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US4888574A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Circuit board material and method of making

Assignee: Ohmega Electronics Inc
•
Filing: 1988-03-28
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Granted: 1989-12-19
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Expires: 2008-03-28
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Abstract

Abstract An improved multilayered circuit board material and process for making that material is disclosed. The material includes an insulating material support layer, an electrical resistance material layer adhering to the support layer, and a conductive material layer adhering to the resistance material layer and in intimate contact with that layer. The electrical resistance material layer comprises electroplated nickel-phosphorous containing up to about 30% by weight of phosphorous; however, no appreciable amounts of sulfur are present within at least the top about ten atomic layers of the electrical resistance material layer. As a result, the stability of the electrical resistance material layer is significantly increased. In addition, the electroplating bath does not contain chloride salts resulting in decreased pitting in the electrical resistance material layer.

Inventors

  • 👤 James M. Rice
  • 👤 Bruce P. Mahler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 15:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C7/00; H01C7/006; C; C25; C25D; C25D3/00; C25D3/02; C25D3/56; C25D3/562; H01C17/00; H01C17/06; H01C17/075; H01C17/14; H01C17/16; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/16; H05K1/167; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/03; H05K2201/0332; H05K2201/0335; H05K2201/0355; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/03; H05K2203/0361; H05K2203/07; H05K2203/0703; H05K2203/0723; H05K3/00; H05K3/02; H05K3/022; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S205/00; Y10S205/92

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 58 words
A method of electroplating a circuit board substrate with nickel-phosphorous, the method comprising the steps of: (a) cleaning the substrate; and (b) electroplating the substrate in a bath consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of a nickel ion source, H 3 PO 3 and H 3 PO 4 , wherein the bath is substantially sulfate and chloride free.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 58 words
A method of electroplating a circuit board substrate with nickel-phosphorous, the method comprising the steps of: (a) cleaning the substrate; and (b) electroplating the substrate in a bath consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of a nickel ion source, H 3 PO 3 and H 3 PO 4 , wherein the bath is substantially sulfate and chloride free.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the concentration of Ni ions to PO 3 ions in the bath ranges from 0.25/0.50 to 1.25/2.50.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of electroplating a substrate according to claim 1 including the further step of forming the nickel ions in the bath by dissolving nickel carbonate in the bath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the bath consists essentially of a solution of nickel carbonate, H 3 PO 3 and H 3 PO 4 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
The electroplated substrate according to claim 1, wherein the resistance change after 1000 hours at 70° C. is 0.2%, wherein the temperature coefficient of resistance from -65° C. to 125° C. is -10 ppm/° C., and wherein the current noise is less than 0.02 microvolts/volt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 42 words
An electroplating bath used for electroplating a nickel-phosphorous resistance layer on a printed circuit board material stock substrate, the bath consisting essentially of a nickel ion source, phosphoric acid and phosphorous acid, and wherein the bath is substantially sulfate and chloride free.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
An electroplating bath used for electroplating a nickel-phosphorous resistance layer on a printed circuit board material stock substrate, the bath consisting essentially of a nickel ion source, phosphoric acid and phosphorous acid, and wherein the bath is substantially sulfate and chloride free.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The electroplating bath according to claim 6 wherein the nickel ions are formed by dissolving nickel carbonate in the bath, and wherein the bath is aqueous.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
A substantially sulfate and chloride free electroplating bath used for electroplating a nickel-phosphorous resistance layer on a substrate, the bath consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of 1M nickel ion source, 2M phosphorous acid and 0.5M phosphoric acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 38 words
A substantially sulfate and chloride free electroplating bath used for electroplating a nickel-phosphorous resistance layer on a substrate, the bath consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of 1M nickel ion source, 2M phosphorous acid and 0.5M phosphoric acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 72 words
A process for electroplating an electrical resistance material layer composition on a substrate, the process including the step of electroplating the substrate in a substantially sulfate and chloride free bath consisting essentially of 1 Molar nickel carbonate, 2 Molar phosphorous acid, and 0.5 Molar phosphoric acid, wherein the bath temperature ranges from 70° C. to 75° C., the time of electroplating is 30 seconds and the RsOhms/square ranges from 25 to 50.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 72 words
A process for electroplating an electrical resistance material layer composition on a substrate, the process including the step of electroplating the substrate in a substantially sulfate and chloride free bath consisting essentially of 1 Molar nickel carbonate, 2 Molar phosphorous acid, and 0.5 Molar phosphoric acid, wherein the bath temperature ranges from 70° C. to 75° C., the time of electroplating is 30 seconds and the RsOhms/square ranges from 25 to 50.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process according to claim 9 wherein the bath temperature is 70° C. and the RsOhms/square is 50.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process according to claim 9 wherein the bath temperature is 75° C. and the RsOhms/square is 25.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
The substrate and electroplated electrical resistance material layer formed thereon according to the process of claim 11.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
The substrate and electrical resistance material layer formed thereon according to the process of claim 9.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 95 words
A method for forming a printed circuit board material having a nickel-phosphorous electrical resistance material layer in contact with a conductive material and an insulating substrate, the method comprising: forming an electroplating bath consisting essentially of a nickel ion source, phosphoric acid and phosphorous acid, the bath being substantially chloride and sulfate free; electroplating to form the electrical resistance material layer on the conductive material in the electroplating bath; and adhering the resultant electroplated conductive material to an insulating substrate such that the electrical resistance material layer is in operative contact with the insulating substrate.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 95 words
A method for forming a printed circuit board material having a nickel-phosphorous electrical resistance material layer in contact with a conductive material and an insulating substrate, the method comprising: forming an electroplating bath consisting essentially of a nickel ion source, phosphoric acid and phosphorous acid, the bath being substantially chloride and sulfate free; electroplating to form the electrical resistance material layer on the conductive material in the electroplating bath; and adhering the resultant electroplated conductive material to an insulating substrate such that the electrical resistance material layer is in operative contact with the insulating substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The printed circuit board material product formed according to the method of claim 14.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 66 words
A method of electroplating a nickel-phosphorous composition on a circuit board substrate including the following steps: (a) cleaning the substrate; (b) forming an electroplating bath consisting essentially of H 3 PO 4 , H 3 PO 3 , and a nickel ion source, and wherein the bath is essentially free of sulfate and chloride ions; and (c) electroplating the composition onto the substrate in the bath.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 66 words
A method of electroplating a nickel-phosphorous composition on a circuit board substrate including the following steps: (a) cleaning the substrate; (b) forming an electroplating bath consisting essentially of H 3 PO 4 , H 3 PO 3 , and a nickel ion source, and wherein the bath is essentially free of sulfate and chloride ions; and (c) electroplating the composition onto the substrate in the bath.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the nickel ion source is nickel carbonate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2643221A Cited
US3077442A Cited
US3743583A Cited
US3808576A Cited
US3857683A Cited
US4554219A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-12-18 1993-06-19 1993-12-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-12-18 1997-06-19 1997-12-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-12-18 2001-06-19 2001-12-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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