US4989317A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making tab circuit electrical connector supporting multiple components thereon
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-21
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Granted: 1991-02-05
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Expires: 2008-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A flexible interconnect circuit having at least two connected components within its periphery is formed with electrically conductive traces on a nonconductive plastic support. The components are interconnected to each other, and to external locations, with the interconnect circuit. As part of the manufacturing process, the conductive traces are typically electroplated with gold. The traces must be contacted as electrodes during electrodeposition, and the contacting is done using bus connectors along the periphery of the support. Isolated traces, not contacting the periphery and typically extending only between the components within the periphery, are contacted by providing removable bus connectors on the nonconductive support. When plating is complete, the removable bus connectors are removed, preferably by die cutting away those portions of the support having the unneeded bus connectors.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerold Firl
- 👤 Stuart D. Asakawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:40
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14016; B41J2/14072; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/24; H05K3/241; H05K3/242; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/611; H10W70/67; H10W70/688; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/03; H05K1/0393; H05K1/18; H05K1/182; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/17; H05K2203/175; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0044; H05K3/005; H05K3/0052; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49121; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49144; Y10T29/49155; Y10T29/49156
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for preparing a flexible electrical connector material having conductive traces supported on a nonconductive support, at least some of the traces having no continuous connection to the periphery of the support, comprising the steps of: providing a composite of an electrical conductor material on a nonconductive support; removing a portion of the electrical conductor material to form a pattern of traces and plating bus connections, the bus connections providing an electrically continuous path from each trace to the periphery of the support; electrodepositing a metallic coating over the electrical conductor material, utilizing as one electrodeposition contact the plating bus at the periphery of the support; removing the plating bus connections at the periphery of the support; and removing by mechanically interrupting at least some portion of the electrical bus connections extending from the periphery of the support to those traces having no continuous connection to the periphery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for preparing a flexible electrical connector material having conductive traces supported on a nonconductive support, at least some of the traces having no continuous connection to the periphery of the support, comprising the steps of: providing a composite of an electrical conductor material on a nonconductive support; removing a portion of the electrical conductor material to form a pattern of traces and plating bus connections, the bus connections providing an electrically continuous path from each trace to the periphery of the support; electrodepositing a metallic coating over the electrical conductor material, utilizing as one electrodeposition contact the plating bus at the periphery of the support; removing the plating bus connections at the periphery of the support; and removing by mechanically interrupting at least some portion of the electrical bus connections extending from the periphery of the support to those traces having no continuous connection to the periphery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the nonconductive support material is a polyimide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor support material is copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the plated metallic coating is gold.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for forming an electrical device having at least two components interconnected by a flexible electrical connector material having conductive traces supported on a nonconductive support, the components being disposed within the periphery of the nonconductive support, the method comprising the steps of: providing a composite of an electrical conductor material on a nonconductive support; removing a portion of the electrical conductor material to form a pattern of traces and plating bus connections, the bus connections providing an electrically continuous path from each trace to the periphery of the support; electrodepositing a metallic coating over the electrical conductor material, utilizing as one electrodeposition contact the plating bus at the periphery of the support; removing the plating bus connections at the periphery of the support; removing at least some portion of those plating internal bus connections extending from the periphery of the support to those traces that interconnect the components without otherwise extending to the periphery of the electrically insulating support, this step of removing being accomplished by punching out a portion of the nonconductive support having the bus connections thereon; and connecting the electrical connector locations on the electrical components to the appropriate traces of the flexible electrical connector.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for forming an electrical device having at least two components interconnected by a flexible electrical connector material having conductive traces supported on a nonconductive support, the components being disposed within the periphery of the nonconductive support, the method comprising the steps of: providing a composite of an electrical conductor material on a nonconductive support; removing a portion of the electrical conductor material to form a pattern of traces and plating bus connections, the bus connections providing an electrically continuous path from each trace to the periphery of the support; electrodepositing a metallic coating over the electrical conductor material, utilizing as one electrodeposition contact the plating bus at the periphery of the support; removing the plating bus connections at the periphery of the support; removing at least some portion of those plating internal bus connections extending from the periphery of the support to those traces that interconnect the components without otherwise extending to the periphery of the electrically insulating support, this step of removing being accomplished by punching out a portion of the nonconductive support having the bus connections thereon; and connecting the electrical connector locations on the electrical components to the appropriate traces of the flexible electrical connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 5, wherein at least one of the electrical components is mounted upon the flexible electrical connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the nonconductive support material is a polyimide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the electrical conductor support material is copper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the plated metallic coating is gold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the components is an integrated circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the components is a thermal ink jet printer ejector.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for forming an electrical device having at least two components interconnected by a flexible electrical connector material having conductive traces supported on a nonconductive support, the components being disposed within the periphery of the nonconductive support with at least one of the components being mounted on the nonconductive support and at least one of the components being within an aperture through the support, the method comprising the steps of: providing a composite of an electrical conductor material on a nonconductive support; removing a portion of the electrical conductor material to form a pattern of traces and plating bus connections, the bus connections providing an electrically continuous path from those traces that interconnect between the two components within the periphery of the support, to the periphery of the support; electrodepositing a metallic coating over the electrical conductor material, utilizing as one electrodeposition contact the plating bus at the periphery of the support; removing the plating bus connections at the periphery of the support; mechanically interrupting those plating internal bus connections extending from the periphery of the support to those traces that interconnect the components without otherwise extending to the periphery of the electrically insulating support; forming at least one aperture through the nonconductive support disposed for mounting a component therein; and connecting the electrical connector locations on the electrical components to the appropriate traces of the flexible electrical connector.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for forming an electrical device having at least two components interconnected by a flexible electrical connector material having conductive traces supported on a nonconductive support, the components being disposed within the periphery of the nonconductive support with at least one of the components being mounted on the nonconductive support and at least one of the components being within an aperture through the support, the method comprising the steps of: providing a composite of an electrical conductor material on a nonconductive support; removing a portion of the electrical conductor material to form a pattern of traces and plating bus connections, the bus connections providing an electrically continuous path from those traces that interconnect between the two components within the periphery of the support, to the periphery of the support; electrodepositing a metallic coating over the electrical conductor material, utilizing as one electrodeposition contact the plating bus at the periphery of the support; removing the plating bus connections at the periphery of the support; mechanically interrupting those plating internal bus connections extending from the periphery of the support to those traces that interconnect the components without otherwise extending to the periphery of the electrically insulating support; forming at least one aperture through the nonconductive support disposed for mounting a component therein; and connecting the electrical connector locations on the electrical components to the appropriate traces of the flexible electrical connector.
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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) | 1994-02-04 | 1994-08-06 | 1995-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-04 | 1998-08-06 | 1999-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-04 | 2002-08-06 | 2003-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |