US4808431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for controlling plating on seeded surfaces
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1987-12-08
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2007-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for preparing and maintaining an electroless plating bath. Seeded surfaces include a palladium and tin coating which receives plating from an electroless plating bath. The plating bath conditions are maintained by measuring the open circuit potential of the bath with a potentiostat. The chemical constituent concentration levels are adjusted to a first open circuit potential for the bath. Air is removed from the bath and the open circuit potential increases to a second level representing a bath chemical activity which produces optimum electroless plating on the seeded surfaces. Parts having seeded surfaces are inserted in the bath and a flow of air is re-established in the bath, rendering less negative the open circuit voltage potential during plating of the parts.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Rickert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:30
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/1601; C23C18/1633; C23C18/1675; C23C18/1682; C23C18/1683; C23C18/31; C23C18/38; C23C18/40; C23C18/405; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/181; H05K3/187
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for preparing an electroless plating bath for plating parts having a seeded surface, said bath comprising a plurality of chemical constituents, including air, which are controlled to achieve a desired plating condition comprising: measuring the open circuit potential of said bath Emix; adjusting some of said bath chemical constituent concentration levels within a predetermined range until a first Emix potential between a working electrode and a reference electrode immersion in said bath is reached; removing air from said bath, whereby said bath open circuit Emix potential reaches a second Emix below an Emix level which produces undesirable nodules on parts in said bath; inserting seeded parts to be plated in said bath; re-establishing a flow of air in said bath, whereby said Emix potential decreases during plating of said parts.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for preparing an electroless plating bath for plating parts having a seeded surface, said bath comprising a plurality of chemical constituents, including air, which are controlled to achieve a desired plating condition comprising: measuring the open circuit potential of said bath Emix; adjusting some of said bath chemical constituent concentration levels within a predetermined range until a first Emix potential between a working electrode and a reference electrode immersion in said bath is reached; removing air from said bath, whereby said bath open circuit Emix potential reaches a second Emix below an Emix level which produces undesirable nodules on parts in said bath; inserting seeded parts to be plated in said bath; re-establishing a flow of air in said bath, whereby said Emix potential decreases during plating of said parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a test coupon is inserted in said bath to verify the plating qualities of said bath prior to inserting said parts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: generating a flow of current between a reference electrode and said working electrode immersed in said bath; measuring the potential of said working electrode with respect to said reference electrode for first and second current levels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said precise time occurs when said currents are equal and said measured potentials are -200 mv and -300 mv.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
In an electroless copper plating bath which plates copper onto a seeded surface, said bath including formaldehyde, copper sulfate, EDTA and a supply of air, a method for controlling bath chemistry to avoid the plating of nodules on said seeded surface comprising: adjusting the formaldehyde concentration to obtain a predetermined plating rate in said bath; measuring the voltage between a pair of immersed electrodes to determine an open circuit potential Emix; adjusting the remaining of said bath constituents to obtain a first potential Emix; inhibiting said supply of air when said first potential Emix is reached, whereby said bath chemical activity increases to a level sufficient to produce plating on a seeded part but insufficient to generate copper nodules on said seeded part; and re-enabling said supply of air after said seeded surfaces have been inserted in said bath, whereby said bath chemistry becomes less active during plating of said seeded surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
In an electroless copper plating bath which plates copper onto a seeded surface, said bath including formaldehyde, copper sulfate, EDTA and a supply of air, a method for controlling bath chemistry to avoid the plating of nodules on said seeded surface comprising: adjusting the formaldehyde concentration to obtain a predetermined plating rate in said bath; measuring the voltage between a pair of immersed electrodes to determine an open circuit potential Emix; adjusting the remaining of said bath constituents to obtain a first potential Emix; inhibiting said supply of air when said first potential Emix is reached, whereby said bath chemical activity increases to a level sufficient to produce plating on a seeded part but insufficient to generate copper nodules on said seeded part; and re-enabling said supply of air after said seeded surfaces have been inserted in said bath, whereby said bath chemistry becomes less active during plating of said seeded surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising waiting a period of time after inserting said seeded surfaces into said bath before re-enabling said supply of air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said period of time is within the range of 15 to 20 minutes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising a test coupon in said bath to determine whether said bath is ready to accept said seeded surfaces.
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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) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |