Registered lamination of webs using laser cutting

• US 20060137813A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Jambor, George F., Robrecht, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/025,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20060137813A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/256
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/206 Laminating a continuous layer between two continuous plastic layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1833 Positioning, e.g. registration or centering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly

Abstract

A system and method for manufacturing a multi-layered circuit assembly. The assembly includes a webbing member, a component, and a laminate layer. The method includes providing a roll of the webbing member with the component positioned thereon and a separate roll of the laminate layer, and monitoring a position of the component on the webbing member with an imaging device. The method also includes modifying a portion of the laminate layer at a location that is based on the monitored position of the component on the webbing member, and coupling the laminate layer to the webbing member to provide a continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit. The multi-layered circuit is formed with the component positioned between the webbing member and the laminate layer and aligned with the modification in the laminate layer.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a multi-layered circuit assembly, the assembly including a webbing member, a component, and a laminate layer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a roll of the webbing member with the component positioned thereon, and providing a separate roll of the laminate layer;

monitoring a position of the component on the webbing member with a position detection device while the component is not in contact with the laminate layer;

modifying a portion of the laminate layer at a location that is based on the monitored position of the component on the webbing member while the laminate layer is not in contact with the component; and

coupling the laminate layer to the webbing member to provide a continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit, wherein the component is positioned between the webbing member and the laminate layer and aligned with the modified portion of the laminate layer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the modified portion of the laminate layer to expose the component through the laminate layer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the position detection device is an optical detection system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the position detection device is a machine vision camera.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the laminate layer includes a release liner and removing the release liner after the modifying step removes the modified portion of the laminate layer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling step includes passing the modified laminate layer and the webbing member between nip rollers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring and modifying steps occur while the respective webbing member and laminate layer are moving towards each other in preparation for the coupling step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the webbing member includes a plurality of components mounted thereon, the monitoring step includes monitoring a position of at least one of the components on the webbing member with the position detection device, and the modifying step includes modifying a portion of the laminate layer at a plurality of locations, the location of each modification being based on the monitored position of one of the plurality of components on the webbing member.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein coupling the laminate layer to the webbing member results in each of the plurality of components being positioned between the webbing member and the laminate layer and aligned with a modification in the laminate layer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mounting another component to an exposed surface of the continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit;

providing a separate roll of another laminate layer;

monitoring a position of the another component on the continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit with the position detection device;

modifying a portion of the another laminate layer at a location that is based on the monitored position of the another component on the continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit; and

coupling the another laminate layer to the exposed surface of the continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit, wherein the another component is positioned between the exposed surface of the continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit and the another laminate layer and aligned with the modification in the another laminate layer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the steps of monitoring the another component and modifying the another laminate layer occur while the respective continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit and another laminate layer are moving towards each other in preparation for coupling the another laminate layer to the continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit.

12. A method of generating a multi-layered product using a web lamination machine, the machine including a position detection device, first and second nip rollers, and a modifying device, the method comprising:

feeding a continuous sheet of a first layer to the first nip roller, the first layer including at least one component positioned thereon;

detecting the position of the component to determine a position of the component relative to the first nip roller;

feeding a continuous sheet of a second layer to the second nip roller, the first and second nip rollers directing the first and second layers into engagement with each other to form a continuous sheet of multi-layered product; and

forming an aperture in the second layer based on the determined position of the component such that the component is exposed within the aperture in the multi-layered product.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the aperture is formed using a laser.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the position of the component is detected by an optical detection system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the component position is detected using a video camera.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the second layer includes a release liner, and the method further includes removing the release liner prior to directing the first and second layers into engagement with each other.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein removing the release liner removes a waste portion of the second layer resulting from forming the aperture.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting and forming steps occur while the respective first and second layers are moving towards the respective first and second nip rollers.

19. A method of generating a multi-layered product using a web lamination machine, the machine including a position detection device, first and second nip rollers, and an altering device, the method comprising:

feeding a continuous sheet of a first layer to the first nip roller, the first layer including a predetermined pattern;

detecting the position of at least a portion of the predetermined pattern with the position detection device to determine a characteristic of the portion of the predetermined pattern;

feeding a continuous sheet of a second layer to the second nip roller, the first and second nip rollers directing the first and second layers into engagement with each other to form a continuous sheet of multi-layered product; and

altering the second layer with the altering device prior to the second layer being fed to the second nip roller based on the determined characteristic of the portion of the predetermined pattern.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the position is detected using an optical sensor.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the position is detected using a machine vision video camera.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined pattern is defined by at least one circuit component mounted to the first layer.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the characteristic of the predetermined pattern is a position of a portion of the pattern relative to the first nip roller.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the characteristic is determined as the first layer is being fed to the first nip roller.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the altering device is a cutting device, and altering the second layer includes cutting a portion of the second layer.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein altering the second layer includes altering at least one of the structure of the second layer and a position of the second layer relative to the first layer.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein altering the second layer includes removing a portion of the second layer to form an aperture such that the portion of the predetermined pattern is exposed within the aperture in the multi-layered product.

28. A system for generating a multi-layered circuit assembly, the system comprising:

a first roll support configured to support a continuous roll of webbing, the webbing having at least one circuit component positioned thereon;

a second roll support configured to support a continuous roll of laminate layer;

first and second nip rollers configured to direct the webbing and laminate layers, respectively, into engagement with each other to form a continuous sheet of multi-layered product

a position detection device positioned between the first roll support and the first nip roller, the position detection device being arranged and configured to monitor a position of the at least one circuit component relative to the first nip roller; and

a modifying device positioned between the second roll support and the second nip roller, the modifying device being arranged and configured to modify the laminate layer based on the monitored position of the circuit component.