Patents by Inventor Kenneth S. Bahl

Kenneth S. Bahl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230247774
    Abstract: A circuit board has a dielectric core, a foil top surface, and a thin foil bottom surface with a foil backing of sufficient thickness to absorb heat from a laser drilling operation to prevent the penetration of the thin foil bottom surface during laser drilling. A sequence of steps including a laser drilling step, removing the foil backing step, electroless plating step, patterned resist step, electroplating step, resist strip step, tin plate step, and copper etch step are performed, which provide dot vias of fine linewidth and resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. BAHL, Konstantine KARAVAKIS
  • Patent number: 11653453
    Abstract: A process for making a circuit board modifies a catalytic laminate having a resin rich surface with catalytic particles dispersed below a surface exclusion depth. The catalytic laminate is subjected to a drilling and resin-rich surface removal operation to expose the catalytic particles, followed by an electroless plating operation which deposits a thin layer of conductive material on the surface. A photo-masking step follows to define circuit traces, after which an electro-plating deposition occurs, followed by a resist strip operation and a quick etch to remove electroless copper which was previously covered by photoresist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Patent number: 11638354
    Abstract: A method for forming a circuit board having a dielectric core, a foil top surface, and a thin foil bottom surface with a removable foil backing of sufficient thickness to absorb heat from a laser drilling operation to prevent the penetration of the thin foil bottom surface during laser drilling utilizes a sequence of steps including a laser drilling step, removing the foil backing step, electroless plating step, patterned resist step, electroplating step, resist strip step, tin plate step, and copper etch step, which provide dot vias of fine linewidth and resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Publication number: 20230096301
    Abstract: A circuit layer is formed by drilling vias and forming channels in a circuit layer which has catalytic particles exposed on the surfaces, channels, and vias. A first flash electroless deposition is followed by application of dry film, followed by selective laser ablation of the dry film channels and vias. A second electroless solution is applied which provides additional deposition over the first flash electroless deposition but only on the vias and trace channel areas. An electrodeposition follows, using the first deposition as a cathode. The dry film is stripped and the first electroless layer is etched, leaving only depositions in the channels and vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: CATLAM, LLC.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. BAHL, Steven CARNEY, Jagdip SINGH, Steven DUTTON
  • Patent number: 11477893
    Abstract: A circuit board is formed from a catalytic laminate having a resin rich surface with catalytic particles dispersed below a surface exclusion depth. Trace channels and apertures are formed into the catalytic laminate, electroless plated with a metal such as copper, filled with a conductive paste containing metallic particles, which are then melted to form traces. In a variation, multiple circuit board layers have channels formed into the surface below the exclusion depth, apertures formed, are electroless plated, and the channels and apertures filled with metal particles. Several such catalytic laminate layers are placed together and pressed together under elevated temperature until the catalytic laminate layers laminate together and metal particles form into traces for a multi-layer circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Patent number: 11406024
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Bahl
  • Publication number: 20210282274
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: CATLAM LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth S. BAHL
  • Patent number: 11039540
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Bahl
  • Patent number: 10959329
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Publication number: 20210051804
    Abstract: A circuit board is formed from a catalytic laminate having a resin rich surface with catalytic particles dispersed below a surface exclusion depth. The catalytic laminate is subjected to a drilling and blanket surface plasma etch operation to expose the catalytic particles, followed by an electroless plating operation which deposits a thin layer of conductive material on the surface. A photo-masking step follows to define circuit traces, after which an electro-plating deposition occurs, followed by a resist strip operation and a quick etch to remove electroless copper which was previously covered by photoresist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. BAHL, Konstantine KARAVAKIS
  • Publication number: 20210022252
    Abstract: A circuit board is formed from a catalytic laminate having a resin rich surface with catalytic particles dispersed below a surface exclusion depth. Trace channels and apertures are formed into the catalytic laminate, electroless plated with a metal such as copper, filled with a conductive paste containing metallic particles, which are then melted to form traces. In a variation, multiple circuit board layers have channels formed into the surface below the exclusion depth, apertures formed, are electroless plated, and the channels and apertures filled with metal particles. Several such catalytic laminate layers are placed together and pressed together under elevated temperature until the catalytic laminate layers laminate together and metal particles form into traces for a multi-layer circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: CATLAM LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S BAHL, Konstantine KARAVAKIS
  • Publication number: 20200404785
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. BAHL, Konstantine KARAVAKIS
  • Publication number: 20200389983
    Abstract: A circuit board has a dielectric core, a foil top surface, and a thin foil bottom surface with a foil backing of sufficient thickness to absorb heat from a laser drilling operation to prevent the penetration of the thin foil bottom surface during laser drilling. A sequence of steps including a laser drilling step, removing the foil backing step, electroless plating step, patterned resist step, electroplating step, resist strip step, tin plate step, and copper etch step are performed, which provide dot vias of fine linewidth and resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: CATLAM LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. BAHL, Konstantine KARAVAKIS
  • Patent number: 10849233
    Abstract: A process for making a circuit board from a catalytic laminate having a resin rich surface with catalytic particles dispersed below a surface exclusion depth includes drilling holes, etching the surface to expose the catalytic particles, electroless plating the unmasked areas, applying a mask to the etched surface, electroplating the exposed areas using the electroless plating to form a continuous conductor, then stripping the mask and etching away the electroless copper deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Patent number: 10827624
    Abstract: A circuit board is formed from a catalytic laminate having a resin rich surface with catalytic particles dispersed below a surface exclusion depth. Trace channels and apertures are formed into the catalytic laminate, electroless plated with a metal such as copper, filled with a conductive paste containing metallic particles, which are then melted to form traces. In a variation, multiple circuit board layers have channels formed into the surface below the exclusion depth, apertures formed, are electroless plated, and the channels and apertures filled with metal particles. Several such catalytic laminate layers are placed together and pressed together under elevated temperature until the catalytic laminate layers laminate together and metal particles form into traces for a multi-layer circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Patent number: 10806029
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Patent number: 10765012
    Abstract: A method for making a circuit board uses a dielectric core, and at least one thin foil bottom surface with a foil backing of sufficient thickness to absorb heat from a laser drilling operation to prevent the penetration of the thin foil bottom surface during laser drilling. A sequence of steps including a laser drilling step, removing the foil backing step, electroless plating step, patterned resist step, electroplating step, resist strip step, tin plate step, and copper etch step are performed, which provide dot vias of fine linewidth and resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Patent number: 10765003
    Abstract: A multi-layer circuit board is formed by positioning a top sub having traces on at least one side to one or more pairs of composite layers, each composite layer comprising an interposer layer and a sub layer. Each sub layer which is adjacent to an interposer layer having an interconnection aperture, the interconnection aperture positioned adjacent to interconnections having a plated through via or pad on each corresponding sub layer. Each interposer aperture is filled with a conductive paste, and the stack of top sub and one or more pairs of composite layers are placed into a lamination press, the enclosure evacuated, and an elevated temperature and laminated pressure is applied until the conductive paste has melted, connecting the adjacent interconnections, and the boards are laminated together into completed laminated multi-layer circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: CATLAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis
  • Publication number: 20200214144
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 1, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: CATLAM, LLC.
    Inventor: Kenneth S. BAHL
  • Patent number: 10685931
    Abstract: A catalytic laminate is formed from a resin, a fiber reinforced layer, and catalytic particles such that the catalytic particles are disposed throughout the catalytic laminate but excluded from the outer surface of the catalytic laminate. The catalytic laminate has trace channels and vias formed to make a single or multi-layer catalytic laminate printed circuit board. Apertures with locations which match the locations of integrated circuit pads are formed in the laminate PCB. The integrated circuit is bonded to the catalytic laminate PCB, and the integrated circuit and laminate are both subjected to electroless plating, thereby electrically connecting the integrated circuit to the single or multi-layer catalytic laminate PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: CATLAM LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bahl, Konstantine Karavakis