Semiconductor light-emitting device

The semiconductor light-emitting device addresses manufacturing issues and limited light distribution by incorporating a frame-shaped phosphor layer and transflective layer, improving yield and enabling wide-angle light distribution for applications like vehicle auxiliary lamps and LCD-TV backlights.

WO2025197550A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2025-09-25STANLEY ELECTRIC CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/JP2025/007912
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-03-22
Filing Date
2025-03-05
Publication Date
2025-09-25

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing semiconductor light-emitting devices face issues such as substrate bending and peeling during manufacturing due to dicer blade interference, and they have limited light distribution angles, making them unsuitable for applications requiring wider light distribution.

Method used

A semiconductor light-emitting device design featuring a phosphor layer with a frame-shaped portion, a translucent sealing layer, and a transflective layer that combines transmission and reflection to achieve a wide-angle light distribution, while the manufacturing process includes specific dam portion formation to prevent substrate bending.

Benefits of technology

The design enhances manufacturing yield by preventing substrate damage and achieves a batwing or umbrella-shaped light distribution suitable for applications needing uniform brightness over a wide area.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention includes a substrate, a light-emitting element that is provided on one principal surface of the substrate and includes a light-emitting layer that comprises a semiconductor, a phosphor layer that is formed at the one principal surface so as to cover the light-emitting element, includes phosphor particles that are excited by light emitted from the light-emitting layer and emit fluorescence, and has a frame-like part that is continuously formed at a circumferential edge of the phosphor layer as seen in a top view and protrudes to the side along the one principal surface from a lower end of a side surface, a light-transmitting sealing layer that covers an upper surface of the phosphor layer, extends from an upper end of the side surface so as to cover the side surface, and stops at an upper surface of the frame-like part, and a transmission and reflection layer that is formed across an upper surface of the sealing layer and both transmits a portion and reflects a portion of each of the light emitted from the light-emitting layer and the fluorescence emitted from the phosphor layer.
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Description

Semiconductor light-emitting device

[0001] The present invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device including a light emitting element.

[0002] A light emitting device has been disclosed in which a phosphor layer including a light emitting element is covered with a transparent resin layer. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a light emitting device having a light emitting element disposed on a substrate, a color conversion package including color conversion particles formed on the substrate so as to include the light emitting element, and a transparent package made of resin that covers the entire color conversion package.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-162976

[0004] When manufacturing the light-emitting device disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, after forming the color-converting package, when a dicer is used to separate the color-converting package into individual light-emitting devices, there is a risk that the dicer blade will reach the substrate.

[0005] If the dicer blade reaches the substrate when dividing the color-converting package as described above, the substrate is likely to bend, which could cause the color-converting package to peel off from the substrate or break the wiring formed on the substrate, which would reduce the yield of the light-emitting device manufacturing process.

[0006] Furthermore, in the light emitting device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the emitted light has a Lambertian light distribution, so in an environment where light with a wider light distribution angle than the Lambertian light distribution is required, such as a light source for an auxiliary lamp in a vehicle, the light emitting device disclosed in Patent Document 1 may not be usable as a light source.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a light emitting device that can achieve a wide-angle light distribution and improve the yield during manufacturing.

[0008] A semiconductor light-emitting device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a substrate; a light-emitting element including a light-emitting layer made of a semiconductor disposed on one main surface of the substrate; a phosphor layer formed on the one main surface so as to cover the light-emitting element, the phosphor layer having a frame-shaped portion that protrudes laterally from a lower end of a side surface along the one main surface and that is continuously formed around the periphery of the phosphor layer in a top view, the phosphor layer including phosphor particles that are excited by light emitted from the light-emitting layer and emit fluorescence; a translucent sealing layer that covers the top surface of the phosphor layer and extends from the upper end of the side surface to cover the side surface and terminates at the top surface of the frame-shaped portion; and a transflective layer formed across the top surface of the sealing layer that reflects a portion of the light emitted from the light-emitting layer and transmits a portion of the fluorescence emitted from the phosphor layer.

[0009] 1 is a top view of a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 5 is a table showing results of verification of the light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a first manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a first manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a first manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a first manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a second manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a second manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a second manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a second manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process of a second manufacturing method for a light emitting device according to Example 1.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components will be omitted.

[0011] [Outline of Light-Emitting Device 100] The configuration of the light-emitting device 100 according to Example 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a top view of the light-emitting device 100 according to Example 1. Figure 2 is a bottom view of the light-emitting device 100 according to Example 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the light-emitting device 100 taken along line 3-3 in Figure 1. Also, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the light-emitting device 100 taken along line 4-4 in Figure 1.

[0012] 1 and 2, the center line (two-partition line) in the width direction (left-right direction in the figure) of the light-emitting device 100 is shown by a dashed line as center line CL1, and the center line (two-partition line) in the depth direction (up-down direction in the figure) of the light-emitting device 100 is shown by a dashed line as center line CL2.

