Light-Reflective Anisotropic Conductive Adhesive for LED Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional light-emitting devices with LED elements experience reduced light-emitting efficiency due to absorption of light by gold wires and die bond adhesives, and the production cost is increased by the need for a light-reflective layer in flip-chip mounting techniques, while anisotropic conductive adhesives without a light-reflective layer have brown or dark surfaces that further reduce efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A light-reflective anisotropic conductive adhesive is developed containing thermosetting resin, conductive particles, and titanium oxide particles with a surface treatment using metal oxides like Al2O3, SiO2, and ZnO2, which reflect light without direct contact with organic substances, preventing photodegradation and improving light-emitting efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a light-reflective layer is provided on the LED element through metal deposition method, then light-emitting efficiency is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight-emitting efficiencyVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the light-reflective function and the adhesive function into a single integrated layer. The anisotropic conductive adhesive contains both adhesive components and light-reflective particles (such as titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, or silicon oxide), eliminating the need for a separate light-reflective layer and reducing production costs while maintaining high light-emitting efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The anisotropic conductive adhesive performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides adhesive bonding, electrical conduction in specific directions, and light reflection. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while improving optical performance

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

2Ease of manufacture

If no light-reflective layer is provided, then production cost is reduced, but light-emitting efficiency is reduced due to brown or dark brown surface of conductive particles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidlight-emitting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the adhesive by incorporating light-reflective particles with high refractive indices (such as titanium oxide with refractive index of 2.6-2.9, aluminum oxide with 1.7-1.8, or silicon oxide with 1.4-1.5). These particles reflect incident light effectively, giving the cured adhesive a white or light-colored appearance and maintaining high light-emitting efficiency without requiring additional light-reflective layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If titanium oxide particles with high photocatalytic action are used, then light reflection is improved, but photodegradation of organic substances in cured adhesive occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight reflection capabilityVSAvoidstability of organic substances
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces inert inorganic particles (such as aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, or zinc oxide) as intermediary substances that do not exhibit strong photocatalytic activity. These particles serve as light-reflective agents without causing photodegradation of the organic adhesive components, thereby maintaining both light reflection capability and chemical stability of the cured adhesive

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 adhesive enhances light-emitting efficiency by reflecting light without the need for a costly light-reflective layer, maintains the original color of the LED element, and ensures the stability of the organic substances in the cured adhesive.

Implementation Method 1

the light-reflective insulating particles have a particle diameter of 0.2 to 0.3 μm... most of the light output downward reflects on the light-reflective layer 40

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

there is a concern of photodegradation of an organic substance contained in a cured adhesive. However, the present inventors have found that such a concern is solved by treating the surface of titanium oxide particles so that the surface is coated with a metal oxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotocatalytic action: Photo-oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP2687572B1Light-reflective anisotropic conductive adhesive and light-emitting device
Publication Date: 2018.05.30 DEXERIALS CORP
  • EP2687572B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2687572B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2
  • EP2687572B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light-reflective anisotropic conductive adhesive used for anisotropic conductive connection of a light-emitting element to a wiring substrate includes a thermosetting resin composition, conductive particles, and light-reflective insulating particles. The light-reflective insulating particles are formed by subjecting titanium oxide particles to a surface treatment with one kind selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, SiO, SiO2, ZnO, ZnO2, and ZrO2. The amount of the titanium oxide contained in the light-reflective insulating particles is 85 to 93%. The particle diameter of the light-reflective insulating particles is 0.2 to 0.3 µm, and the particle diameter of the conductive particles is 2 to 10 µm.