Patent Publication Number: US-2013236736-A1

Title: Electroplating jig for processing electroplating at certain location, electroplating method incorporating with the same, and electro product free of plating proof layer produced thereby

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwanese Application Serial Number 101108105, filed Mar. 9, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an electroplating jig, and more particularly to an electroplating jig for processing electroplating at a specific location. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the rapid development of information technology, a portable electronic device, e.g. a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA) and a notebook computer, is more and more common in our daily life. It also obtains more and more attention whether the portable electronic device has a housing with a good looking and quality. 
     Normally, the housing of the mentioned portable electronic device is disposed with an electric conductive layer for the electrical connection between circuits in the electronic device and the electric conductive layer. To obtain a better electric conductive performance for the electric conductive layer, a metal layer having better electric conductivity is often additionally electroplated on the top of the electric conductive layer. However, a plane-electroplating equipment can only be used to selectively electroplate the electric conductive layer with a flat surface, but not to the one with nonplanar contour having a three-dimensional surface. 
     Consequently, there is still a need to improve the inconvenience and disadvantages such as the aforementioned electroplating method in the art, so as to effectively eliminate the inconvenience and disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides an electroplating jig for processing electroplating at a certain location, an electroplating method incorporating with the electroplating jig, and an electro product free of a plating proof layer thereon produced by the electroplating method, which solves the inconvenience and disadvantage in the art, thereby lowering the manufacturing and labor cost. Further, even for a certain location locally defined on an electro, the electroplating target of the electro can still be processed with electroplating, thereby providing simplified production steps. Moreover, according to embodiments of the present invention, only the electroplating target of an electro is exposed, and other locations not being defined as the electroplating targets are shielded, so as to prevent electroplating solution from polluting the other locations which are not electroplating targets defined on the electro. 
     In one embodiment, the electroplating jig of the present invention is adopted into an electroplating process together with an electro in which two opposite surfaces of the electro respectively have a first metal pattern and a second metal pattern which are electrically connected. The electroplating jig includes a base and a flexible electric conductive pad. The base includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface is provided with an accommodation slot concavely formed thereon, and the accommodation slot is configured to receive the electro therein. The second surface is arranged oppositely to the first surface, and is provided with an opening formed thereon. The opening is smaller than the accommodation slot, and is in communication with the accommodation slot. The opening is configured to expose the first metal pattern of the electro from the opening. The flexible electric conductive pad is removeably covered on the accommodation slot, mated with a contour of the electro to cover on both of the electro and the second metal pattern so as to electrically connect the first metal pattern and the second metal pattern. 
     In another embodiment, an electroplating method is provided, and the electroplating method comprises an electro in the foregoing electroplating jig is placed in which the soft electric conductive pad is electrically connected to a cathode electrode of a power source; and an electroplating solution is sprayed on the first metal pattern in the opening of the electroplating jig for conducting the electroplating process to the first metal pattern in which the electroplating solution is electrically connected to a positive electrode of the power source. 
     Yet another embodiment may provide an electro product free of a plating proof layer, which is produced by the forgoing electroplating method. The electro product comprises a carrier, a first metal pattern, a first metal electroplating layer, a second metal pattern, a second metal electroplating layer, a first metal conductive portion, a third metal pattern, a third metal electroplating layer and a metal secondary electroplating layer. The carrier is provided with a first surface, a second surface and a penetrated hole. The first surface is opposite to the second surface, and the penetrated hole is communicated with the first surface and the second surface. The first metal pattern is formed on the first surface. The first metal electroplating layer is formed on the first metal pattern, and electrically connected to the first metal pattern. The second metal pattern is formed on the second surface. The second metal electroplating layer is formed on the second metal pattern, and electrically connected to the second metal pattern. The first metal conductive portion is disposed in the penetrated hole, electrically connected to the first metal pattern and the second metal pattern. The third metal pattern is formed on the first surface. The third metal electroplating layer is formed on the third metal pattern, and electrically connected to the third metal pattern, and the third metal electroplating layer is exposed to the atmosphere. The metal secondary electroplating layer is formed on the first metal electroplating layer, and electrically connected to the first metal electroplating layer. 
