Patent US5023751A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5023751A
Expired / Lapsed
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Method of producing a tape for providing electronic modules, and tape obtained by this method
Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
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Filing: 1988-06-06
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Granted: 1991-06-11
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Expires: 2008-06-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a method of mass producing a tape intended to provide electrical circuits, the tape constituting an intermediate step in the production of electronic modules. The method comprises providing a metal strip (1) having openings defining a series of similar networks of conductors, each conductors being connected to the strip (1) by a bridge, and providing insulating sheets (18) having holes (19, . . . 27) and sticking these sheets to the metal strip in such a manner that the holes face the conductors. The thus-assembled strip (1) and sheets (18) constitute the tape, while the conductors with a part of the sheets define the circuits of the modules.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marcel Stampfli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:12
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W99/00; H10W70/00; H10W70/40; H10W70/421; B; B32; B32B; B32B38/00; B32B38/18; B32B38/1825; B32B38/1833; B32B38/1841; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/20; H05K3/202; H10W70/01; H10W70/04; H10W70/047; H10W70/479; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/03; H05K1/0393; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/06; H05K2203/063; H05K2203/15; H05K2203/1545; H05K3/0097; H05K3/22; H05K3/28; H05K3/281; H05K3/38; H05K3/386; H05K3/40; H05K3/4092; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/531; H10W72/5363; H10W72/541; H10W72/5449; H10W72/551; H10W72/552; H10W72/5522; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/754; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1056; Y10T156/1057; Y10T156/108; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49128; Y10T29/49155; Y10T29/49156
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of mass producing a tape for providing a plurality of electronic modules, each module including an insulating substrate, a pattern of conductors for forming a circuit, and at least one electronic component having a plurality of terminals, said method comprising: providing a thin continuous metal strip having a series of openings going right through the strip, these openings defining patterns of conductors for a plurality of said circuits, each conductor being connected to the strip by a bridge; providing a plurality of insulating sheets each for providing one of said substrates; sticking each sheet onto one face of the metal strip by means of an adhesive to form the substrate for a corresponding one of said patterns; providing a plurality of electronic components and placing at least one of said electronic components on at least one of the conductors of each of said patterns; and, connecting the terminals of each of said electronic components with at least some of the conductors of its corresponding pattern so as to form a tape supporting a plurality of electronic modules, each conductor of which remains galvanically connected to the metal strip by means of its corresponding bridge so that said terminals are short-circuited to protect said electronic components against static electrical discharges during storage or handling of the tape.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of mass producing a tape for providing a plurality of electronic modules, each module including an insulating substrate, a pattern of conductors for forming a circuit, and at least one electronic component having a plurality of terminals, said method comprising: providing a thin continuous metal strip having a series of openings going right through the strip, these openings defining patterns of conductors for a plurality of said circuits, each conductor being connected to the strip by a bridge; providing a plurality of insulating sheets each for providing one of said substrates; sticking each sheet onto one face of the metal strip by means of an adhesive to form the substrate for a corresponding one of said patterns; providing a plurality of electronic components and placing at least one of said electronic components on at least one of the conductors of each of said patterns; and, connecting the terminals of each of said electronic components with at least some of the conductors of its corresponding pattern so as to form a tape supporting a plurality of electronic modules, each conductor of which remains galvanically connected to the metal strip by means of its corresponding bridge so that said terminals are short-circuited to protect said electronic components against static electrical discharges during storage or handling of the tape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1, wherein the openings in the metal strip are produced by stamping.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive material is applied to one surface of each of said sheets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive material is a thermoplastics material, and wherein the sticking together is obtained by hot pressing the sheet against the strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive material is a thermosettable material, and wherein the sticking together is obtained by hot pressing the sheet against the strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 wherein said strip is made of nickel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 wherein said insulating sheets are connected together at opposite edges by at least one flexible connection member, and wherein said method further comprises separating said sheets before said sheets are stuck onto said one face of the metal strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 wherein said sheets are glass-fibre sheets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 wherein the electronic components are placed on the face of the metal strip opposite to the face of the metal strip onto which the insulating sheets are stuck.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 wherein each of said sheets is provided with a plurality of holes, and wherein said method further comprises positioning each sheet on the metal strip so that each of at least some of the holes face a corresponding one of at least some of the conductors in order to allow said component, when placed on the same side of the metal strip as the sheet, to be connected to each of said conductors faced by one of said holes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of covering said electronic components and the connections thereof with said conductors with a protective layer of resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A mass-production method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing openings passing through said metal strip and said insulating sheets so as to cut all of said bridges except those of the conductors on which the electronic components are placed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
202 words
A tape for providing a plurality of electronic modules, each module including an insulating substrate, a pattern of conductors for forming a circuit, and at least one electronic component having a plurality of terminals, said tape comprising: a thin and continuous metal strip having a series of openings passing right through the strip, these openings defining patterns of conductors for a plurality of said circuits, each conductor being connected to the strip by a bridge; a plurality of insulating sheets stuck onto one face of said metal strip, each of said insulating sheets forming the substrate for a corresponding one of said patterns; and, a plurality of electronic components, at least one of said electronic components being fixed in place on at least one of the conductors of each of said patterns, the terminals of each of said electronic components being connected to at least some of the conductors of its corresponding pattern such that the tape supports a plurality of electronic modules, each conductor of which remains galvanically connected to the metal strip by means of its corresponding bridge so that said terminals are short-circuited to protect said electronic components against static electrical discharges during storage or handling of the tape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
202 words
A tape for providing a plurality of electronic modules, each module including an insulating substrate, a pattern of conductors for forming a circuit, and at least one electronic component having a plurality of terminals, said tape comprising: a thin and continuous metal strip having a series of openings passing right through the strip, these openings defining patterns of conductors for a plurality of said circuits, each conductor being connected to the strip by a bridge; a plurality of insulating sheets stuck onto one face of said metal strip, each of said insulating sheets forming the substrate for a corresponding one of said patterns; and, a plurality of electronic components, at least one of said electronic components being fixed in place on at least one of the conductors of each of said patterns, the terminals of each of said electronic components being connected to at least some of the conductors of its corresponding pattern such that the tape supports a plurality of electronic modules, each conductor of which remains galvanically connected to the metal strip by means of its corresponding bridge so that said terminals are short-circuited to protect said electronic components against static electrical discharges during storage or handling of the tape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tape according to claim 13 wherein each of said insulating sheets is separated from adjacent ones of said sheets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tape according to claim 13 wherein each of the electronic components is fixed in place on the face of the metal strip opposite to the face of the metal strip onto which the insulating sheets are stuck.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tape according to claim 13 wherein one of the terminals of the electronic component of each module is connected to the conductor on which the component is fixed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tape according to claim 16 wherein the conductor on which the electronic component is fixed corresponds to the earth conductor of the electronic module.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tape according to claim 13 wherein each of said sheets has a plurality of holes, each of at least some of said holes facing a corresponding one of at least some of the conductors connected to the corresponding electronic component.
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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) | 1994-06-10 | 1994-12-10 | 1995-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-10 | 1998-12-10 | 1999-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-10 | 2002-12-10 | 2003-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |