Environmentally-sealed electronic assembly and method of making same

Abstract

An electronic assembly includes a flexible multilayer substrate having integral electrically-conductive traces that also includes, as a lowermost layer, a metal foil. A plurality of uppermost layers, likewise including a metal foil, form a thin barrier member that is sealingly attached to the substrate's other layers. In this manner, a plurality of electronic components, mounted on the substrate's other layers so as to be electrically interconnected with the traces before sealingly attaching the barrier member, are encapsulated within metal foil to provide an environmentally-sealed assembly featuring improved resistance to moisture diffusion and penetration/permeation of other substances characteristic of the assembly's service environment into the assembly. A filler material, also encapsulated within the metal foil, is operative to neutralize a predetermined amount of a penetrant, further improving the operability and service life of the assembly. Preferably, a relatively-rigid polymeric material is formed in touching contact with the substrate, as by overmolding the plastic material on the environmentally-sealed assembly, to thereby provide a plastic part incorporating the assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.