Capacitor laminate for use in capacitive printed circuit boards and methods of manufacture

A capacitive printed circuit board (PCB) comprising

• multiple layers laminated about a capacitor laminate, and
• means formed on the PCB for receiving a large number of devices in operative connection with the capacitor laminate,
• the capacitor laminate including:
• two sheets of conductive material and one intermediate sheet of dielectric material, the separate sheets of conductive and intermediate dielectric material being laminated together to form the capacitor laminate as a structurally rigid assembly facilitating its inclusion in the capacitive PCB,
• means for coupling the conductive sheets with the devices,
• the sheet of dielectric material having a thickness and dielectric constant whereby each individual device is provided with capacitance by a portion of the capacitor laminate to which the individual device is proportional and borrowed capacitance from other portions of the capacitor laminate, the capacitive function of the capacitor laminate being dependent upon random firing or operation of the devices, and
• the sheets of conductive material having conductivity permitting current flow necessary to provide each individual device with sufficient borrowed capacitance for its proper operation.

A method for forming a capacitive printed circuit board (PCB), comprising the steps of

• laminating multiple layers about a capacitor laminate, and
• forming means for receiving a large number of devices on the PCB in operative coupling with the capacitor laminate to provide capacitance for the devices,
• bonding together two sheets of conductive material and one intermediate sheet of dielectric material to form the capacitor laminate as a structurally rigid assembly facilitating its inclusion in the PCB,
• selecting values of thickness and dielectric constant for the sheet of dielectric material whereby each individual device is provided with a capacitance by a portion of the capacitor laminate to which the individual device is proportional and by borrowed capacitance from other portions of the capacitor laminate, the capacitive function of the capacitor laminate being dependent upon random firing or operation of the devices, and
• selecting minimum conductivity for the sheets of conductive material to permit adequate current flow necessary to provide each individual device with sufficient borrowed capacitance for its proper operation.