US6002590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flexible trace surface circuit board and method for making flexible trace surface circuit board
Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
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Filing: 1998-03-24
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Granted: 1999-12-14
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Expires: 2018-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A circuit board has traces attached to a flexible trace surface such that the traces can be displaced in a direction of thermal expansion of a component attached to the traces without causing the failure of the solder joint between the component and the trace. In one embodiment, the printed circuit board substrate is etched away in areas not covered by the traces such that flexible protuberances are formed from the substrate underneath the traces. In one method for constructing such a circuit board, a conductive layer is deposited on the printed circuit board substrate. The conductive layer is then etched to form conductive traces. The printed circuit board substrate is then selectively etched using the traces as a mask for etching the printed circuit board substrate. In a second printed circuit board embodiment, a flexible layer of a material is deposited onto the printed circuit board substrate. The traces are then formed on top of the flexible layer. The flexible layer allows the traces to move in the direction of thermal expansion of an attached component without causing failure of the solder joint between the trace and the component.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren M. Farnworth
- 👤 Kevin G. Duesman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:44
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0271; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/341; H05K3/3431; H05K3/3436; H05K1/03; H05K1/0313; H05K1/0353; H05K1/036; H05K1/11; H05K1/111; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/01; H05K2201/0104; H05K2201/0133; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09009; H05K2201/09045; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10613; H05K2201/10621; H05K2201/10734; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/05; H05K2203/0548; H05K2203/0554; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0017; H05K3/002; H05K3/325; H05K3/326; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A circuit board comprising: at least one substrate having a flexible trace surface comprising a plurality of flexible protuberances formed from said substrate, each of the protuberances having a top surface; and a plurality of conductive traces attached to said top surfaces of said flexible protuberances such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A circuit board comprising: at least one substrate having a flexible trace surface comprising a plurality of flexible protuberances formed from said substrate, each of the protuberances having a top surface; and a plurality of conductive traces attached to said top surfaces of said flexible protuberances such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The circuit board of claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate consists of a single substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit board of claim 2, wherein the substrate has a single flexible trace surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit board of claim 2, wherein the substrate has two flexible trace surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit board of claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate comprises a plurality of substrates, including a top substrate and a bottom substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit board of claim 5, wherein both the top and bottom substrates have a flexible trace surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
A circuit board assembly comprising: at least one substrate having a flexible trace surface comprising a plurality of flexible protuberances formed from said substrate, each of the protuberances having a top surface; a plurality of conductive traces attached to said top surfaces of said flexible protuberances such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate; and at least one component attached to at least one of said conductive traces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A circuit board assembly comprising: at least one substrate having a flexible trace surface comprising a plurality of flexible protuberances formed from said substrate, each of the protuberances having a top surface; a plurality of conductive traces attached to said top surfaces of said flexible protuberances such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate; and at least one component attached to at least one of said conductive traces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one substrate consists of a single substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 8, wherein the substrate has a single flexible trace surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 8, wherein the substrate has two flexible trace surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one substrate comprises a plurality of substrates, including a top substrate and a bottom substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 11, wherein both the top and bottom substrates have a flexible trace surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 7, wherein the component is enclosed in a surface mount package.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 13, wherein the surface mount package is a ball grid array package.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer system comprising: a processor, a memory, an input/output device, and at least one circuit board comprising: at least one substrate having a flexible trace surface comprising a plurality of flexible protuberances formed from said substrate, each of the protuberances having a top surface; and a plurality of conductive traces attached to said top surfaces of said flexible protuberances such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate; said processor, said memory, and said input/output device being attached to at least one of said conductive traces on at least one circuit board such that said processor is in electrical contact with said memory and said input/output device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer system comprising: a processor, a memory, an input/output device, and at least one circuit board comprising: at least one substrate having a flexible trace surface comprising a plurality of flexible protuberances formed from said substrate, each of the protuberances having a top surface; and a plurality of conductive traces attached to said top surfaces of said flexible protuberances such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate; said processor, said memory, and said input/output device being attached to at least one of said conductive traces on at least one circuit board such that said processor is in electrical contact with said memory and said input/output device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein the at least one substrate consists of a single substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 16, wherein the substrate has a single flexible trace surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 16, wherein the substrate has two flexible trace surfaces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein the at least one substrate comprises a plurality of substrates, including a top substrate and a bottom substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein both the top and bottom substrates have a flexible trace surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein the component is enclosed in a surface mount package.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 21, wherein the surface mount package is a ball grid array package.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
A circuit board comprising: at least one substrate; a flexible trace surface comprising a flexible layer attached to said substrate, the flexible layer comprising at least approximately 50% silicone; and a plurality of conductive traces attached to said flexible layer such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
A circuit board comprising: at least one substrate; a flexible trace surface comprising a flexible layer attached to said substrate, the flexible layer comprising at least approximately 50% silicone; and a plurality of conductive traces attached to said flexible layer such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
74 words
A circuit board assembly comprising: at least one substrate; a flexible trace surface comprising a flexible layer attached to said substrate, the flexible layer comprising at least approximately 50% silicone; a plurality of conductive traces attached to said flexible layer such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate; and at least one component attached to at least one of said conductive traces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
74 words
A circuit board assembly comprising: at least one substrate; a flexible trace surface comprising a flexible layer attached to said substrate, the flexible layer comprising at least approximately 50% silicone; a plurality of conductive traces attached to said flexible layer such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate; and at least one component attached to at least one of said conductive traces.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer system comprising: a processor, a memory, an input/output device, and at least one circuit board comprising: at least one substrate; a flexible trace surface comprising a flexible layer attached to said substrate, the flexible layer comprising at least approximately 50% silicone; and a plurality of conductive traces attached to said flexible layer such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate; said processor, said memory, and said input/output device being attached to at least one of said conductive traces on at least one circuit board such that said processor is in electrical contact with said memory and said input/output device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer system comprising: a processor, a memory, an input/output device, and at least one circuit board comprising: at least one substrate; a flexible trace surface comprising a flexible layer attached to said substrate, the flexible layer comprising at least approximately 50% silicone; and a plurality of conductive traces attached to said flexible layer such that said traces can be displaced in at least one direction in a plane generally parallel to said substrate; said processor, said memory, and said input/output device being attached to at least one of said conductive traces on at least one circuit board such that said processor is in electrical contact with said memory and said input/output device.
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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) | 2002-12-13 | 2003-06-14 | 2003-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-13 | 2007-06-14 | 2007-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-13 | 2011-06-14 | 2011-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |