US5545429A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabrication of double side fully metallized plated thru-holes, in polymer structures, without seeding or photoprocess
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1994-07-01
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Granted: 1996-08-13
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Expires: 2014-07-01
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a process of a method for the full metallization of thru-holes in a polymer structure comprising the steps of applying a film-forming amount of a conductive polymer-metal composite paste to a metal cathode; bonding a patterned polymer structure to said paste; subjecting said polymer structure to an electrolytic plating bath for a time sufficient to fully metallize thru-hole surfaces in said patterned polymer structure and removing the structure from the cathode assembly. The fully metallized thru-hole polymer structure can then be cleaned and polished to produce a finished product.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B. Booth
- 👤 Emanuel I. Cooper
- 👤 Edward A. Giess
- 👤 Mark R. Kordus
- 👤 Sol Krongelb
- 👤 Steven P. Ostrander
- 👤 Judith M. Roldan
- 👤 Carlos J. Sambucetti
- 👤 Ravi Saraf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:49
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/40; H05K3/42; H05K3/423; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/01; H05K2203/0147; H05K2203/0152; H05K2203/07; H05K2203/0703; H05K2203/0733; H05K2203/15; H05K2203/1509; H05K3/10; H05K3/20; H05K3/205; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/321
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for fully metallizing thru-holes in a patterned polymer structure comprising the steps of: (a) applying a temporary removable cathode to a metal cathode to form a cathode assembly; (b) bonding said patterned polymer structure to said temporary removable cathode; (c) subjecting said patterned polymer structure to an electrolytic plating bath for a time sufficient to fully metallize thru-hole surfaces in said patterned polymer structure; (d) removing said patterned polymer structure from said electrolytic plating bath; and (e) removing said patterned polymer structure from said cathode assembly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for fully metallizing thru-holes in a patterned polymer structure comprising the steps of: (a) applying a temporary removable cathode to a metal cathode to form a cathode assembly; (b) bonding said patterned polymer structure to said temporary removable cathode; (c) subjecting said patterned polymer structure to an electrolytic plating bath for a time sufficient to fully metallize thru-hole surfaces in said patterned polymer structure; (d) removing said patterned polymer structure from said electrolytic plating bath; and (e) removing said patterned polymer structure from said cathode assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said temporary removable cathode is a film-forming conductive polymer-metal composite paste.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said polymer in said polymer-metal composite paste is a thermoplastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said thermoplastic material is a polymide-siloxane polymer or copolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said thermoplastic material is a polysulfone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said metal in said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is silver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said metal in said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is gold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said metal in said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is nickel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said metal in said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is palladium.,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is silver powder dispersed in polyimide siloxane conductive paste.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is gold powder dispersed in polyimide siloxane conductive paste.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is silver powder dispersed in polysulfone conductive paste.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is gold powder dispersed in polysulfone conductive paste.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said metal cathode is made of copper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said metal cathode is made of stainless steel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said metal cathode is made of graphite.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is dried to bond the patterned polymer structure thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein said drying of said conductive polymer-metal composite paste removes solvent from said paste.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is dried at room temperature for a period of about 4 to about 8 hours.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein said conductive polymer-metal composite paste is dried at a temperature of from about 80° to about 100° C. for a period of about 1 hour.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of applying pressure and heat to said polymer structure to achieve bonding of said polymer structure to said paste.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said plating bath is in the form of a paddle cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said plating bath is in the form of a jet cell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said plating bath contains a copper plating solution.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein said copper plating solution is an acid copper plating solution.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said temporary removable cathode is removed from said metal cathode with the use of a solvent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein said solvent is an aromatic hydrocarbon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is mixed with a polar solvent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is xylene.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is toluene.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 28 wherein said polar solvent is acetophenone.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 28 wherein said polar solvent is dimethyl adipate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said temporary removable cathode is thermally removed from said metal cathode.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 which further comprises the step of polishing said metallized polymer structure.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 34 wherein said metallized polymer structure is polished using a fine alumina and colloidal silica slurry.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 which further comprises the step of applying electroless gold to surfaces of thru-holes in said polymer structure.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer in said polymer structure is a polyimide.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 37 wherein said polyimide is a polyimide made from ODA (4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether)-PMDA (pyromellitic dianhydride).
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 37 wherein said polyimide is a polyimide made from PPD (p-phenylenediamine)-BPDA (3,3'4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylix dianhydride).
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 37 wherein said polyimide is a polyimide moulding material having the ODA (4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether)-PMDA (pyromellitic dianhydride) structure.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer in said polymer structure is a liquid crystalline polyester.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer in said polymer structure is a polyether ketone.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer in said polymer structure is a polyphenylene sulfide.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer in said polymer structure is Teflon.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer in said polymer structure is polyetherimide.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer structure is a multiple via chip testing vehicle.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer structure is a multiple polyimide structure.
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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) | 1999-08-13 | 2000-02-12 | 2000-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-13 | 2004-02-12 | 2004-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-13 | 2008-02-12 | 2008-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |