Apparatus and method for selective electrolytic metallization/deposition utilizing a fluid head
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsMichael Acciai, Steven L. Tisdale
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transport system for the implementation of electrolytic deposition, coating or etching; and more particularly, an apparatus for selective electrolytic metallization and deposition utilizing a fluid head arrangement. A method is provided for making and maintaining an electrical contact with a product being processed in a transport system employed for selective electrolytic metallization and deposition, coating or etching. The method of making and maintaining an electrical contact with a product being processed may be utilizing a fluid head arrangement.
Claims14
A method for the electrolytic metallization of a workpiece;
- said method comprising:
- (a) imparting a metallizing electrolyte to said workpiece;
- (b) conveying said workpiece past said electrolyte;
- (c) causing an electrical power supply to maintain electrical contact with said workpiece while avoiding exposure of said electrical contact means to said electrolyte;
- (d) spacing a plurality of anode electrodes across said workpiece proximate said electrolyte, said anode electrodes each being connected to said electrical power supply;
- (e) individually controlling an electrical potential across each said anode electrode so as to provide a specified electrical field strength at different anode electrode positions across said workpiece and along the direction of conveyance of said workpiece during transport of said workpiece past said electrolyte imparting means;
- and
- (f) arranging said anode electrodes to extend in linear arrays above and below said workpiece;
- and connecting power control switches to each of said anode electrodes for selectively controlling the electrical potential of each of said anode electrodes;
- whereby said electrical potential is variably controllable in any direction over the area of said workpiece and along the direction of conveyance of said workpiece.
A method for the electrolytic metallization of a workpiece;
- said method comprising:
- (a) providing a fluid head for imparting a metallizing electrolyte to said workpiece;
- (b) conveying said workpiece past said fluid head;
- (c) connecting an electrical power supply for maintaining electrical contact with said workpiece while avoiding exposure of said electrical contact means to said fluid head by forming said electrical contact externally of said fluid head;
- (d) spacing a plurality of anode electrodes across said workpiece proximate said fluid head, said anode electrodes each being connected to said electrical power supply;
- (e) individually controlling an electrical potential across each said anode electrode so as to provide a specific electrical field strength at different anode electrode positions across said workpiece during transport of said workpiece past said metallizing fluid head;
- and
- (f) said anode electrodes extend in linear arrays above and below said workpiece;
- and power control switches are connected to each of said anode electrodes for selectively controlling the electrical potential of each of said anode electrodes whereby said electrical potential is variably controllable in any direction over the area of said workpiece and along the direction of conveyance of said workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.