Silicon Through Electrode Coplanarity via Preliminary Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic component packages with cavities in silicon substrates face challenges in achieving sufficient coplanarity of through electrodes, leading to faulty connections and reduced yield, especially when trying to integrate various elements, due to the difficulty in planarizing electrodes after cavity formation and forming fine wiring layers.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves forming through electrodes in a flat silicon substrate before creating a cavity, allowing for easy planarization and then using a frame portion from a second silicon substrate to construct the cavity, ensuring the electrodes' coplanarity and enabling low-temperature joining without damaging the electrodes, thus facilitating the integration of various elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If through electrodes are formed after cavity formation in silicon substrate, then cavity structure is achieved, but coplanarity of through electrodes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecavity structureVSAvoidcoplanarity of through electrodes
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming through electrodes in the silicon substrate before creating the cavity structure. This sequence allows the through electrodes to be formed on a flat surface, ensuring good coplanarity, and then the cavity is formed subsequently without affecting the electrode alignment and flatness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If through electrodes are planarized after cavity formation, then coplanarity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoplanarity of through electrodesVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for post-cavity planarization by performing the through electrode formation before cavity creation. This preliminary action ensures coplanarity is achieved during the electrode formation process itself, avoiding the need for additional CMP or other planarization steps that would increase manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If fine wiring layers are formed on cavity bottom surface, then connection precision is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent forms fine wiring layers on the flat upper surface of the silicon substrate before cavity formation, rather than attempting to form them on the cavity bottom surface. This preliminary action on a flat surface significantly reduces manufacturing difficulty while maintaining high connection precision.

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 approach ensures sufficient coplanarity of through electrodes even with a cavity, improves the reliability of electronic component mounting, and allows for the easy integration of various elements, enhancing the yield and cost-effectiveness of the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

an insulating layer 400 made of a silicon oxide layer is formed on the whole surface of the silicon wafer 100 by thermally oxidizing the silicon wafer 100

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal oxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

through electrodes 500 are formed in the through holes TH in the silicon wafer 100 by the plating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlating: Electroplating

Data Source

PatentEP2666745B1Electronic component package and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2016.12.14 SHINKO ELECTRIC IND CO LTD
  • EP2666745B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP2666745B1 patent drawingFigure 1E~1G
  • EP2666745B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2E

AI summary

An electronic component package, comprises: a package substrate portion (11) constructed by a first silicon substrate (10a) in which a through hole (TH) is provided, a first insulating layer (14) formed on upper and lower surface sides of the first silicon substrate (10a) and inner surface of the through hole (TH), and a through electrode (18) filled in the through hole (TH); and a frame portion (23) formed from a second silicon substrate (20a), the frame portion (23) defining an opening extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of the frame portion (23) and being stacked on top of a peripheral portion of the package substrate portion (11) to constitute a cavity (C) on the first silicon substrate (10a) wherein the through electrode (18) is positioned. An upper surface of the through electrode (18) is coplanar with an upper surface of the first insulating layer (14) formed on the upper surface side of the first silicon substrate (10a). The frame portion (23) includes an element (ZD) formed on a lower surface side of the second silicon substrate (20a), a connection electrode (56) formed under the element (ZD) and connected electrically to the element (ZD), and a second insulating layer (54) formed on a periphery of the connection electrode (56). The connection electrode (56) of the frame portion (23) is directly joined to the through electrode (18) of the package substrate portion (11).