1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit device using a plurality of circuit blocks connected together without connectors and being particularly suitable for high frequency use and to a manufacture method for the circuit device of this type.
2. Description of Related Art
As a conventional method of connecting, e.g., two circuit blocks, there are a method of connecting a flexible cable board between two connectors of two wiring boards mounting each circuit block, a method of mounting two circuit blocks on a wiring board having not a connector but a flexible part and mounting the wiring board in a narrow space of a product by utilizing flexibility of the flexible part, and other methods. These methods are generally adopted in assembling electric products. A method is disclosed as an example of the latter in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-358422 (
Furthermore, for example, a plurality of circuit devices or the like, which are formed by mounting IC chips etc on wiring boards of ceramic packages etc so as to perform predetermined functions, are connected by placing one circuit device on the top of another circuit device and connecting upperside terminals of one circuit device to lowerside ones of another circuit device with soldering etc, thereby enabling mass production of such circuit devices.
Connectors are unsatisfactory in that they raise cost, and since mount spaces are required for wiring boards, products have a disadvantage in compactness and is weak against vibrations and the like. Although there is a thin connector using a flexible cable, this is not satisfactory in cost, space and connection reliability.
The structure that a flexible part is integrally connected to two circuit blocks has no problem of connection reliability between the circuit blocks. However, if a circuit sensitive to electromagnetic interferences or the like is mounted, electromagnetic interferences between circuit blocks pose a problem and two circuit blocks may not be used by folding them, resulting in the necessity of a shield case or the like. Since the shield case requires some area and thickness, it obstructs compactness. In addition, a shield case made of a metal plate generally adopted has good thermal absorption so that there is a fear of soldering defects because a soldering temperature may not be raised sufficiently.
By considering these problems, it is desirable to provide a circuit device having a narrow mount area and using two or more circuit blocks connected without using connectors, and a manufacture method for the circuit device of this type.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a circuit device having a plurality of circuit blocks, wherein: on one surface of a bendable insulating sheet made of, for example, polyimide resin, a first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern are formed, the second wiring pattern including patterns divisionally disposed in respective circuit blocks and electrically connected to the first wiring pattern; in an area corresponding to the second wiring pattern on another surface of the insulating sheet, a third wiring pattern including patterns divisionally disposed in respective circuit blocks is formed and connected to the second wiring pattern; electronic components are mounted on the third wiring pattern to form a plurality of divisionally disposed circuit blocks; the plurality of circuit blocks are folded by directing an electronic component mounting surface inward; and insulating resin having electromagnetic shielding effects, for example epoxy-based resin dispersed with ferrite powders and ceramic powders, is filled in gaps between the plurality of folded circuit blocks.
According to the circuit device of the embodiment of the present invention configured in this manner, the plurality of circuit blocks are electrically connected by the plurality of first wiring patterns disposed between the plurality of circuit blocks, electronic components mounted in the third wiring pattern are disposed inside, the plurality of circuit blocks are folded in a rolling manner, and the insulating resin having the electromagnetic shielding effects is filled in the gaps between the plurality of folded circuit blocks. Accordingly, mutual interferences between the mounted electronic components may be prevented.
A performance test, for example, an operation test or the like, may be conducted after the electronic components are mounted on the circuit blocks. Accordingly, defects may be removed before the circuit blocks are folded to form circuit devices. Therefore, the circuit device having built-in electronic components may be produced at a good yield and with a low cost.
Since the insulating resin made of mainly epoxy resin is filled between the electronic components, electric insulation may be improved and the reliability of the circuit device may be improved.
Further, by using the insulating resin containing aluminum nitride, boron nitride and the like, heat from the electronic components may be diffused to the whole circuit device so that the heat radiation characteristics may be improved considerably.
In the circuit device of another embodiment of the present invention described above, the circuit device may have two circuit blocks, the first wiring pattern is used as a first flexible wiring part, the second wiring patterns are external layer wiring patterns, third wiring patterns are internal layer wiring patterns, the two circuit blocks are folded in a U-character shape by directing the electronic component mounting surface of the two circuit blocks inward and the first flexible wiring part outward.
According to the circuit device of the embodiment of the present invention configured in this manner, the electronic component mounting surfaces of the two circuit blocks on the side of the inner layer wiring pattern side face one another, and the two circuit blocks are electrically connected by the first wiring pattern constituting the first flexible wiring part bent in the U-character shape, so that the circuit blocks may be covered with the outer layer wiring pattern. Further, since the insulating resin having the electromagnetic shielding effects is filled in a gap between the two circuit blocks, mutual interferences between the mounted electronic devices may be prevented effectively.
