US4964698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for selective laser assisted plating
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1989-09-22
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Granted: 1990-10-23
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Expires: 2009-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A method directed to a system for splitting, imaging and focusing a pulsing laser beam, such as from an excimer laser, onto a workpiece to improve the subsequent metal plating of such workpiece. A preferred technique of laser assisted plating is a system for laser ablating a plurality of contact areas on electrical terminals, where the areas are covered by ablatable resist. The preferred system comprises a carrier strip having a plurality of electrical terminals mounted thereon; a pulsed laser for directing radiation at the carrier strip; a hologram mounted in the radiation path between the laser and the carrier strip for splitting the radiation from the laser into a plurality of radiation beams directed towards the plurality of contact areas; and mechanism for synchronizing the movement of the carrier strip with the pulsing of the laser so that a respective one of the plurality of outgoing beams ablates the resist over a respective one of the contacts as the contact areas move past the hologram.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Rowlette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/14; G02B27/144; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/067; G02B27/106; G02B27/1086; G02B5/00; G02B5/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of improving a surface of a metallic workpiece for subsequent selective metal plating thereof, where at least one workpiece is joined to a carrier strip, comprising the steps of a) positioning a pulsed laser, operating at a predetermined pulsing rate, near said workpiece, b) preparing a hologram capable of splitting a radiation beam of said pulsed laser, c) placing said hologram intermediate said pulsed laser and said workpiece, d) directing the radiation beam of said pulsed laser towards said hologram and said carrier strip, where said hologram is within a radiation path between said pulsed laser and said carrier strip, e) splitting the radiation beam at said hologram into a plurality of radiation beams directed towards said metal workpiece, and f) coordinating the movement of said carrier strip with the pulsing rate of said laser so that a respective one of said plurality of radiation beams affects at least one said metal workpiece as said metal workpiece moves past said hologram.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of improving a surface of a metallic workpiece for subsequent selective metal plating thereof, where at least one workpiece is joined to a carrier strip, comprising the steps of a) positioning a pulsed laser, operating at a predetermined pulsing rate, near said workpiece, b) preparing a hologram capable of splitting a radiation beam of said pulsed laser, c) placing said hologram intermediate said pulsed laser and said workpiece, d) directing the radiation beam of said pulsed laser towards said hologram and said carrier strip, where said hologram is within a radiation path between said pulsed laser and said carrier strip, e) splitting the radiation beam at said hologram into a plurality of radiation beams directed towards said metal workpiece, and f) coordinating the movement of said carrier strip with the pulsing rate of said laser so that a respective one of said plurality of radiation beams affects at least one said metal workpiece as said metal workpiece moves past said hologram.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of radiation beams from said hologram are directed to multiple images on a single workpiece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said laser is a pulsed laser operating at a wavelength between about 248 to 360 nm, and that the radiation beams thereof are capable of ablating areas of plating resist from said metal workpiece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of correcting the angular relationship of the hologram with respect to a reference angle of the said radiation path to accommodate reconstruction of said hologram at the operating wavelength of said pulsed laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said hologram is prepared from a material that exhibits a high damage threshold within said laser operating wavelength.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein said material is a dichromated gelatin.
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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) | 1993-10-22 | 1994-04-23 | 1994-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-22 | 1998-04-23 | 1998-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-22 | 2002-04-23 | 2002-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |