Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.

Abstract: The system includes a thermal subsystem, an optical subsystem, and a processor. The thermal subsystem comprises a first laser light source configured to emit laser light, a first focusing lens configured to direct the laser light onto a workpiece, and a thermal camera configured to capture a thermal image of the workpiece. The optical subsystem includes at least one light source configured to emit laser light with at least one illumination modality, at light focusing lens configured to direct the light onto the workpiece, and a detector configured to capture at least one image of the workpiece. The processor is configured to compare the at least one image received from the detector to at least one reference image for registration of the workpiece or to determine presence of a surface defect on the workpiece, and to determine presence of a bulk defect in the workpiece based on the thermal image.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.

Abstract: A method for defect mitigation is disclosed. The method may include receiving defect data for one or more defects of one or more samples. The defect data may include a defect location, a defect size, a defect shape, or a relationship between the defect and a component of the one or more samples. The method may include identifying at least one defect as a disqualifying defect based on the received defect data and one or more predetermined thresholds. Upon identifying the defect as a disqualifying defect, the method may include generating a tool readable index configured to cause one or more downstream fabrications tool to adjust one or more downstream fabrication steps corresponding to the disqualifying defect based on the generated tool readable index. The method may include providing the generated tool readable index to the one or more downstream fabrication tool.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.

Abstract: Methods and composition sets for forming etch-resist masks on a metallic surface are provided. The method may include depositing a first aqueous composition comprising a first reactive component onto a metallic layer of a substrate; depositing a second aqueous composition comprising a second reactive component on selected portions of the deposited first aqueous composition to form, from a chemical reaction between the first reactive component and the second reactive component, a bi-component material mask in a pattern to protect selected regions of the metallic layer; and depositing an etch solution to remove the metallic layer in regions not protected by the bi-component material mask.

Abstract: Methods and composition sets for forming etch-resist masks on a metallic surface are provided. The method may include depositing a first aqueous composition comprising a first reactive component onto a metallic layer of a substrate; depositing a second aqueous composition comprising a second reactive component on selected portions of the deposited first aqueous composition to form, from a chemical reaction between the first reactive component and the second reactive component, a bi-component material mask in a pattern to protect selected regions of the metallic layer; and depositing an etch solution to remove the metallic layer in regions not protected by the bi-component material mask.

Abstract: An apparatus is used in preparing a printed circuit board (PCB). The apparatus can include a common chassis, an inkjet printer mounted on the common chassis, and a pattern exposer mounted on the common chassis. The inkjet printer can selectively print unexposed photosensitive patterns on a PCB substrate with a photosensitive ink. The pattern exposer can expose said photosensitive patterns to radiation thereby defining exposed patterns. A photosensitive ink for use in an ink jet printer can include a photoresist, a solvent, a humectant, a surfactant, an adhesion promoter, and a basic solution. The adhesion promoter is operative to increase anisotropy of a wet etching process of a copper component on which said photosensitive ink is printed.

Abstract: A method of making a device patterned with one or more electrically conductive features includes depositing a conductive material layer over an electrically insulating surface of a substrate, depositing an anti-corrosive material layer over the conductive material layer, and depositing an etch-resist material layer over the anti-corrosive material layer. The etch-resist material layer may be deposited over the anti-corrosive material layer, and the anti-corrosive material layer forming a bi-component etch mask in a pattern resulting in covered portions of the conductive material layer and exposed portions of the conductive material layer, the covered portions being positioned at locations corresponding to one or more conductive features of the device. A wet-etch process is performed to remove the exposed portions of the conductive material layer from the electrically insulating substrate, and the bi-component etch mask is removed to expose the remaining conductive material.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.

Abstract: A method for preparing a PCB product having highly dense conductors, the method including providing a PCB substrate including a conductive layer, employing an inkjet printer to selectively print unexposed photosensitive patterns on the PCB substrate, the unexposed photosensitive patterns having a thickness of less than 5 pm, exposing the photosensitive patterns to radiation thereby to define exposed patterns, the exposed patterns having a pitch less than 20 pm and wet etching the conductive layer in accordance with a pattern defined by the exposed patterns thereby to define the highly dense conductors having a pitch of less than 30 pm.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.

Abstract: A method of making a device patterned with one or more electrically conductive features includes depositing a conductive material layer over an electrically insulating surface of a substrate, depositing an anti-corrosive material layer over the conductive material layer, and depositing an etch-resist material layer over the anti-corrosive material layer. The etch-resist material layer may be deposited over the anti-corrosive material layer, and the anti-corrosive material layer forming a bi-component etch mask in a pattern resulting in covered portions of the conductive material layer and exposed portions of the conductive material layer, the covered portions being positioned at locations corresponding to one or more conductive features of the device. A wet-etch process is performed to remove the exposed portions of the conductive material layer from the electrically insulating substrate, and the bi-component etch mask is removed to expose the remaining conductive material.

Abstract: A method of making a device patterned with one or more electrically conductive features includes depositing a conductive material layer over an electrically insulating surface of a substrate, depositing an anti-corrosive material layer over the conductive material layer, and depositing an etch-resist material layer over the anti-corrosive material layer. The etch-resist material layer may be deposited over the anti-corrosive material layer, and the anti-corrosive material layer forming a bi-component etch mask in a pattern resulting in covered portions of the conductive material layer and exposed portions of the conductive material layer, the covered portions being positioned at locations corresponding to one or more conductive features of the device. A wet-etch process is performed to remove the exposed portions of the conductive material layer from the electrically insulating substrate, and the bi-component etch mask is removed to expose the remaining conductive material.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.

Abstract: Methods and composition sets for forming etch-resist masks on a metallic surface are provided. The method may include depositing a first aqueous composition comprising a first reactive component onto a metallic layer of a substrate; depositing a second aqueous composition comprising a second reactive component on selected portions of the deposited first aqueous composition to form, from a chemical reaction between the first reactive component and the second reactive component, a bi-component material mask in a pattern to protect selected regions of the metallic layer; and depositing an etch solution to remove the metallic layer in regions not protected by the bi-component material mask.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface- activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch resist mask.

Abstract: Methods and composition sets for forming etch-resist masks on a metallic surface are provided. The method may include applying a composition comprising a first reactive component onto a metallic surface to form a primer layer; and image-wise printing by a nonimpact printing process on the primer layer another composition comprising a second reactive component to produce an etch-resist mask, wherein when droplets of the second composition contact the primer layer, the reactive components undergo a chemical reaction so as to immobilize the droplets. The set may include a first liquid composition comprising a fixating reactive component and a second liquid composition comprising an etch-resist reactive component, wherein the fixating reactive component and the fixating reactive component are capable undergoing a chemical reaction to form a bi-component material that is insoluble in water and in an acidic etch solution.

Abstract: A method of making a device patterned with one or more electrically conductive features includes depositing a conductive material layer over an electrically insulating surface of a substrate, depositing an anti-corrosive material layer over the conductive material layer, and depositing an etch-resist material layer over the anti-corrosive material layer. The etch-resist material layer may be deposited over the anti-corrosive material layer, and the anti-corrosive material layer forming a bi-component etch mask in a pattern resulting in covered portions of the conductive material layer and exposed portions of the conductive material layer, the covered portions being positioned at locations corresponding to one or more conductive features of the device. A wet-etch process is performed to remove the exposed portions of the conductive material layer from the electrically insulating substrate, and the bi-component etch mask is removed to expose the remaining conductive material.