Venting array and manufacturing method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MEMS packages face challenges in incorporating environmental barriers that provide both protection from contaminants and pressure equalization in a thin form factor, due to the limitations of high-temperature reflow soldering and the mechanical strength of current barriers.
Innovation Solution
A venting device is manufactured using a combination of a porous polymeric matrix material, such as expanded PTFE, and a substrate material, which are laminated together to create a composite with both porous and nonporous regions, allowing for gas flow while preventing liquid contaminants, and can be attached to MEMS packages using various methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a PTFE membrane barrier is used to protect the transducer from environmental contaminants, then protection from moisture, oil, and dust is improved, but the mechanical strength and temperature resistance deteriorate under reflow soldering conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a porous PTFE membrane with a sintered metal support layer. The PTFE membrane provides chemical resistance and filtration, while the sintered metal layer provides mechanical strength and thermal stability. This composite approach allows the barrier to withstand reflow soldering temperatures and mechanical stresses while maintaining its protective function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a thick environmental barrier is used to provide sufficient protection, then protection from contaminants is improved, but the form factor thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous PTFE membrane with controlled pore structure that provides effective contamination protection through filtration while maintaining a thin overall profile. The porous structure allows the membrane to be thin yet still effectively block contaminants, achieving both protection and thin form factor requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of porous PTFE membrane combined with sintered metal support enables thin profile design. The PTFE layer can be very thin since the sintered metal provides the structural rigidity, allowing the overall barrier assembly to be thin while maintaining both protection and mechanical integrity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a dense barrier structure is used to prevent liquid contaminant ingress, then protection from liquids is improved, but gas flow for pressure equalization is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous PTFE membrane with specifically engineered pore size and distribution that allows gas molecules to pass through via diffusion and pressure-driven flow while blocking liquid contaminants. The porous structure provides selective permeability based on the physical properties of different substances, enabling gas transmission while preventing liquid ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier structure exhibits different properties at different scales: at the macro level it appears dense to block liquids, while at the micro level the porous structure allows gas flow. This local quality differentiation enables simultaneous achievement of liquid protection and gas permeability.
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 effectively protects MEMS packages from dust, moisture, and other contaminants while enabling pressure equalization and gas transmission, offering an efficient manufacturing method for small venting devices in a thin form factor.
Implementation Method 1
a porous polymeric matrix material, such as expanded PTFE
Implementation Method 2
allowing for gas flow while preventing liquid contaminants
Implementation Method 3
which are laminated together to create a composite with both porous and nonporous regions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a vent array comprising a plurality of venting regions comprising a porous PTFE matrix material and a nonporous material comprising a substrate material having a plurality of perforations, wherein the substrate material fills the pores of a porous PTFE matrix material to form nonporous regions, the nonporous regions interconnecting the plurality of venting regions.