[0013] 3, the left-right direction in the drawing is the width direction of the light emitting device 100, and the up-down direction in the drawing is the height direction of the light emitting device 100. In addition, in FIG. 4, the left-right direction in the drawing is the depth direction of the light emitting device 100, and the up-down direction in the drawing is the height direction of the light emitting device 100.

[0014] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the light-emitting device 100 is composed of a substrate 11, a light-emitting element 13 provided on the substrate 11, a phosphor layer 15 formed on the substrate 11 to cover the light-emitting element 13, a sealing layer 17 formed to cover the phosphor layer 15, and a transmissive-reflective layer 19 formed over the upper surface of the sealing layer 17.

[0015] [Substrate 11] First, the substrate 11 will be described. The substrate 11 is a flat glass epoxy substrate (FR-4) having a rectangular upper surface and insulating properties. The substrate 11 is made of alumina (Al 2 O 3 Alternatively, a ceramic substrate made of aluminum nitride (AlN) or aluminium carbide (AlN) may be used. An anode pad 21 and a cathode pad 22 are formed on the upper surface of the substrate 11. An anode electrode 23 and a cathode electrode 24 are formed on the lower surface of the substrate 11.

[0016] The anode pad 21 and the cathode pad 22 are a pair of element mounting pads each having a rectangular upper surface and formed on the upper surface of the substrate 11 at a distance from each other on either side of the center line CL1.

[0017] The anode pad 21 has two extending portions 21A that extend from each of the short sides along the center line CL1 and reach the outer edge of the substrate 11. The anode pad 21 also has two extending portions 21B that extend from one of the long sides along the center line CL2 on either side of the center line CL2 and reach the outer edge of the substrate 11.

[0018] Similar to the anode pad 21, the cathode pad 22 has two extending portions 22A that extend from each of the short sides along the center line CL1 and reach the outer edge of the substrate 11. The cathode pad 22 also has two extending portions 22B that extend from one of the long sides along the center line CL2 on either side of the center line CL2 and reach the outer edge of the substrate 11.

[0019] The anode electrode 23 and the cathode electrode 24 are a pair of electrodes each having a rectangular upper surface shape, and are formed apart from each other on either side of the center line CL2 on the lower surface of the substrate 11. In the light-emitting device 100, in a top view of the substrate 11, the longitudinal directions of the anode pad 21 and the cathode pad 22 and the longitudinal directions of the anode electrode 23 and the cathode electrode 24 are perpendicular to each other.

[0020] Each of the anode pad 21, the cathode pad 22, the anode electrode 23, and the cathode electrode 24 is made of copper (Cu), and the surface thereof is plated with nickel (Ni) and gold (Au) in this order. Note that the plating process may be performed with silver (Ag) instead of Au.

[0021] In the light emitting device 100, the anode pad 21 and the anode electrode 23 are electrically connected via a conductive via 25 made of Cu. Similarly, the cathode pad 22 and the cathode electrode 24 are electrically connected via the conductive via 25.

[0022] [Light Emitting Element 13] Next, a description will be given of the light emitting element 13. As described above, the light emitting element 13 is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and is a light emitting diode (LED) having a rectangular upper surface shape.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the light emitting element 13 includes a semiconductor structure layer 27 having a light emitting layer made of a semiconductor, and a light-transmitting substrate 28 disposed on the upper surface of the semiconductor structure layer 27.

[0024] The semiconductor structure layer 27 is a semiconductor laminate including an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer (none of which are shown), each of which is made primarily of gallium nitride (GaN). When the light-emitting element 13 is driven, the light-emitting layer of the semiconductor structure layer 27 emits blue light having a peak wavelength of 450 nm.

[0025] The light-transmitting substrate 28 is a flat substrate having a rectangular upper surface. The light-transmitting substrate 28 is made of, for example, sapphire (Al 2 O 3 The light-transmitting substrate 28 is made of a material, such as GaN, that is translucent to the blue light emitted from the light-emitting layer of the semiconductor structure layer 27 and the fluorescent light emitted from the phosphor layer 15, which will be described later. The light-transmitting substrate 28 also serves as a substrate for growing the semiconductor structure layer 27.

[0026] The light emitting element 13 includes a p-electrode 31 and an n-electrode 32, each of which has a rectangular upper surface shape and is formed on the lower surface of the semiconductor structure layer 27. The p-electrode 31 is an electrode electrically connected to the p-type semiconductor layer of the semiconductor structure layer 27. The surface of the p-electrode 31 is plated with gold (Au).

