| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/US89/02026 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 11, 1990 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 11, 1990 PCT Filed May 11, 1989 PCT Pub. No. WO89/11209 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 16, 1989.An apparatus and method are disclosed for preparing electrically conductive traces on a circuit board using an additive technology. The traces are directly written in a serial process with each trace being able to be individually insulated. The apparatus includes an extrusion element for extruding a first material and a stage. The stage is for holding the extrusion element and the circuit board in relative proximity and for producing relative motion between the extrusion element and the circuit board in order to extrude the first material onto the surface of the circuit board along preselected paths to produce the electrically conductive traces. According to the method of invention, a first polymerizable material is extruded onto a circuit substrate support along preselected paths to form traces, and the first polymerizable material is polymerized, the first polymerizable material being conductive after polymerization. A circuit board for holding electrical components is disclosed which includes a circuit substrate support and a plurality of electrically conductive traces. The traces are adhered to the circuit substrate support between locations for the electrical components, the traces being formed of a polymer thick film by extrusion from an orifice onto the support along paths defining the location of the traces. Several embodiments of extrusion systems are described as are systems for milling and drilling boards to provide new manufactures of circuit boards. |