Importance

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Abstract

An electronic device is formed of multiple, alternating layers of conductive polymer and metal foil electrodes, in which electrical connections between selected electrodes are provided by cross-conductors formed by plated through-hole vias. More specifically, the device includes a first cross-conductor that electrically connects a first set of electrodes, and a second cross-conductor electrically connects a second set of electrodes. Correspondingly, the first cross-conductor is electrically and physically isolated from the second set of electrodes, while the second cross-conductor is electrically and physically isolated from the first set of electrodes. The electrodes are etched to form an isolation gap that isolates that electrode from either the first or second cross-conductor. The first and second cross-conductors, in turn, are formed by plating the through-hole vias, so as to establish electrically-conductive contact with those electrodes not separated from the via by an isolation gap. Thus, a device may be formed with N non-metallic (e.g. polymeric) layers and N+1 electrodes, where N is an integer greater than 1, wherein a first cross-conductor electrically contacts a first set of electrodes, and a second cross-conductor electrically contacts a second set of electrodes, whereby the non-metallic layers are connected in parallel.

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First Claim