     As disclosed above, with the electroplating jig, the electroplating method and the electro product free of the plating proof layer are provided by the present invention, even when the electroplating target of the electro is three-dimensional, the electroplating jig can still be used to achieve the objective of electroplating at certain location, so as to lower the manufacturing cost. In addition, with the electroplating jig incorporating with the electroplating method of the electroplating job provided by the present invention, only the electroplating target of the electro is exposed, and other locations not being defined as the electroplating targets are shield, so as to prevent the electroplating solution from polluting the other locations which are not electroplating targets defined on the electro. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view illustrating an electroplating jig and an electro according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of the electroplating jig and the electro shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic partial view illustrating the assembly of the electroplating jig and another electro according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the electroplating jig according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an electroplating method provided by an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the STEP ( 204 ) according to the electroplating method provided by an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic view illustrating an alternative of the electro product according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic view illustrating another alternative of the electro product according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7C  is a schematic view illustrating one another alternative of the electro product according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7D  is a schematic view illustrating still one another alternative of the electro product according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings. 
     Reference will now be made to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  in which  FIG. 1  is an exploded view illustrating an electroplating jig  100  and an electro  200  according to one embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of the electroplating jig  100  and the electro  200  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electroplating jig  100  of the present invention, which is applicable to be adopted to an electroplating process together with an electro  200 , in which one or more electroplating targets defined on the electro  200  are exposed, and other locations of the electro  200 , which are not defined as the electroplating targets, are shielded. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the electro  200  includes a carrier  300 , a first surface  310  and a second surface  311  oppositely defined on the carrier  300  are respectively formed with a first metal pattern  320  and a second metal pattern  330  which are electrically connected. 
     The electroplating jig  100  at least includes a base  101  and a soft (or flexible) electric conductive pad  130 . The base  101  is formed in a plate-like shape, and includes a first surface  110  and a second surface  120  opposite to the first surface  110 . The first surface  110  is concavely formed with an accommodation slot  111  in which the electro  200  is received in the accommodation slot  111 , the dimension of the accommodation slot  111  can be substantially mated with the dimension of the electro  200 , such that the electro  200  can be fixed and mounted in the accommodation slot  111 . The second surface  120  is formed with at least an opening  121 , and the area of the opening  121  formed on the second surface  120  is smaller than the area of the accommodation slot  111  formed on the first surface  110 . The opening  121  is in communication with the accommodation slot  111 . When the electro  200  is received in the accommodation slot  111 , an electroplating target of the electro  200 , e.g. the first metal pattern  320 , is exposed from the opening  121 . It is noted that the arranged location and the quantity of the opening  121  are corresponding to the arranged location and the quantity of the electroplating target of the electro  200 . 
     For example, the base  101  can be formed in a soft state and provided with properties such as electric insulation, acid and alkaline proof and wearing resistance, e.g. insulation materials such as silicone, plastic or rubber; However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the mentioned insulation materials. 
     In addition, after the electro  200  is received in the accommodation slot  111 , the communication between the accommodation slot  111  and the opening  121  is blocked by the electro  200 , so as to prevent an electroplating solution  500  from penetrating into the accommodation slot  111  from the opening  121 , so the objective of electroplating at certain position can be successfully carried out. 