[0027] The n-electrode 32 is an electrode electrically connected to the n-type semiconductor layer via a through electrode (not shown) that vertically penetrates the light-emitting layer and p-type semiconductor layer of the semiconductor structure layer 27 and has its side surfaces covered with an insulator. In other words, the n-electrode 32 is electrically connected only to the n-type semiconductor layer and is insulated from the light-emitting layer and p-type semiconductor layer. The surface of the n-electrode 32 is plated with Au.

[0028] The p-electrode 31 and the n-electrode 32 are respectively bonded to the anode pad 21 and the cathode pad 22 via epoxy resin solder 33. That is, in the light emitting device 100, the light emitting element 13 is flip-chip mounted on the substrate 11.

[0029] The epoxy resin solder 33 contains fine solder metal particles such as tin-silver-copper (Sn-Ag-Cu) in an epoxy resin flux, and after bonding, the epoxy resin covers the periphery of the solder joint, increasing the bonding strength. Furthermore, since the periphery of the solder joint is made of epoxy resin, this is preferable because it improves adhesion to the phosphor layer 15. Alternatively, gold-tin (Au-Sn) solder using a volatile flux may be used as the epoxy resin solder 33.

[0030] [Phosphor Layer 15] Next, the phosphor layer 15 will be described. The phosphor layer 15 has a rectangular upper surface shape and is provided on the substrate 11 to encompass the light-emitting element 13. The phosphor layer 15 has a frame-shaped portion 15F that protrudes laterally from the lower end of the side surface along the upper surface of the substrate 11 and is continuously formed around the periphery of the phosphor layer 15 in a top view. The frame-shaped portion 15F extends from the lower end of the side surface of the phosphor layer 15 to the outer edge of the substrate 11.

[0031] Phosphor layer 15 contains a phosphor that emits fluorescence when excited by blue light as excitation light emitted from light emitting element 13. When excited by blue light, the phosphor layer emits green fluorescence having a green peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 500 to 580 nm and red fluorescence having a red peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 620 to 640 nm.

[0032] The phosphor layer 15 is made of KSF (K 2 SiF 6 The phosphor is composed of β-sialon phosphor particles that emit green fluorescence and β-sialon phosphor particles that emit green fluorescence dispersed in a transparent resin such as silicone resin.

[0033] When blue light emitted from the light-emitting element 13 enters the phosphor layer 15, part of the light passes through the phosphor layer 15 as is, and part of the light excites the phosphor particles, causing the excited phosphor particles to emit fluorescence.

[0034] Therefore, excitation light (blue light) that has passed through the phosphor layer 15 without contributing to the generation of fluorescence, and fluorescence (green light and red light) emitted from the phosphor particles are emitted from the upper surface of the phosphor layer 15. As a result, white light that is a mixture of blue light, red fluorescence, and green fluorescence is extracted from the upper surface of the phosphor layer 15.

[0035] [Sealing Layer 17] Next, the sealing layer 17 will be described. The sealing layer 17 is a light-transmitting layer that covers the upper surface of the phosphor layer 15, extends from the upper end of the side surface of the phosphor layer 15 to cover the side surface, and terminates at the upper surface of the frame-shaped portion 15F. The sealing layer 17 is made of, for example, a silicone resin that transmits white light (specifically, white band light).

[0036] The sealing layer 17 covers most of the phosphor layer 15, thereby functioning as a protective layer that protects the KSF phosphor, which is susceptible to deterioration by moisture, from the outside air. The sealing layer 17 also functions as a light-guiding layer that guides the white light emitted from the phosphor layer 15.

[0037] [Transmissive Reflective Layer 19] Next, a description will be given of the transmissive reflective layer 19. As described above, the transmissive reflective layer 19 is formed over the upper surface of the sealing layer 17, and is a layer that reflects part of the white light emitted after being guided through the sealing layer 17 and transmits part of the white light.

[0038] In the light emitting device 100 of this embodiment, the transmissive-reflective layer 19 is a dielectric multilayer film whose thickness is adjusted so that the reflectance for white light is a predetermined value. The dielectric multilayer film generates transmitted light and reflected light without attenuating the incident light, and is therefore suitable for controlling the light distribution characteristics (directional characteristics). In the light emitting device 100, the transmissive-reflective layer 19 is made of, for example, silicon oxide (SiO 2 ) and alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) are alternately stacked in 10 to 40 layers (5 to 20 pairs).

[0039] The material of the transflective layer 19 is titanium oxide (TiO 2 ), niobium oxide (NbO), magnesium oxide (MgO), tantalum oxide (Ta 2 O 5 ), hafnium oxide (HfO), etc. may be used in combination.

[0040] In the light-emitting device 100 of this embodiment, the reflectance of the transmissive-reflective layer 19 for white light is set to 60%. As a result, the light emitted from the light-emitting device 100 has a light distribution in which the light intensity directly above the light-emitting device 100 is suppressed while the light intensity to the sides is increased, a so-called batwing light distribution. In other words, the light emitted from the light-emitting device 100 has a light distribution with a wider angle (half-value angle 140° to 180°) than the Lambertian light distribution (half-value angle 120°) in which the light intensity decreases from directly above the light-emitting device to the sides.

[0041] The light emitting device 100 having such a batwing light distribution can be used in environments where light with a highly uniform brightness distribution over a wide range is required, such as a light source for an auxiliary light in a vehicle or a light source for a direct backlight of an LCD-TV.

[0042] As described above, the phosphor layer 15 of the light-emitting device 100 of this embodiment has a frame-shaped portion 15F continuously formed on the periphery of the phosphor layer 15. For example, when dividing the phosphor layer 15 into individual light-emitting devices using a dicer during the manufacture of the light-emitting device 100, the phosphor layer 15 can be processed so as to leave the frame-shaped portion 15F, thereby improving the yield during manufacturing (details will be described later).

[0043] 3 to 5, the details and results of the verification performed on the light emitting device 100 of this example will be described. Fig. 5 is a table showing the light output ratio, luminance distribution, and luminance ratio (minimum luminance / maximum luminance) calculated by measuring the light output and luminance of each of six samples A to F based on the configuration of the light emitting device 100.

[0044] 5, each of samples B to F is different from sample A in either the height HP of phosphor layer 15 from the upper surface of substrate 11, the thickness HC of sealing layer 17 from the upper surface of phosphor layer 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), or the reflectance of transflective layer 19 for white light. The thickness of frame portion 15F from the upper surface of substrate 11 is defined as thickness HR.

[0045] In this verification, a measurement module was used in which each of 1 mm square samples A to F was placed in the center of a 9 mm square white case that was open at the top. In addition, in this verification, the white cases with one sample placed in them were arranged in a 3 x 3 pattern with no gaps between them, and the light emitted from the area of ​​the one white case located in the center was used to measure the light output and brightness of each sample.

[0046] 5 shows the luminance distribution when the white cases in which samples A to F are placed are viewed from above, with darker areas indicating higher luminance. For example, it can be seen that the luminance around the light-emitting device 100 is the highest in sample A.

[0047] Furthermore, the closer the "brightness ratio" value in the table of Fig. 5 is to 1, the more uniform the brightness of the light inside the white case. In other words, the higher the brightness ratio, the more evenly the light reaches inside the white case.

[0048] [Comparison of Samples A, B, and C] Samples A, B, and C differ only in the height HP of the phosphor layer 15 (0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, and 0.8 mm, respectively), but are identical in the thickness HC (0.1 mm) of the sealing layer 17 and the reflectance (60%) of the transflective layer 19.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 5, the light output ratio is improved to 109.5% for Sample B and 108.4% for Sample C, with Sample A being taken as 100%. The luminance ratio is also improved to 0.774 for Sample B and 0.772 for Sample C, compared to 0.748 for Sample A. In other words, Samples B and C are superior to Sample A in both light output ratio and luminance ratio.

[0050] [Comparison of Samples A, D, and E] Samples A, D, and E differ only in the thickness HC of the sealing layer 17 (0.1 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.5 mm, respectively), but are identical in the height HP (0.4 mm) of the phosphor layer 15 and the reflectance (60%) of the transflective layer 19.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 5, the light output ratio is improved to 101.7% for Sample D and 102.3% for Sample E, when Sample A is taken as 100%. However, the luminance ratio is reduced to 0.723 for Sample D and 0.692 for Sample E, compared to 0.748 for Sample A. In other words, Samples D and E are superior to Sample A in terms of light output ratio, but are inferior to Sample A in terms of luminance ratio.

[0052] [Comparison between Samples A and F] Samples A and F differ only in the reflectivity of the transmissive reflective layer 19 (60% and 90%, respectively), and the height HP (0.4 mm) of the phosphor layer 15 and the thickness HC (0.1 mm) of the sealing layer 17 are the same.

[0053] As shown in Figure 5, the light output ratio of sample F is 91.5%, which is lower than that of sample A, which is 100%. Also, the luminance ratio of sample F is 0.548, which is lower than that of sample A, which is 0.748. In other words, sample F is inferior to sample A in both light output ratio and luminance ratio.

[0054] [Summary of Verification] From the comparison results of Samples A, B, and C, it is preferable that the height HP of the phosphor layer 15 from the upper surface of the substrate 11 be 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm in a 1 mm square light emitting device 100. In other words, it is preferable that the height HP of the phosphor layer 15 be 60% to 80% of the length of one side of the transflective layer 19 when the light emitting device 100 is viewed from above.

[0055] Furthermore, from the comparison results of Samples A, D, and E, in the light emitting device 100 having a size of 1 mm square, it is preferable to set the thickness HC of the sealing layer 17 from the upper surface of the phosphor layer 15 to 0.1 mm, from the viewpoint of achieving a wide-angle light distribution by the light emitting device 100. In other words, it is preferable to set the height HP of the phosphor layer 15 to 10% of the length of one side of the transmissive-reflective layer 19 when the light emitting device 100 is viewed from above.

[0056] Furthermore, from the comparison results of Samples A and F, it is preferable that the reflectance of the transflective layer 19 for white light be 60% in a 1 mm square light-emitting device 100. Here, if the reflectance of the transflective layer 19 is below 50%, the central luminance of the white case increases and the luminance ratio decreases. Similarly, if the reflectance of the transflective layer 19 exceeds 70%, the central luminance of the white case decreases and the luminance ratio decreases. In other words, the preferred reflectance of the transflective layer 19 is 60±10%, and more preferably 60±5%.

[0057] In this way, according to the light emitting device 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to emit light having a wide-angle light distribution from the light emitting device 100 .

[0058] In this embodiment, the light emitted from the light-emitting device 100 has been described as having a batwing light distribution, but it is sufficient that the light emitted from the light-emitting device 100 has a wide-angle light distribution, and it does not necessarily have to have a batwing light distribution.

[0059] For example, the reflectance of the transmissive-reflective layer 19 in the light-emitting device 100 for white light may be set to be lower than 60%. This allows the light output from directly above the light-emitting device 100 to increase more than the batwing light distribution and gradually weaken as it moves to the side, thereby achieving an umbrella-shaped light distribution as a whole, a so-called umbrella light distribution.

[0060] [Modification of the Light-Emitting Device 100] Next, a description will be given of a modification of Example 1. In this modification, the configuration of the transflective layer 19 is different from that of Example 1, but the other configurations, such as the formation of the phosphor layer 15 and the sealing layer 17, are the same as those of Example 1.

[0061] In this modification, the transflective layer 19 is made of yttrium phosphate (YPO ) particles having a particle size of 1 to 5 nm. 4 ) particles dispersed in a silicone resin. 4 The particles are titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) particles and alumina (Al 2 O 3) It has weaker backward scattering properties than particles, scattering light in the opposite direction to the incident direction of the light, and has excellent forward scattering properties, scattering light in the same direction as the incident direction of the light.

[0062] Therefore, white light incident on the transmissive reflective layer 19 of this modified example from the sealing layer 17 is widely scattered and emitted toward the outside of the transmissive reflective layer 19 (upward in FIGS. 3 and 4). Furthermore, while suppressing light attenuation within the transmissive reflective layer 19 due to backscattering, it is possible to achieve a batwing light distribution or an inverted triangular light distribution in which the light output of the central part of the batwing light distribution is increased, a so-called inverted umbrella light distribution.

[0063] Even when the configuration of the transflective layer 19 is changed in this way, the light emitting device 100 of this modified example can emit light having a wide-angle light distribution, similar to the light emitting device 100 of the first embodiment.

[0064] [First Manufacturing Method of Light-Emitting Device 100] The first manufacturing method of the light-emitting device 100 will be described below with reference to Figures 6 to 10. Figures 6 to 10 are cross-sectional views showing steps in the first manufacturing method of the light-emitting device 100. Note that Figures 6 to 10 show, as an example, a partial cross section of a substrate assembly 11M having a plurality of light-emitting elements 13 arranged on the upper surface.

[0065] First, a substrate assembly 11M having various wirings is prepared (Step 1: substrate preparation step). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the substrate assembly 11M is prepared in such a manner that the pad body PM before the formation (cutting) of the anode pads 21 and the cathode pads 22 is patterned on the upper surface, the anode electrodes 23 and the cathode electrodes 24 are patterned on the lower surface, and the conductive vias 25 electrically connecting the pad body PM to the anode electrodes 23 and the cathode electrodes 24 are formed.

[0066] 6, the plurality of light emitting elements 13 are mounted on the upper surface of the substrate assembly 11M (Step 2: element mounting process). Specifically, epoxy resin solder 33 is applied to the pad body PM, the light emitting elements 13 are placed on the applied epoxy resin solder 33, and then heated at 250°C for 0.5 minutes, and then maintained at 150°C for 2 hours, thereby mechanically and electrically bonding the light emitting elements 13 to the pad body PM.

[0067] Next, a phosphor layer 15M encompassing each of the plurality of light-emitting elements 13 is formed on the substrate assembly 11M (Step 3: phosphor layer formation process). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a frame-shaped first dam portion D1 made of resin is formed on the upper surface of the substrate assembly 11M along the outer edge of the substrate assembly 11M, and a predetermined amount of a first precursor resin that will become the phosphor layer 15M is poured into the first dam portion D1. The first precursor resin is then left to stand until it becomes smooth, and then heated and cured at 150°C for 120 minutes to form the phosphor layer 15M. Hereinafter, the molding method of pouring the precursor resin into the dam portion and then heat-curing the precursor resin will be referred to as "cast molding."

