Abstract: A process for forming electrically conductive circuitry on a metallic nonconductive substrate or insulating layer which includes the steps of providing a nonconductive ceramic substrate having a metallic component and which can dissociate into its constituent components to provide dissociated metal bonded to the ceramic substrate upon application of laser energy. Laser energy in then applied to predetermined areas of the surface of the nonconductive ceramic substrate to provide dissociated metallic conductors in the predetermined areas. The disclosed process further includes the formation of metallized through holes by application of laser energy to the nonconductive ceramic substrate to form a through hole, whereby dissociated metal in formed on the inside of the through hole. The disclosed process also includes the capability to down trim a thick film or thin film resistor which is conductively coupled between two areas of metallization.

Abstract: A method of making a chip carrier array including the steps of providing a ceramic substrate and forming elongated slots in the substrate which define the edges thereof and which form one severable interconnecting bridge at each edge of each chip carrier, which bridges maintain the individual chip carriers in the array. A plurality of edge interconnect conductors are formed along each edge portion of each chip carrier on either side of the interconnecting bridges.

Abstract: A chip carrier array (10) is disclosed which includes interconnected chip carriers (11) separated from each other and from the substrate waste edge (25) by elongated slots (15) which define outer edges of the chip carriers (11). More particularly, each chip carrier (11) includes corners which are defined by the elongated slots (15). Each chip carrier (11) includes a plurality of electrically isolated edge interconnects (19) which wrap around edges defined by the elongated slots (15).