     The soft electric conductive pad  130  can be moved to cover on the accommodation slot  111  of the first surface  110  of the base  101 , or removed from the base  101 . After the soft electric conductive pad  130  is covered on the accommodation slot  111 , the soft electric conductive pad  130  can cover on both of the electro  200  and the second metal pattern  330 , so as to enable the second metal pattern  330  to be electrically connected to the first metal pattern  320 . For example, the soft electric conductive pad  130  can be an electric conductive rubber, an electric conductive fabric or an electric conducive tape; however, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the mentioned electric conductive components. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic partial view illustrating the assembly of the electroplating jig  100  and another electro  210  according to the present invention. Since the soft electric conductive pad  130  is with flexibility, thus, when the second surface  311  of the electro  210  is formed as a non-planar surface, e.g. an arc-shaped surface  314 , and the second metal pattern  330  is formed on the arc-shaped surface  314 , the soft electric conductive pad  130  can incorporate with the contour of the electro  200  for fully covering or blanketing on the second surface  311  of the electro  200 , so as to completely contact with the second metal pattern  330  of the second surface  311  of the electro  200 . 
     According to an alternative of this embodiment, the electroplating jig  100  can further includes an outer cover  140  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The outer cover  140  is formed in a plate shape with a rigid state, and has a considerable weight, thus, the outer cover is able to press the soft electric conductive pad  130  on the electro  200 , such that the soft electric conductive pad  130  can be more adjacent to the surface of the electro  200 . 
     A such, regardless the electroplating target of the electro  200  being in a three dimensional or planar shape, because the opening  121  of the second surface  120  of the base  101  has a certain depth D (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), and the certain depth D is deep enough, so the electroplating target, e.g. the first metal pattern  320 , of the electro  200  exposed from the opening  121  can still be accommodated inside the opening  121 . For example, the electroplating target, e.g. the first metal pattern  320 , of the electro  200  is in a three dimensional shape, the first metal pattern  320  extends into the opening  121  from the accommodation slot  111  but still can be accommodated inside the opening  121 . 
     It is noted that the first surface  110  of the electroplating jig  100  can be concavely formed with a plurality of accommodation slots  111 , and the quantity of the opening  121  of the second surface  120  of each accommodation slot  111  can be plural, so an operator can adjust with respect to the actual needs of required location and quantity of the electroplating target. 
     The timing in which the electro  200  and the electroplating jig  100  being mated for operation is not limited to how many times the electroplating has been processed; as such, the first metal pattern  320  and the second metal pattern  300  are not limited to whether being electroplated with a metal electroplating layer. 
     Because the electroplating jig  100  can be utilized to partially electroplate the electro  200  at certain location, the scope of the present invention is not limited to whether the location where the first surface  310  of the electro  200  not corresponding to the opening  121  can be provided with other metal patterns; in other words, the first surface  310  of the electro  200  can be only provided with the mentioned first metal pattern  320 , and also can be provided plural metal patterns which are not the electroplating targets. 
     Moreover, for the electro  200  which has already been processed with a primary electroplating, the electroplating jig  100  still can be selectively used for the selective secondary electroplating, i.e. when the first metal pattern  320  and the second metal pattern  330  of the electro  200  has been respectively coated by a metal electroplating layer, the electroplating target, e.g. the first metal pattern  320 , can still be processed with a secondary electroplating. 
     As such, the following will illustrate the electroplating method processed through the electro  200  incorporating with the electroplating jig  100  and the electro  200  produced by the electroplating method. 
     Reference will now be made to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  in which  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating the electroplating method provided by the present invention, and  FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the STEP ( 204 ) according to the electroplating method provided by the present invention. 
     According to the present invention, one electroplating method incorporating with the electroplating jig  100  is not limited to the primary or the selective secondary electroplating, and not limited to be applied in a planar electroplating equipment  400 , the electroplating method disclosed in this embodiment are as outlined below. 
     In step ( 201 ), the electro  200  and the electroplating jig  100  are assembled (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Specifically, in this step, the electro  200  is received in the accommodation slot  111  of the base  101 , so the first metal pattern  320  can be exposed from the opening  121 , then the soft electric conductive pad  130  is used to cover thereon for ensuring the electrical connection between soft electric conductive pad  130  and the second metal pattern  330 , then the soft electric conductive pad  130  is electrically connected to the cathode N of a power source (as shown in  FIG. 6 ); 
     In step ( 202 ), the first metal pattern  320  in the opening  121  is activated. Specifically, in this step, an activation solution is used for removing the oxide film on the surface of the first metal pattern  320  or a metal electroplating layer on the first metal pattern  320 . 
