Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K3/00—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits
  • H05K3/22—Secondary treatment of printed circuits
  • H05K3/24—Reinforcing of the conductive pattern
  • H05K3/241—Reinforcing of the conductive pattern characterised by the electroplating method; means therefor, e.g. baths or apparatus
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25D7/00—Electroplating characterised by the article coated
  • C25D7/06—Wires; Strips; Foils
  • C25D7/0614—Strips or foils
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25D7/00—Electroplating characterised by the article coated
  • C25D7/06—Wires; Strips; Foils
  • C25D7/0614—Strips or foils
  • C25D7/0657—Conducting rolls
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K1/00—Printed circuits
  • H05K1/16—Printed circuits incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistors, capacitors or inductors
  • H05K1/165—Printed circuits incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistors, capacitors or inductors incorporating printed inductors

Definitions

• the invention relates to a metallization device for printed forms provided with electrically conductive tracks and an associated metallization method.
• the invention relates more particularly to a device for metallizing a succession of patterns of electrically conductive tracks having a low electrical conductivity and printed on a dielectric support.
• the pattern more particularly represents a planar antenna.
• the invention also relates to the field of printed circuits obtained by any technique for printing electrically conductive tracks, such as for example a gravure, offset, screen printing, etc. technique.
• a method of printing an electrically conductive ink or a gravure technique involves an engraved cylinder and a back pressure cylinder between which a thin dielectric support is placed to be printed.
• the engraved cylinder is intended to partially bathe in a tank containing an electrically conductive ink while rotating around an axis of rotation of this same cylinder.
• the back pressure cylinder is intended to press the dielectric support on the engraved cylinder while also turning around another axis of rotation of this cylinder.
• the engraved cylinder and the back-pressure cylinder are intended to cooperate in such a way that the engraved cylinder prints tracks of ink which conduct electricity on the dielectric support.
• This rotogravure technique is particularly interesting because it makes it possible to obtain precise conductive tracks.
• the gravure printing technique also makes it possible to obtain conductive tracks of very small thickness (of the order of 1 ⁇ m for example).
• the tracks obtained by the gravure technique however, have a high electrical resistance.
• the electrolytic device comprises a cathode and a pair of anodes, the cathode being intended to be in contact with the conductive tracks and the pair of anodes being intended to be immersed in an electrolytic tank containing an electrolytic bath .
• the cathode and the pair of anodes are connected to a negative potential and to a positive potential respectively by means of a DC voltage generator for carrying out the electrolytic metallic deposition on the conductive tracks.
• this metallization technique has the drawback of obtaining a metallization which is disturbed by a low electrical conductivity of the printed conductive tracks obtained by the previously mentioned printing techniques. The consequence is a poor distribution of the thicknesses of metals deposited on the tracks. Sometimes even, the metallization process can stop.
• the metallized printed circuits obtained by this metallization technique may not be sufficiently functional, which may be prohibitive for an effective emission or detection of electromagnetic signals from or by the printed circuit in relation to an integrated circuit of a smart card or an electronic label for example.
• the invention provides a metallization device in which it is intended to position at least two first electrodes connected to a first potential, with two portions of opposite tracks of the same pattern, which pattern is intended to partially bathe in an electrolytic bath between these two first electrodes.
• These first two electrodes are produced in such a way that they are separated from each other by a distance less than or equal to a dimension of a pattern, which dimension is measured relative to a direction of movement of the support in the bath. More specifically, the first two electrodes are separated from each other by a distance less than or equal to a length of a pattern measured along the support between the first two electrodes relative to the direction of movement of the support in the bath.
• the positioning of these first two electrodes relative to each other makes it possible to metallize all the tracks of the same pattern by setting equipotential of these same tracks by means of these first electrodes in contact with the pattern.
• These first two electrodes are connected to a first potential of polarity opposite to a second potential, which second potential is connected to a second electrode intended to supply the electrolytic bath at the second potential.
• the subject of the invention is therefore a device for metallizing a dielectric support coated with patterns of electrically conductive tracks, and comprising
• an electrolytic station - this electrolytic station comprises an electrolytic bath, first electrodes connected to a source of a first electrical potential, of a polarity opposite to that of a second electrical potential, the bath being subjected to the second electrical potential by one or more second electrodes of the electrolytic station, characterized in that - the dielectric support is bathed in the electrolytic bath in such a way that the tracks of the same pattern are connected in short circuit to the first potential and to the second potential, and
• At least two first electrodes are connected to opposite pattern portions of the same pattern while the middle of this same pattern is bathed in the bath.
• the invention also relates to a method of metallization of a dielectric support coated with patterns of electrically conductive tracks, characterized in that a - at least one pattern of conductive tracks is subjected to an electrolytic bath by bathing the dielectric support in this bath, and by connecting the short-circuited tracks to a source of a first electrical potential of a polarity opposite to that of a second potential to which the electrolytic bath is subjected, and b - is subjected by to at least two electrodes of the opposite pattern portions of the same pattern at the first potential while a middle of the pattern is bathed in the bath.
