Device Built By Joining A Plurality Of Layers

• US 20100132990A1
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Original Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Inventors: Koetse, Marinus Marc, Veninga, Erik Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/520,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20100132990A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/259
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/345 Progressively making the joint, e.g. starting from the middle B29C66/8341, B29C65/12, B29C65/14, B29C65/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43 Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles B29C66/45 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/45 Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8242 Pneumatic or hydraulic drives using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/12 Polymers of methacrylic acid esters, e.g. PMMA, i.e. polymethylmethacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2071/00 Use of polyethers , e.g. PEEK, i.e. polyether-etherketone or PEK, i.e. polyetherketone or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2079/08 : PI, i.e. polyimides or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 : Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/756 : Microarticles, nanoarticles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/003 : to avoid air inclusion
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 : characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1866 : conforming the layers or laminate to a convex or concave profile
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 3/001 : Bonding of two components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 : Composite web or sheet

Abstract

In a method of manufacturing a multilayer device exposed surfaces of a first and second layer are joined together. Before joining a depression is created in the exposed surface of a layer and raw material, such as electrically conductive material, for forming an electric circuit is deposited in the depression, typically filling the depression. Excess material is mechanically removed before the layers are joined. In this way conductor tracks may be created between layers. When adjacent fluid chambers are provided, separated by one of the layers, the depression with the material in it makes it possible realize a sensor device with a reduced separation between the chambers.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a multilayer device, the method comprising:

providing a first layer or stack of layers having an exposed surface;

providing a second layer or stack of layers having an exposed surface;

creating a depression in said exposed surface of the first layer or stack of layers;

depositing electrically active material onto the first layer or stack of layers in the depression, an electrical component being created from the electrically active material in the device; and

joining the exposed surfaces of the first layer or stack of layers and second layer or stack of layers after the electrically active material has been deposited.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the depression is entirely filled with the electrically active material.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrically active material is deposited in a material state that allows the electrically active material to take on a shape of the depression where the electrically active material is deposited in contact with the first layer or stack of layers in the depression.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein an excess portion of the electrically active material is moved laterally along the surface of the first layer or set of layers after depositing the material, leaving the electrically active material in the depression.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising defining a pair of fluid compartments in the device, the fluid compartments abutting at mutually opposite sides to the first layer or a layer from the first stack of layers wherein the depression has been created with the electrically active material in the depression, the depression and the electrically active material in the depression lying between the fluid compartments, when the device has been assembled.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the active material in the depression forms an electrical interconnection for routing electrical current in an electric circuit in the device, along a route that is parallel to the surface of the first layer or stack of layers, a course of the depression defining a course of the route.

7. A method according to claim 1, comprising creating the depression by removing material from the first layer or stack of layers.

8. A method according to claim 7, comprising creating the depression by mechanical removal of material from the first layer or stack of layers.

9. A method according to claim 7, comprising creating the depression by removal the material from the first layer or stack of layers using laser ablation or etching.

10. A method according to claim 1, comprising embossing the first layer or stack of layers to form the depression.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first layer or stack of layers comprises a polymer foil, the depression being created in the polymer foil.

12. A multilayer device comprising a stack of joined layers, the stack of joined layers comprising a layer wherein electrically active material is present that has been deposited onto the layer in a depression of the layer that faces another layer of the stack layers.

13. A multilayer device according to claim 12, wherein the layer is attached to the other layer by glue.

14. A multilayer device according to claim 12, comprising a pair of fluid compartments abutting to mutually opposite sides to the first layer or a layer from the first stack of layers wherein the depression has been created with the electrically active material in the depression, the depression and the electrically active material in the depression lying between the fluid compartments.

15. A multilayer device according to claim 12, comprising an electric circuit comprising an electrical interconnection for routing electric current between parts of the electric circuit along a route that is parallel to the surface of the layer, the electrically active material forming the electrical interconnection, the depression defining a course of the route.

16. A multilayer device according to claim 13, comprising an electric circuit comprising an electrical interconnection for routing electric current between parts of the electric circuit along a route that is parallel to the surface of the layer, the electrically active material forming the electrical interconnection, the depression defining a course of the route.

17. A multilayer device according to claim 13, comprising a pair of fluid compartments abutting to mutually opposite sides to the first layer or a layer from the first stack of layers wherein the depression has been created with the electrically active material in the depression, the depression and the electrically active material in the depression lying between the fluid compartments.