US 5,705,022 A · Continuous lamination of electronic structures

Abstract

A continuous process for the fabrication of metal clad, laminated core structures, such as circuit board cores, wherein the copper layers on the laminate are used to form a waveguide which propagates microwave or RF radiation in TEM mode down the length of the structure for heating the core layers while the necessary pressure is applied. The TEM mode offers substantial advantages in the uniformity and control of processing in this environment. In particular, the system may be made tunable using the positioning or two pinch points, produced by rollers applying pressure to consolidate the layered material, which points create end chokes defining a heating and pressure region wherein the radiation is reflected. Alternatively, the metal layers may also be used as capacitor-like plates for applying RF energy across the layered material.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Apparatus for producing continuous metal clad laminated core structures with the application of pressure and heating, comprising:

means for forming a continuous web structure by applying continuous metal sheets as metal layers to both sides of a continuous web of laminated core material;
means for forming a pressure and heat applying region;
means for moving said web structure through said pressure and heat applying region;
and
means for applying electromagnetic radiation to heat said laminated core material in said pressure and heat applying region;
and
wherein said means for forming a pressure and heat applying region comprises:
a first set of opposing pinch rollers, disposed at the beginning of said pressure and heat applying region, for applying pressure to said moving web structure and forming a first choke for said electromagnetic radiation;
and
a second set of opposing pinch rollers, displaced along the path of movement of said web structure from said first set of opposing pinch rollers, and forming a second choke for said radiation at the other end of said pressure and heat applying region.

7 more elements

Apparatus for producing continuous metal clad laminated core structures with the application of pressure and heating, comprising:

means for forming a continuous web structure by applying continuous metal sheets as metal layers to both sides of a continuous web of laminated core material;
means for forming a pressure and heat applying region;
means for moving said web structure through said pressure and heat applying region;
and
means for applying RF electromagnetic radiation to heat said laminated core material in said pressure and heat applying region using said metal layers as circuit plates for propagating said RF electromagnetic radiation through said laminated core material, wherein one of said metal layers is connected as an electrode to a source of RF energy and the other of said metal layers is grounded to produce an RF field across said laminated core portion;
and
wherein said means for forming a pressure and heat applying region comprises:
a first set of opposing pinch rollers, disposed at the beginning of said pressure and heat applying region, for applying pressure to said moving web structure and forming a first choke for said electromagnetic radiation;
and
a second set of opposing pinch rollers, displaced along the path of movement of said web structure from said first set of opposing pinch rollers, and forming a second choke for said radiation at the other end of said pressure and heat applying region.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Continuous lamination of electronic structures

Life of this patent

Continuous lamination of electronic structures

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21