• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.889-895
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• 2002

Wafer level packaging is gain mote momentum as a low cost, high performance solution for RF-MEMS devices. In this work, the flip-chip method was used for the wafer level packaging of RF-MEMS devices on the quartz substrate with low losses. For analyzing the EM (electromagnetic) characteristic of proposed packaging structure, we got the 3D structure simulation using FEM (finite element method). The electric field distribution of CPW and hole feed-through at 3 GHz were concentrated on the hole and the CPW. The reflection loss of the package was totally below 23 dB and the insertion loss that presents the signal transmission characteristic is above 0.06 dB. The 4-inch Pyrex glass was used as a package substrate and it was punched with air-blast with 250${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ diameter holes. We made the vortical feed-throughs to reduce the electric path length and parasitic parameters. The vias were filled with plating gold. The package substrate was bonded with the silicon substrate with the B-stage epoxy. The loss of the overall package structure was tested with a network analyzer and was within 0.05 dB. This structure can be used for wafer level packaging of not only the RF-MEMS devices but also the MEMS devices.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.5-9
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• 2004

A new wafer level packaging scheme is presented as an alternative to MEMS package. The proof-of-concept structure is fabricated and evaluated to confirm the feasibility of the idea for MEMS wafer level packaging. The scheme of this work is developed using an electroplated tin (Sn) solder. The critical difference over conventional ones is that wafers are laterally bonded by solder reflow after LEGO-like assembly. This lateral bonding scheme has merits basically in morphological insensitivity and its better bonding strength over conventional ones and also enables not only the hermetic sealing but also its electrical interconnection solving an open-circuit problem by notching through via-hole. The bonding strength of the lateral bonding is over 30 Mpa as evaluated under shear and the hermeticity of the encapsulation is 2.0$\times10^{-9}$mbar.$l$/sec as examined by pressurized Helium leak rate. Results show that the new scheme is feasible and could be an alternative method for high yield wafer level packaging.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.55-85
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• 2000

MEMS(Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology. MEMS Inertial Sensors promise a new wide market for many areas -Challenge. significant cost reduction by wafer level packaging and testing. decreasing of power consumption by miniaturization. enhancing of performance and reliability. on-chip integration for multiplicity. MEMS is newly emerging technology.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.124-128
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• 2001

We apply for the first time a low cost and loss wafer level packaging technology for RF-MEMS device. The proposed structure was simulated by finite element method (FEM) tool (HFSS of Ansoft). S-parameter measured of the package shows the return loss (S11) of 20dB and the insertion loss (S21) of 0.05dB.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.23-28
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• 2009

We investigated the wafer-level MEMS capping process for which cavity formation in Si wafer was not required. Ni caps were formed by electrodeposition on 4" Si wafer and Ni rims of the Ni caps were bonded to the Cu rims of bottom Si wafer by using epoxy. Then, top Si wafer was debonded from the Ni cap structures by using SnBi layer of low melting temperature. As-evaporated SnBi layer was composed of double layers of Bi and Sn due to the large difference in vapor pressures of Bi and Sn. With keeping the as-evaporated SnBi layer at $150^{\circ}C$ for more than 15 sec, SnBi alloy composed of eutectic phase and Bi-rich $\beta$ phase was formed by interdiffusion of Sn and Bi. Debonding between top Si wafer and Ni cap structures was accomplished by melting of the SnBi layer at $150^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.12S
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• pp.1237-1241
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• 2003

In this paper, we report a novel RF-MEMS packaging technology with lightweight, small size, and short electric path length. To achieve this goal, we used the ultra thin silicon substrate as a packaging substrate. The via holes lot vortical feed-through were fabricated on the thin silicon wafer by wet chemical processing. Then, via holes were filled and micro-bumps were fabricated by electroplating. The packaged RF device has a reflection loss under 22 〔㏈〕 and a insertion loss of -0.04∼-0.08 〔㏈〕. These measurements show that we could package the RF device without loss and interference by using the vertical feed-through. Specially, with the ultra thin silicon wafer we can realize of a device package that has low-cost, lightweight and small size. Also, we can extend a 3-D packaging structure by stacking assembled thin packages.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.14.2-14.2
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• 2007

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2008

In this paper, mechanical reliability issues of copper through-wafer interconnections are investigated numerically and experimentally. A hermetic wafer level packaging for MEMS devices is developed. Au-Sn eutectic bonding technology is used to achieve hermetic sealing, and the vertical through-hole via filled with electroplated copper for the electrical connection is also used. The MEMS package has the size of $1mm{\times}1mm{\times}700{\mu}m$. The robustness of the package is confirmed by several reliability tests. Several factors which could induce via hole cracking failure are investigated such as thermal expansion mismatch, via etch profile, and copper diffusion phenomenon. Alternative electroplating process is suggested for preventing Cu diffusion and increasing the adhesion performance of the electroplating process. After implementing several improvements, reliability tests were performed, and via hole cracking as well as significant changes in the shear strength were not observed. Helium leak testing indicated that the leak rate of the package meets the requirements of MIL-STD-883F specification.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.57-65
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• 2003

In this study, we carry out reliability tests and investigate the failure mechanisms of the anodically bonded wafer level vacuum packaging (WLVP) MEMS gyroscope sensor. There are three failure mechanisms of WLVP: leakage, permeation and out-gassing. The leakage is caused by small dimension of the leak channel through the bonding interface and internal defects. The larger bonding width and the use of single crystalline silicon can reduce the leak rate. Silicon and glass wafer itself generates a large amount of outgassing including $H_2O$, $C_3H_5$, $CO_2$, and organic gases. Epi-poly wafer generates 10 times larger amount of outgassing than SOI wafer. The sandblasting process in the glass increases outgassing substantially. Outgassing can be minimized by pre-baking of the wafer in the vacuum oven before bonding process. An optimum pre-baking temperature of the wafers would be between $400^{\circ}C$ and $500^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2006

In this study, we describe a low-temperature wafer-level thermocompression bonding using electroplated gold seal line and bonding pads by electroplating method for RF-MEMS devices. Silicon wafers, electroplated with gold (Au), were completely bonded at $320^{\circ}C$ for 30 min at a pressure of 2.5 MPa. The through-hole interconnection between the packaged devices and external terminal did not need metal filling process and was made by gold films deposited on the sidewall of the throughhole. This process was low-cost and short in duration. Helium leak rate, which is measured to evaluate the reliability of bonded wafers, was $2.7{\pm}0.614{\times}10^{-10}Pam^{3}/s$. The insertion loss of the CPW packaged was $-0.069{\sim}-0.085\;dB$. The difference of the insertion loss between the unpackaged and packaged CPW was less than -0.03. These values show very good RF characteristics of the packaging. Therefore, gold thermocompression bonding can be applied to high quality hermetic wafer level packaging of RF-MEMS devices.