Micro-fabricated group electroplating technique
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsYu-Chong Tai, Han-Chieh Chang, Xiaoxiao Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, and devices produced by the methods, for electroplating a multitude of micro-scale electrodes that are electrically isolated from each other on a cable or other device is described. A localized area of connections on another end of the cable is shorted together by depositing a metal sheet or other conductive material over the localized area. The metal sheet is connected to a terminal of a power supply, and the electrode end of the cable is immersed in an electrolyte solution for electrodeposition by electroplating. After the electrodes are electroplated, the metal sheet is removed from the cable in order to re-isolate the electrodes.
Claims20
A method of electroplating numerous electrodes on a cable, the method comprising:
- providing a cable having a first end with a plurality of conductive pads arranged in a surface mount array, each conductive pad individually connected by an electrical conductor through the cable to a respective electrode at a second end of the cable;
- depositing a continuous sheet of conductive material over the surface mount array such that the conductive pads are electrically shorted with one another;
- immersing the electrodes at the second end of the cable in an electrolyte solution;
- connecting a power supply to the sheet of conductive material at the first end, thereby contemporaneously connecting the power supply to the electrodes at the second end;
- electroplating the electrodes using the power supply and the electrolyte solution;
- and
- removing the continuous sheet of conductive material from the surface mount array to electrically isolate the conductive pads from one another.
A method of electroplating numerous electrodes on a cable, the method comprising:
- providing a cable having a first end with a plurality of conductive pads suitable for connecting with one or more electrical components, each conductive pad individually connected by an electrical conductor to a respective lead in a localized tap area and through the cable to a respective electrode at a second end of the cable;
- depositing a continuous sheet of conductive material over the localized tap area such that the leads are electrically shorted with one another;
- immersing the electrodes at the second end of the cable in an electrolyte solution;
- connecting a power supply to the sheet of conductive material, thereby contemporaneously connecting the power supply to the electrodes at the second end;
- electroplating the electrodes using the power supply and the electrolyte solution;
- and
- removing the continuous sheet of conductive material from the localized tap area to electrically isolate the leads from one another.
A biocompatible cable apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a biocompatible cable having a first end with a plurality of conductive pads arranged in a surface mount array, each conductive pad individually connected by an electrical conductor through the cable to a respective electrode at a second end of the cable;
- and
- a platinum black plating over each electrode, the plating increasing surface area of the electrode over a respective un-plated electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.