Method of making a polymer based circuit
First Claim
1. A polymer based circuit production method comprising the steps of:
- treating a surface of a polymer substrate with ultraviolet radiation by directing the ultraviolet radiation in a region proximate the polymer substrate surface in the absence of a flow of ozone being supplied into the region the treatment resulting in an ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface for promoting adhesion of the surface to a coating material;
forming at least one circuit on the polymer substrate surface; and
applying the coating material to at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A polymer based circuit production method provides a polymer based circuit by exposing a surface of a polymer substrate to ultraviolet radiation resulting in an adhesion promoted polymer substrate surface. A circuit is fabricated on the polymer substrate surface and a coating material is applied to at least a portion of the adhesion promoted polymer substrate surface. A portion of the circuit fabricated on the polymer substrate surface may be encapsulated. The polymer based circuit resulting from the method includes a polymer substrate having an ultraviolet radiation treated surface, a circuit formed on the polymer substrate surface, and a coating material encapsulating at least a portion of the at least one circuit between the polymer substrate and the coating material.
51 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A polymer based circuit production method comprising the steps of:
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treating a surface of a polymer substrate with ultraviolet radiation by directing the ultraviolet radiation in a region proximate the polymer substrate surface in the absence of a flow of ozone being supplied into the region the treatment resulting in an ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface for promoting adhesion of the surface to a coating material; forming at least one circuit on the polymer substrate surface; and applying the coating material to at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A polymer based circuit production method comprising the steps of:
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treating a surface of a polymer substrate with ultraviolet radiation by directing the ultraviolet radiation in a region proximate the polymer substrate surface in the absence of a flow of ozone being supplied into the region, the treatment resulting in an ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface for promoting adhesion of the surface to an epoxy; forming at least one circuit on the polymer substrate surface; applying the epoxy to at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface, and curing the epoxy to a hardness greater than about 30, Shore D. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A polymer based circuit production method comprising the steps of:
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treating a surface of a polymer substrate with ultraviolet radiation by directing the ultraviolet radiation in a region proximate the polymer substrate surface in the absence of a flow of ozone being supplied into the region the treatment resulting in an ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface for promoting adhesion of the surface to a coating material; forming at least one circuit on the polymer substrate surface, wherein the circuit formation step includes; forming a conductive trace on the polymer substrate surface; and mounting circuit components on the polymer substrate surface in electrical communication with the conductive trace to form the at least one circuit; and applying the coating material to at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface, wherein the coating material application step includes; forming a barrier on the polymer substrate surface to define at least one cavity surrounding at least a portion of the at least one circuit; and depositing the coating material in the at least one cavity such that the components in the at least one cavity are encapsulated between the polymer substrate and the coating material. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A polymer based circuit production method comprising the steps of:
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treating a surface of a polymer substrate with ultraviolet radiation by directing ultraviolet radiation in a region proximate the polymer substrate surface in the absence of a flow of ozone gas being supplied into the region, the treatment resulting in an ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface for promoting adhesion of the surface to a coating material; forming at least one circuit on the polymer substrate surface; applying the coating material to at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface to encapsulate at least a portion of the circuit; and curing the coating material to a hardness greater than about 30, Shore D. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A polymer based circuit production method comprising the steps of:
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exposing a surface of a polymer substrate to ultraviolet radiation in ambient air atmosphere one or more times for less than a minute of total exposure time resulting in an ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface for promoting adhesion of the surface to a coating material wherein exposing the surface includes continuously moving the surface through a UV radiation system such that the polymer substrate surface is exposed to the ultraviolet radiation; forming at least one circuit on the polymer substrate surface; and applying the coating material to at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface to encapsulate at least a portion of the circuit. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A polymer based circuit production method comprising the steps of:
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exposing a surface of a polymer substrate to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 340 to about 450 nanometers, the exposure resulting in an ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface for promoting adhesion of the surface to a coating material; forming at least one circuit on the polymer substrate surface; and applying the coating material to at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A polymer based circuit production method comprising the steps of:
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directing ultraviolet radiation at a surface of a polymer substrate resulting in an ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface for promoting adhesion of the surface to a coating material, wherein the polymer substrate surface is exposed to a total UV radiation exposure greater than about 50 mJ/cm2 ; forming at least one circuit on the polymer substrate surface; and applying the coating material to at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation treated polymer substrate surface. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification