Metal-Ceramic Breaking Recess Profile for Precise Substrate Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing predetermined breaking recesses in metal-ceramic substrates, particularly in large cards, often result in inaccurate breaking and instability during transport, leading to a high rate of rejects due to unintended breaking.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the creation of breaking recesses with modulated depths, where a first section and a second section have different depths, and the bottom of the recess is structured with specific inclinations to ensure accurate breaking and stability, using ultra-short pulse lasers and temperature control to minimize thermomechanical stresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a predetermined breaking recess is formed with uniform depth, then the breaking process is simple, but the substrate exhibits instability during transport and inaccurate breaking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreaking recess formation simplicityVSAvoidsubstrate stability during transport
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the depth of the breaking recess along its length, creating first sections with a first depth and second sections with a second depth. This non-uniform depth profile provides different mechanical properties at different locations, ensuring stable transport while enabling accurate breaking at the desired position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the breaking recess has modulated depth with first and second sections, then breaking accuracy and transport stability improve, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreaking accuracyVSAvoidprocessing method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic action by using pulsed laser irradiation to create the modulated depth structure. The laser is applied in a periodic pattern with different pulse numbers or energies for first sections versus second sections, efficiently creating the complex depth profile without requiring mechanically complex processing equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Manufacturing precision

If laser processing is used to create breaking recesses, then precision is improved, but thermomechanical stresses may cause unintended breaking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreaking recess precisionVSAvoidthermomechanical stress-induced breaking
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies continuity of useful action by performing immediate temperature treatment directly after laser processing while the substrate is still in the processing chamber. This continuous process prevents thermal shock from rapid temperature changes and eliminates the need for separate handling steps that could induce unintended breaking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Reliability

If multiple process steps are used to create modulated breaking recesses, then breaking behavior is optimized, but production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreaking behavior optimizationVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple process steps into a single integrated operation. The laser processing unit performs both the breaking recess formation and the temperature treatment in one continuous process, eliminating intermediate steps and significantly improving production efficiency while maintaining optimized breaking behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 allows for precise and stable breaking of metal-ceramic substrates, reducing rejects and enhancing handling and transport safety by optimizing the fracture behavior and thermal shock resistance.

Implementation Method 1

the metal-ceramic substrate is irradiated with ultrashort pulse laser light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 2

a temperature treatment is performed during the production of the predetermined breaking recess, in particular by means of a heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4301542B1Method for processing a metal-ceramic substrate, and metal-ceramic substrate
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 ROGERS GERMANY
  • EP4301542B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4301542B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for processing a metal-ceramic substrate (1), comprising: - providing a metal-ceramic substrate (1) and - forming a predetermined breaking recess (7) in the metal-ceramic substrate (1), the predetermined breaking recess (7) having along its direction of extension (V) a first portion (A1) with a first depth (T1) and a second portion (A2) with a second depth (T2), wherein a second depth (T2) is achieved, which differs from the first depth (T1).