Double sided liquid metal micro switch
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorLewis R. Dove
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of Liquid Metal Micro Switches (LIMMS) are mounted on opposite sides of a multi-layer substrate. Vias on the substrate and located within the footprints of the LIMMS serve to make connection with the LIMMS. Traces on the internal layers of the multi-layer substrate are routed around and over each other to arrive at a perimeter surrounding the LIMMS, where they emerge again as vias and are available for interconnection with further circuitry via conventional techniques, such as solder balls, wire bonding, a socket, etc. The multi-layer substrate may also incorporate a ground plane to assist in shielding and the fabrication of any interconnecting transmission lines.
Claims3
Switching circuit apparatus comprising:
- a first LIMMS having a mounting surface upon which is a first pattern of electrical contacts;
- a second LIMMS having a mounting surface upon which is a second pattern of electrical contacts;
- a multi-layer substrate having a first outer surface upon which the first LIMMS is mounted and a second outer surface upon which the second LIMMS is mounted;
- and
- the first outer surface having a pattern of vias that matches the first pattern of electrical contacts and that are connected thereto when the first LIMMS is mounted to the first outer surface;
- the second outer surface having a pattern of vias that matches the second pattern of electrical contacts and that are connected thereto when the second LIMMS is mounted to the second outer surface;
- the multi-layer substrate having internal layers upon which are traces that interconnect the patterns of vias on the first and second outer surfaces with a pattern of connecting terminals disposed along a periphery of the multi-layer substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.