Removal of thin films from substrates by laser induced explosion
First Claim
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1. A method for the removal of a metallic thin film coating from a substrate, comprising the steps of:
- directing a beam of radiant energy to heat the thin film coating to a temperature below the melting temperature of the coating material and above the vaporization temperature of the substrate to heat and cause vaporization of the substrate at the thin film-substrate interface; and
entrapping the vapors at said interface to induce an explosion to remove the thin film coating from the substrate.
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Abstract
Selected portions of a thin film coating of metal are removed from an insulative substrate by directing a coherent beam of light energy from a laser at the coating, to heat the coating and cause the evaporation and entrapment of the substrate material at the coating-substrate interface. A positive pressure builds up at the interface resulting in an explosion which removes the coating material.
74 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for the removal of a metallic thin film coating from a substrate, comprising the steps of:
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directing a beam of radiant energy to heat the thin film coating to a temperature below the melting temperature of the coating material and above the vaporization temperature of the substrate to heat and cause vaporization of the substrate at the thin film-substrate interface; and entrapping the vapors at said interface to induce an explosion to remove the thin film coating from the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of selectively removing portions of a metallic thin film coating from a substrate, comprising the steps of:
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placing an apertured, heat resistant mask on the coated substrate; raster scanning the masked, coated substrate with a coherent laser beam focused at the thin film coating to heat portions of the coating which are exposed through the apertures to a temperature below the melting temperature of the coating material and above the vaporization temperature of the substrate at the thin film-substrate interface; and entrapping the vapors at said interface to induce an explosion to remove the selected portions of the thin film coating from the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of fabricating a printed circuit board by selectively removing portions of a metallic thin film coating from an insulative substrate, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a transparent film over the metallic thin film coating; (b) further placing a metallic, apertured heat resistant mask on the tranparent film; (c) raster scanning the mask with a coherent laser beam focused at the metallic thin film coating to heat portions of the coating, which are exposed through the apertures, to a temperature below the melting temperature of the metallic thin film coating and above the vaporization temperature of the dielectric substrate at the metallic thin film-insulative substrate interface; and (d) entrapping the vapors of the substrate at said interface to induce an explosion to remove the selected portions of the metallic thin film coating from the insulative substrate. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification