Method of manufacturing and testing an electronic device, and an electronic device

• US 6,104,280 A
• Filed: 10/20/1997
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuttle, Mark E., Lake, Rickie C., Medlen, Curtis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US08/954,551
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 361/782, 361/749, 361/750, 361/751, 29/846, 174/117 A, 174/117 FF, 174/254, 252/514
• US Class Current: 340/10.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/70 Testing of connections between components and printed circuit boards G01R31/68 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0268 for electrical inspection or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0293 Individual printed conductors which are adapted for modification, e.g. fusable or breakable conductors, printed switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10037 Printed or non-printed battery
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/173 Adding connections between adjacent pads or conductors, e.g. for modifying or repairing programmable, customizable or modifiable circuits H05K1/0286
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/321 by conductive adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 including coating or impregnating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

A method of manufacturing and testing an electronic circuit, the method comprising forming a plurality of conductive traces on a substrate and providing a gap in one of the conductive traces; attaching a circuit component to the substrate and coupling the circuit component to at least one of the conductive traces; supporting a battery on the substrate, and coupling the battery to at least one of the conductive traces, wherein a completed circuit would be defined, including the traces, circuit component, and battery, but for the gap; verifying electrical connections by performing an in circuit test, after the circuit component is attached and the battery is supported; and employing a jumper to electrically close the gap, and complete the circuit, after verifying electrical connections. An electronic circuit comprising a substrate; a plurality of conductive traces on the substrate, with a gap in one of the conductive traces; a circuit component attached to the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces; a battery supported on the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, wherein a completed circuit would be defined, including the traces, circuit component, and battery, but for the gap; and a jumper electrically closing the gap and completing the circuit, the jumper comprising conductive epoxy.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit comprising:

a flexible plastic film substrate;

first and second conductive traces printed on the substrate, the first trace having a first terminal and the second trace having a second terminal spaced apart from the first portion;

an integrated circuit attached to the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, the integrated circuit defining a wireless identification device and including a microprocessor, a receiver coupled to the microprocessor, a modulator coupled to the microprocessor, and a memory coupled to the microprocessor;

a battery supported on the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, wherein a completed circuit would be defined, including the traces, circuit component, and battery, if the first terminal was coupled to the second terminal;

conductive epoxy at least in part supporting the battery from the substrate and coupling the battery to the at least one conductive trace; and

a drop of conductive epoxy electrically coupling the first terminal to the second terminal and completing the circuit.

2. An electronic circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the receiver receives microwave frequencies.

3. An electronic circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the modulator is a backscatter modulator.

4. An electronic circuit comprising:

a polyester film substrate;

first and second conductive traces printed on the substrate, the first trace having a first terminal and the second trace having a second terminal spaced apart from the first terminal by a gap, wherein the size of the gap is approximately 30 thousandths of an inch;

an integrated circuit attached to the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, the integrated circuit defining a wireless identification device and including a microprocessor, a microwave receiver coupled to the microprocessor, a backscatter modulator coupled to the microprocessor, and a memory coupled to the microprocessor;

a battery supported on the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, wherein a completed circuit would be defined, including the traces, integrated circuit, and battery, if the first terminal was coupled to the second terminal;

conductive epoxy at least in part supporting the battery from the substrate and coupling the battery to the at least one conductive trace; and

a jumper electrically closing the gap and completing the circuit, the jumper consisting essentially of a drop of conductive epoxy having a resistance of less than 1000 ohms prior to curing.

5. An electronic circuit comprising:

a polyester film substrate;

first and second conductive traces on the substrate, the first trace having a first portion and the second trace having a second portion spaced apart from the first portion by a gap, wherein the size of the gap is approximately 30 thousandths of an inch;

an integrated circuit attached to the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, the integrated circuit defining a wireless identification device and including a microprocessor, a microwave receiver coupled to the microprocessor, a backscatter modulator coupled to the microprocessor, and a memory coupled to the microprocessor;

a battery supported on the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, wherein a completed circuit would be defined, including the traces, integrated circuit, and battery, if the first portion was coupled to the second portion;

conductive epoxy at least in part supporting the battery from the substrate and coupling the battery to the at least one conductive trace; and

a jumper electrically closing the gap and completing the circuit, the jumper comprising a discrete component resistor across the gap, wherein the conductive epoxy couples the resistor to the conductive traces on either side of the gap.

6. An electronic circuit comprising:

a polyester film substrate;

first and second conductive traces on the substrate, the first trace having a first portion and the second trace having a second portion spaced apart from the first portion by a gap, wherein the size of the gap is approximately 30 thousandths of an inch;

an integrated circuit attached to the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, the integrated circuit defining a wireless identification device and including a microprocessor, a microwave receiver coupled to the microprocessor, a backscatter modulator coupled to the microprocessor, and a memory coupled to the microprocessor;

a battery supported on the substrate and coupled to at least one of the conductive traces, wherein a completed circuit would be defined, including the traces, integrated circuit, and battery, if the first portion was coupled to the second portion;

conductive epoxy at least in part supporting the battery from the substrate and coupling the battery to the at least one conductive trace;

conductive epoxy on the first portion, and conductive epoxy on the second portion; and

a jumper electrically closing the gap and completing the circuit, the jumper comprising a metal conductor extending between the conductive epoxy on the first and second portions and secured to the first and second portions by the conductive epoxy.