Teledyne Industries, Inc.

Lee J Millette

A Roland Caron

Joseph A Thoman

Darryl J McKenney

Sandra L Jean

John G King

Robert S Larmouth

Herb Dixon

James E Keating

Roland Caron

A multilayer rigid flex printed circuit board wherein the board laminate comprises a basestock composite containing a flexible core, formed by laminating a first conductive layer to a flexible insulator layer, a second insulator layer affixed to the basestock, said second insulator layer having a cutout region proximate to the flexible core of the basestock composite to expose a portion of said first conducting layer on said flexible core, a second conductive layer attached to said second insulator layer said second conductive layer having a cutout region proximate to the flexible core of the basestock composite, and a photo-imageable soldermask applied to the exposed portion said first conducting layer, and to the second conductive layer, wherein said photoimageable soldermask allows for photo definition of openings on the conductive layers to which it is applied.

Multilayer combined rigid/flex printed circuit board containing flexible soldermask

A novel basestock composite comprising two copper conducting sheets bonded to insulator layers comprised of fiberglass sheets impregnated with an adhesive such as epoxy, wherein the insulator layers are both affixed to a release layer which is not coextensive with the borders of the insulator layers such that when the basestock is cut at a point internal to its borders and into the release layer the two basestock composites can be separated.

Fabrication multilayer combined rigid/flex printed circuit board

A rigid flex printed circuit board wherein the flex section of said board comprises a basestock composite with edges formed by laminating a conductive layer to a flexible insulator layer, the conductor layer containing at least one conductive pathway and the flexible insulator layer comprises fibers dispersed in a matrix polymer. The fibers are oriented with respect to the conductive pathway so that the conductive pathway is substantially non-aligned with said fibers, substantially along an entirety of the conductive pathway in the flex section so as to be flexible.

Rigid/flex printed circuit board using angled prepreg

Fabrication multilayer combined rigid/flex printer circuit board

Multilayer rigid flex printed circuits are fabricated from a novel basestock composite comprising two copper conducting sheets, bonded to insulator layers comprised of fiberglass sheets impregnated with an adhesive such as epoxy, wherein the insulator layers are both affixed to Kapton layers wherein said Kapton layers are not coextensive with the borders of the insulator layers. The basestock composite can then be imaged and etched on the conductor layers to form conductor patterns, laminated or coated with a coverlay of dielectric material, and the basestock can be cut at a point internal to its borders and into the Kapton layers thereby separating two imaged and etched conductor layers.

In a process for manufacturing a rigid-flex printed circuit wherein a rigid insulating layer supports one portion of the printed circuit and a flexible insulator supports another portion thereof to furnish flexible leads for connection the printed circuit to an operative device, a first assembly is provided comprising a curable prepreg insulator layer having an opening for the flexible leads. A flexible sheet spans the opening, and the assembly is pressed with one surface in contact with a smooth hard surface while the other surface is supported by a flowable curable prepreg layer. The insulator and flowable layers are a release layer which prevents bonding between the prepreg layers throughout most of the areas while permitting bonding along the edges. The assembly is maintained under heat and pressure to partially cure both prepreg layers and bond the flexible sheet to the edges of the opening and bond the edges of the prepregs together to form a flat rigid sandwich. A sheet of copper is bonded to that surface previously in contact with the hard surface. In a second pressing operation the copper is bonded to both the partially cured prepreg layer and the flexible sheet, and thereafter the bonded edges of the cured prepreg layers, are severed to permit separation of the cured prepreg layers.

Growing community of inventors

Litchfield, NH, United States of America

Lee J Millette