to form a contiguous layer of said second metal on said metal ink; and attaching a second conductor to at least said contiguous layer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for fabricating an electrical conductor interconnect, comprising the steps of: providing a first conductor pattern; applying to selected areas of the pattern a metal ink comprising a curable polymer and a finely-divided composition of a first metal; at least partially curing said metal ink; contacting the resulting substrate with a solution of a salt of a second metal in which the second metal is below said first metal of said finely-divided composition in the activity series and whose anion forms soluble salts with the cation of said first metal, to form a contiguous layer of said second metal on said metal ink; and attaching a second conductor to at least said contiguous layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said metal ink further includes a conductive powder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said first metal has a particle size of less than about 50 microns.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said conductive powder is present in an amount sufficient to provide a conductivity of about 200 Kohm per square of the ink after curing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said first metal and said conductive powder are present in an amount sufficient to be about 60-80% by volume of said ink after curing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said conductive powder is about 45-55 weight percent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said metal salt solution is an about 0.5-2.0 molar inorganic solution of the metal salt.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said metal salt solution is an about 1 molar aqueous solution.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said conductive powder comprises tungsten oxide and said second metal comprises copper.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said polymer is a curable polyester.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 27, wherein said first metal comprises iron.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 27, wherein said first metal comprises nickel and zinc.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18, further including a substrate, said first conductor pattern being carried on said substrate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the substrate comprises glass.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of claims 30 or 31 wherein said first conductor comprises tin oxide.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said metal ink contacts said tin oxide at at least one point.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said polymer comprises a polyester, said first metal comprises about 25% zinc and about 75% nickel, said conductive powder comprises tungsten oxide and said metal salt solution comprises aqueous copper sulfate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said second conductor is soldered to said contiguous layer.
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) | 1985-12-06 | 1986-06-07 | 1986-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-06 | 1990-06-07 | 1990-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-06 | 1994-06-07 | 1994-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |