Thermal ink jet tab circuit having a plurality of trace groups wherein adjacent traces in each group are staggered

摘要

A TAB circuit particularly suited for an ink jet pen and method of manufacture. A TAB circuit is presented which incorporates a central isolation area within the TAB circuit and an ESD protective ring which surrounds the TAB circuit. To facilitate plating, all of the active TAB traces are shorted together by individual plating interconnects located generally within the central isolation area. These interconnects are arranged in a staggered pattern such that sufficient clearance is available to punch out the interconnects without damaging an adjacent trace. The central isolation area is positioned between the TAB circuit window and the terminal pads. When the TAB circuit is mounted on an ink jet pen, the central isolation area is in a "wrap area" of the pen so no additional TAB circuit area is required over what is needed to properly position the TAB circuit on the pen. In addition, since the isolation area is located above an area of the pen housing that is provided with an insulation layer, the risk of the punched traces shorting to the pen housing is eliminated.