A multi-layer circuit board is formed multiple layers of a catalytic layer, each catalytic layer having an exclusion depth below a surface, where the cataltic particles are of sufficient density to provide electroless deposition in channels formed in the surface. A first catalytic layer has channels formed which are plated with electroless copper. Each subsequent catalytic layer is bonded or laminated to an underlying catalytic layer, a channel is formed which extends through the catalytic layer to an underlying electroless copper trace, and electroless copper is deposited into the channel to electrically connect with the underlying electroless copper trace. In this manner, traces may be formed which have a thickness greater than the thickness of a single catalytic layer.

A circuit structure that comprises a substrate and one or more conductive elements disposed on the substrate is provided. The substrate comprises a polymer composition that comprises an electrically conductive filler distributed within a polymer matrix. The polymer matrix contains at least one thermoplastic high performance polymer having a deflection temperature under load of about 40° C. or more as determined in accordance with ISO 75-2:2013 at a load of 1.8 MPa, and the polymer composition exhibits a dielectric constant of about 4 or more and a dissipation factor of about 0.3 or less, as determined at a frequency of 2 GHz.

Depicted embodiments are directed to an Application Specific Electronics Packaging (“ASEP”) system, which enables the manufacture of additional products using reel to reel (68a, 68b) manufacturing processes as opposed to the “batch” processes used to currently manufacture electronic products and MIDs. Through certain ASEP embodiments, it is possible to integrate connectors, sensors, LEDs, thermal management, antennas, RFID devices, microprocessors, memory, impedance control, and multi-layer functionality directly into a product.

The present invention relates to a production of electro-conductive traces on the surface of polymeric articles using laser excitation for the areas to be metallised, followed by activation of the laser-treated areas with a metal salt solution, the article is later rinsed in distilled water, and the activated areas are metallised in the chemical plating bath. The aims of the invention are to produce cost-effective conductive traces of the circuits for the application in 3D moulded interconnect devices, to increase the quality of the circuit traces improving the selective metallization process. An irradiation dose and scanning parameters for the surface excitation are chosen experimentally, provided that a negative static charge appears on the surface of the laser-irradiated areas. The chosen parameters ensure that any surface degradation of the polymer is avoided. The activation solution used in the method is aqueous solution consisting of one chosen salt comprising: silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), chrome (Cr), tin (Sn) salt.

A method of manufacturing a metal fabric or membrane, the method comprises providing an ink comprising a plurality of semiconductor particles disposed in a first solvent. The method comprises applying the ink to a fabric or membrane to obtain a fabric or membrane comprising a plurality of semiconductor particles. Finally, the method comprises contacting the fabric or membrane comprising the plurality of semiconductor particles with a deposition solution comprising a second solvent, an autocatalytic agent, and metal cations to thereby cause a reaction to occur such that the metal cations are reduced and at least partially displace the semiconductor particles, to thereby provide a metal fabric or membrane.

A method for producing a plated part, includes: forming, on a surface of a base member, a catalyst activity inhibiting layer containing a polymer which has at least one of an amide group and an amino group; irradiating with light or heating a part of the surface of the base member on which the catalyst activity inhibiting layer is formed; applying an electroless plating catalyst to the surface of the base member heated or irradiated with the light; and bringing an electroless plating solution into contact with the surface of the base member to which the electroless plating catalyst is applied, to form an electroless plating film at a light-irradiated portion or a heated portion of the surface.

Methods and systems for creating a device having a switch trace are disclosed. The systems and methods described herein may include a device that has a chassis, the chassis having a top and a bottom, at least one antenna affixed to the top of the chassis, a first laser direct structuring-fabricated (LDS) trace, a second LDS trace, and a button, the button connected to the first LDS trace and the top of the chassis, wherein the button is configured to contact the second LDS trace when the button is depressed and complete a circuit between the first LDS trace and the second LDS trace upon contact.

A novel pretreating liquid for electroless plating which is used simultaneously with reduction treatment after roughening treatment of a filler-containing insulating resin substrate. A pretreating liquid for electroless plating is used simultaneously with reduction treatment when an insulating resin substrate containing a filler is roughened and residues generated on the insulating resin substrate are reduced. The pretreating liquid contains a reducing agent; and at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene-based glycol ether represented by CmH(2m+1)-(OC.sub.2H.sub.4)n-OH (m=an integer of 1 to 4, n=an integer of 1 to 4) and propylene-based glycol ether represented by CxH(2x+1)-(OC.sub.3H.sub.6)y-OH (x=an integer of 1 to 4, y=an integer of 1 to 3).

A catalytic resin is formed by mixing a resin and either homogeneous or heterogeneous catalytic particles, the resin infused into a woven glass fabric to form an A-stage pre-preg, the A-stage pre-preg cured into a B-stage pre-preg, thereafter held in a vacuum and between pressure plates at a gel point temperature for a duration of time sufficient for the catalytic particles to migrate away from the resin rich surfaces of the pre-preg, thereby forming a C-stage pre-preg after cooling. The C-stage pre-preg subsequently has trenches formed by removing the resin rich surface, the trenches extending into the depth of the catalytic particles, optionally including drilled holes to form vias, and the C-stage pre-preg with trenches and holes placed in an electroless bath, whereby traces form in the trenches and holes where the surface of the cured pre-preg has been removed.

A novel pretreating liquid for electroless plating which is used simultaneously with reduction treatment after roughening treatment of a filler-containing insulating resin substrate. A pretreating liquid for electroless plating is used simultaneously with reduction treatment when an insulating resin substrate containing a filler is roughened and residues generated on the insulating resin substrate are reduced. The pretreating liquid comprises: a reducing agent; and at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene-based glycol ether represented by CmH(2m+1)-(OC.sub.2H.sub.4)n-OH (m=an integer of 1 to 4, n=an integer of 1 to 4) and propylene-based glycol ether represented by CxH(2x+1)-(OC.sub.3H.sub.6)y-OH (x=an integer of 1 to 4, y= an integer of 1 to 3).