Substrate Bonding Conditioning With Localized Internal Modifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current substrate conditioning methods in semiconductor technology are not optimal, as they often rely on global modifications and surface interactions, which can lead to limited and unpredictable results, failing to effectively address undesired properties such as mechanical stress and surface defects, especially during complex bonding processes.

Innovation Solution

Applying a plurality of local modifications within the substrate to facilitate bonding, allowing for highly customizable and adaptable conditioning effects that can persist over time, enabling precise control of mechanical and optical properties to enhance bonding quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If global modifications and surface interactions are used for substrate conditioning, then the conditioning process is simple and uniform, but the results are limited and unpredictable, failing to effectively address undesired properties such as mechanical stress and surface defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconditioning precisionVSAvoidconditioning process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate surface is divided into multiple discrete regions, each receiving tailored modifications. The conditioning process segments the uniform surface treatment into localized zones with specific properties, allowing precise control over mechanical stress and surface defects in different areas simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the substrate are given different local properties through customized modifications. Each local region receives specific treatments tailored to its requirements, creating spatially varying quality characteristics that address diverse undesired properties across the substrate surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conventional surface-based conditioning methods are applied, then the process is easy to implement, but it cannot effectively address mechanical stress and surface defects within the substrate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding reliabilityVSAvoidconditioning ease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conditioning approach transitions from purely surface-level modifications to include subsurface modifications. By extending the modification depth into the substrate volume, the process can address mechanical stress and defects that originate below the surface while maintaining ease of implementation through controlled application parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Undesired properties such as mechanical stress and surface defects are addressed before the bonding process occurs. The conditioning modifications are applied in advance to prepare the substrate, eliminating potential bonding failures proactively rather than requiring complex post-processing or specialized bonding equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If uniform conditioning is applied across the entire substrate, then the process is simple and fast, but it cannot provide customized conditioning effects for different regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconditioning adaptabilityVSAvoidconditioning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conditioning process becomes dynamic and adaptable, allowing modification parameters such as intensity, duration, and type to be adjusted for each local region. This dynamic control enables customized conditioning effects while maintaining efficient processing through automated parameter adjustment rather than manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the substrate receive modifications with varying parameters including intensity, duration, temperature, and modification type. By changing these parameters locally, the process achieves high adaptability to different region requirements while maintaining overall process efficiency through systematic parameter management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4418304A1Wafer conditioning
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 CARL ZEISS SMS GMBH
  • EP4418304A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4418304A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4418304A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for conditioning a bonding of substrates. The method comprising: applying a plurality of local modifications within a first substrate for facilitating bonding the first substrate to a second substrate. The invention comprises further conditioning methods, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding apparatus.