Source: http://patents.com/us-10154617.html
Timestamp: 2019-02-19 12:37:05
Document Index: 671580422

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'art) 3']

US Patent # 1,015,4617. Integral metallic joint based on electrodeposition - Patents.com
United States Patent 10,154,617
Hauer December 11, 2018
Hauer; Marc (Uster, CH)
Family ID: 1000003703550
15/613,470
US 20170359924 A1 Dec 14, 2017
Jun 8, 2016 [DE] 10 2016 110 539
Current CPC Class: H05K 9/0009 (20130101); A61N 1/0541 (20130101); A61N 1/362 (20130101); A61N 1/375 (20130101); A61N 1/39 (20130101); B81B 7/0058 (20130101); B81B 7/0064 (20130101); H01L 21/50 (20130101); H01L 23/10 (20130101); H05K 5/062 (20130101); H05K 5/069 (20130101); A61M 5/14276 (20130101); H01L 2924/16152 (20130101); A61N 1/37512 (20170801); H01L 2224/16225 (20130101)
Current International Class: H05K 5/06 (20060101); H05K 9/00 (20060101); A61M 5/142 (20060101); A61N 1/05 (20060101); A61N 1/362 (20060101); A61N 1/39 (20060101); A61N 1/375 (20060101); B81B 7/00 (20060101); H01L 21/50 (20060101); H01L 23/10 (20060101)
Field of Search: ;174/50,50.5,50.52,50.54,50.61,520,539 ;257/678,684,685,686,687,699,723,731
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10 2011 112 476 Mar 2013 DE
101 64 494 Jun 2014 DE
2001043517 Jun 2001 WO
German Search Report for German Case No. DE 10 2016 110 539.2, dated Dec. 14, 2016 (8 pages). cited by applicant .
European Search Report and Annex to the European Search Report on European Patent Application No. EP 17 17 4198.6, dated Nov. 11, 2017 (8 pages). cited by applicant.
1. An electronic assembly, comprising: an encasement joined from at least two casing parts, wherein at least one gap region between two mutually adjoining casing parts is hermetically sealed by a metal layer that is electrodeposited onto sections of the adjoining casing parts abutting the gap region and bridges the gap region, wherein the mutually adjoining casing parts are joined by way of an adhesive, which substantially fills the gap region and is homogenously conductive.
10. The electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrodeposited metal layer has a thickness in the range between 0.1 and 100 .mu.m.
11. A method for producing an electronic assembly according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: providing two casing parts that are inherently suitable or prepared for electrodeposition; arranging the casing parts in a predetermined relative position with respect to one another, which encloses a gap region therebetween, and fixing the relative position of the casing parts; placing the casing parts fixed in the relative position thereof in an electrolysis bath; and carrying out an electrodeposition process in the electrolysis bath under method conditions that ensure the deposition of a metal layer bridging and hermetically sealing the gap region, wherein fixing of the relative position of the casing parts comprises the bonding thereof by way of a conductive adhesive, which substantially fills the gap region and is homogenously conductive, and at least partially curing the adhesive.
13. An electronic assembly, comprising: an encasement joined from at least two casing parts, wherein at least one gap region between two mutually adjoining casing parts is hermetically sealed by a metal layer that is electrodeposited onto sections of the adjoining casing parts abutting the gap region and bridges the gap region, wherein the electronic assembly is designed as an implantable electronic medical device, including as a cardiac pacemaker, a cardioverter, a cochlear implant, or a drug dosing pump, wherein the electrodeposited metal layer is provided on a feedthrough of the electronic medical device and bridges and seals the gap region between a flange part and a conductor element of the feedthrough, and wherein the flange part is made of titanium and partially provided with a noble metal additional part or a noble metal layer, and the conductor element comprises a plastic or ceramic substrate and is partially provided with a noble metal layer.
