Wafer Bonding Apparatus Thermal Isolation via Flexible Rods

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chip thermocompression-bonding tools face challenges in maintaining flatness and accuracy when bonding large-area wafers due to heat deformation and thermal expansion issues, leading to increased heating and cooling times and reduced operational efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A bonding device with a unique structure featuring rod-shaped flexible members and a heating member with a linear expansion coefficient matching the pressure plate units, which applies pressure and heat while minimizing heat transfer to the tool body, maintaining uniform temperature and reducing heat capacity through strategically designed spaces and cooling gas passages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a sintered body with lamination structure is used to control thermal conductivity, then heat transfer to the tool body is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer to tool bodyVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure plate unit is divided into multiple independent ceramic plates (first ceramic plate, second ceramic plate, third ceramic plate) arranged in layers. Each plate has uniform thermal conductivity, avoiding the need for complex lamination structures while achieving heat isolation through the layered arrangement and air gaps between plates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Rod-shaped flexible members are introduced as intermediary elements between the pressure plate unit and the upper pressing member. These members transfer pressure while providing thermal isolation, eliminating the need for complex lamination structures to control heat transfer to the tool body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the thermal expansion coefficient is matched across components, then deformation is reduced, but heat deformation still occurs in portions with temperature gradients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflatness of attractive surfaceVSAvoidheat deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different ceramic plates have different thermal conductivities tailored to their specific functions. The first ceramic plate has high thermal conductivity for efficient heating, while the second and third ceramic plates have lower thermal conductivity to isolate heat from the tool body. This local differentiation eliminates heat deformation in each zone while maintaining overall precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure plate unit is segmented into multiple independent ceramic plates with uniform thermal expansion coefficients. This segmentation ensures that each plate expands uniformly without internal temperature gradients, eliminating heat deformation while maintaining flatness of the attractive surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If the ceramic heater is not thermally isolated from the tool body, then heat transfer is excessive, but reducing thermal conductivity increases heating and cooling times

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer to tool bodyVSAvoidheating and cooling time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure plate unit is segmented into multiple thin ceramic plates rather than using a single thick sintered body. This segmentation reduces thermal mass while maintaining thermal isolation, allowing rapid heating and cooling without excessive heat transfer to the tool body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bonding process uses periodic heating and cooling cycles with the ceramic plates. The high thermal conductivity of the first ceramic plate enables rapid heat input, while the lower conductivity of subsequent plates prevents heat loss to the tool body, achieving efficient periodic thermal processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Loss of energy

If a lamination structure with varying thermal conductivity is used, then heat is transferred to the chip side while isolating the tool body, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer controlVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure plate unit is segmented into multiple simple ceramic plates with uniform properties rather than using a complex lamination structure. The layered arrangement of these simple plates, combined with air gaps and flexible members, achieves heat transfer control without manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal conductivity parameter is differentiated across simple ceramic plates rather than creating a complex lamination structure. The first ceramic plate has high thermal conductivity for heating, while subsequent plates have lower conductivity for isolation, achieving heat control through parameter variation in simple components.

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

This solution enables precise bonding of electronic components with improved flatness and reduced heating/cooling times, enhancing operational efficiency and accuracy by managing thermal expansion and heat distribution effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a heating member that heats the first block member and the second block member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The first flexible members are connected to the other end surface of the first block member so as to be circumferentially equiangularly spaced about the center line of the first block member. The first flexible members transfer the pressure applied by the first pressure member to the first block member.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The first pressure member applies a pressure to the first block member in a predetermined direction... with a first space therebetween

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP1939926B1Bonding apparatus
Publication Date: 2012.03.21 MURATA MFG CO LTD
  • EP1939926B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1939926B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1939926B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A bonding device is provided that is not affected by heat and that is capable of maintaining wafers to be bonded parallel to each other so as to increase and stabilize the accuracy with which the wafers are bonded. A first space M1 is formed between a first block member 12 and a first pressure shaft 22, and a second space M2 is formed between a second block member 28 and a second pressure shaft 42. In this way, little heat is transferred from the first block member 12 and the second block member 28 to the first pressure shaft 22 and the second pressure shaft 42, respectively, and therefore, a substantially uniform temperature is maintained inside the first block member 12 and the second block member 28. Stresses caused by a difference between thermal expansion of the first block member 12 and the second block member 28 and thermal expansion of the first pressure shaft 22 and the second pressure shaft 42 are relieved by deflection of the first support pillar members 20 and the second support pillar members 40. In this way, the flatness of a surface of the first block member 12 for grasping a first wafer W1 and the flatness of a surface of the second block member 28 for grasping a second wafer W2 can be maintained.