Flow Sensor Mold Ejection Pin Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing manufacturing methods for flow sensors result in performance variations due to positional shifts of semiconductor chips and inaccuracies in resin sealing, leading to increased costs and decreased throughput, as the potting resin does not effectively fix the gold wire and lacks accelerated hardening, causing reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

A method for manufacturing flow sensors that involves using a resin-sealing technique where the semiconductor chip is fixed by a mold, with an elastic body film to absorb dimensional variations, and an ejection pin configuration that thrusts the sealing body peripherally to minimize deformation and prevent breakage, allowing for consistent positioning and improved resin hardening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the gold wire is fixed by potting resin without mold fixation, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the position of the semiconductor chip shifts due to resin shrinkage causing performance variation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidchip position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The semiconductor chip is fixed to the substrate by the mold before potting resin is applied. This preliminary fixation prevents the chip from shifting during resin shrinkage, ensuring consistent positioning while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mold acts as an intermediary tool that temporarily holds the semiconductor chip in the correct position during the potting process. The mold releases after hardening, leaving the chip securely positioned without requiring complex fixation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the potting resin is formed by dropping, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the dimension accuracy of the resin is low causing variation in detection performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresin forming simplicityVSAvoidresin dimension accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The manual dropping method is replaced with a mold-based casting system. The mold cavity defines the exact dimensions and position of the potting resin, eliminating the dimensional variability inherent in dropping methods while maintaining ease of manufacture through automated molding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The resin forming method changes from uncontrolled dropping to controlled mold casting. The mold parameters (cavity size, shape, position) precisely control the resin dimensions, ensuring consistent detection performance across all sensors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the potting resin is not subjected to accelerated hardening by heating, then the process is simple, but the hardening time is long decreasing throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardening process simplicityVSAvoidmanufacturing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The potting resin undergoes phase transition from liquid to solid through controlled hardening. By applying heat, the transition occurs faster, reducing hardening time and increasing throughput while maintaining process simplicity through standard thermal treatment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

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 reduces performance variations, enhances reliability, and increases manufacturing efficiency by maintaining consistent chip positions and reducing the risk of breakage, thereby improving yield and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic body film interposed between the semiconductor chip and the sealing body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the potting resin is subjected to the acceleration of the hardening by heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2837918B1Flow rate sensor and method for making same
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYST LTD
  • EP2837918B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2837918B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2837918B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A technique capable of suppressing performance variation of every flow sensor and achieving performance improvement is provided. For example, in an arbitrary cross-sectional surface in parallel to a moving direction of a gas flowing on an exposed flow detecting unit FDU which is formed in a semiconductor chip CHP1, a sealing body is released from the lower mold BM by thrusting up, from a lower mold BM, an ejection pin EJPN arranged in an outer region of the semiconductor chip CHP1 so as not to overlap with the semiconductor chip CHP1 arranged in the vicinity of the center part. Thus, according to the first embodiment, the deformation applied to the sealing body at the time of mold releasing can be smaller than that in a case in which the sealing body is released from the lower mold BM by arranging the ejection pin EJPN in a region overlapping with the semiconductor chip CHP1.