Abstract:
Solder is deposited on chip elements or other potentially irregular surfaces by applying solder paste to a thin porous sheet such as cotton twill cloth so that the solder paste fills open areas therein. The solder volume is thus regulated by the texture and structure of the porous sheet. The porous sheet is then placed in compression against the surface to which solder is to be applied and the solder in the solder paste reflowed in an oven, preferably including a nitrogen atmosphere. At the same time, excess flux is absorbed by the porous sheet to facilitate subsequent cleaning while the reflow of solder is accurately and repeatably controlled. The process and resulting structure are particularly appropriate to the manufacture of discrete electronic devices which include an array of chip components such as capacitor chips sandwiched between plate structures. The process and structure also provides highly repeatable, high quality solder connections between curved surfaces.
Abstract:
A method, and associated structure, for adhesively coupling a chip to an organic chip carrier. The chip is attached to a top surface of the organic chip carrier by interfacing a solder bump between a C4 solder structure on the chip and a pad on a top surface of the chip carrier. The melting temperature of the solder bump is less than the melting temperature of the C4 solder structure. A block of ferrous material is placed on a top surface of the chip. A temporary or permanent stiffener of ferrous material is placed on the top surface of the chip carrier. A permanent magnet is coupled to a bottom surface of the chip carrier. Alternatively, an electromagnetic could be utilized instead of the electromagnet. Due to the permanent magnet or the electromagnet, a magnetic force on the stiffener is directed toward the magnet and substantially flattens the first surface of the chip carrier. Similarly, a magnetic force on the block is directed toward the magnet such that the electronic component and the chip carrier are held in alignment. The solder bump is reflowed at a temperature between the melting temperature of the solder bump and the melting temperature of the C4 solder structure. The reflowing reconfigures the solder bump. The magnetic force on the block frictionally clamps the reflowed solder between the C4 solder structure and the pad. The chip and carrier are cooled, resulting in the C4 solder structure being adhesively and conductively coupled to the pad.
Abstract:
Break-away tethers to secure electronic, mechanical, optical, or other microstructures, during release from one substrate and transfer to another. Microstructures are fabricated with integrated tethers attaching them to a first substrate. The structures are undercut by etching and contacted and bonded to a second substrate. First and second substrates are separated, breaking the tethers.
Abstract:
An object of the invention is to surely bond a semiconductor chip onto a chip substrate by heat-melting a brazing filler metal as required. A die bonding apparatus which is provided with a substrate holder for holding a chip substrate, a collet for conveying and pressing a semiconductor chip onto the chip substrate held by the substrate holder, a heater for heat-melting a brazing filler metal interposed between the chip substrate and the semiconductor chip, a temperature sensor for detecting the heating temperature of the brazing filler metal, and controlling means for controlling the heater based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is disposed in the collet.
Abstract:
A technique is utilized for coupling a circuit component to a substrate. The circuit component, such as a die, includes a plurality of contacts on one of its surfaces. The contacts may take the form of gold bumps. Solder is placed between the contacts of the circuit component and the contact pads of a substrate. The substrate is heated to about the melting point of the solder, and pressure and ultrasonic energy are used to cause the solder to couple the contacts of the circuit component to the contact pads of the substrate.
Abstract:
A leadframe clamping apparatus includes a resilient polymeric membrane which permits self-leveling compensation of a variably movable clamp insert for variations in leadframe thickness. The clamp insert is formed of a polymer such as polyimide to provide further compensation for leadframe variations.
Abstract:
Solder Paste, adhesives and other materials are screen printed onto Printed Circuit Boards (PCB's) during the assembly process for electronic circuit assemblies. Pressure forces may be applied to the material to aid in separating the material from the apertures within the stencil. The pressure forces are created from sound pressure waves generated from a vibrational energy source located some distance from the stencil. Examples of non-contacting vibrational energy sources include Ultrasonic transducers, horns, speakers, and tuning forks. Additional assistance to separate the material from the apertures may be applied by a vibrational source by contacting to the stencil. Examples of the contacting vibrational energy sources may be off-balanced motors, piezo-electric transducers, and mass-resonant vibrators.
Abstract:
A reflow soldering furnace in which a printed board and a plurality of electronic parts mounted thereon are subjected to reflow soldering. The furnace comprises a reflow soldering furnace body including a plurality of heating zones defined by furnace walls, a hot-gas applier, and a radiant-heat applier. The hot-gas applier includes a heat source and a fan for blowing a hot gas of a temperature lower than a target temperature for each zone against a printed board. The radiant-heat applier includes a heater for applying radiant heat of a temperature higher than the target temperature to the printed board. The printed board and electronic parts thereon are heated to the target temperature, the melting point of solder, by means of the radiant heat from the heater. Among these electronic parts, small-sized ones with a relatively small heat capacity are restrained from overheating by the low-temperature hot gas from the hot-gas applier.