• FIG. 2 A schematic representation of a dielectric support, according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 A schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of the metallization device according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 represents a device 1 for metallizing a dielectric support 2, according to the invention.
• the dielectric support 2 can for example be a dielectric substrate made of PET, PVC, polycarbonate, ABS, paper, impregnated or not, epoxy glass, polyimide, LCP, etc.
• This dielectric support 2 is formed by elements 3 (see FIG. 2) each coated with a pattern 4 of electrically conductive tracks.
• Each of the patterns can be linked together by means of at least one connecting track such as 37.
• the pattern 4 of conductive tracks can represent a planar antenna, as shown in FIG. 2, or a printed circuit of a completely different one. form.
• a planar antenna can be integrated in a simple way in chip cards or electronic labels, the connection with the integrated circuit being able to be carried out by usual methods such as soldering of wires, mounting in flip-chip or the like.
• a planar antenna, as shown in FIG. 2, is formed by a succession of concentric turns, each of the turns forming an electrically conductive track 30.
• the pattern of conductive tracks can be obtained by a gravure technique using a photogravure station 5, FIG. 1.
• the pattern of conductive tracks can be obtained by other techniques such as for example the screen printing technique, offset, as previously mentioned.
• the gravure technique makes it possible to obtain a track 1 ⁇ m thick, therefore very fine and allowing a high density of track.
• the metallization device 1 comprises an electrolytic station 6, this station 6 can be placed downstream of the gravure printing station 5.
• This electrolytic station 6 comprises an electrolytic bath 7 for bathing the dielectric support 2.
• This electrolytic station 6 also includes first electrodes and at least a second electrode.
• the electrolytic station has five first electrodes 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 all connected together and a second electrode 13.
• the first electrodes place the tracks in short circuit and, by making it possible to connect these tracks to a source of a first electrical potential 14, allow the tracks to be equipotential.
• the second electrode makes it possible to subject the electrolytic bath 7 to a source of a second electrical potential 15.
• the differences between the potentials are such that it can be said that the first electrodes are connected to the first potential 14 of opposite polarity to the second electrical potential 15 connecting the second electrode.
• the first potential and the second potential are for example produced by a voltage rectifier 16 or by a voltage generator.
• the electrolytic bath 7 may preferably be formed by a formulation based on copper sulphate in an acid medium, or by any other solution capable of releasing metals during electrolysis.
• the polarity of the first electrodes and the polarity of the second electrode depends on the nature of the solution contained in the electrolytic bath.
• the first electrodes are connected to the first potential 14 of negative polarity so as to attract copper ions to these first electrodes therefore to the tracks during electrolysis, while the second electrode is connected to the potential of positive polarity 15.
• the first electrodes intended to be in contact with the tracks allow these tracks to then form cathodes intended to attract cations while the second electrode forms an anode intended to attract the anions.
• the first electrodes are here arranged so that they are located outside the bath.
• An electrolysis is then carried out between two first electrodes and the electrolytic bath, following the contact of at least one first electrode 8 (or 9) on the pattern 4 of conductive tracks, and following the immersion of at least part of this pattern of conductive tracks in the bath 7.
• the first two electrodes 8 and 9 are separated from each other by a distance less than or equal to a length 21 of a pattern 4, the length 21 being measured along the support 2 or insulating sheet with respect to a direction of drive of the support, as represented by an arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• at least two first electrodes 8 and 9 are connected to portions of opposite patterns 17 and 18 of the same pattern 4, FIG. 2.
• a motif 4 comprises a first portion of motif 17 and a second portion of pattern 18, each of the portions or ends are opposite one another. These two opposite portions are separated by an intermediate pattern portion 19 or middle.
• the first portion 17 of the pattern 4 is electrolysed first by connection to the electrode 8 and is immersed in the bath 7 while the second portion 18 of the pattern 4 is electrolyzed last.
• the portion 18 is electrolyzed by means of the electrode 8
• the portion 17 comes to be electrolyzed by the electrode 9.
• the metallization device also comprises a drive means 22 for the sheet 2 and a succession of bath portions in which the sheet 2 enters and leaves. This succession of bath portions makes it possible to perfect the deposit of metal on the tracks as and as the pattern moves through the bath.
• the drive means 22 can be formed by a series of first rollers such as 8 to 11 located outside the bath, and by a series of second rollers 26 located in the bath.
• the drive means is formed by four second rollers such as 26.
• the first rollers are metallic and form the first electrodes 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
• the second rollers are preferably insulating and ensure the immersion of the sheet between at least two first electrodes during the movement of the sheet. All these rollers can be supported by the same gantry (not shown).
• the sheet 2 is driven by successive passage from a first roller to a second roller and so on.
• the drive means could comprise a first series of first rollers 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and a second series of first rollers 27 mounted in correspondence bearing against the rollers of the first series of first rollers.
• the first series of first rolls corresponds to the first rolls described above while the second series of first rollers is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.
• These two series of first rollers would allow a first face 24 and / or a second face 25 of the insulating sheet 2 printed to be subjected to electrolysis, the first face and the second face each being coated with at least one pattern of electrically conductive tracks.