[0068] Next, partition grooves are formed on the upper surface of the phosphor layer 15M so as to separate the plurality of light-emitting elements 13 from one another in a top view of the substrate assembly 11M (Step 4: Groove Forming Step). Specifically, using a dicing blade BL1 of a dicer shown in Figure 7, partition grooves 15MG are formed to individually separate the plurality of light-emitting elements 13 as shown in Figure 8.

[0069] At this time, the partition grooves 15MG are formed so that a remaining portion of thickness HR remains from the top surface of the substrate assembly 11M. The frame-shaped portion 15F of the light-emitting device 100 described above is this remaining portion of the partition groove 15MG. The remaining portion is provided so that the wide cutting edge of the dicing blade BL1 does not come into contact with the top surface of the substrate assembly 11M. This is because the wide cutting edge of the dicing blade BL1 would bend the substrate assembly 11M, causing peeling of the phosphor layer 15 or breaking of the light-emitting elements 13.

[0070] Next, the sealing layer 17M that covers the phosphor layer 15M is formed by a casting method (Step 5: sealing layer formation step). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 9, a frame-shaped second dam portion D2 made of resin is formed along the outer edge of the substrate assembly 11M so as to surround the first dam portion D1, and a predetermined amount of second precursor resin that will become the sealing layer 17M is poured into the second dam portion D2.

[0071] This causes the second precursor resin to fill the partition grooves 15MG of the phosphor layer 15M. After that, the second precursor resin is left to stand so that it becomes smooth, and then heated and cured at 150°C for 120 minutes to form the sealing layer 17M.

[0072] Next, a transflective layer 19M, which is a dielectric multilayer film, is formed on the upper surface of the sealing layer 17M (Step 6: transflective layer forming step). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, Al is deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) so that the reflectance for white light is about 60%. 2 O 3 layer and SiO 2 The transflective layer 19M is formed by alternately laminating the layers.

[0073] Finally, the plurality of light emitting devices 100 are singulated (Step 7: singulation step). Specifically, using a dicing blade BL2 of a dicer shown in FIG. 10 , cutting is performed from above the transmissive reflective layer 19M along the partition grooves 15MG to the substrate assembly 11M, thereby singulating the plurality of light emitting devices 100. Through the above steps, the light emitting devices 100 can be manufactured.

[0074] The dicing blade BL2 used to separate the light emitting devices 100 in step 7 is thinner than the dicing blade BL1 used to form the sectioning grooves 15MG in step 4.

[0075] Therefore, a smaller force is applied to the substrate assembly 11M when the dicing blade BL2 is used to separate the light emitting devices 100. This allows the substrate assembly 11M to be cut without causing bending of the substrate assembly 11M.

[0076] In addition, in the above-mentioned step 4, it is desirable that the thickness HR of the phosphor layer 15M (later frame-shaped portion 15F) remaining when the partition groove 15MG is formed is greater than the value (D + σ) obtained by adding the average particle size (D) of the larger particle size phosphor particles contained in the phosphor layer 15M to the standard deviation (σ).

[0077] For example, the average particle size of a β-sialon phosphor is 16 μm, which is larger than the average particle size (D) of a KSF phosphor, with a standard deviation (σ) of 5 μm. Therefore, the thickness HR is preferably 21 μm or greater. Furthermore, a more preferable value is 26 μm (D + 2σ), which is obtained by adding twice the standard deviation (σ) to the average particle size (D), and a more preferable value is 31 μm (D + 3σ), which is obtained by adding three times the standard deviation (σ) to the average particle size (D).

[0078] This is possible because it prevents phosphor particles from being caught between the wide cutting edge of the dicing blade BL1 and the upper surface of the substrate assembly 11M during the formation of the sectioning grooves 15MG, which would otherwise cause cracks to form in the substrate assembly 11M. It also prevents the second precursor resin that will become the sealing layer 17M from passing through cracks in the substrate assembly 11M and covering the anode electrodes 23 and cathode electrodes 24 on the lower surface in step 5 (sealing layer formation process).

[0079] If the depth of the dividing groove 15MG is shallow, the exposed cross section of the frame portion 15F increases when the light emitting device 100 is completed, and the phosphor contained in the phosphor layer 15 may be deteriorated by corrosive gases in the outside air. Therefore, the thickness HR is preferably 1 / 8 or less of the height HP of the phosphor layer 15, and more preferably 1 / 16 or less of the height HP.

[0080] For example, if the height of the phosphor layer 15 is 0.6 mm, the thickness HR is preferably 0.075 (75 μm) or less, more preferably 0.038 mm (38 μm). Also, if the height of the phosphor layer 15 is 0.8 mm, the thickness HR is preferably 0.1 mm (100 μm) or less, more preferably 0.05 mm (50 μm).