     When being applied in the selective secondary electroplating, the metal electroplating layer on the first metal pattern  320  is processed with an operation of removing the oxidize film on the surface. 
     In step ( 203 ), the first metal pattern  320  in the opening  121  is cleaned with fresh water. Specifically, in this step, purified water or warm water is used to clean the wastes and residual objects after the STEP ( 202 ) is processed. 
     In step ( 204 ), an electroplating operation is processed to the first metal pattern  320  in the opening  121  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). Specifically, in this step, the first metal pattern  320  in the opening  121  of the electroplating jig  100  is sprayed with an electroplating solution  500  for electroplating another metal electroplating layer on the first metal pattern  320 . When being applied in the selective secondary electroplating, the metal electroplating layer originally formed on the first metal layer  320  can be electroplated with further metal electroplating layer thereon. 
     In the electroplating operation, the planar electroplating equipment  400  is electrically connected to the positive electrode P of the power source, the electroplating solution  500  sprayed by the planar electroplating equipment  400  is also electrically connected to the positive electrode P of the power source, when the electroplating solution  500  is in contact with the first metal pattern  320  or the existed metal electroplating layer on the first metal pattern  320 , the positive electrode P is electrically connected to the cathode N through the first metal pattern  320 , the second metal pattern  330  and the soft electric conductive pad  130 , so metal ions in the electroplating solution  500  are able to attach on the first metal pattern  320  or the existed metal electroplating layer on the first metal pattern  320 , so as to form the further metal electroplating layer. 
     According to this embodiment, the electroplating solution  500  is an electric conductive solution or a metal solution mixed with a certain ratio, wherein the metal solution includes gold, silver, copper, nickel or an alloy thereof. 
     In step ( 205 ), the another metal electroplating layer of the first metal pattern  320  in the opening  121  is cleaned with fresh water. Specifically, in this step, the purified water or warm water is again used to clean the further metal electroplating layer of the first metal pattern  320  in the opening  121 . 
     In step ( 206 ), the electroplating solution  500  residual in the fresh water is then recycled. Particularly, in this step, through recycling the purified water or warm water, the residual electroplating solution  500  can be recycled, so the electroplating solution  500  can be effectively reused. 
     In step ( 207 ), an anti oxidation treatment is processed to the further metal electroplating layer of the first metal pattern  320  in the opening  121 . Particularly, in this step, an agent for increasing the anti oxidation capability for the surface electroplated with metal for enhancing the anti oxidation capability of a finished product. 
     As such, with the mentioned electroplating method, an electro product  220  can be produced. 
     Reference will now be made to  FIG. 7A , and  FIG. 7A  is a schematic view showing an alternative of the electro product  220  according to the present invention. 
     The electro product  220  includes a carrier  301 . The carrier  301  includes a first surface  310 , a second surface  311 , a first penetrated hole  340  and a second penetrated hole  350 . The first surface  310  and the second surface  320  are opposite to each other, the first penetrated hole  340  and the second penetrated hole  350  both penetrate the carrier  301 , and the first penetrated hole  340  and the second penetrated hole  350  are both in communication with the first surface  310  and the second surface  311 . 
     The electro product  220  further includes a first metal pattern  320 , a second metal pattern  330 , a third metal pattern  360 , a fourth metal pattern  370 , a first metal conductive portion  341  and a second metal conductive portion  351 . The first metal pattern  320  is formed on the first surface  310  and located neighboringly to the first penetrated hole  340 . The second metal pattern  330  is formed on the second surface  311  and located neighboringly to the first penetrated hole  340 . The first metal conductive portion  341  is disposed in the first penetrated hole  340 , and electrically connected to the first metal pattern  320  and the second metal pattern  330 . The third metal pattern  360  is formed on the first surface  310  and located neighboringly to the second penetrated hole  350 . The fourth metal pattern  370  is formed on the second surface  311  and located neighboringly to the second penetrated hole  350 . The second metal conductive portion  351  is disposed in the second penetrated hole  350 , and electrically connected to the third metal pattern  360  and the fourth metal pattern  370 . 
