Encapsulated Image Sensor Housing With Outward Glue Degassing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hermetic electronic component housings in aerospace applications face issues with gas condensation on transparent windows due to degassing of materials during thermal cycles, leading to reliability and production concerns, as existing measures to limit gas release are insufficient.

Innovation Solution

A modified relief structure on the upper surface of the housing peripheral wall isolates the glue bead from the interior cavity and exposes it to the exterior atmosphere, forcing degassing of the closing glue towards the outside, thereby preventing gas condensation on the internal window.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bead of sealing adhesive is used to hermetically seal the closure plate to the housing wall, then hermetic sealing is achieved, but gas molecules are released during thermal cycles causing condensation on the transparent window

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehermetic sealingVSAvoidgas release from adhesive
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful function of the adhesive (gas release into cavity) is extracted by creating a dedicated vent path. The adhesive bead is configured with its outer surface exposed to the external environment, allowing gas molecules to escape outward rather than condensing on the transparent window. This separates the sealing function from the gas containment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive bead's outer surface acts as an intermediary interface between the adhesive material and the external atmosphere. This intermediate surface provides a controlled pathway for gas release, mediating between the hermetic sealing requirement and the gas venting requirement without compromising either function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the adhesive bead is placed between the closure plate and housing wall for sealing, then hermetic seal is formed, but the adhesive surface is trapped inside the housing exposing gas to the transparent window

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehermetic sealVSAvoidgas condensation on window
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive bead configuration transitions from a fully internal placement to a partially external exposure. By allowing the outer surface of the adhesive bead to be accessible from the external environment, a new spatial dimension is created for gas venting, separating the gas release pathway from the optical path to the transparent window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If standard degassing measures are implemented before sealing, then some gas is removed, but insufficient gas release prevention occurs during thermal cycles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidgas management during operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive bead is pre-configured with an external exposure surface before the hermetic sealing process. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that during subsequent thermal cycles, gas molecules have a predetermined escape route, eliminating the need for complex active degassing systems while maintaining reliability.

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

This solution effectively reduces the presence of gas condensates on the transparent window, enhancing the reliability and longevity of hermetic electronic components by ensuring that degassing occurs externally, thus preventing the formation of stains and maintaining the component's operational integrity.

Implementation Method 1

the outer surface of the bead of adhesive is exposed to an external atmosphere of the housing, so that gaseous species can escape from inside the housing to the outside through this outer surface of the adhesive bead

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDegassing:

Implementation Method 2

The upper surface of the peripheral wall has a relief such that the glue bead is isolated on the inner side of the cavity, and on the outer side of the housing, presents a surface for exchange with the external atmosphere of the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3392910B1Encapsulated housing of electronic component, in particular for image sensor
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 TELEDYNE E2V SEMICON SAS
  • EP3392910B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3392910B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3392910B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

In a hermetically sealed integrated circuit package, the peripheral wall that delimits the cavity 2 containing the integrated circuit has a surface with a relief defined by a raised flat area z1 along the entire length of the peripheral wall, on the inner side of the cavity package, and a stepped area z2 outside the raised flat area. The flat area is in direct contact with the package's closing plate 6, without the interposition of adhesive, along the entire length of the peripheral wall, except where flatness defects prevent contact. The stepped area is not in direct contact with the closing plate and contains an adhesive bead that connects the closing plate and the upper part of the peripheral wall along its entire peripheral length. The adhesive bead 9 has an exposed surface Se between the closing plate and the stepped area, on the outer side of the package.This surface serves as an exchange surface with the external atmosphere of the casing, in case of glue outgassing.