[0081] [Improvement of yield during manufacturing of light-emitting devices] As described above, the manufacturing method of the light-emitting device 100 of this embodiment prevents peeling of the phosphor layer 15M from the substrate assembly 11M and breakage of the light-emitting elements 13 by leaving the phosphor layer 15 partially uncut when forming the partition grooves 15MG in step 4. In other words, the manufacturing yield can be improved. Furthermore, since cracks can be prevented from forming in the substrate assembly 11M in step 4, the anode electrode 23 and the cathode electrode 24 can be prevented from being covered by the resin of the sealing layer 17M when forming the sealing layer 17M in step 5. This improves the manufacturing yield.

[0082] Therefore, in the first manufacturing method of the light emitting device 100 of this embodiment, bending and cracks are less likely to occur in the substrate assembly 11M. Therefore, according to the first manufacturing method of the light emitting device 100 of this embodiment, the yield during manufacturing of the light emitting device 100 can be improved.

[0083] [Manufacturing Method of Light-Emitting Device 100 According to Modification] Next, a description will be given of a manufacturing method of a modification of the above-described light-emitting device 100. The manufacturing method of the modification of the light-emitting device 100 differs from the above-described first manufacturing method only in step 6 (transmissive-reflective layer forming step), and is otherwise the same as the first manufacturing method.

[0084] In this manufacturing method, the transflective layer 19M is formed on the upper surface of the sealing layer 17M by a casting method. Specifically, a frame-shaped third dam portion D3 (not shown) made of resin is formed along the outer edge of the substrate assembly 11M so as to surround the second dam portion D2, and YPO is poured into the third dam portion D3. 4 A predetermined amount of the third precursor resin with the particles dispersed therein is poured in. After that, the third precursor resin is left to stand to become smooth, and then heated and cured at 150° C. for 90 minutes to form the transmissive-reflective layer 19M of the light-emitting device 100 according to the modified example.

[0085] This manufacturing method does not affect the manufacturing processes of steps 4 and 5 described above, and since the phosphor layer 15M, the sealing layer 17M, and the transmissive-reflective layer 19M can be formed by a casting method, it is possible to improve the yield during the manufacturing of the light-emitting device 100.

[0086] 11 to 14, a second manufacturing method of the light emitting device 100 will be described. The second manufacturing method differs from the first manufacturing method in that step 3 (phosphor layer forming step), step 5 (sealing layer forming step), and step 6 (transmissive reflective layer forming step) described in the first manufacturing method are performed by insert molding, but the other steps are the same as those of the first manufacturing method.

[0087] Hereinafter, steps 3, 5, and 6 that are different from the first manufacturing method will be described as step 3-2, step 5-2, and step 6-2, respectively.

[0088] [Step 3-2: Phosphor layer formation process] In the phosphor layer formation process of this manufacturing method, as shown in Figure 11, the substrate assembly 11M on which the light-emitting elements 13 have been mounted is sandwiched and held in a first mold 41 consisting of an upper mold 41U and a lower mold 41L having a first space SP1 on the upper surface of the substrate assembly 11M that accommodates multiple light-emitting elements 13.

[0089] 12, the above-described first precursor resin is poured into the first space SP1 formed by the first mold 41. Thereafter, the first mold 41 is heated to a curing temperature to cure the first precursor resin, thereby forming the phosphor layer 15M.

[0090] [Step 5-2: Sealing layer formation process] In the sealing layer formation process of this manufacturing method, as shown in Figure 13, the substrate assembly 11M on which the phosphor layer 15M and the partition groove 15MG are formed is sandwiched and held in a second mold 42 consisting of an upper mold 42U and a lower mold 42L having a second space SP2 that accommodates the phosphor layer 15M on the upper surface of the substrate assembly 11M.

[0091] 13, the second precursor resin is poured into the second space SP2 formed by the second mold 42. Thereafter, the second mold 42 is heated to a curing temperature to cure the second precursor resin, thereby forming the sealing layer 17M.

[0092] [Step 6-2: Transmissive Reflective Layer Forming Process] In the transmissive reflective layer forming process of this manufacturing method, as shown in Figure 14, the substrate assembly 11M on which the sealing layer 17M has been formed is sandwiched and held in a third mold 43 consisting of an upper mold 43U and a lower mold 43L having a third space SP3 on the upper surface of the substrate assembly 11M for accommodating the sealing layer 17M.

[0093] 14, the third precursor resin described in the modified example is poured into the third space SP3 formed by the third mold 43. Thereafter, the third mold 43 is heated to a curing temperature to cure the third precursor resin, thereby forming the transmissive reflective layer 19M.

[0094] In steps 3-2, 5-2, and 6-2 of the second manufacturing method, each layer is formed by so-called insert molding (specifically, transfer molding or compression molding). This allows for stable mass production of light emitting devices 100 with high shape accuracy compared to the first manufacturing method, and increases manufacturing throughput.

