Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An anisotropically-conductive film or a substrate having a surface coated with an anisotropically-conductive coating, said film or coating having been formed by solidifying a solidifiable ferrofluid composition, the solidifiable ferrofluid composition comprising (i) a colloidal suspension of ferromagnetic particles in a non-magnetic carrier, and (ii) a plurality of electrically-conductive particles dispersed in the ferrofluid composition, said electrically-conductive dispersed particles having an average particle size which is about 10 times or more than the particle size of said ferromagnetic particles, said electrically-conductive particles having been arrayed in a non-random pattern by application of a substantially uniform magnetic field to the composition in a liquid state and having been locked in position by solidification of the composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An anisotropically-conductive film or a substrate having a surface coated with an anisotropically-conductive coating, said film or coating having been formed by solidifying a solidifiable ferrofluid composition, the solidifiable ferrofluid composition comprising (i) a colloidal suspension of ferromagnetic particles in a non-magnetic carrier, and (ii) a plurality of electrically-conductive particles dispersed in the ferrofluid composition, said electrically-conductive dispersed particles having an average particle size which is about 10 times or more than the particle size of said ferromagnetic particles, said electrically-conductive particles having been arrayed in a non-random pattern by application of a substantially uniform magnetic field to the composition in a liquid state and having been locked in position by solidification of the composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 1 wherein the solidifiable ferrofluid composition was curable and comprised at least a primary cure system which had been activated to solidify said composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 2 wherein the composition contains a latent cure system which is activatable to further cure said film or coating at a time subsequent to solidification of the composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive particles have substantially uniform sizes and shapes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 4, wherein said film or coating has a thickness is substantially equal to the average diameter of the electrically-conductive particles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
An anisotropically-conductive film or substrate coating formed by (a) applying to a substrate, a layer of a solidifiable ferrofluid composition comprising a colloidal suspension of ferromagnetic particles in a non-magnetic carrier liquid, and a plurality of electrically-conductive particles, dispersed in the ferrofluid composition, the electrically-conductive particles having an average particle size about 10 times or more than that of said ferromagnetic particles; (b) exposing the solidifiable ferrofluid composition to a magnetic field to array the electrically-conductive particles in a non-random pattern; (c) concurrent with or subsequent to step (b), exposing the solidifiable ferrofluid composition to solidifying conditions for the composition; and (d) optionally removing the layer of solidified ferrofluid composition from the substrate to form a film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
An anisotropically-conductive film or substrate coating formed by (a) applying to a substrate, a layer of a solidifiable ferrofluid composition comprising a colloidal suspension of ferromagnetic particles in a non-magnetic carrier liquid, and a plurality of electrically-conductive particles, dispersed in the ferrofluid composition, the electrically-conductive particles having an average particle size about 10 times or more than that of said ferromagnetic particles; (b) exposing the solidifiable ferrofluid composition to a magnetic field to array the electrically-conductive particles in a non-random pattern; (c) concurrent with or subsequent to step (b), exposing the solidifiable ferrofluid composition to solidifying conditions for the composition; and (d) optionally removing the layer of solidified ferrofluid composition from the substrate to form a film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A solid-form anisotropically-conductive film or a substrate having a surface coated with a solid-form anisotropically-conductive coating, said film or coating comprising a composition containing colloidal ferromagnetic particles and a plurality of electrically-conductive particles having an average particle size which is about 10 times or more than that of the ferromagnetic particles arrayed in the composition in a non-random pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A solid-form anisotropically-conductive film or a substrate having a surface coated with a solid-form anisotropically-conductive coating, said film or coating comprising a composition containing colloidal ferromagnetic particles and a plurality of electrically-conductive particles having an average particle size which is about 10 times or more than that of the ferromagnetic particles arrayed in the composition in a non-random pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 7 wherein the composition contains a latent cure system which is activatable to cure said solid-form anisotropically-conductive film or coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A substrate having conductors thereon, and having an anisotropically conductive film or coating as defined in claim 1 applied to said conductors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A substrate according to claim 9 wherein the anisotropically-conductive coating contains a latent cure system which is activatable to cure said film or coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive particles are arrayed in a monolayer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A film or substrate coating according to claim 6 wherein the electrically conductive particles are arrayed in a monolayer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 7 wherein the electrically conductive particles are arrayed in a monolayer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive particles are substantially non-magnetic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A film or substrate coating according to claim 6 wherein the electrically conductive particles are substantially non-magnetic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 7 wherein the electrically conductive particles are substantially non-magnetic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A film or coated substrate according to claim 1 wherein the composition contains a latent cure system which is activatable to cure said film or coating at a time subsequent to solidification of the composition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
An anisotropically-conductive film or a substrate having a surface coated with an anisotropically-conductive coating, said film or coating having been formed by solidifying a solidifiable ferrofluid composition, the solidifiable ferrofluid composition comprising (i) a colloidal suspension of ferromagnetic particles in a non-magnetic carrier, and (ii) a plurality of electrically-conductive substantially non-magnetic particles dispersed in the ferrofluid composition, said electrically-conductive particles having been arrayed in a non-random pattern by application of a substantially uniform magnetic field to the composition in a liquid state and having been locked in position by solidification of the composition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
93 words
An anisotropically-conductive film or a substrate having a surface coated with an anisotropically-conductive coating, said film or coating having been formed by solidifying a solidifiable ferrofluid composition, the solidifiable ferrofluid composition comprising (i) a colloidal suspension of ferromagnetic particles in a non-magnetic carrier, and (ii) a plurality of electrically-conductive substantially non-magnetic particles dispersed in the ferrofluid composition, said electrically-conductive particles having been arrayed in a non-random pattern by application of a substantially uniform magnetic field to the composition in a liquid state and having been locked in position by solidification of the composition.