In certain application situations, it is necessary for electronic devices or assemblies to be completely ("hermetically") sealed. These include devices that must operate reliably under aggressive environmental conditions or in a living body on a permanent basis, which is to say, among other things, implantable electronic medical devices. However, on occasion, such hermetic sealing is also required for special assemblies in larger devices or equipment.
The present invention encompasses the idea of sealing gaps between casing parts of the assembly or of the device in a "cold" process and thereby in an integral manner. In light of the known problems of permanently maintaining a hermetic seal at the interfaces of mutually joined parts, it furthermore includes the concept of providing a bridge or cover of the gap region, enclosing the abutting casing part surfaces. Additionally, the present invention covers the concept of providing this bridge or cover by way of a metal layer electrodeposited at least onto the sections of the adjoining casing parts which abut the gap.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the mutually adjoining casing parts are joined by way of an adhesive, which substantially fills the gap region and is conductive at least on the outer side thereof. It is sufficient, in principle, if the adhesive on the outer surface of the gap is conductive, or was rendered conductive, such as, for example, by way of a superficially introduced metal powder or the like. Typically, however, a homogeneous conductive adhesive will be used since, technologically, this is easier. Depending on the application, it is possible to dispense with rendering an electrically insulating casing part conductive in advance when an adhesive joint is used that was at least superficially rendered conductive. This would, in particular, be possible if conductive adhesive is also applied to the surface section of the insulating casing part which abuts the gap, thus "metallizing" the same so-to-speak.
In further embodiments of the present invention, it is provided that the electrodeposited metal layer forms a tight, pore-free layer and thereby suppresses diffusion. Depending on the requirements profile, this can involve inert metals, such as, for example, gold, platinum or palladium, or non-inert metals, such as, for example, Cu or No. In a special embodiment, the deposition can also comprise multiple metals in the form of an alloy or layer sequence. Typical metal layer thicknesses range between 0.1 and 100 .mu.m.
In still another embodiment, the electrodeposited metal layer has a thickness in the range between 0.1 and 100 .mu.m.
FIG. 2A, in turn, shows two pretreated casing parts 1, 1', however comprising a different material configuration. The casing part 1 is again produced from an insulating material (such as, for example, plastic or ceramic), while the casing part 1' is a metal part. As with the above-mentioned embodiment, so as to make it possible to carry out the method, the non-conducting part 1 is partially provided with a metal coating 3, while the metallic part is provided with an insulating layer 7 on a portion of the surfaces thereof to prevent the same from being completely covered by an electrodeposited metal layer. Again, the parts are brought into a fixed position relative to one another and treated under predetermined process conditions in an electrolysis bath, whereby the configuration shown in FIG. 2B is formed. As with the first embodiment, all metallic surfaces are covered by a deposited metal layer here, which also forms the original gap between the casing parts 1, 1' and provides a hermetically sealed joining site.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a further embodiment in which two non-conducting parts 1 are joined to one another at one of the mutually facing surfaces across the full surface area by way of a conductive adhesive 9 after the upper faces thereof were partially provided with a local metal layer (or with a pressed-on small metal part) 3'. The parts are only partially immersed into an electrolysis bath here since only the upper faces thereof (including the free upper face of the adhesive layer 9) are to be provided with a deposited metal layer, and the upper face metallization 5' forms during the electrodeposition process. This upper face metallization provides, in particular, a diffusion barrier on the adhesive layer 9 and hermetically seals the integral joint that already existed beforehand. In this configuration, the amount of metal consumed for the pretreatment and the electrodeposition is also considerably lower, and the electroplating process can be completed more quickly. Furthermore, this simplifies the orientation of the parts with respect to one another during the electrodeposition.
If the circuit substrate itself is hermetically sealed (as is the case with ceramic material, for example) or is substantially hermetically sealed (for example, in the case of an LCP-based printed circuit board), diffusion from the surroundings into the interior of the sealed assembly is no longer possible, or almost not possible. In conjunction with the metallization coating the cover and the adhesive bead, a biocompatible, hermetic package can be produced, without necessitating the use of thermal processes exceeding 100.degree. C.
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