Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A process for making a two-layer film carrier composed of a polyimide film having holes which extend therethrough and copper leads on a surface thereof, said process comprising the steps of: (1) providing a polyimide film having opposite first and second surfaces and a copper layer formed on a first surface thereof by additive plating, (2) forming a first photoresist layer on said copper layer and a second photoresist layer on said second surface of said polyimide film, (3) positioning a first mask adjacent said first photoresist layer and a second mask adjacent said second photoresist layer and passing light through said first and second masks to provide patterns in said first and second photoresist layers, (4) developing said first photoresist layer so as to remove portions thereof and bare selected areas of said copper layer, (5) providing copper leads on said selected areas of said copper layer by additive plating, (6) developing said second photoresist layer to remove portions thereof and bare selected areas of said second surface of said polyimide film, (7) postbaking remaining portions of said second photoresist layer, (8) removing remaining portions of said first photoresist layer and etching away the underlying copper layer, (9) etching said exposed areas of said second surface of said polyimide film so as to form holes through said polyimide film, and (10) removing said remaining portions of said second photoresist layer to thereby provide said two-layer film carrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A process for making a two-layer film carrier composed of a polyimide film having holes which extend therethrough and copper leads on a surface thereof, said process comprising the steps of: (1) providing a polyimide film having opposite first and second surfaces and a copper layer formed on a first surface thereof by additive plating, (2) forming a first photoresist layer on said copper layer and a second photoresist layer on said second surface of said polyimide film, (3) positioning a first mask adjacent said first photoresist layer and a second mask adjacent said second photoresist layer and passing light through said first and second masks to provide patterns in said first and second photoresist layers, (4) developing said first photoresist layer so as to remove portions thereof and bare selected areas of said copper layer, (5) providing copper leads on said selected areas of said copper layer by additive plating, (6) developing said second photoresist layer to remove portions thereof and bare selected areas of said second surface of said polyimide film, (7) postbaking remaining portions of said second photoresist layer, (8) removing remaining portions of said first photoresist layer and etching away the underlying copper layer, (9) etching said exposed areas of said second surface of said polyimide film so as to form holes through said polyimide film, and (10) removing said remaining portions of said second photoresist layer to thereby provide said two-layer film carrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said copper leads formed by additive plating in step (4) are further electroplated with copper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first photoresist layer on said copper layer is formed in step (2) by covering said copper layer with an alkali-developable negative photoresist solution having a viscosity of at least 40 cp and a solid content of at least 20% and prebaking it, while said second photoresist layer on said polyimide film is formed by covering said film with a photoresist of the rubber series and prebaking it.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process as set forth in claim 3, wherein said thickness of said first photoresist layer on said copper layer is at least 30 microns, while said second thickness of said photoresist layer on said polyimide film is from 2 to 10 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first photoresist layer developed in step (3) is further subjected to postbaking at a temperature of lower than 130° C. for a period of 10 to 90 minutes so as to expose selected portions of said copper layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of: (10) providing said leads with a surface finish by plating.