Patent US4937006A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4937006A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for fluxless solder bonding

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1988-07-29
•
Granted: 1990-06-26
•
Expires: 2008-07-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Method and apparatus for fluxlessly solder bonding a solder mound to a solder wettable surface. A heated gas, preferably a reducing or non-reactive gas, is directed at a solid solder mound. Gas is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt solder mound. The heated gas is directed at the molten solder mound at a momentum sufficient to disperse an oxide layer at the surface of the molten solder mound. Dispersing the oxide layer permits the molten solder to wet the solder wettable surface. The molten solder is cooled to form a solder bond.

Inventors

  • 👤 Harry R. Bickford
  • 👤 Raymond R. Horton
  • 👤 Ismail C. Novan
  • 👤 Michael J. Palmer
  • 👤 John C. Zyzo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 18:45
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/04; H10P72/0446; B; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/012; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3494; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/072; H10W72/07251; H10W72/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
An apparatus for fluxless solder bonding a solder mound to a solder wettable surface comprising; means for holding said solder wettable surface against said solder mound; means for heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mound to a molten mass having an oxide on the surface thereof; means for directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on the surface of said molten mass; a means for randomizing said heated gas and a means for planarizing said randomized gas; and means for permitting said molten mass to cool to form a solder bond between said surface and said solder mound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 112 words
An apparatus for fluxless solder bonding a solder mound to a solder wettable surface comprising; means for holding said solder wettable surface against said solder mound; means for heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mound to a molten mass having an oxide on the surface thereof; means for directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on the surface of said molten mass; a means for randomizing said heated gas and a means for planarizing said randomized gas; and means for permitting said molten mass to cool to form a solder bond between said surface and said solder mound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for randomizing said heated gas consist of a chamber filled with particles of material from about 3/32 inch to about 5/32 inch in size.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including a means for deflecting, in a preferred direction, said gas exiting said means for directing said gas at said solder mound.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of an oxidizing gas, a reducing gas and a nonreactive gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 10 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gas contains hydrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solder wettable surface is selected from the group consisting of gold, palladium and platinum.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 161 words
An apparatus for fluxless solder bonding a solder mound to a solder wettable surface comprising: means for holding said solder wettable surface against said solder mound; gas inlet means connected to a gas randomizing chamber; said gas randomizing chamber filled with a plurality of particles for randomizing said gas passing through said randomizing chamber; means for heating said gas in said gas randomizing chamber; gas planarizing chamber connected to said gas randomizing chamber; at least one gas outlet nozzle connected to said gas planarizing chamber; means for directing said gas in a predetermined direction at said gas outlet nozzle; and means for forcing a gas into said gas inlet means, said forced gas exiting said outlet nozzle contacting said solder mound at a temperature sufficient to melt said solder to a molten mass and at a momentum sufficient to disperse an oxide formed at the surface of said molten solder to permit said molten solder to wet said solder wettable surface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 161 words
An apparatus for fluxless solder bonding a solder mound to a solder wettable surface comprising: means for holding said solder wettable surface against said solder mound; gas inlet means connected to a gas randomizing chamber; said gas randomizing chamber filled with a plurality of particles for randomizing said gas passing through said randomizing chamber; means for heating said gas in said gas randomizing chamber; gas planarizing chamber connected to said gas randomizing chamber; at least one gas outlet nozzle connected to said gas planarizing chamber; means for directing said gas in a predetermined direction at said gas outlet nozzle; and means for forcing a gas into said gas inlet means, said forced gas exiting said outlet nozzle contacting said solder mound at a temperature sufficient to melt said solder to a molten mass and at a momentum sufficient to disperse an oxide formed at the surface of said molten solder to permit said molten solder to wet said solder wettable surface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 85 words
An apparatus comprising; means for holding a solder wettable surface against a solder mound; means for heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mount to a molten mass having an oxide on the surface thereof; means for randomizing said gas; means for planarizing said gas; and means for directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on said surface of said molten mass, permitting said molten mass to wet said solder wettable surface.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 85 words
An apparatus comprising; means for holding a solder wettable surface against a solder mound; means for heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mount to a molten mass having an oxide on the surface thereof; means for randomizing said gas; means for planarizing said gas; and means for directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on said surface of said molten mass, permitting said molten mass to wet said solder wettable surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for randomizing said heated gas consist of a chamber filled with particles of material from about 3/32 inch to about 5/32 inch in size.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further including a means for deflecting, in a preferred direction, said gas exiting said means for directing said gas at said solder mound.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of an oxidizing gas, a reducing gas and a nonreactive gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 10 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said gas contains hydrogen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said solder wettable surface is selected from the group consisting of gold, palladium and platinum.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 69 words
A method comprising; placing a solder wettable surface against a solder mound; heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mound to a molten mass having an oxide on surface thereof; randomizing and planarizing said gas; and directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on said surface, permitting said molten mass to wet said solder wettable surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 69 words
A method comprising; placing a solder wettable surface against a solder mound; heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mound to a molten mass having an oxide on surface thereof; randomizing and planarizing said gas; and directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on said surface, permitting said molten mass to wet said solder wettable surface.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 98 words
A method for fluxless solder bonding a solder mound to a solder wettable surface comprising; holding said solder wettable surface against said solder mound; heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mound to a molten mass having an oxide on the surface thereof; directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on the surface of said molten mass; randomizing said heated gas and planarizing said randomized gas; and permitting said molten mass to cool to form a solder bond between said surface and said solder mound.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 98 words
A method for fluxless solder bonding a solder mound to a solder wettable surface comprising; holding said solder wettable surface against said solder mound; heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mound to a molten mass having an oxide on the surface thereof; directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on the surface of said molten mass; randomizing said heated gas and planarizing said randomized gas; and permitting said molten mass to cool to form a solder bond between said surface and said solder mound.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of an oxidizing gas, a reducing gas and a nonreactive gas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said gas contains hydrogen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said solder wettable surface is selected from the group consisting of gold, palladium and platinum.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 75 words
A method comprising; holding a solder wettable surface against a solder mound; heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mound to a molten mass having an oxide on the surface thereof; randomizing said gas; planarizing said gas; and directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on said surface of said molten mass, permitting said molten mass to wet said solder wettable surface.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 75 words
A method comprising; holding a solder wettable surface against a solder mound; heating a gas to a temperature sufficient to melt said solder mound to a molten mass having an oxide on the surface thereof; randomizing said gas; planarizing said gas; and directing said gas at said solder mound at a predetermined momentum sufficient to disperse said oxide on said surface of said molten mass, permitting said molten mass to wet said solder wettable surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of an oxidizing gas, a reducing gas and a nonreactive gas.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said gas contains hydrogen.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said solder wettable surface is selected from the group consisting of gold, palladium and platinum.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-06-25 1993-12-25 1994-06-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-06-25 1997-12-25 1998-06-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-06-25 2001-12-25 2002-06-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag