Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
Process of manufacturing printed circuit boards, comprising the following steps: a) applying a masking layer to an insulating carrier substrate, b) then producing recesses in the masking layer and in an upper region of the carrier substrate for at least one of (i) soldering pads, (ii) conductor traces and (iii) through holes in the masking layer and the carrier substrate, c) then applying a conductive layer to the surface of the carrier substrate while the masking layer is in situ on the carrier substrate so that the conductive layer is applied to the masking layer and recesses, d) then removing the masking layer with the conductive layer applied thereon without removing the conductive layer from the recesses so that a residual portion of the conductive layer remains in the recesses, and e) then applying metal to the residual portion of the conductive layer to attain a thicker residual portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
Process of manufacturing printed circuit boards, comprising the following steps: a) applying a masking layer to an insulating carrier substrate, b) then producing recesses in the masking layer and in an upper region of the carrier substrate for at least one of (i) soldering pads, (ii) conductor traces and (iii) through holes in the masking layer and the carrier substrate, c) then applying a conductive layer to the surface of the carrier substrate while the masking layer is in situ on the carrier substrate so that the conductive layer is applied to the masking layer and recesses, d) then removing the masking layer with the conductive layer applied thereon without removing the conductive layer from the recesses so that a residual portion of the conductive layer remains in the recesses, and e) then applying metal to the residual portion of the conductive layer to attain a thicker residual portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Process in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that, to produce a multi-layer circuit board, a carrier substrate is laminated onto at least one side of a standard circuit board or the circuit board produced in accordance with claim 1, and process steps a) through e) are carried out.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Process in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the recessed structures are produced by laser ablation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Process in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the recesses in the upper region of the carrier substrate in accordance with step b) have a depth of approximately 20 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that application of the conductive layer is performed by physical vapor deposition or plasma enhanced vapor deposition processes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Process in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the recessed structures are produced by laser ablation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the structure depth in the upper region of the carrier substrate in accordance with step b) is approximately 20 μm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that application of the conductive layer is performed by physical vapor deposition or plasma enhanced vapor deposition processes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is applied, the masking layer is removed and the metal is applied to the residual portion of the conductive layer so that all exposed portions of the soldering pads of through holes and the conductor traces remaining on the carrier substrate after the masking layer has been removed are substantially coplanar.