In the circuit device of another embodiment of the present invention, conductive spacers may be provided for connecting the inner layer wiring patterns of the facing circuit blocks and setting a predetermined gap when the circuit blocks are folded.
According to the circuit device of the embodiment of the present invention configured in this manner, not only an excessive stress may be prevented from being concentrated upon the mounted electronic components and connection regions between the mounted electronic components and corresponding wiring patterns, while both the blocks are folded, but also electric connection between the two circuit blocks may be performed independently from that of the first wiring pattern (first flexible wiring part) so that designs of the circuit blocks and mount designs of the electronic components become easy.
In the circuit device of another embodiment of the present invention described above, the outer layer wiring patterns of the two circuit blocks and the first flexible wiring part may constitute an electromagnetic shield layer.
According to the circuit device of the embodiment of the present invention configured in this manner, the insulating resin having the electromagnetic shielding effects and filled in the gap between the two circuit blocks may effectively prevent mutual interferences between the mounted electronic components and suppress electromagnetic interferences of the circuit blocks to an external. It is therefore possible to provide a circuit block with less erroneous operations even at a high frequency.
In the circuit device of another embodiment of the present invention described above, in the state that the two circuit blocks may be folded, the ends of the two circuit blocks on the side opposite to the first flexible wiring part are bonded together by low melting point metal or conductive adhesive.
According to the circuit device of the embodiment of the present invention configured as above, the outer size stability of the circuit device may be retained even at a peripheral temperature more than only the resin is filled in the gap between the two folded circuit blocks.
In the circuit device of another embodiment of the present invention described above, a second flexible wiring part may be extended from an end of the circuit block. Contact terminals to another circuit are formed on the wiring pattern of the second flexible wiring part.
According to the circuit device of the embodiment of the present invention configured as above, another circuit may be electrically connected to the tip or intermediate wiring pattern of the second flexible wiring part extended from the end of the circuit block and formed at the same time when the two circuit blocks and first flexible wiring part are manufactured.
In the circuit device of another embodiment of the present invention described above, a third flexible wiring part extending from a ground layer at the end of the circuit block may be formed. The third flexible wiring part is folded on the electronic component mounting surface side and an electromagnetic shield layer is constituted of the outer layer wiring patterns and first flexible wiring part.
According to the circuit device of the embodiment of the present invention configured as above, an electromagnetic shield layer is formed on the third flexible wiring part extended from the end of the circuit block and formed at the same time when the two circuit blocks and first flexible wiring part are manufactured. The third flexible wiring part is disposed covering one circuit block and then the other circuit block is folded. Accordingly, electromagnetic interferences may be further suppressed between mounted electronic components of the two circuit blocks. Moreover, the areas of the power source and ground may be broadened so that stable operations are possible.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a manufacture method for a circuit device having a plurality of circuit blocks which includes a step of forming first wiring patterns on an insulating sheet made of, for example, polyimide resin, a step of laminating an insulating layer and copper foil for forming second and third wiring patterns for each divisionally disposed circuit block, a step of forming conductive holes for connection of necessary regions of the first, second and third wiring patterns, a step of forming the second and third wiring patterns, a step of forming solder resist on the third wiring patterns, a step of mounting electronic components on the third wiring patterns to thereby form a plurality of circuit blocks relative to the divisionally disposed second and third wiring patterns, a process of folding the circuit patterns by directing an electronic component mounting surface side of the insulating sheet inward and the first wiring patterns outward, a process of filling insulating resin having electromagnetic shielding effects, such as epoxy resin dispersed, for example, with ferrite powders and ceramic powders, between the electronic component mounting surfaces of the plurality of folded circuit blocks, and a process of heating and curing the insulating resin.
According to the manufacture method for a circuit device of the embodiment of the present invention configured as above, on both sides of the insulating sheet, the conductive wiring patterns such as plated copper and conductive paste are formed by a photolithography method or a printing method, and after the wiring patterns on both sides are electrically connected, the electronic components are mounted to thereby form the plurality of circuit blocks. In this case, the circuit blocks are electrically connected by the first wiring patterns disposed on one side of the insulating sheet. Accordingly, by folding the plurality of circuit blocks at the first wiring patterns and filling the insulating resin having the electromagnetic shielding effects between the plurality of circuit blocks and curing the insulating resin, it becomes possible to manufacture a circuit device with less mutual interferences between mounted electronic components.
