Patent US5360946A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5360946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flex tape protective coating
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1991-09-17
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2011-09-17
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an improved flex (or TAB) product suitable for silicon carrier or other types of chip carrier applications, wherein the flex reliability problems caused for example by Cu thermal cycling are substantially reduced or eliminated. More particularly, the invention embodies a number of coatings for use in such products and diverse methods of making and using same.
Inventors
- 👤 Claudius Feger
- 👤 Teresita O. Graham
- 👤 Kurt R. Grebe
- 👤 Alphonso P. Lanzetta
- 👤 John J. Liutkus
- 👤 Linda C. Matthew
- 👤 Michael J. Palmer
- 👤 Nelson R. Tanner
- 👤 Ho-Ming Tong
- 👤 Charles H. Wilson
- 👤 Helen L. Yeh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:16
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/36; H05K3/361; H05K3/363; H10W70/00; H10W70/40; H10W70/453; H10W70/60; H10W70/67; H10W70/69; H10W72/071; H10W72/075; H10W99/00; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10613; H05K2201/10621; H05K2201/10681; H05K2201/10954; H05K2201/10977; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/17; H05K2203/176; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0017; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3452; H10W72/90; H10W72/951; H10W72/952; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49121; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49155; Y10T29/49165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A flex product structure comprising: a substrate containing at least one window therethrough and having at least one metal coated metal lead thereon aligned with said window, said lead extending on said substrate from an inner lead area on one edge thereof, to an outer lead area at the opposite edge thereof, said lead at either the inner/outer lead area extending in cantilevered fashion over said window in said substrate; a free standing, rigid dielectric polymer coating disposed on at least one side of said flex product structure, said dielectric coating being self-aligned to the vertical edges of said window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A flex product structure comprising: a substrate containing at least one window therethrough and having at least one metal coated metal lead thereon aligned with said window, said lead extending on said substrate from an inner lead area on one edge thereof, to an outer lead area at the opposite edge thereof, said lead at either the inner/outer lead area extending in cantilevered fashion over said window in said substrate; a free standing, rigid dielectric polymer coating disposed on at least one side of said flex product structure, said dielectric coating being self-aligned to the vertical edges of said window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 1 wherein said substrate contains a plurality of windows at the inner lead area, the outer lead area and in between said lead areas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 1 wherein said dielectric coating is present on both sides of said flex product structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 1 wherein said dielectric coating is present over those portions of said flex product structure containing no windows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 3 wherein said dielectric coating is an imageable coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 3 wherein said dielectric coating is a non-imageable coating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 5 or 6 wherein said metal lead is selected from the group consisting of copper or aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 5 wherein said metal coating on said metal lead is selected from the group consisting of gold, tin or aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 5 or 6 wherein said dielectric coating is a polymer that is capable of being etched.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 9 wherein the polymer is capable of being etched by a solvent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 9 wherein the polymer is capable of being etched by a laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 9 wherein the polymer is capable of being etched by reactive ion etching.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 9 wherein the coating is a low stress material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 9 wherein said coating has tensile modulus times thermal expansion coefficient product value of about 5 kPa/°C. or less.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 9 wherein the polyimide substrate has a thickness between about 12μ and 125μ, copper leads having a thickness less than 125μ, a gold thickness of between about 0.25μ and 1.2μ and a resist thickness less than 125μ.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The flex product structure defined in claim 15 wherein the polyimide substrate has a thickness of about 50μ, copper leads having a thickness of about 40μ, a gold thickness of about 0.6μ and the resist coating is preferably less than 50μ.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |