The density of plated thru holes in a glass fiber based chip carrier is increased
by off-setting holes to positions in which fibers from adjacent holes will not
connect. Elongated strip zones or regions having a width approximately the diameter
of the holes and running along orthogonal columns and rows of holes, parallel to
the direction of fibers, define regions of fibers that can possibly cause shorting
between holes. Rotating a conventional X-Y grid pattern of equidistant holes so
as to position, for example, alternate holes in one direction between the elongated
strip zones running in the opposite direction significantly increases the distance
between holes along the elongated strip zones running in each direction. The holes
are positioned between elongated strip zones with sufficient clearance to compensate
for variations in the linear path of fibers.
