Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A soldering method, comprising the steps of: a) providing a coating of a first solder material having a liquidus temperature on solderable portions of a printed circuit board; b) depositing a solder paste on the first solder material, said solder paste having a solidus temperature that is greater than the liquidus temperature of the first solder material; c) heating the solder paste and the first solder material to a temperature that is above the liquidus temperature of the first solder material and below the solidus temperature of the solder paste, thereby dispersing the first solder material throughout the solder paste and alloying the first solder material to the solder paste and the solderable portions of the printed circuit board; and d) cooling the solder paste and the first solder material to a temperature below the liquidus temperature of the first solder material, to form a solid and substantially planar coating of the first solder material uniformly dispersed throughout the solder paste on the solderable portions of the printed circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A soldering method, comprising the steps of: a) providing a coating of a first solder material having a liquidus temperature on solderable portions of a printed circuit board; b) depositing a solder paste on the first solder material, said solder paste having a solidus temperature that is greater than the liquidus temperature of the first solder material; c) heating the solder paste and the first solder material to a temperature that is above the liquidus temperature of the first solder material and below the solidus temperature of the solder paste, thereby dispersing the first solder material throughout the solder paste and alloying the first solder material to the solder paste and the solderable portions of the printed circuit board; and d) cooling the solder paste and the first solder material to a temperature below the liquidus temperature of the first solder material, to form a solid and substantially planar coating of the first solder material uniformly dispersed throughout the solder paste on the solderable portions of the printed circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of depositing a solder paste comprises depositing a solder paste comprising an alloy of tin, lead and silver, and having a melting temperature of about 180° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a coating comprises depositing a solder alloy having a melting temperature less than 180° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising a final step of: e) soldering an electronic component to the substantially planar coating on the solderable surfaces, at a temperature sufficient to cause said solder paste to reflow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising a step of applying flux on said substantially planar coating prior to soldering said component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a coating comprises depositing an indium solder alloy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a solder paste includes solder particles comprising about 12% by weight of the first solder particles and about 88% by weight of the second solder particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a coating comprises plating the first solder material on the solderable portions of the printed circuit board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a coating comprises hot air leveling the first solder material on the solderable portions of the printed circuit board.