US5059262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making electrical connector tape
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1990-04-26
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2010-04-26
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method of making a sheet material adapted to make bonded electrical connections to an array of closely-spaced conductive terminal pads. The method comprises the steps of providing a thin, flexible, insulating substrate, and squirting a plurality of fine molten strands onto the substrate to form metal strands. The metal strands individually have a cross-section with an area of about 100 to 100,000 μm 2 and the cross-section having a flat section and an arcuate portion. An adhesive or conductive adhesive may be coated over the metal strands, or the adhesive may be provided on the substrate and the conductors imbedded into the adhesive by pressure or heat-sinking the conductors into the adhesive layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Clyde D. Calhoun
- 👤 David C. Koskenmaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/321; H05K3/323; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/04; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09818; H05K2201/09945; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/10234; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/03; H05K2203/0338
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of making a sheet material adapted to make bonded electrical connection to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads comprising the steps of: (a) providing a thin, flexible insulating substrate; (b) squirting a plurality of fine molten metal strands onto said substrate wherein said metal strands harden to form conductive members, said members individually having a cross-section with an area of about 100 to 100,000 μm 2 said cross-section having a flat portion and an arcuate portion, said flat portion contacting said substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of making a sheet material adapted to make bonded electrical connection to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads comprising the steps of: (a) providing a thin, flexible insulating substrate; (b) squirting a plurality of fine molten metal strands onto said substrate wherein said metal strands harden to form conductive members, said members individually having a cross-section with an area of about 100 to 100,000 μm 2 said cross-section having a flat portion and an arcuate portion, said flat portion contacting said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The metal of claim 1 further comprising the step of coating an adhesive layer onto said substrate and said conductive members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said adhesive layer is thicker than the thickness of said conductive members such that the adhesive layer covers said conductive members.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of making a sheet material adapted to make bonded electrical connection to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads comprising the steps of: (a) providing a thin, flexible insulating substrate; (b) providing an adhesive layer on said insulating substrate; (c) squirting a plurality of fine molten metal strands onto said adhesive layer wherein said metal strands harden to form conductive members; said members individually have a cross-section with an area of about 100 to 100,000 μm 2 , said cross-section having a flat portion and an arcuate portion, said flat portion contacting said adhesive layer.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of making a sheet material adapted to make bonded electrical connection to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads comprising the steps of: (a) providing a thin, flexible insulating substrate; (b) providing an adhesive layer on said insulating substrate; (c) squirting a plurality of fine molten metal strands onto said adhesive layer wherein said metal strands harden to form conductive members; said members individually have a cross-section with an area of about 100 to 100,000 μm 2 , said cross-section having a flat portion and an arcuate portion, said flat portion contacting said adhesive layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 further including the step of pressing said conductive members into said adhesive layer such that a portion of said conductive members extend above the surface of said adhesive layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 further including the step of heating said sheet material at a temperature and for a time sufficient to sink said conductive members into said adhesive layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 wherein a portion of said conductive members extend above the surface of said adhesive layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said insulating substrate is a release liner.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of making a sheet material adapted to make bonded electrical connection to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a release surface; (b) squirting a plurality of fine molten metal strands onto a substrate wherein the strands solidify to form conductive members, said members individually having a cross-section with an area of about 100-100,000 μm 2 , said cross-section having a flat portion and an arcuate portion, said flat portion contacting said substrate; and (c) transferring said conductive members to a thin, flexible insulating substrate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of making a sheet material adapted to make bonded electrical connection to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a release surface; (b) squirting a plurality of fine molten metal strands onto a substrate wherein the strands solidify to form conductive members, said members individually having a cross-section with an area of about 100-100,000 μm 2 , said cross-section having a flat portion and an arcuate portion, said flat portion contacting said substrate; and (c) transferring said conductive members to a thin, flexible insulating substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said thin, flexible insulating substrate further includes an adhesive layer, said conductive members transferred and embedded into said adhesive layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4596207A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |