Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of forming a plurality of electrical connections between a flexible film carrier and an electronic device, said method comprising: providing an electronic device having a plurality of contact locations thereon; positioned a solder mound on selected ones of said contact locations; aligning a flexible film carrier with said solder mounds, said carrier including a dielectric layer, a plurality of apertures within said dielectric layer and a plurality of conductive leads, selected ones of said leads bridging a respective one of said apertures within said dielectric layer; engaging said flexible film carrier to cause said selected ones of said conductive leads to contact and exert a predetermined force against a respective one of said solder mounds such that said selected ones of said leads are bent over said respective solder mounds; directing a hot gas through said apertures within said dielectric layer onto said conductive leads engaging said solder mounds to heat said leads to a temperature sufficient to cause at lest the portions of said solder mounds engaging said leads to become molten; and cooling said conductive leads and said solder mounds to solder bond said solder mounds to said leads.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of forming a plurality of electrical connections between a flexible film carrier and an electronic device, said method comprising: providing an electronic device having a plurality of contact locations thereon; positioned a solder mound on selected ones of said contact locations; aligning a flexible film carrier with said solder mounds, said carrier including a dielectric layer, a plurality of apertures within said dielectric layer and a plurality of conductive leads, selected ones of said leads bridging a respective one of said apertures within said dielectric layer; engaging said flexible film carrier to cause said selected ones of said conductive leads to contact and exert a predetermined force against a respective one of said solder mounds such that said selected ones of said leads are bent over said respective solder mounds; directing a hot gas through said apertures within said dielectric layer onto said conductive leads engaging said solder mounds to heat said leads to a temperature sufficient to cause at lest the portions of said solder mounds engaging said leads to become molten; and cooling said conductive leads and said solder mounds to solder bond said solder mounds to said leads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said engaging of said flexible film carrier is accomplished using a screen member, said screen member engaging a surface of said carrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said predetermined force exerted by each of said conductive leads against said respective solder mound is within the range of from 3 grams to 10 grams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said hot has is passed through said screen member during said engagement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said hot gas is at a temperature within the range of from 400 degrees Celsius to 500 degrees Celsius when directed onto said conductive leads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein each of said leads is heated to a temperature within the range of from 350 degrees Celsius to 450 degrees Celsius, said temperature sufficient to cause said portions of said solder mounds to become molten.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of argon, hydrogen, helium, nitrogen or combinations thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 further including the step of heating said electronic device to an established temperature prior to directing said hot gas onto said leads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said device is heated to a temperature within the range of from 100 degrees Celsius to 150 degrees Celsius.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said engaging of said flexible film and said directing of said hot gas occur substantially simultaneously.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said electrical connections are formed without the use of solder flux or the like material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said cooling of said conductive leads and said solder mounds is accomplished by directing cooling gas onto said leads and said solder mounds for a pre-established time period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein said cooling gas is nitrogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein said pre-established time period is from 0.3 seconds to 4.0 seconds.