IP Library Granted Patent US 10,640,879
Granted Patent B2
US 10,640,879 · App. 15/817,049 · Granted May 5, 2020

High aspect ratio electroplated structures and anisotropic electroplating processes

Inventors: Douglas P. Riemer (Waconia, MN); Kurt C. Swanson (Chippewa Falls, WI); Peter F. Ladwig (Hutchinson, MN)
Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
C25D5/02C25D5/18C25D7/00H05K3/107H05K3/241H05K2203/0723Y10T428/24917
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,640,879
App. No.
15/817,049
Granted
May 5, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Devices including high-aspect ratio electroplated structures and methods of forming high-aspect ratio electroplated structures are described. A method for manufacturing metal structures includes providing a substrate having a metal base characterized by a height to width aspect ratio A/B and electroplating a metal crown on the base to form the metal structure with a height to width aspect ratio A/S greater than the aspect ratio A/B of the base.

Claims (11)

1. A circuit comprising:

a substrate; and

at least one trace including a metal crown portion formed over at least a portion of the trace, the metal crown formed on a top surface and sidewalls of the portion of the trace, the metal crown having a final height to width aspect ratio greater than an initial height to width aspect ratio of the trace.

2. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the circuit is formed on a flexure.

3. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the metal crown portion is formed on a portion of the trace that is not over the substrate.

4. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the metal crown portion is formed on the portion of the trace to tune the impedance of the trace.

5. A circuit comprising:

a substrate; and

at least one trace including a metal crown portion formed over at least a portion of the trace to mechanically strengthen the at least one trace, the metal crown formed on a top surface and sidewalls of the portion of the trace, the metal crown having a final height to width aspect ratio greater than an initial height to width aspect ratio of the trace.

6. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the at least one trace including the metal crown portion formed over at least the portion of the trace to mechanically strengthen the at least one trace is strengthened for a bonding or joining operation.

7. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the at least one trace is formed on a flexure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2018
From: RIEMER, DOUGLAS P.; SWANSON, KURT C.; LADWIG, PETER F.
To: HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 045059/0424 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62423995 · Nov 18, 2016
Related Publication 20180142370A1 · May 24, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,308,157 US 12,378,687