Patent US5153408A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5153408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and structure for repairing electrical lines
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1990-10-31
•
Granted: 1992-10-06
•
Expires: 2010-10-31
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates generally to a new method of repairing electrical lines, and more praticularly to repairing electrical lines having an open at the module level with devices in place. Various methods and processes are used to repair this open or defective portion in an electrical conductor line. It could be repaired by securing a jumper wire or nugget across the open or the repair could be made by a deposition process, which includes but is not limited to filling the open with a solder type material or inserting a solder coated electrical wire and heating the solder and allowing the solder to melt and repair the open. One of the attributes of this invention is the ability to repair on a substrate or module on which active components such as chips, and passive components such as pins, capacitors, etc. have been attached. The invention also allows repair of fine line patterns which are normally not repairable by conventional techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F. Handford
- 👤 Joseph M. Harvilchuck
- 👤 Mario J. Interrante
- 👤 Raymond A. Jackson
- 👤 Raj N. Master
- 👤 Sudipta K. Ray
- 👤 William E. Sablinski
- 👤 Thomas A. Wassick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:34
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10W20/067; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/225; H10W20/40; H10W20/49; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/62; H10W70/66; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10007; H05K2201/10181; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/10234; H05K2201/1028; H05K2201/10287; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/07; H05K2203/0756; H05K2203/0769; H05K2203/10; H05K2203/107; H05K2203/12; H05K2203/121; H05K2203/17; H05K2203/173; H05K2203/175; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0017; H05K3/02; H05K3/027; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for forming an electrically conductive path across a defect in an electrical line comprising the steps of, (a) ablating an area around said defect, (b) placing a segment of an electrically conductive material over at least a portion of said line, and (c) securing said segment to said line, thereby forming said electrically conductive path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for forming an electrically conductive path across a defect in an electrical line comprising the steps of, (a) ablating an area around said defect, (b) placing a segment of an electrically conductive material over at least a portion of said line, and (c) securing said segment to said line, thereby forming said electrically conductive path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material is selected from a group comprising aluminum, antimony, bismuth, chromium, copper, gold, indium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, silver, tin, titanium, tungsten, or alloys thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of said line is laser ablated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said ablated area around said defect is at least 25 percent larger than the average cross-sectional dimensions of said line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical line is in a thin film packaging structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a tip having a contoured surface is used for securing said segment to said line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said contoured surface is selected from the group comprising, a flat surface, a triangular surface, a semicircular surface, an elliptical surface, a square surface, a rectangular surface, or a polygonal surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said segment of an electrically conductive material is a low temperature electrically conductive material, and wherein said low temperature electrically conductive material is secured to said line by a method selected from hot gas reflow, furnace reflow, thermode, or laser reflow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said segment of an electrically conductive material is solder, and wherein said solder is secured to said line by a method selected from hot gas reflow, furnace reflow, thermode, or laser reflow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said repaired defect is covered with an insulator material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said repaired defect is covered with a polyimide material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said segment of an electrically conductive material is a nugget, and wherein said nugget is secured to said line, by a method selected from a group comprising ultrasonic bonding, brazing, thermal compression bonding, or lasersonic bonding.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said segment of an electrically conductive material is covered with a low temperature electrically conductive material, and wherein said low temperature electrically conductive material is secured to said line by a method selected from hot gas reflow, furnace reflow, thermode, or laser reflow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said segment of an electrically conductive material is covered with solder, and wherein said solder is secured to said line by a method selected from hot gas reflow, furnace reflow, thermode, or laser reflow.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14, wherein a metallurgical bond is formed between said segment and said line by melting of said solder.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for forming an electrically conductive path across a defect in an electrical line comprising the steps of: (a) ablating a first area at one end of said defect and exposing a first portion of said defective electrical line, (b) ablating a second area at the second end of said defect and exposing a second portion of said defective electrical line, (c) placing a segment of an electrically conductive material over at least a portion of said first and said second portions of said defective electrical line, and (d) metallurgically securing said segment to said first and said second portions of said electrical line, thereby forming said electrically conductive path.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for forming an electrically conductive path across a defect in an electrical line comprising the steps of: (a) ablating a first area at one end of said defect and exposing a first portion of said defective electrical line, (b) ablating a second area at the second end of said defect and exposing a second portion of said defective electrical line, (c) placing a segment of an electrically conductive material over at least a portion of said first and said second portions of said defective electrical line, and (d) metallurgically securing said segment to said first and said second portions of said electrical line, thereby forming said electrically conductive path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said electrically conductive material is selected from a group comprising aluminum, antimony, bismuth, chromium, copper, gold, indium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, silver, tin, titanium, tungsten, or alloys thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the upper surface of said line is laser ablated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least said first area and said second area around said defect are laser ablated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said ablated area around said first area and said second area is at least 25 percent larger than the average cross-sectional dimensions of said defective electrical line.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the upper surfaces of said line is laser ablated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 16, wherein a tip having a contoured surface is used for securing at least one end of said segment to said defective electrical line.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said contoured surface is selected from the group comprising, a flat surface, a triangular surface, a semicircular surface, an elliptical surface, a square surface, a rectangular surface, or a polygonal surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of said repaired defect is covered with an insulator material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of said repaired defect is covered with a polyimide material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of said segment of electrically conductive material is covered with a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of said segment of electrically conductive material is covered with solder.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 27, wherein said segment having at least a portion covered with solder is secured to said defective electrical line, by a method selected from a group comprising hot gas reflow, furnace reflow, thermode, or laser reflow.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28, wherein a metallurgical bond is formed between said segment and said line by melting of said solder.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least one end of said segment of electrically conductive material is secured to said defective electrical line by a method selected from a group comprising ultrasonic bonding, brazing, thermal compression bonding, or lasersonic bonding.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material is an electrically conductive organometallic material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material is an electrically conductive polymeric material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least one end said segment has a coating of a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said electrically conductive material is an electrically conductive organometallic material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said electrically conductive material is an electrically conductive polymeric material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least one end of said segment has a coating of a low temperature electrically conductive material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said defective electrical line is a thin-film line.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said defective electrical line is a thin-film line.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said segment of electrically conductive material is transferred on to said line from a decal.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the material for said decal is silicon.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the material for said electrically conductive material is selected from a group consisting of solder, braze, electrically conductive organometallic material or electrically conductive polymeric material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said segment of electrically conductive material is transferred on to said line from a decal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 42, wherein the material for said decal is silicon.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 42, wherein the material for said electrically conductive material is selected from a group consisting of solder, braze, electrically conductive organometallic material or electrically conductive polymeric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3406246A
Cited
US3762040A
Cited
US4259367A
Cited
GB2067845A
Cited
US4417392A
Cited
US4418264A
Cited
US4562092A
Cited
US4489364A
Cited
US4739389A
Cited
US4572941A
Cited
US4694138A
Cited
US4546413A
Cited
US4675717A
Cited
US4630355A
Cited
US4588468A
Cited
US4797530A
Cited
US4691426A
Cited
US4683652A
Cited
US4704304A
Cited
US4714815A
Cited
US4880959A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-06 | 1996-04-06 | 1996-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-06 | 2000-04-06 | 2000-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-06 | 2004-04-06 | 2004-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |