Electroform spring built on mandrel transferable to other surface
First Claim
1. A method comprising preparing a mandrel for subsequent formation and mechanical release of a spring element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Resilient spring contact structures are manufactured by plating the contact structures on a reusable mandrel, as opposed to forming the contact structures on sacrificial layers that are later etched away. In one embodiment, the mandrel includes a form or mold area that is inserted through a plated through hole in a substrate. Plating is then performed to create the spring contact on the mold area of the mandrel as well as to attach the spring contact to the substrate. In a second embodiment, the mandrel includes a form that is initially plated to form the resilient contact structure and then attached to a region of a substrate without being inserted through the substrate. Attachment in the second embodiment can be achieved during the plating process used to form the spring contact, or by using a conductive adhesive or solder either before or after releasing the spring contact from the mandrel.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A method comprising preparing a mandrel for subsequent formation and mechanical release of a spring element.
- 5. A method for manufacturing a spring element comprising plating the spring element on a mandrel and releasing the spring element from the mandrel.
- 20. A mandrel having a surface enabling a resilient contact to be plated thereon and removed so that another resilient contact can be formed on the mandrel.
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24. An array of mandrels attached together, each mandrel having a surface with material enabling a resilient contact to be electroplated thereon.
Specification