The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 2021

Filed:

Nov. 09, 2018
Applicant:

International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);

Inventors:

Samuel Connor, Apex, NC (US);

Joseph Kuczynski, North Port, FL (US);

Matthew Doyle, Chatfield, MN (US);

Stuart B. Benefield, Durham, NC (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H05K 3/06 (2006.01); H01Q 1/36 (2006.01); H01Q 1/38 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01Q 1/364 (2013.01); H01Q 1/38 (2013.01); H05K 3/06 (2013.01); H05K 2203/0165 (2013.01);
Abstract

Embodiments herein describe a capillary containing a eutectic conductive liquid (e.g., EGaIn) and an electrolyte (e.g., NaOH) that is integrated into a printed circuit board (PCB). In one embodiment, the capillary is formed in a through-hole in the PCB and has negative and positive electrodes at its respective ends to seal the eutectic conductive liquid and the electrolyte. The capillary further includes one or more electrodes that extend through a side of the portion of the capillary containing the liquids. The wiper electrodes also make electrical contact with respective conductive layers in the PCB. Using a DC voltage between the negative and positive electrodes, the eutectic conductive liquid forms electrical connections between the wiper electrodes, which in turn, forms electrical connections between the conductive layers in the PCB.


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