US4853252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and coating material for applying electrically conductive printed patterns to insulating substrates
Assignee: MICHAEL HUBER HEIMSTTETEN A GERMANY CORP GmbH
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Filing: 1987-12-03
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Granted: 1989-08-01
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Expires: 2007-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and coating material for applying electrically conductive printed patterns to insulating substrates is provided. The coating material includes a non-metallic, grainy carrier substance having metal of the oxidation degree 0 applied thereto. An energy radiation source, particularly of a deflectable laser beam, is used to secure anchoring of the carrier substance to the substrate in the region of the desired printed pattern. As a consequence of a three-dimensional arrangement of the metal, a three-dimensional nuclei distribution is produced that leads to a reliable and fast metallization of the printed pattern on the basis of chemical metal deposition. The method of the invention is especially suited for laser pattern transfer for the manufacture of printed circuit boards.
Inventors
- 👤 Juergen Frankel
- 👤 Antoon Mattelin
- 👤 Pol Pecceu
- 👤 Ferdinand Quella
- 👤 Hans-Fr. Schmidt
- 👤 Luc Boone
- 👤 Sybille von Tomkewitsch
- 👤 Marc De Vogelaere
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:57
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/398; C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/18; C23C18/20; C23C18/2006; C23C18/2026; C23C18/204; C23C18/2046; C23C18/2053; C23C18/206; C23C18/28; C23C18/30; C23C26/00; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/181; H05K3/182; H05K3/185; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/01; H05K2201/0104; H05K2201/0129; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/10; H05K2203/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for applying electrically conductive printed patterns to insulating substrates wherein a metal-containing coating agent is transferred onto a substrate under the influence of energy radiation in a printed pattern to be produced and is chemically metallized, the coating agent includes a non-metallic grainy carrier substance having metal of the oxidation degree 0 applied thereto.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for applying electrically conductive printed patterns to insulating substrates wherein a metal-containing coating agent is transferred onto a substrate under the influence of energy radiation in a printed pattern to be produced and is chemically metallized, the coating agent includes a non-metallic grainy carrier substance having metal of the oxidation degree 0 applied thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier substance is constructed from a substance that has a structure that is fine-grained and surface-rich.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier substance comprises grains having a size of less than approximately 8 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the carrier substance comprises grains having a size greater than 1 micron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier substance comprises grains having a size of between approximately 2 microns to about 4 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier substance includes at least one compound chosen from the group consisting of: activated carbon, conductive lampblack, calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, kaolin, silica gel, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide and pumice stone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier is constructed from activated carbon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier is constructed from calcium carbonate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier is constructed from a plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the plastic is on an acrylate basis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier substance is constructed from the same material as the substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coating agent comprises approximately 0.01 to about 10 weight percent metal and approximately 90 to about 99.9 weight percent carrier substance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal is chosen from the group consisting of the precious metals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the metal is palladium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the metal is platinum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal is a precious metal alloy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the metal is a precious metal alloy with a non-precious metal chosen from the group consisting of lead, zinc, nickel, tin, and copper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coating agent contains at least one bonding agent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the coating agent includes at least one bonding agent chosen from the group consisting of polyamides, polyimides, colophonium resins, hydrocarbon resins, ketone resins, and polyvinylether.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the bonding agent includes at least one compound chosen from the group consisting of maleic resin and polyvinyl butyral.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the bonding agent is a hot-melt adhesive.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the carrier substance is saturated with the bonding agent
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coating agent includes at least one solvent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the coating agent includes at least one organic solvent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the organic solvent is chosen from the group consisting of alcohols, esters, ketones, and hydrocarbons both aliphates and aromatics.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the coating agent includes at least one thixotroping agent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coating agent is applied to the substrate in a layer thickness of between approximately 4 microns to about 5 microns.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the coating agent is applied to the substrate by emersion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 23 wherein printing ink is applied to the substrate by spraying.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coating agent is anchored to the substrate by use of an energy beam deflectable in accord with a printed pattern to be generated.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 30 wherein a laser beam is employed as an energy beam.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the laser beam is generated with a CO 2 laser.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the CO 2 laser is operated with a mean power of between approximately 0.5 watts to about 8 watts.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the laser beam is generated with a Nd-YAG laser.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the Nd-YAG laser is operated with a mean power of between approximately 0.2 watts to about 50 watts.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the laser beam is focussed such that its diameter at the surface of the substrate lies between approximately 50 microns to about 400 microns.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein after the transfer of a printed pattern excess coating agent is removed from the surface of the substrate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the excess coating agent is removed with the assistance of a cleaning fluid.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 38 wherein an organic solvent is used as the cleaning fluid.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the excess coating agent is removed in an ultrasound bath.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 39 wherein isobutylmethylketone is used as the cleaning fluid.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 40 wherein after the removal of the excess coating agent, the anchoring of the printed pattern on the substrate is enhanced by applying heat to the printed pattern and substrate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 42 wherein the heat is generated by microwaves.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 37 wherein after the removal of the excess coating agent, the anchoring of the printed pattern on the substrate is enhanced via a chemical after-treatment.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the chemical after-treatment is performed in an ammonia chloride bath.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a printed pattern transferred onto the substrate is completely built-up by chemical metal deposition.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a printed pattern transferred onto the substrate is built-up by chemical and subsequent galvanic metal deposition.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 46 wherein the printed pattern transferred onto the substrate is built-up by the deposition of copper.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the printed pattern transferred onto the substrate is built-up by the deposition of copper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3674515A
Cited
FR2250318A5
Cited
FR2160070A5
Cited
WO1984003586A1
Cited
US4486463A
Cited
US4574095A
Cited
US4716059A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-01-30 | 1993-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-31 | 1997-01-30 | 1997-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-31 | 2001-01-30 | 2001-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |