Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
Tape automated bonding (TAB) material comprising: a first strip of a flexible non-conductive material, said first strip having at least one feature window therein; a second strip of a flexible conductive material on said first strip; a layer of first adhesive between said first and second strips, and permanently bonding said first strip to said second strip; a support ring in said feature window, said support ring having opposed first and second surfaces, said first surface of said support ring being permanently bonded by said first adhesive to said first strip; a layer of second adhesive on said second surface of said support ring, said second adhesive releasably bonding said support ring to said second strip whereby said support ring is removable from said second strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
Tape automated bonding (TAB) material comprising: a first strip of a flexible non-conductive material, said first strip having at least one feature window therein; a second strip of a flexible conductive material on said first strip; a layer of first adhesive between said first and second strips, and permanently bonding said first strip to said second strip; a support ring in said feature window, said support ring having opposed first and second surfaces, said first surface of said support ring being permanently bonded by said first adhesive to said first strip; a layer of second adhesive on said second surface of said support ring, said second adhesive releasably bonding said support ring to said second strip whereby said support ring is removable from said second strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The TAB material of claim 1 wherein: said second adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive and said support ring is peelable from said second strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The TAB material of claim 2 wherein: said second adhesive comprises cross-linked acrylic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The TAB material of claim 1 wherein: said second adhesive is an adhesive having a bond which is weakened or destroyed by application of an external environmental change.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The TAB material of claim 4 wherein: said environmental change is at least one change selected from the group consisting of heat, cold, ultraviolet light or infrared light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The TAB material of claim 4 wherein: said second adhesive is selected from the group consisting of crystalline polyurethanes or unsaturated polyesters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The TAB material of claim 1 wherein: said support ring comprises first and second supports and a layer of third adhesive sandwiched between said first and second supports.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The TAB material of claim 7 wherein: said third adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The TAB material of claim 1 including: a third strip of flexible non-conductive material being releasably bonded to a surface of said first strip which is opposed to said second strip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The TAB material of claim 1 wherein: said support ring includes corners, at least one of said corners being attached to said first strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The TAB material of claim 1 wherein: said support ring is unattached to said first strip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The TAB material of claim 1 including: a plurality of discrete leads formed from said second strip, said leads terminating in said feature window and being releasably bonded to said support ring by said second adhesive.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of making tape automated bonding material comprising: forming a laminate comprised of a first strip of a flexible non-conductive material bonded by a first curable adhesive to a second strip of a flexible non-conductive material; forming a feature window through said laminate; forming a support ring through said laminate in said feature window; applying a layer of a second adhesive on said support ring; removing said second strip from said laminate in all areas except for said support ring to expose said first adhesive on said first strip; adhering a third strip of conductive material onto said exposed first adhesive and said second adhesive to bond said third strip to said first strip and to said support ring, the adhesive bond between said third strip and said support ring being releasable whereby said support ring is removable from said second strip; curing said first adhesive to form a permanent bond between said first and third strips.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of making tape automated bonding material comprising: forming a laminate comprised of a first strip of a flexible non-conductive material bonded by a first curable adhesive to a second strip of a flexible non-conductive material; forming a feature window through said laminate; forming a support ring through said laminate in said feature window; applying a layer of a second adhesive on said support ring; removing said second strip from said laminate in all areas except for said support ring to expose said first adhesive on said first strip; adhering a third strip of conductive material onto said exposed first adhesive and said second adhesive to bond said third strip to said first strip and to said support ring, the adhesive bond between said third strip and said support ring being releasable whereby said support ring is removable from said second strip; curing said first adhesive to form a permanent bond between said first and third strips.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 including: forming a plurality of discrete leads in said third strip, said leads terminating in said feature window and being releasably bonded to said support ring by said second adhesive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 including: removing said support ring from said terminals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said removing step comprises: peeling said support ring from said second strip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said removing step comprises: applying an external environmental change to said second adhesive to thereby weaken or destroy the adhesive bond between said support ring and said second strip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 wherein: said environmental change comprises at least one of the changes selected from the group consisting of heat, cold, ultraviolet light or infrared light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 wherein: said support ring comprises first and second supports and a layer of third adhesive sandwiched between said first and second supports.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 including: said third adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 including: releasably bonding a fourth strip of flexible non-conductive material to a surface of said first strip which is opposed to said second strip.