Lateral Electrochemical Substrate Processing for Circuit Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for electrochemically treating substrates with electrical circuits face limitations, particularly in achieving targeted alterations without the need for electrical contact between the front and rear sides, and imposing design constraints, which restricts their broader application.
Innovation Solution
A method involving lateral application of an electrical potential to the rear side of a substrate in contact with a chemically reactive substance, allowing for a lateral flow of current that alters the substrate, including the formation of pores to reduce losses near the electrical circuit, without requiring electrical contact between the front and rear sides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrical contact is provided between the front side and rear side of the substrate for electrochemical treatment, then the substrate can be altered by electrochemical treatment, but design constraints are imposed and application scope is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional electrochemical treatment approach by applying electrical potential laterally to the rear side of the substrate instead of providing electrical contact between front and rear sides. This inversion eliminates the need for complex electrical contact structures and substrate design modifications, thereby removing design constraints and expanding the applicability to various substrate designs including high-frequency circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a longitudinal electrical contact approach (front to rear side) to a lateral electrical potential application approach (at the rear side surface). This dimensional change in electrical potential application enables electrochemical treatment without requiring electrical pathways through the substrate, thus eliminating design constraints while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If conventional electrochemical treatment is used with transversal current flow, then substrate alteration can be achieved, but electrical contact between front and rear sides is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional electrochemical treatment approach by applying electrical potential laterally to the rear side of the substrate instead of providing electrical contact between front and rear sides. This inversion eliminates the need for complex electrical contact structures and substrate design modifications, thereby removing design constraints and expanding the applicability to various substrate designs including high-frequency circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the electrical potential application from the conventional transversal path (front to rear side) and relocates it to the rear side surface only. This extraction eliminates the requirement for electrical contact structures while preserving the electrochemical treatment function, thereby simplifying the overall process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lateral electrical potential is applied to the rear side of the substrate, then electrical contact between front and rear sides is not required, but targeted alteration depth control becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a laterally applied electrical potential combined with chemically reactive substances to create localized alteration zones at the rear side of the substrate. The chemical substances interact with the substrate material in the exposed zone to form pores or alter properties at controlled depths, achieving targeted modification without requiring precise electrical contact structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemically reactive substances as intermediaries between the laterally applied electrical potential and the substrate material. These chemical substances facilitate the electrochemical reaction and enable controlled material alteration at specific depths, providing precision in alteration depth control while maintaining the simplified lateral potential application approach.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables broader application of electrochemical treatment for substrates with electrical circuits, achieving targeted alterations that reduce losses near the circuit without design constraints, making the substrate a less lossy medium for high-frequency operations.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical potential is laterally applied at least to the exposed zone of the rear side of the substrate, while the exposed zone is in contact with a chemically reactive substance. The electrical potential causes a lateral flow of electrical current at least in the exposed zone of the substrate. The lateral flow of current and the chemically reactive substance alter the substrate in at least the exposed zone
Data Source
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AI summary
A substrate (100) has a front side (101) comprising an electrical circuit (102) and a rear side (103) comprising an exposed zone (104) that faces the electrical circuit (102). The substrate is electrochemically treated by laterally applying an electrical potential at least to the exposed zone (104) of the rear side (103) of the substrate (100), while the exposed zone (104) is in contact with a chemically reactive substance (404). The electrical potential causes an electrical current that flows laterally in the exposed zone (104) and passes through the chemically reactive substance (404). The electrical current and the chemically reactive substance (404) alter the substrate (100) starting from the exposed zone (104) on the rear side (103) inwardly toward the front side (103).