← Back to Patent Explorer
US5257178A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of optimally operating a computer numerical control milling machine to mill optimal high density interconnect substrates

Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
•
Filing: 1991-12-19
•
Granted: 1993-10-26
•
Expires: 2011-12-19
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method for optimally operating a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine to form cavities in a ceramic substrate for receiving IC chips and other components of a high density interconnect structure electrically interconnected by a multi-layer interconnect (HDI) structure. Generation of the CNC program instructions is based on locations and dimensions of the components which, through a set of design rules, provide locations and dimensions for an initial set of cavities corresponding to the components on a one-for-one basis. Depending upon the particular arrangement of the components, specific neighboring cavities of the initial set may either overlap or be separated by walls. A representation of the location and dimensions of each of the cavities of the initial set is formed, and the representation is enhanced by a "combine pockets" step and by a "remove borders" step to represent locations and dimensions of cavities of an optimized set. CNC program instructions for the milling machine are then generated for forming the cavities of the optimized set.

Inventors

  • 👤 William T. Hatfield
  • 👤 William W. Rohling
  • 👤 Wolfgang Daum
  • 👤 Carl L. Chalek

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 23:49
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/4097; G05B19/4099; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/36; G05B2219/36214; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37396; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
A method for optimally operating a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine to form in a substrate at least one cavity for a plurality of electronic components of a high density interconnect structure to be interconnected by a multi-layer interconnect structure overlying and bonded to the substrate and the components based on locations and dimensions of the components and thus locations and dimensions of an initial set of cavities corresponding to the components on a one-for-one basis, particular neighboring cavities of the initial set either overlapping or being separated by walls, said method comprising the steps of: forming a representation of the location and dimensions of each of the cavities of the initial set; enhancing the representation to represent locations and dimensions of cavities of an optimized set; and generating CNC program instructions for forming the cavities of the optimized set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 141 words
A method for optimally operating a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine to form in a substrate at least one cavity for a plurality of electronic components of a high density interconnect structure to be interconnected by a multi-layer interconnect structure overlying and bonded to the substrate and the components based on locations and dimensions of the components and thus locations and dimensions of an initial set of cavities corresponding to the components on a one-for-one basis, particular neighboring cavities of the initial set either overlapping or being separated by walls, said method comprising the steps of: forming a representation of the location and dimensions of each of the cavities of the initial set; enhancing the representation to represent locations and dimensions of cavities of an optimized set; and generating CNC program instructions for forming the cavities of the optimized set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of enhancing the representative to represent locations and dimensions of cavities of an optimized set comprises selectively removing walls separating neighboring cavities having less than a predetermined wall thickness by extending at least one of the cavities to meet another cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 63 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of enhancing the representation to represent locations and dimensions of cavities of an optimized set comprises: determining which, if any, cavities of the initial set overlap, are in alignment, and have depths within a predetermined tolerance of each other; and combining each group of such overlapping cavities to define a single, respective cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 56 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the step of enhancing the represenation to represent locations and dimension of cavities of an optimized set further comprises, after the combining step: selectively removing walls separating neighboring cavities having less than a predetermined wall thickness by extending at least one of the cavities to meet another cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the step of selectively removing walls separating neighboring cavities comprises extending a shallower one of the neighboring cavities to meet a depper one of the neighboring cavities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 75 words
A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the step of selectively removing walls separating neighboring cavities comprises, for each cavity: examining each adjacent cavity to determine if it is at least partially in alignment therewith and sharing a common wall therewith and, for each such adjacent cavity at least partially in alignment therewith and sharing a common wall therewith, removing said common wall if it has a thickness less than a predetermined minimum thickness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of removing said common wall comprises extending a shallower one of said each cavity and said each adjacent cavity to meet a deeper one of said each cavity and said each adjacent cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of generating CNC program instructions comprises generating instructions for tool movement which minimize milling tool wear when milling a ceramic substrate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4120583A Cited
US4374457A Cited
US4604678A Cited
US4783695A Cited
US4714516A Cited
US4937203A Cited
US4835704A Cited
US4764485A Cited
US4780177A Cited
US4842677A Cited
US4884122A Cited
US4878991A Cited
US4894115A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-10-25 1997-04-26 1997-10-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-10-25 2001-04-26 2001-10-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-10-25 2005-04-26 2005-10-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag