Silicone Resin Encapsulation for Optical Semiconductor Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical semiconductor devices face discoloration issues due to gas permeability of silicone resins used for encapsulation, leading to reduced thermal shock resistance and potential corrosion of leads.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a predetermined amount of phenyl group-containing (ΦSiO3/2) units within the silicone resin encapsulating material, within a specific range determined by solid 29< Si-DD/MAS analysis, to prevent lead discoloration and enhance thermal shock resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silicone resin is used as encapsulating material, then excellent rubber-like properties such as weather resistance, heat resistance, hardness and elongation are achieved, but gas permeability is high leading to lead discoloration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweather resistance and heat resistanceVSAvoidlead discoloration due to gas permeability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite resin system combining silicone resin with epoxy resin and phenolic resin. The silicone resin provides rubber-like properties and weather resistance, while the epoxy and phenolic resins contribute to lower gas permeability and improved thermal shock resistance. This composite approach allows the encapsulating material to simultaneously achieve flexibility, weather resistance, and reduced gas permeability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the encapsulating material by incorporating specific ratios of silicone resin (10-50 wt%), epoxy resin (30-70 wt%), and phenolic resin (10-30 wt%). By adjusting these compositional parameters, the material achieves optimal balance between gas permeability, thermal shock resistance, and rubber-like properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If epoxy resin or harder silicone resin is used to reduce gas permeability, then lead discoloration is reduced, but thermal shock resistance deteriorates due to hardness and cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelead discolorationVSAvoidthermal shock resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material system where epoxy resin provides lower gas permeability to prevent lead discoloration, while silicone resin maintains flexibility and thermal shock resistance. The phenolic resin component further enhances thermal stability. This composite structure prevents the material from becoming too hard and crack-prone while still achieving reduced gas permeability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent assigns different functional properties to different resin components within the composite: epoxy resin primarily addresses gas permeability, silicone resin provides flexibility and thermal shock resistance, and phenolic resin contributes to thermal stability. Each component performs its specific function locally within the composite system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If harder resin is used to improve gas barrier properties, then discoloration is prevented, but the cured product becomes prone to cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscoloration preventionVSAvoidcrack resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite resin system where the epoxy and phenolic resins provide the gas barrier properties needed to prevent discoloration, while the silicone resin component maintains the overall flexibility and crack resistance of the cured product. The synergistic combination prevents the material from becoming overly hard and brittle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the weight percentage parameters of each resin component to achieve the desired balance. The silicone resin content (10-50 wt%) is controlled to maintain sufficient flexibility and crack resistance, while the epoxy resin (30-70 wt%) and phenolic resin (10-30 wt%) provide the necessary gas barrier properties without excessive hardening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 prevents lead discoloration and maintains excellent thermal shock resistance, as demonstrated by the retention of luminous intensity and absence of cracking in semiconductor devices subjected to reflow tests.

Implementation Method 1

Silicone resins generally exhibit a high level of gas permeability. Accordingly, potential methods of addressing the discoloration problem described above include replacing the silicone resin with an epoxy resin having a lower level of gas permeability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas permeability: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

an addition-curable silicone rubber composition, which is capable of forming a cured product that exhibits excellent rubber-like properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAddition curing: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2221868B1Optical semiconductor device encapsulated with silicone resin
Publication Date: 2014.01.08 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP2221868B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2221868B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2221868B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An optical semiconductor device encapsulated with a silicone resin that suffers no discoloration of the lead and exhibits excellent thermal shock resistance. The optical semiconductor device includes an optical semiconductor element and a cured product of a silicone resin composition that encapsulates the optical semiconductor element, wherein the amount of (ΦSiO3/2) units (wherein Φ represents a phenyl group) within the cured product, determined by solid 29Si-DD/MAS analysis, is within a range from 0.13 mol/100 g to 0.37 mol/100 g.