Acoustic Cleaning System for Electronic Packages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning methods for singulated electronic packages, such as semiconductor devices, face inefficiencies due to mechanical agitation's need for frequent maintenance and potential damage, and megasonic cleaning's limitations in coverage and energy loss from transducer enclosures, leading to prolonged cleaning times, especially for larger devices.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a tank with acoustic energy generators immersed in cleaning fluid to create streaming fluid jets that project upwardly onto electronic packages, eliminating the need for mechanical contact and reducing energy loss by exposing transducers directly to fluid, allowing for a two-dimensional array arrangement for faster and more effective cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical agitation with a brush is used to clean singulated electronic packages, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but maintenance frequency increases and package damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical brush system with an acoustic field-based cleaning system. Acoustic energy generators produce sound waves in a fluid medium that create acoustic streaming effects, enabling cleaning without mechanical contact. This eliminates brush wear, residue accumulation, and the need for periodic maintenance while avoiding damage to the packages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a fluid medium (liquid or gas) as the transmission medium for acoustic energy. The acoustic waves propagate through this fluid to the package surfaces, creating cleaning effects through acoustic streaming and radiation pressure. This hydraulic/pneumatic approach eliminates the need for solid mechanical brushes while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
2Reliability
If mechanical agitation with a brush is used to clean singulated electronic packages, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of package damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical contact (brush) with indirect acoustic field interaction. The acoustic waves act on the fluid medium and package surfaces without physical contact, eliminating the risk of mechanical damage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through acoustic streaming and radiation pressure.
3Reliability
If megasonic cleaning with enclosed transducers is used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy loss increases and cleaning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transducers from their traditional enclosed housings and positions them directly in the fluid medium. This eliminates the energy loss that occurs when sound waves pass through nozzle walls and housing structures, allowing direct transmission of acoustic energy to the fluid and subsequently to the package surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-line array arrangement to a two-dimensional array of transducers. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous cleaning of multiple package rows, significantly reducing the routing distance and time required to clean entire workpieces while maintaining high cleaning effectiveness.
4Area of stationary object
If megasonic cleaning with linear nozzle arrangement is used, then cleaning coverage is improved, but cleaning time remains prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges acoustic energy generators in a two-dimensional array rather than a single linear row. This allows simultaneous coverage of multiple package rows, reducing the routing distance and time required to clean entire workpieces. The two-dimensional arrangement enables parallel processing of multiple areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the cleaning system into multiple independent acoustic energy generators arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each generator can independently clean its local area, allowing simultaneous processing of multiple packages and significantly reducing total cleaning time compared to a single linear scanner.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables quick and effective cleaning of singulated electronic packages without damaging them, reducing cleaning time and increasing efficiency by maintaining unidirectional, concentrated acoustic energy, thus addressing the limitations of prior methods.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of acoustic energy generators immersed in the cleaning fluid for generating and propagating acoustic energy towards the top surface of the cleaning fluid, wherein the acoustic energy creates streaming fluid jets projecting upwardly at the top surface to contact and clean the electronic packages supported on the holder
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for cleaning electronic packages comprises a tank containing cleaning fluid and a holder above the tank that supports the electronic packages above a top surface of the cleaning fluid with the electronic packages facing the cleaning fluid. Acoustic energy generators are immersed in the cleaning fluid for generating and propagating acoustic energy towards the top surface of the cleaning fluid to create streaming fluid jets projecting upwardly at the top surface to contact and clean the electronic packages supported on the holder.