[0095] Furthermore, in the second manufacturing method, step 4 can be provided between step 3-2 and step 5-2, thereby improving the yield during the manufacture of the light emitting device 100. In particular, in step 5-2 of the insert molding, a second precursor resin is injected at high pressure onto the upper surface of the substrate assembly 11M on which the phosphor layer 15M and the partition grooves 15MG are formed. Therefore, step 4, which forms the partition grooves 15MG without causing cracks in the substrate assembly 11M, improves the yield during the manufacture.

[0096] [Third Manufacturing Method of Light-Emitting Device 100] Next, a third manufacturing method of the light-emitting device 100 will be described. The third manufacturing method is a manufacturing method in which some of the steps described in the first manufacturing method are replaced with steps of the second manufacturing method. Specifically, in the third manufacturing method, steps 1 to 3, 6, and 7 are the same as those in the first manufacturing method, and only step 5 (sealing layer formation step) is replaced with step 5-2 of the second manufacturing method.

[0097] The second precursor resin that will become the sealing layer 17M formed in step 5 is a liquid that does not contain solids and is therefore suitable for insert molding. In addition, the top surface of the sealing layer 17M formed by insert molding is a highly flat surface, which is suitable for forming the transflective layer 19M, which is a dielectric multilayer film.

[0098] That is, in the third manufacturing method, the phosphor layer 15M is formed by pour molding, the sealing layer 17M is formed by insert molding, and the transflective layer 19M is formed by ALD molding.

[0099] The third manufacturing method is a combination of the cast molding of the first manufacturing method and the insert molding of the second manufacturing method. Therefore, the third manufacturing method of the light emitting device 100 enables stable mass production while suppressing manufacturing variations of the light emitting device 100. In other words, the third manufacturing method of the light emitting device 100 improves the balance between manufacturing precision and cost compared to the first and second manufacturing methods.

[0100] In other words, the third manufacturing method is a manufacturing method suitable for forming the phosphor layer 15M, the sealing layer 17M, and the transmissive reflective layer 19M, and since it can achieve a high yield in each manufacturing step, it can improve the yield during the manufacturing of the light-emitting device 100.

[0101] When dividing the light emitting devices 100 into individual pieces in step 7, the substrate assembly 11M may be cut from the underside with a dicing blade BL2. In this case, the anode electrode 23 and the cathode electrode 24 formed on the underside of the substrate assembly 11M are used as markers to perform cutting with the dicing blade BL2, thereby reducing variation in the external size of the light emitting devices 100.

[0102] As described above in the multiple embodiments, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve a wide-angle light distribution of emitted light from the light emitting device 100 and improve the yield rate during manufacturing of the light emitting device 100.

[0103] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 Substrate 13 Light-emitting element 15 Phosphor layer 17 Sealing layer 19 Transmissive / reflective layer 21 Anode pad 22 Cathode pad 23 Anode electrode 24 Cathode electrode 25 Conductive via 27 Semiconductor structure layer 28 Light-transmitting substrate 31 P-electrode 32 N-electrode 33 Epoxy resin solder

Claims

1. A semiconductor light-emitting device comprising: a substrate; a light-emitting element including a light-emitting layer made of a semiconductor disposed on one main surface of the substrate; a phosphor layer formed on the one main surface so as to cover the light-emitting element, the phosphor layer having a frame-shaped portion protruding laterally from a lower end of a side surface along the one main surface and formed continuously around the periphery of the phosphor layer in a top view, the phosphor layer including phosphor particles that are excited by light emitted from the light-emitting layer and emit fluorescence; a light-transmitting sealing layer covering an upper surface of the phosphor layer and extending from the upper end of the side surface to cover the side surface and terminating at an upper surface of the frame-shaped portion; and a transmissive-reflective layer formed across the upper surface of the sealing layer and reflecting a portion of the light emitted from the light-emitting layer and a portion of the fluorescence emitted from the phosphor layer and transmitting the other portions.

2. The semiconductor light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor light emitting device has a half-value angle wider than that of a Lambertian light distribution.

3. The semiconductor light emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the reflectance of said transflective layer for said light and said fluorescent light is 60±10%.

4. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the transflective layer is made of a dielectric multilayer film.

5. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said transflective layer is made of a light-transmitting silicone resin in which yttrium phosphate particles are dispersed.

6. A semiconductor light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said phosphor layer contains at least a phosphor that is excited by light emitted from said light emitting layer and emits red fluorescence.

7. A semiconductor light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the height of the phosphor layer from the one main surface is 60% to 80% of the length of one side of the transflective layer when the semiconductor light-emitting device is viewed from above.

8. A semiconductor light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the thickness of the frame-shaped portion is greater than or equal to the average particle size of the phosphor particles plus the standard deviation and less than or equal to 1 / 8 of the thickness of the phosphor layer.

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