US4919971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-induced repairing of conductor lines
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1988-09-23
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Granted: 1990-04-24
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Expires: 2008-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A new method of repairing partially defective conductor lines is disclosed. The defective site comprising narrow necks or thin portions or cracks in a conductor line is heated by passing a relatively high current. Using the thermobattery principle in an electroplating process or an electroless plating process or a pyrolytic deposition process, a conductive material is deposited at the defective site, and the partially defective conductor line is thereby repaired. A method of repairing gaps and circuit opens in a conductor line is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Chengjun J. Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:36
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/225; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/11; H05K2203/1115; H05K2203/13; H05K2203/1333; H05K2203/1338; H05K2203/17; H05K2203/173; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/181; H05K3/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for repairing partially defective conductor lines, wherein said defect is formed by thinning of a portion of said line, comprising the steps of, selectively heating at least one partially defective site in said conductor line by passing a high current, and, inducing deposition of a conductive material at said partially defective site, thereby repairing said conductor line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for repairing partially defective conductor lines, wherein said defect is formed by thinning of a portion of said line, comprising the steps of, selectively heating at least one partially defective site in said conductor line by passing a high current, and, inducing deposition of a conductive material at said partially defective site, thereby repairing said conductor line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive material is selected from the group comprising nickel, copper, silver, chromium, aluminum, gold, platinum, palladium, molybdenum, tungsten and titanium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said conductive material is deposited using an electroplating process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said conductive material is deposited using an electroless plating process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said conductive material is deposited using a gas phase pyrolysis process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the partially defective conductor line is on a printed circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the partially defective conductor line is on a ceramic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the partially defective conductor line is on a polymeric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the defective site is a narrow neck in said defective conductor line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the defective site is a crack in said defective conductor line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the high current is pulsed, modulated, an alternating current or a direct current.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the high current is below the current which may damage said partially defective conductor line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said high current is started with a relatively low current, said current is increased slowly until it reaches the maximum tolerable current for said conductor line, and said high current is then terminated after said partially defective site has been repaired.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the deposition of conductive material is terminated when the cross-sectional area of the defective site is equal to the cross-sectional area of the conductor line.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for repairing a conductor line having at least one open segment comprising the steps of, forming a conductive connection across said open segment, selectively heating said conductive connection by passing a high current, and inducing the deposition of a conductive material along said conductive connection thereby repairing said open segment in said conductor line.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for repairing a conductor line having at least one open segment comprising the steps of, forming a conductive connection across said open segment, selectively heating said conductive connection by passing a high current, and inducing the deposition of a conductive material along said conductive connection thereby repairing said open segment in said conductor line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the conductive material is selected from the group comprising nickel, copper, silver, chromium, aluminum, gold, palladium, platinum, molybdenum, tungsten and titanium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said conductive material is deposited using an electroplating process.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said conductive material is deposited using an electroless process.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said conductive material is deposited using a gas phase pyrolysis process.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the conductor line having an open segment is on a printed circuit board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the conductor line having an open segment is on a ceramic material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the conductor line having an open segment is on a polymer material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the high current is pulsed, modulated, an alternating current or a direct current.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the high current is below the current which may damage said conductor line.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said high current is started with a relatively low current, said current is increased slowly until it reaches the maximum tolerable current for said conductor line, and said high current is then terminated after said partially defective site has been repaired.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the deposition of conductive material is terminated when the cross-sectional area of the open segment filled with said conductive material is equal to the cross-sectional area of the conductor line.
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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) | 1993-04-23 | 1993-10-23 | 1994-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-23 | 1997-10-23 | 1998-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-23 | 2001-10-23 | 2002-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |