Laser structuring of ultra-fine circuit lines in printed circuit boards: Laser structuring, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser, fine circuit lines

Laser structuring technique emerged in recent years for the need of fabricating fine circuit lines and spaces in printed circuit board. Most of the previous work only introduced laser structuring as a new method in the fabrication of fine circuit lines and mentioned that the width of circuit line can be reduced under 50 pin or helox with this technique. Laser structuring technique will have a prosperous future only when the relationship between process parameters and fabrication results are deeply understood.; This study focuses on the control, prediction and optimization of circuit geometry by studying relations between the process parameters and fabrication results in laser structuring technology. The effects of laser parameters (Frequency-tripled Nd:YAG laser) on the geometry of circuits were carried out by experiments and analyzed by mathematical method. The geometry of circuit space can efficiently be controlled by investigating the main factors that influence the characteristic parameters of circuit space with Taguchi methodology. ANN was firstly used in the study of laser structuring technique. With ANN models, the optimization of process parameters in laser writing step can be realized and the 2-D cross-sectional profile of circuit space can be calculated with the combination of ANN model and mathematical method. At last, the final circuit lines and circuit spaces fabricated were tested using the quality and reliability tests---electrical open/short test, peel test and surface insulation resistance test (SIR test). The minimum widths of circuit lines and circuit spaces with good quality and reliability fabricated by laser structuring were 25 mum and 45 mum respectively.; The project is significant for both applied and academic fields. This study contributes to the understanding of the laser structuring technology and is of benefit in the fabrication of very fine line circuits in advanced printed circuit board industry.