Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
The method for attaching a first structure to a second structure comprising the steps of: providing an adhesive composition comprising an adhesive, a solvent, and a plurality of spacer means; physically placing said first structure and said second structure on opposite sides of and in contact with a layer of said adhesive composition; subjecting said first and second structures and said layer of adhesive composition to a first selected temperature sufficient to cause the evaporation of said solvent from said layer of adhesive composition and greater than or equal to the melting point of said spacer means, thereby causing said spacer means to decrease in thickness, subjecting said first and said second structures and said layer of adhesive composition to a second selected temperature greater than said first selected temperature, said second selected temperature being sufficient to cause said layer of adhesive composition to melt; and cooling said first and second structures and said layer of adhesive composition to a temperature beneath said second selected temperature, thereby causing said layer of adhesive to solidify, thereby permanently attaching said first structure to said second structure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
The method for attaching a first structure to a second structure comprising the steps of: providing an adhesive composition comprising an adhesive, a solvent, and a plurality of spacer means; physically placing said first structure and said second structure on opposite sides of and in contact with a layer of said adhesive composition; subjecting said first and second structures and said layer of adhesive composition to a first selected temperature sufficient to cause the evaporation of said solvent from said layer of adhesive composition and greater than or equal to the melting point of said spacer means, thereby causing said spacer means to decrease in thickness, subjecting said first and said second structures and said layer of adhesive composition to a second selected temperature greater than said first selected temperature, said second selected temperature being sufficient to cause said layer of adhesive composition to melt; and cooling said first and second structures and said layer of adhesive composition to a temperature beneath said second selected temperature, thereby causing said layer of adhesive to solidify, thereby permanently attaching said first structure to said second structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said adhesive comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of glass, polyimide and organic adhesives.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said spacer means comprise an alloy of lead, tin, and bismuth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said spacer means comprise a eutectic of, by weight, approximately 32 percent lead, 15.5 percent tin, and 52.5 percent bismuth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent comprises a solvent selected from the group of solvents consisting of terpineol, ethylene glycol, desinol, and flourocarbons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said spacer means comprise a material selected from the group of materials consisting of lead, tin, bismuth, and glass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of physically placing comprises the steps of: placing said adhesive composition on said first structure; and placing said second structure on said adhesive composition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of physically placing comprises the steps of: placing said adhesive composition on said second structure; and placing said second structure on said first structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as in claim 1, 5, or 6 wherein said spacer means are spheres.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, 6 or 7 wherein said first structure comprises a substrate and said second structure comprising a semiconductor device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein at said first selected temperature said spacer means are deformed such that their thickness decreases by an amount which approximately equals the decrease in thickness of said adhesive composition due to said evaporation of said solvent.