IP Library Granted Patent US 8,984,746
Granted Patent B2
US 8,984,746 · App. 12/293,412 · Granted Mar 24, 2015

Manufacture of a circuit board containing a component

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,984,746
App. No.
12/293,412
Granted
Mar 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for the manufacture of a circuit board containing a component and circuit board containing a component. The invention is based on first manufacturing an intermediate product, which contains the insulator layer of the circuit board and the components, which are set in place inside the insulator layer in such a way that the contact elements of the components face the surface of the intermediate product. After this, the intermediate product is transferred to the circuit-board manufacturing line, on which a suitable number of conductor-pattern layers and, if necessary, insulator layers are manufactured on one or both sides of the intermediate product, in such a way that, when manufacturing the first conductor-pattern layer, the conductor material forms an electrical contact with the contact elements of the components. Alternatively, stages can also be performed on a single manufacturing line.

Claims (44)

1. A method for manufacturing a circuit board from an intermediate product having an insulator layer and at least one component at least substantially inside the insulator layer, the at least one component comprising semiconductor material and contact elements in electrical contact with the semiconductor material, the intermediate product comprising a support membrane covering the contact, the method comprising:

removing the support membrane and revealing the contact elements facing towards the support membrane,

individually cleaning the surfaces of the contact elements by means of a laser for the creation of electrical contacts,

manufacturing a conductor-pattern layer on the surface of the insulator by growing the conductor-pattern layer directly in a correct shape by a growing method, in such a way that the conducting material of the conductor-pattern layer connects electrically to the contact elements of the component and the conductor-pattern layer has the correct shape,

simultaneously, with the manufacturing of the conductor-pattern layer, manufacturing a second conductor-pattern layer on the opposite side of the insulator layer, and

continuing manufacturing of the circuit board by making a number of alternating insulator layers and conductor-pattern layers on top of the conductor-pattern layers.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the manufacturing of the conductor-pattern layer directly in its correct shape comprises:

growing a thin seed layer of metal on both surfaces of the insulating-material layer,

spreading resist layers on the surfaces of the seed layers,

patterning the resist layers to form conductor-pattern masks,

growing a conductor material electrolytically in the areas from which the resist was removed,

removing the resist layers, and

removing the seed layers.

3. A method for manufacturing a circuit board from an intermediate product having an insulator layer and at least one component at least substantially inside the insulator layer, the at least one component having contact elements that are revealed substantially on the level of the surface of the insulator layer, the at least one component further comprising semiconductor material in electrical contact with the contact elements, the method comprising:

taking the intermediate product, in which the contact elements are revealed,

individually cleaning the surfaces of the contact elements by means of a laser for the creation of electrical contacts,

manufacturing a conductor-pattern layer on the surface of the insulator by growing the conductor-pattern layer directly in a correct shape by a growing method, in such a way that the conducting material of the conductor-pattern layer connects electrically to the contact elements of the component and the conductor-pattern layer has the correct shape,

simultaneously, with the manufacturing of the conductor-pattern layer, manufacturing a second conductor-pattern layer on the opposite side of the insulator layer, and

continuing manufacturing of the circuit board by making a number of alternating insulator layers and conductor-pattern layers on top of the conductor-pattern layers.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the manufacturing of the conductor-pattern layer directly in its correct shape comprises:

growing a thin seed layer of metal on both surfaces of the insulating-material layer,

spreading resist layers on the surfaces of the seed layers,

patterning the resist layers to form conductor-pattern masks,

growing a conductor material electrolytically in the areas from which the resist was removed,

removing the resist layers, and

removing the seed layers.

5. A method for manufacturing a circuit board, the circuit board containing at least one conductor-pattern layer and at least one component electrically connected thereto, which is located at least substantially inside the insulator layer of the circuit board, the at least one component comprising semiconductor material and contact elements in electrical contact with the semiconductor material, the method comprising:

taking a support,

attaching the at least one component to the support,

manufacturing the insulator layer on the surface of the support, around each attached component,

removing the support and revealing the contact elements of the component,

individually cleaning the surfaces of the contact elements by means of a laser for the creation of electrical contacts,

manufacturing a conductor-pattern layer on the surface of the insulator by growing the conductor-pattern layer directly in a correct shape by a growing method, in such a way that the conductor material of the conductor-pattern layer connects electrically to the contact elements of the component and the conductor-pattern layer has the correct shape,

simultaneously, with the manufacturing of the conductor-pattern layer, manufacturing a second conductor-pattern layer on the opposite side of the insulator layer, and

continuing manufacturing of the circuit board by making a number of alternating insulator layers and conductor-pattern layers on top of the conductor-pattern layers.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein manufacturing of the conductor-pattern layer directly in its correct shape comprises

growing a thin seed layer of metal on both surfaces of the insulating-material layer,

spreading resist layers on the surfaces of the seed layers,

patterning the resist layers to form conductor-pattern masks,

growing a conductor material electrolytically in the areas from which the resist was removed,

removing the resist layers, and

removing the seed layers.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the support is a support membrane.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the support is a support surface.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 052853 FRAME: 0153. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 29, 2021
From: R2 SOLUTIONS LLC
To: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056832/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053654 FRAME 0254. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED. Recorded Dec 30, 2020
From: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP
To: R2 SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 054981/0377 →
STATEMENT REGARDING SECURITY INTEREST INCORRECTLY RECORDED AGAINST PATENTS Recorded Oct 20, 2020
From: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC; R2 SOLUTIONS LLC
To: IMBERATEK, LLC
Reel/Frame 054134/0172 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 8, 2020
From: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP
To: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC; AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLC; BONUTTI SKELETAL INNOVATIONS LLC; CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT LLC; INNOVATIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC; LIFEPORT SCIENCES LLC; LIMESTONE MEMORY SYSTEMS LLC; MOBILE ENHANCEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC; MONARCH NETWORKING SOLUTIONS LLC; NEXUS DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC; PARTHENON UNIFIED MEMORY ARCHITECTURE LLC; R2 SOLUTIONS LLC; SAINT LAWRENCE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC; SUPER INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES LLC; TELECONFERENCE SYSTEMS LLC; UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 053654/0254 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC; AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLC; BONUTTI SKELETAL INNOVATIONS LLC; CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT LLC; INNOVATIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC; LIFEPORT SCIENCES LLC; LIMESTONE MEMORY SYSTEMS LLC; MERTON ACQUISITION HOLDCO LLC; MOBILE ENHANCEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC; MONARCH NETWORKING SOLUTIONS LLC; NEXUS DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC; PARTHENON UNIFIED MEMORY ARCHITECTURE LLC; R2 SOLUTIONS LLC; SAINT LAWRENCE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC; SUPER INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES LLC; TELECONFERENCE SYSTEMS LLC; UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052853/0153 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: GE EMBEDDED ELECTRONICS OY
To: IMBERATEK, LLC
Reel/Frame 051730/0868 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 14, 2013
From: IMBERA ELECTRONICS OY
To: GE EMBEDDED ELECTRONICS OY
Reel/Frame 031635/0968 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2008
From: TUOMINEN, RISTO; PALM, PETTERI; IIHOLA, ANTTI
To: IMBERA ELECTRONICS OY
Reel/Frame 021823/0131 →