     The electro product  220  further includes a first meal electroplating layer  321 , a second metal electroplating layer  331 , a third metal electroplating layer  361 , a fourth metal electroplating layer  371  and a first metal secondary electroplating layer  380 . The first metal electroplating layer  321  is coated to cover on the first metal pattern  320 , the second metal electroplating layer  331  is coated to cover on the second metal pattern  330 , the third metal electroplating layer  361  is coated to cover on the third metal pattern  360  and the fourth metal electroplating layer  371  is coated to cover on the fourth metal layer  371 . The first metal secondary electroplating layer  380  is coated to cover on the first metal electroplating layer  321 , or further, the first metal secondary electroplating layer  380  is completely covered on the first metal electroplating layer  321 . 
     According to this embodiment, because the first surface  310  of the carrier  301  only sets the first metal electroplating layer  321  of the first metal pattern  320  as the electroplating target, the third metal pattern  360  of the first surface  310  of the carrier  301  is not the electroplating target, therefore the third metal pattern  360  is exposed to the atmosphere which means the third metal pattern  360  is covered with nothing. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first metal secondary electroplating layer  380  and the first metal electroplating layer  321  can adopt the same or different metal materials with respect to the actual needs. 
     Other than a prior method of utilizing a plating proof layer (e.g. a plating proof paint, plating proof solution or plating proof film) for preventing the unexpected location from being plated, one major disadvantage of the mentioned method is that the plating proof layer would be permanently under the surface of the carrier  301 , the third metal pattern  360  of the first surface  310  of the carrier  301  does not require a plating proof layer, so the plating proof layer can be saved, thereby preventing the plating proof layer from damaging the surface of the carrier  301 . 
       FIG. 7B  is a schematic view showing another alternative of the electro product according to the present invention. According to  FIG. 7A , the mentioned electro product can be processed with the electroplating method for one more times, so the first metal secondary electroplating layer  380  can be covered with a second metal secondary electroplating layer  390 , so as to produce a multiple layer structure formed by the first metal secondary electroplating layer  380  and the second metal secondary electroplating layer  390 . 
       FIG. 7C  is a schematic view showing one another alternative of the electro product according to the present invention. According to  FIG. 7A , the mentioned electro product can be processed with the electroplating method for one more times, with the redesign of the opening  121  of the electroplating jig  100 , the first metal secondary electroplating layer  381  can be partially covered on the first metal electroplating layer  321 . 
       FIG. 7D  is a schematic view showing still one another alternative of the electro product according to the present invention. When the electroplating target of the electro  200  is in a three dimensional shape, the electroplating target, e.g. the first metal pattern  320 , of the electro  200  can still be sprayed with the electroplating solution  500  inside the opening  121  for forming a three dimensional first metal secondary electroplating layer  380 . 
     Substantially, the first surface  310  of the carrier  301  of the electro product  220  is in the three dimensional shape, and includes an arc-shaped surface  312 , wherein the first metal pattern  320 , the first metal electroplating layer  321  and the first metal secondary electroplating layer  380  are formed on the arc-shaped surface  312 . 
     As what has been disclosed above, the electroplating jig, the electroplating method and the electro product having no plating proof layer provided by the present invention, even when the electroplating target of the electro is in the three dimensional shape, the electroplating jig can still be used to achieve the objective of electroplating at certain location, thereby lowering the manufacturing and labor cost. In addition, with the electroplating jig for processing electroplating at certain location incorporating with the electroplating method of the electroplating job provided by the present invention, only the electroplating target of the electro is exposed, and other locations not being defined as the electroplating targets are shield, thereby preventing the electroplating solution from polluting the other locations which are not electroplating targets defined on the electro. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 
     The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.