According to the circuit device and the manufacture method for a circuit device of embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to conduct a performance test, for example, an operation test or the like when electronic components are mounted in the circuit blocks and remove defects before the circuit blocks are folded to form the circuit devices. Accordingly, a circuit device having built-in electronic components may be produced at a good yield and with a low cost. Since the insulating resin made of mainly epoxy resin is filled between the electronic components, electric insulation may be improved and the reliability of the circuit device may be improved. Further, heat generated in the electronic components may be diffused to the whole circuit device via the filled resin and the wiring patterns of the circuit blocks, so that the heat radiation characteristics may be improved considerably.
Since the structure that the circuit device is covered with electromagnetic shielding may be adopted easily, the electromagnetic shielding between the circuit blocks and to an external is possible. Therefore, not only a excessive shield case and the like are not necessary but also interferences to an external may be avoided, facilitating an electromagnetic shielding countermeasure.
Since the folded and stacked structure is used, a circuit device provides three-dimensional space savings.
With reference to
In
Reference numeral 15 represents a flexible wiring part having flexibility and forming a wiring pattern 12b-3 on the polyimide sheet 11 in a border area between the regions BL1 and BL2, with the epoxy resin insulating layer being removed. Reference numeral 21 represents electronic components mounted in the region BL1 and constituting, e.g., a high frequency signal processing circuit, and reference numeral 22 represents electronic components mounted in the region BL2 and constituting, e.g., an intermediate frequency signal processing circuit. Reference numeral 23 represents sealing resin as a cover coat of the whole electronic component mounting surface.
The region BL1 corresponds to a portion of the wiring board where a high frequency signal processing circuit block mounted with electronic components is formed, whereas the region BL2 corresponds to a portion of the wiring board where an intermediate frequency signal processing circuit block mounted with electronic components is formed. Both the circuit blocks are electrically connected by the flexible wiring part 15.
In the following, the four-layer flex-rigid board 10 shown in
The flex-rigid board 10 is constituted of the flexible wiring part 15 (wiring pattern 12b-3) made of the polyimide sheet 11 as the base and the regions BL1 and BL2 made of rigid boards having the interlayer insulating layers (13a-1, 13a-2, 13b-1, 13b-2) made of cured glass epoxy resin. Namely, the wiring board is made of a mixture of the foldable flexible part (wiring pattern 12b-3) 15 and a rigid part (regions BL1 and BL2) mounted with electronic components.
Namely, for example, at the first stage, through holes are formed through the thin polyimide sheet 11 shown in
At the second stage, wiring patterns 12a-1 and 12b-1 are formed in the region BL1 of the polyimide sheet 11 shown in
At the third stage, glass epoxy resin and copper foil are laminated covering the upper and lower surfaces of the regions BL1 and BL2, and heated to form the insulating layers 13a-1, 13a-2, 13b-1 and 13b-2. Conductive holes for connection with the wiring patterns 12a-1, 12a-2, 12b-1 and 12b-2 are formed by laser work and plating.
At the fourth stage, as the uppermost layer, wiring patterns 14a-1 and 14b-1 are formed in the region BL1, and wiring patterns 14a-2 and 14b-2 are formed in the region BL2. The wiring pattern 14b-1 is formed covering almost the whole surface of the region BL1 to function as an electromagnetic shield layer. The wiring pattern 14b-2 is formed to have grid lands of generally a lattice shape in order to electrically connect the circuit device (
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Lastly, as shown in
According to the circuit device and the manufacture method for a circuit device of the embodiment shown in
The insulating resin having the electromagnetic shield effects made of mainly epoxy resin is filled between the electronic components 21a to 21e of the high frequency signal processing circuit and the electronic components 22a to 22c of the intermediate frequency processing circuit. It is therefore possible to improve insulation, to considerably suppress mutual interference among electronic components and to improve reliability of the electronic device.
The structure that the circuit device is covered with an electromagnetic shield may be adopted easily. Therefore, the electromagnetic shield between the circuit blocks and to an external becomes perfect. Not only a shield case or the like is unnecessary, but also adverse effects to the external may be avoided so that the electromagnetic shield countermeasure may be performed easily.
Further, since heat from the electronic components may be diffused to the whole circuit device, the heat radiation characteristics may be improved considerably.
