US5543584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structure for repairing electrical lines
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1992-02-28
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Granted: 1996-08-06
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Expires: 2012-02-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates generally to a new method of repairing electrical lines, and more particularly to repairing electrical lines having an opening at the module level with devices in place. Various methods and processes are used to repair this open or defective portion in an electrical conductor line. It could be repaired by securing a jumper wire or nugget across the open or the repair could be made by a deposition process, which includes but is not limited to filling the opening with a solder type material or inserting a solder coated electrical wire and heating the solder and allowing the solder to melt and repair the open. One of the attributes of this invention is the ability to repair on a substrate or module on which active components such as chips, and passive components such as pins, capacitors, etc. have been attached. The invention also allows repair of fine line patterns which are normally not repairable by conventional techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F. Handford
- 👤 Joseph M. Harvilchuck
- 👤 Mario J. Interrante
- 👤 Raymond A. Jackson
- 👤 Raj N. Master
- 👤 Sudipta K. Ray
- 👤 William E. Sablinski
- 👤 Thomas A. Wassick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:20
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10W20/067; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/225; H10W20/40; H10W20/49; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/62; H10W70/66; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10007; H05K2201/10181; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/10234; H05K2201/1028; H05K2201/10287; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/07; H05K2203/0756; H05K2203/0769; H05K2203/10; H05K2203/107; H05K2203/12; H05K2203/121; H05K2203/17; H05K2203/173; H05K2203/175; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0017; H05K3/02; H05K3/027; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A repaired substrate, said repaired substrate comprising having active and/or passive electrical components on at least one surface, and at least one electrically conductive line having at least one electrical discontinuity, and at least a portion of said electrically conductive line having a layer of protective coating over it, wherein said electrical discontinuity prevents electrical communication between a portion of said electrically conductive line, and wherein said electrical communication is restored by securing a pre-existing segment of an electrically conductive material across said electrical discontinuity while at least a portion of said electrically conductive line that is not being secured by said pre-existing segment still has said layer of protective coating over it, and wherein said electrically conductive material includes a coating of an organometallic material, and thereby forming said repaired substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A repaired substrate, said repaired substrate comprising having active and/or passive electrical components on at least one surface, and at least one electrically conductive line having at least one electrical discontinuity, and at least a portion of said electrically conductive line having a layer of protective coating over it, wherein said electrical discontinuity prevents electrical communication between a portion of said electrically conductive line, and wherein said electrical communication is restored by securing a pre-existing segment of an electrically conductive material across said electrical discontinuity while at least a portion of said electrically conductive line that is not being secured by said pre-existing segment still has said layer of protective coating over it, and wherein said electrically conductive material includes a coating of an organometallic material, and thereby forming said repaired substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The repaired substrate of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material is selected from a group comprising aluminum, antimony, bismuth, chromium, copper, gold, indium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, silver, tin, titanium, tungsten, or alloys thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The repaired substrate of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material is selected from a group comprising wire, solder, solder coated metal, or a metal covered with a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The repaired substrate of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material is a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The repaired substrate of claim 4, wherein said low temperature electrically conductive material is a solder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The repaired substrate of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material is a wire having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said wire is secured to one end of said conductive line and wherein said second end of said wire is secured to a second end of said conductive line to form a continuous electrical path and a bridge across said electrical discontinuity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The repaired substrate of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material comprises at least a partial coating of a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The repaired substrate of claim 7, wherein said low temperature electrically conductive material is solder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The repaired substrate of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material is secured to said conductive line, and at least a portion of said substrate has a coating of an insulator material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The repaired substrate of claim 9, wherein said insulator material is a polyimide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The repaired substrate of claim 7, wherein said coating of low temperature electrically conductive material is at least on one end of said electrically conductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The repaired substrate of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive line having at least one electrical discontinuity is a thin-film line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
A repaired substrate, said repaired substrate comprising having active and/or passive electrical components on at least one surface, and at least one electrically conductive line having at least one electrical discontinuity, and at least a portion of said electrically conductive line having a layer of protective coating over it, wherein said electrical discontinuity prevents electrical communication between a portion of said electrically conductive line, and wherein said electrical communication is restored by securing a pre-existing segment of an electrically conductive material across said electrical discontinuity while at least a portion of said electrically conductive line that is not being secured by said pre-existing segment still has said layer of protective coating over it, and wherein said electrically conductive material includes a coating of an electrically conductive polymeric material, and thereby forming said repaired substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
A repaired substrate, said repaired substrate comprising having active and/or passive electrical components on at least one surface, and at least one electrically conductive line having at least one electrical discontinuity, and at least a portion of said electrically conductive line having a layer of protective coating over it, wherein said electrical discontinuity prevents electrical communication between a portion of said electrically conductive line, and wherein said electrical communication is restored by securing a pre-existing segment of an electrically conductive material across said electrical discontinuity while at least a portion of said electrically conductive line that is not being secured by said pre-existing segment still has said layer of protective coating over it, and wherein said electrically conductive material includes a coating of an electrically conductive polymeric material, and thereby forming said repaired substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The repaired substrate of claim 13, wherein said electrically conductive material is selected from a group comprising aluminum, antimony, bismuth, chromium, copper, gold, indium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, silver, tin, titanium, tungsten, or alloys thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The repaired substrate of claim 13, wherein said electrically conductive material is selected from a group comprising wire, solder, solder coated metal, or a metal covered with a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The repaired substrate of claim 13, wherein said electrically conductive material is a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The repaired substrate of claim 16, wherein said low temperature electrically conductive material is a solder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The repaired substrate of claim 13, wherein said electrically conductive material is a wire having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said wire is secured to one end of said conductive line and wherein said second end of said wire is secured to a second end of said conductive line to form a continuous electrical path and a bridge across said electrical discontinuity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The repaired substrate of claim 13, wherein said electrically conductive material comprises at least a partial coating of a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The repaired substrate of claim 19, wherein said low temperature electrically conductive material is solder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The repaired substrate of claim 13, wherein said electrically conductive material is secured to said conductive line, and at least a portion of said substrate has a coating of an insulator material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The repaired substrate of claim 21, wherein said insulator material is a polyimide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The repaired substrate of claim 19, wherein said coating of low temperature electrically conductive material is at least on one end of said electrically conductive material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The repaired substrate of claim 13, wherein said electrically conductive line having at least one electrical discontinuity is a thin-film line.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-06 | 2000-02-05 | 2000-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-02-05 | 2004-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-06 | 2008-02-05 | 2008-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |