US Patent 7588966 Chip mounting with flowable layer

A circuit structure may be formed in a substrate having a face and an open trench, where one or more chips are to be mounted. At least one bridge may extend across an intermediate portion of the trench, and optionally, may divide the trench into sections. A conductive adhesive layer may be applied to the substrate face and, if included, the bridge. One or more circuit chips may be mounted on the adhesive layer, with at least one edge of one circuit chip adjacent to the trench. Alternatively or additionally, an adhesive layer may be applied to a base of a chip and then mounted to the substrate face, in like fashion. The trench may accommodate excess adhesive flowing out from under the one or more chips, while the bridge retains the adhesive across the width of the trench. If the adhesive is conductive, this provides continuity of the conductive layer on the face of the substrate across the trench. In one example, pairs of circuit chips may be effectively mounted in adjacent relationship for interconnection without interference from excess adhesive.