Furthermore, since a folded structure is realized, the circuit device provides three-dimensional space savings.
With reference to
As compared to the circuit device of the embodiment shown in
Similar to the circuit device shown in
First, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
These pins 25 maintain a predetermined gap between the first circuit block (region BL1) and second circuit block (region BL2) when both are folded, and contribute to shape stability by adhering and fixing both the blocks. Further, if necessary, the pins electrically connect wiring patterns 12a-1 and 14a-1 on the electronic component 21a to 21e mounting surface side in the region BL1 and, wiring patterns 12a-2 and 14a-2 on the electronic components 22a and 22b mounting surface side in the region BL2.
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
It may be understood easily that the circuit device and the manufacture method for a circuit device of the embodiment shown in
Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in
With reference to
As compared to the circuit device of the embodiment shown in
The circuit device of the embodiment is also manufactured by using a four-layer flex-rigid board as a base member.
First, a four-layer flex-rigid board 10 mounted with electronic components is formed as shown in
The four-layer flex-rigid board 10 has a polyimide sheet 11 extended further to the left in
A tip of the wiring pattern 12a-4 on the upper surface 11a of the extended polyimide sheet 11 constituting the flexible connector part 17 has conductive pads of generally a rectangular shape, as shown in the enlarged perspective view of
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
It may be understood easily that the circuit device and the manufacture method for a circuit device of the embodiment shown in
Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in
With reference to
In the embodiment shown in
In the following description of the embodiment shown in
The circuit device of the embodiment is also manufactured by using a four-layer flex-rigid board as a base member.
The circuit blocks of the embodiment shown in
As shown in
As shown in
It may be understood easily that the circuit device and the manufacture method for a circuit device of the embodiment shown in
Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in
In the above-described embodiments shown in
It may also be understood easily that leakage of electromagnetic waves from the circuit blocks to an external may be suppressed more, by extending the flexible wiring part to the outer side of the circuit device to cover it, similar to the embodiment shown in
In the above-described embodiments shown in
When a plurality of circuit devices of the embodiment shown in
Another flexible wiring part may be formed at one end of the first or second circuit block of the circuit device of the embodiment shown in
Boards other than the four-layer flex-rigid board may also be used. For example, a flex-rigid substrate may have both-sides polyimide wiring boards as third and fourth layers, a cover lay made of polyimide formed thereon, and first, second, fifth and sixth layers formed thereon via a glass epoxy resin layer, a flex-rigid substrate may have both-side polyimide wiring boards as third and fourth layers, a cover lay made of polyimide formed thereon, and first, second, fifth and sixth layers made of polyimide formed thereon.
A flex-rigid board may have both-side polyimide wiring boards as first and second layers and rigid boards bonded to polyimide boards as third, fourth, fifth and sixth layers.
In the above-described sealing resin 23 having the electric insulation and electromagnetic shielding effects, main epoxy resin may use epoxy resins having a product name WE-20/HV-19 (manufactured by Nippon Pelnox Corporation), having a product name EX-690/H-369 (manufactured by Sanyu Rec Co., Ltd.), having a product name Epikote 828/Epikure 113 (manufactured by Japan Epoxy Resins Co., Ltd.) and the like, and dispersant may use dispersant having a product name SN-dispersant 9228 (manufactured by San Nopco Limited), having a product name of Slosperse (manufactured by Avecia Ltd.) and the like.
Ferrite may be nickel zinc ferrite having a specific gravity of 4.9, and ceramic may be alumina powders or aluminum nitride powders. Alumina powders may have a grain diameter of f5 to 30 mm and aluminum nitride powders may have a grain diameter of f5 to 30 mm.
Used as the sealing resin 23 is 1) epoxy resin 30 wt %+ferrite 50 wt %+alumina 20 wt %+dispersant 1 wt % or smaller, 2) epoxy resin 30 wt %+ferrite 50 wt %+aluminum nitride 20 wt %+dispersant 1 wt % or smaller, or 3) epoxy resin 50 wt %+ferrite 20 wt %+alumina 30 wt %+dispersant 1 wt % or smaller. Since aluminum nitride has a high thermal conductivity, it is used in the case where a semiconductor device having a large consumption power or the like is mounted.
The circuit device and the manufacture method for a circuit device of the present invention are not limited to those described above, but obviously various structures may be used without departing from the gist of the present invention.
The present document contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2004-253592 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Aug. 31, 2004, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
P2004-253592 | Aug 2004 | JP | national |