• the first series of first rollers would be arranged in such a way that the first face 24 would be in contact with these first rollers and the second series of second rollers would be produced in such a way that the second face 25 would be in contact with these latter first rollers.
• the first rollers are supplied with the first potential 9 and the second rollers are preferably insulating.
• the second rollers can also be supplied at the first potential as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. It would then suffice to regularly replace these second rollers which, during electrolysis, may have gradually become covered with metal.
• the rollers are motorized. However, only a few rollers can be motorized so that the sheet can move enough. The speed of rotation of the rollers is adjusted so that the total passage time is sufficient to form the desired thickness.
• the metallization process of the insulating sheet 2 in order to obtain a dielectric support printed with patterns of electrically conductive tracks is obtained by carrying out the following steps. It is first planned to print by the gravure technique on the sheet of patterns of conductive tracks connected together or not. To do this, the gravure printing station 5 comprises, as previously mentioned, an engraved cylinder 31 and a back-pressure cylinder 32.
• the engraved cylinder 31 comprises cells 33 intended to print conductive tracks on the support 2.
• the cylinder etched and the back-pressure cylinder are placed in abutment against each other by means of the dielectric support.
• the engraved cylinder and the counter-pressure cylinder rotate around their respective axes, while making it possible to obtain a precise impression of the tracks on the insulating sheet.
• a doctor blade 34 is provided to obtain a precise impression of the tracks on the support. dielectric.
• the doctor blade 34 then makes it possible to remove the excess ink situated outside the cells of the engraved cylinder before the counter-pressure cylinder prints the pattern of conductive tracks on the support pressed by the counter-pressure cylinder.
• the conductive tracks are then subjected to the electrolytic bath 7 by bathing the dielectric support in this bath connected to the second electrical potential of positive polarity, and by connecting the short-circuited tracks to the source of the first electrical potential of polarity negative.
• Continuity of electrolysis on the same pattern is ensured during the movement of the sheet between the rollers due to a prior adjustment of the distance between at least two first rollers corresponding to two first electrodes, which distance between these first two rollers is such that it corresponds to a length less than or equal to a length 21 of a pattern 4 of the support measured along the sheet 2 relative to the direction of movement of the support in the bath.
• the rollers forming the first electrodes are also produced in such a way that they have a length measured with respect to a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the support in the bath at least equal to a width 38 of a pattern 4, which width of a pattern 4 is measured on the support with respect to the same direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the support in the bath. More specifically, the first rollers or first electrodes have a length making it possible to cover all the tracks with at least one and the same pattern 4 with respect to a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the support in the bath. The first rollers or first electrodes could have a length depending on the number of patterns present on the support 2.
• the electrolysis steps are repeated as many times as there are elements 3 immersed in the station 6, in particular because the distance between the first rollers 8 and 9, or 9 and 10, or 10 and 11, or 11 and 12, measured along the support 2, is less than or equal to the dimension of a pattern 4.
• the steps are repeated in the same electrolytic bath since the rollers such as 26 bathe in the same bath.
• the metallization device according to this variant comprises a series of three compartments, such as 28. These compartments are produced in such a way that they allow the passage of the dielectric support 2 through a slot.
• Each compartment, according to the invention has a dimension less than a pattern 4.
• the tracks 30 of each element of the support are connected to at least two first cylindrical electrodes 29 and 35. These first electrodes 29 and 35 are in contact with each tracks with pads located outside compartment 28. In one example, the pads can be replaced by rollers.
• the electrodes 29 and 35 connected together are in contact with the portions 18 and 17 respectively.
• a similar arrangement is suitable for the other compartments.
• the contact with the bath is ensured during the passage of the support in each compartment by an electrode 36.
• a sensor C of the level of the electrolytic bath can be placed so as to prevent a possible drop in level which could prevent the correct electrolysis of the patterns 4 , figure 1.
• the printing step 5 and the electrolysis step 6 enabling the correct metallization to be achieved are preferably chained one after the other, so as to avoid the printing takeoffs which would inevitably result an intermediate packaging.
• an adapter 39 can be provided for the speed of movement of sheet 2, which adapter can be placed between photogravure station 5 and electrolytic station 6, as shown very schematically in Figure 1.
• the speed of movement of the sheet during the step of rotogravure printing is 50 to 100 meters per minute and the speed of movement of the sheet during the electrolysis step is 1 to 10 meters per minute.
• the electrolysis step 6 making it possible to achieve correct metallization takes place at speeds of between 1 to 10 meters per minute.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Printed Wiring (AREA)
• Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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• 2002
  • 2002-11-27 FR FR0214916A patent/FR2847761B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-11-27 WO PCT/FR2003/050141 patent/WO2004052062A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2003-11-27 US US10/536,288 patent/US20060151330A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-11-27 CN CNA2003801092636A patent/CN1745609A/zh active Pending
  • 2003-11-27 AU AU2003295076A patent/AU2003295076A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-11-27 JP JP2004556450A patent/JP2006508249A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-11-27 EP EP03786076A patent/EP1568258A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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