US4698907A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for manufacturing a circuit board by a direct electrostatic transfer and deposition process
Assignee: SOMICH TECHNOLOGY Inc 39 WOODCROFT BAY WINNIPEG MANITOBA R2R 1C6
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Filing: 1986-02-19
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Granted: 1987-10-13
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Expires: 2006-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A process for the manufacture of circuitry in the form generally known as circuit boards comprises the manufacture of a master pattern from a conductive layer and a superposed non-conductive layer which can receive an electrical charge. The master pattern is contacted by a developer containing a conductive material in the form of powder or ink which transfers the conductive material to the pattern layers on the master pattern by electrostatic force. A non-conductive substrate is then brought to a position closely adjacent to the master pattern and electrostatic forces used to transfer the particles from the master pattern onto the substrate in the required pattern. The particles are then fixed by heating. Multiple layer circuits can be built up using nonconductive layers. A coating can be applied to the conductive particles to enable them to accept an electrostatic charge, the coating being dissipated during the heat fixing.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Soszek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:08
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/102; H05K3/12; H05K3/1266; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/05; H05K2203/0502; H05K2203/0517; H05K3/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S101/00; Y10S101/37; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for producing an electrically conductive pattern on an electrically non-conductive surface layer comprising dispensing a powder material onto a master pattern, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer and said master pattern to transfer said powder material from said master pattern directly onto said surface layer so as to duplicate the master pattern on the surface layer and fixing said material on said surface layer, said powder material consisting of a non-magnetic conductive material which when fixed onto said surface, forms a suitable electrical conductor, and which is modified when dispensing onto said master pattern to be capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for producing an electrically conductive pattern on an electrically non-conductive surface layer comprising dispensing a powder material onto a master pattern, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer and said master pattern to transfer said powder material from said master pattern directly onto said surface layer so as to duplicate the master pattern on the surface layer and fixing said material on said surface layer, said powder material consisting of a non-magnetic conductive material which when fixed onto said surface, forms a suitable electrical conductor, and which is modified when dispensing onto said master pattern to be capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the material is in the form of powder particles with a coating on said powder particles which coating is arranged to increase the acceptance by said particles of electrostatic charges when dispensed and is deactivated by said fixing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said coating is deactivated by being removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein the coating is non-conductive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein the coating is triboelectric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the material is in liquid form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said fixing is carried out by high temperature heating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention according to claim 7 wherein said heating is provided by a heat source and wherein the heat source, material and surface layer are arranged such that the material has a higher absorption of heat from said source than does said surface layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein said heat source comprises a source of infra-red energy and wherein said material contains an infra-red absorbing additive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein said heat source comprises a source of microwave energy and wherein said material has a large loss-angle at microwave frequencies.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said master pattern has a photoconductive layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention according to claim 11 wherein said photoconductive layer is radiated by laser light to create the desired pattern for generation of said electrostatic forces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said master pattern comprises a carrier of an electrically conductive material having on a surface thereof a pattern layer of electrically non-conductive material on which an electrostatic charge can be induced.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 13 wherein said pattern layer is formed on said carrier by radiation thereof with a laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 13 wherein said pattern layer material is selected from the group consisting of melamine resin, urea resin, alkyd resin, phenolic resin, epoxy resin, acetal resin, polyamide, and styrene polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said electrically non-conductive surface layer is chosen from the group consisting of thermo plastic and inorganic dielectric materials.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said electrically non-conductive surface layer is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polysulfone, polycarbonate, polyimide, alumina, silica and beryllia.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for producing an electrically conductive pattern on an electrically non-conductive surface layer comprising dispensing a powder material onto a master pattern, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer and said master pattern to transfer said powder material from said master pattern directly onto said surface layer so as to duplicate the master pattern on the surface layer and fixing said material on said surface layer, said powder material consisting of a conductive material which when fixed onto said surface, forms a suitable electrical conductor, and which is modified when dispensing onto said master pattern to be capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto, including the steps of dispensing onto a second master pattern a second powder material of the type that when dispensed onto said second master pattern is capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto and when fixed onto said surface is electrically non-conductive, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer having thereon said fixed powder material and said second master pattern to transfer said second powder material from said second master pattern directly onto said surface layer and fixing said second powder material on said layer to form a non-conductive layer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for producing an electrically conductive pattern on an electrically non-conductive surface layer comprising dispensing a powder material onto a master pattern, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer and said master pattern to transfer said powder material from said master pattern directly onto said surface layer so as to duplicate the master pattern on the surface layer and fixing said material on said surface layer, said powder material consisting of a conductive material which when fixed onto said surface, forms a suitable electrical conductor, and which is modified when dispensing onto said master pattern to be capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto, including the steps of dispensing onto a second master pattern a second powder material of the type that when dispensed onto said second master pattern is capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto and when fixed onto said surface is electrically non-conductive, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer having thereon said fixed powder material and said second master pattern to transfer said second powder material from said second master pattern directly onto said surface layer and fixing said second powder material on said layer to form a non-conductive layer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for producing an electrically conductive pattern on an electrically non-conductive surface layer comprising dispensing a powder material onto a master pattern, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer and said master pattern to transfer said powder material from said master pattern directly onto said surface layer so as to duplicate the master pattern on the surface layer and fixing said material on said surface layer, said powder material consisting of a conductive material which when fixed onto said surface, forms a suitable electrical conductor, and which is modified when dispensing onto said master pattern to be capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto, wherein said master pattern has a photo conductive layer and wherein said photo conductive layer is radiated by laser light to create the desired pattern for generation of said electrostatic forces.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for producing an electrically conductive pattern on an electrically non-conductive surface layer comprising dispensing a powder material onto a master pattern, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer and said master pattern to transfer said powder material from said master pattern directly onto said surface layer so as to duplicate the master pattern on the surface layer and fixing said material on said surface layer, said powder material consisting of a conductive material which when fixed onto said surface, forms a suitable electrical conductor, and which is modified when dispensing onto said master pattern to be capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto, wherein said master pattern has a photo conductive layer and wherein said photo conductive layer is radiated by laser light to create the desired pattern for generation of said electrostatic forces.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for producing an electrically conductive pattern on an electrically non-conductive surface layer comprising dispensing a powder material onto a master pattern, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer and said master pattern to transfer said powder material from said master pattern directly onto said surface layer so as to duplicate the master pattern on the surface layer and fixing said material on said surface layer, said powder material consisting of a conductive material which when fixed onto said surface, forms a suitable electrical conductor, and which is modified when dispensing onto said master pattern to be capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto, wherein said master pattern comprises a carrier of an electrically conductive material having on a surface thereof a pattern layer of electrically non-conductive material on which an electrostatic charge can be induced and wherein said pattern layer is formed on said carrier by radiation thereof with a laser.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for producing an electrically conductive pattern on an electrically non-conductive surface layer comprising dispensing a powder material onto a master pattern, generating electrostatic forces between said surface layer and said master pattern to transfer said powder material from said master pattern directly onto said surface layer so as to duplicate the master pattern on the surface layer and fixing said material on said surface layer, said powder material consisting of a conductive material which when fixed onto said surface, forms a suitable electrical conductor, and which is modified when dispensing onto said master pattern to be capable of retaining an electrical charge applied thereto, wherein said master pattern comprises a carrier of an electrically conductive material having on a surface thereof a pattern layer of electrically non-conductive material on which an electrostatic charge can be induced and wherein said pattern layer is formed on said carrier by radiation thereof with a laser.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-10-12 | 1991-04-13 | 1991-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-12 | 1995-04-13 | 1995-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-12 | 1999-04-13 | 1999-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |