Patent · US Expired

Method for making tab circuit electrical connector supporting multiple components thereon

US4989317A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
7References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 21, 1988
Grant dateFeb 5, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 21, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49156
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A flexible interconnect circuit having at least two connected components within its periphery is formed with electrically conductive traces on a nonconductive plastic support. The components are interconnected to each other, and to external locations, with the interconnect circuit. As part of the manufacturing process, the conductive traces are typically electroplated with gold. The traces must be contacted as electrodes during electrodeposition, and the contacting is done using bus connectors along the periphery of the support. Isolated traces, not contacting the periphery and typically extending only between the components within the periphery, are contacted by providing removable bus connectors on the nonconductive support. When plating is complete, the removable bus connectors are removed, preferably by die cutting away those portions of the support having the unneeded bus connectors.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.