Hermetic Optoelectronic Component With Metallized Window Seam
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hermetically gas-tight electronic components are not suitable for optoelectronic or electro-optical transducer elements as they lack a beam path, and existing solutions with transparent windows are not robust against high temperatures and aggressive media, leading to non-gas-tight connections and measurement drift.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a hermetically gas-tight optoelectronic or electro-optical component using a transparent window element with edge metallization and a housing cap, connected via a circumferential seam of melted metallic material, ensuring a leak-tight connection and robustness against heat and moisture, with materials like sapphire or magnesium fluoride for the window and Kovar for the housing cap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a transparent window is added to the housing cap to enable optical path, then the optoelectronic measurement function is improved, but the gas-tight connection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The window element uses a composite structure combining transparent material (for optical transmission) with edge metallization layers (for mechanical bonding). This composite approach allows the window to simultaneously provide optical access and maintain hermetic sealing when connected to the housing cap via the metallized edge.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional soldering is used to connect the window to the housing cap, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the connection fails under high temperature and aggressive media
Solution Approach 1:
The edge metallization acts as an intermediary layer between the transparent window material and the housing cap. This metallized edge serves as the bonding interface that withstands high temperatures and aggressive media, while allowing the transparent material to maintain its optical properties. The metallization mediates between the optical requirements and the mechanical/thermal requirements.
3Reliability
If the housing cap is made completely hermetic without openings, then the gas-tight seal is improved, but the optical measurement function is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The housing cap maintains hermetic sealing in all areas except where the window element is installed. The window element itself provides the localized optical access point while the surrounding housing cap structure maintains the gas-tight barrier. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of optical functionality and overall hermeticity.
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 solution maintains permissible measurement tolerances for over 10,000 hours at 250°C and 18,000 hours at 185°C, withstanding rapid and slow temperature changes and high humidity, while maintaining a gas-tight seal and robustness against environmental influences.
Implementation Method 1
connected via a circumferential seam of melted metallic material
Implementation Method 2
connected via a circumferential seam of melted metallic material, ensuring a leak-tight connection
Implementation Method 3
transparent window element with edge metallization... enabling a beam path between the transducer element and a measurement environment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hermetically gas-tight optoelectronic or electro-optical component (1) with high robustness against heat and moisture. Essential to the invention is a hermetically gas-tight connection of a housing cap (4) to a carrier (3) and a hermetically gas-tight sealing of openings (5) in the housing cap (4) by means of at least one window element (10).The invention further relates to an electronic component (1) with a housing (2) comprising a housing cap (4), a support (3) as the base plate of the housing (2), and an interior space (6) enclosed by the housing cap (4) and the support (3), as well as with at least one optoelectronic or electro-optic transducer element (7) arranged in the interior space (6), wherein the housing cap (4) is hermetically sealed gas-tight by the support (3) through a metallurgical bond of molten metal, and the housing cap (4) has at least one opening (5). The at least one opening (5) is hermetically gas-tightly connected to the housing cap (4) by at least one window element (10) along an edge metallization (10.2) of the window element (10) by a circumferential first seam (17) of molten metallic material. The window element (10) is transparent at least to radiation (9).