Collective Die-to-Wafer Bonding With Pocketed Carrier Wafers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing collective die-to-wafer bonding methods are complex and time-consuming, requiring adhesives and complex debonding processes, which limit their efficiency and scalability for integrating individual chips with different sizes from various production sites and technologies on a single substrate.

Innovation Solution

A method of collective die-to-wafer bonding that uses a carrier wafer with etched pockets to accurately and reliably bond dies to a target substrate without adhesives, leveraging surface-activated metal-metal thermocompression bonding and high-vacuum processing to reduce complexity and increase efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If adhesive-coated carrier wafers and laser debonding are used for collective die bonding, then dies can be placed and transferred, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding throughputVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the adhesive layer from the bonding process. Instead of using adhesive-coated carrier wafers that require laser debonding, the patent employs direct metal-to-metal contact between dies and carrier wafer, removing the adhesive removal step and simplifying the overall process while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a specialized carrier wafer with recesses as an intermediary structure. This carrier wafer accommodates multiple dies in precise alignment and enables direct thermocompression bonding without adhesives, serving as a mediator that simplifies the bonding process while maintaining high throughput

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separately manufactured components are bonded onto a single chip for 3D heterogeneous integration, then functionality and performance increase, but the bonding process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoidbonding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple bonding operations into a single collective bonding process. By placing multiple dies on a carrier wafer in recesses and bonding them simultaneously to the target substrate, the process handles diverse components (different sizes, technologies) in one step, increasing versatility while reducing overall process complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier wafer serves multiple functions: it accommodates dies of various sizes through its recess structure, provides alignment references for precise positioning, enables collective handling and transfer, and facilitates direct metal-to-metal bonding. This multi-functional design increases integration capability without proportionally increasing process complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional die placement methods are used without pockets, then the process is simpler, but alignment accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidcarrier wafer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier wafer features localized recesses at specific positions rather than a uniformly complex structure. Each recess is precisely positioned to accommodate a die with high alignment accuracy, while the rest of the carrier wafer remains simple. This localized structuring achieves high precision without overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The recesses in the carrier wafer are pre-formed at precise positions before die placement. This preliminary structuring of the carrier wafer with predetermined recess locations enables high alignment accuracy during die placement without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The method achieves high-yield, cost-effective collective die-to-wafer bonding with improved alignment accuracy and reduced processing time, enabling the integration of dissimilar semiconductor technologies and increasing the functionality and performance of electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

bonding the one or more dies placed in the one or more pockets to the target substrate by bringing the one or more dies into contact with the one or more target bonding pads based on surface activated metal-metal thermocompression bonding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermocompression bonding:

Data Source

PatentEP4492448A1Method and system of performing collective die-to-wafer bonding
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 IHP GMBH INNOVATIONS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE MICROELECTRONICS LEIBNIZ INSTITUT FÜR INNOVATIVE MIKROELEKTRONIK
  • EP4492448A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4492448A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d
  • EP4492448A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of performing collective die-to-wafer bonding. The method comprises the steps of: - providing a carrier wafer having a back side and a bonding side opposite the back side and comprising on the bonding side one or more pockets that each are configured for accommodating a die, respectively, - providing a target substrate comprising an integrated circuit, hereinafter IC, and one or more target bonding pads for connecting the one or more dies to the IC, - placing one or more dies in the one or more pockets, respectively, and - bonding the one or more dies placed in the one or more pockets to the tar-get substrate by bringing the one or more dies into contact with the one or more target bonding pads.