1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a chip package, especially a chip package having a micro-electromechanical device therein, and a fabrication method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the trends of electronic devices toward lighter and more compact, the demand of functions of the electronic devices is correspondingly increased. In order to meet the needs of a variety of functions, semiconductor packages and electronic components having different functions are provided on a circuit board of the electronic device. However, since an amount of these elements is increased, a volume of the electronic device is bound to be increased, and thus resulting in the demand of miniaturization of the electronic devices could not be met. To satisfy the demand of miniaturization, the semiconductor packages are integrated with the electronic components to form a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS), which not only reduces the layout space of the circuit board to decrease the volume of the electronic device, but also maintains the needs of the variety of functions.
Generally, a micro-electromechanical device is formed in a chamber. However, various micro-electromechanical devices in a chip package respectively require environments having different pressures. For example, vacuum packaging technique provides a vacuum chamber for some micro-electromechanical devices, but some other micro-electromechanical devices should be placed in a non-vacuum chamber. Therefore, the difficulty of integrating different micro-electromechanical devices in one chip package is increased, and thus increases the cost of production and the processing time. Accordingly, a method of regulating the pressure of the chamber is necessary for the industry to increase the efficiency of the process.
The present disclosure provides a chip package including a substrate, a cap layer, a first chamber, a first micro-electromechanical device, a first plug and a first seal cap. The cap layer is disposed on the substrate, and the cap layer has a first opening penetrating the cap layer. The first chamber is disposed between the substrate and the cap layer, and the first micro-electromechanical device is disposed in the first chamber. The first plug disposed in the first opening, and the first seal cap is disposed above the cap layer to seal the first opening.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first chamber is a non-vacuum environment.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, an upper surface of the first plug and an upper surface of the cap layer are coplanar.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first plug includes photosensitive epoxy.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first seal cap completely covers an upper surface of the first plug.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first seal cap includes an oxide, and the oxide is silicon dioxide.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first seal cap includes a metal of aluminum.
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a chip package including a substrate, a cap layer, a first chamber and a second chamber, a first micro-electromechanical device and a second micro-electromechanical device, a first plug and a first seal cap. The cap layer is disposed on the substrate, and the cap layer has a first opening penetrating the cap layer. The first chamber and the second chamber are disposed between the substrate and the cap layer; and the first micro-electromechanical device and the second micro-electromechanical device are respectively disposed in the first chamber and the second chamber. The first plug is disposed in the first opening, and the first seal cap is disposed above the cap layer to seal the first opening.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first chamber is a non-vacuum environment, and the second chamber is a vacuum environment.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first micro-electromechanical device is an acceleration sensor, and the second micro-electromechanical device is a gyroscope.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the cap layer further includes a second opening penetrating the cap layer.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the chip package further includes a second plug and a second seal cap. The second plug is disposed in the second opening, and the second seal cap is disposed above the cap layer to seal the second opening, which the first chamber is at a first pressure, and the second chamber is at a second pressure.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, an upper surface of the first plug, an upper surface of the second plug and an upper surface of the cap layer are coplanar.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first seal cap completely covers an upper surface of the first plug, and the second seal cap completely covers an upper surface of the second plug.
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a chip package, and the method includes following steps. A cap layer is bonded to a wafer to form a first chamber and a second chamber between the cap layer and the wafer, and a first micro-electromechanical device and a second micro-electromechanical device are respectively in the first chamber and the second chamber. A first opening is formed to penetrate the cap layer, and a first plug is formed in the first opening. A first seal cap is formed above the cap layer to seal the first opening.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the step of forming the first plug in the first opening includes following steps. A photosensitive epoxy is deposited to cover the cap layer, and a portion of the photosensitive epoxy is in the first opening. The photosensitive epoxy is patterned, and the photosensitive epoxy is polished to an upper surface of the cap layer to form the first plug in the first opening.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the step of forming the first seal cap above the cap layer to seal the first opening includes following steps. A sealing layer is formed to cover the cap layer and the first plug, and the sealing layer is patterned.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a pressure of the first chamber is adjusted to a first pressure after forming the first opening penetrating the cap layer.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the method of fabricating a chip package further includes following steps. A second opening is formed to penetrate the cap layer, and a pressure of the second chamber is adjusted to a second pressure. A second plug is formed in the second opening, and a second seal cap is formed above the cap layer to seal the second opening.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the method of fabricating a chip package further includes dicing the wafer along a scribe line to form the chip package.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Refer to
In some embodiments, the substrate 110 is a chip structure of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), but not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the substrate 110 is a ceramic circuit board or a metal board.
In some embodiments, the first micro-electromechanical device 140 includes physical sensors, RF circuits, accelerators, gyroscopes, micro actuators, surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, pressure sensors, but not limited thereto.
In addition, the cap layer 120 further includes a first opening 122 penetrating the cap layer 120, and the first opening 122 is connected with the first chamber 130. It should be noticed that different types of micro-electromechanical devices respectively require different pressure environments. For example, the gyroscopes are very sensitive because of persistent vibration and should be disposed in a vacuum environment. On the other hand, the accelerators should be disposed in a non-vacuum environment to reduce noise generation. In response to the requirements of the different micro-electromechanical devices, a pressure of the first chamber 130 is adjusted through the first opening 122. In some embodiments, the first micro-electromechanical device 140 is an acceleration sensor, and gases are injected into the first chamber 130 through the first opening 122, so as to adjust a pressure of the first chamber 130 to 1 atmosphere (atm), but not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the first micro-electromechanical device 140 is a gyroscope, and the first chamber 130 is evacuated to a vacuum through the first opening 122.
The first plug 150 is in the first opening 122, which a material of the first plug 150 includes photosensitive epoxy, and an upper surface 152 of the first plug 150 and an upper surface 124 of the cap layer 120 are coplanar. In addition, the first seal cap 160 is disposed above the cap layer 120 to seal the first opening 122, so as to prevent the gas leaking from the first plug 150. As such, the first chamber 130 is maintained at a pressure value required by the first micro-electromechanical device 140. In addition, the first seal cap 160 completely covers the upper surface 152 of the first plug 150. A material of the first seal cap 160 includes an oxide or a metal. For example, silicon dioxide is deposited by physical vapor depositing to form the first seal cap 160, or aluminum metal is deposited by sputtering to form the first seal cap 160, but not limited thereto. Any suitable oxides and metals could be used in the preparation of the first seal cap 160. Since the oxides and the metals are airtight materials, the first seal cap 160 could effectively prevent the gas leaking from the first plug 150, and thus enhances the yield of the chip package 100.
Continuing in
Following description relates to a chip package according some other embodiments, and it should be understood the materials of the elements mentioned above are not repeated herein.
Continuing in
In present embodiments, the first micro-electromechanical device 340a is an acceleration sensor, and the second micro-electromechanical device 340b is a gyroscope. In the beginning of the process, the first chamber 330a and the second chamber 330b are both vacuum environments. On the purpose to adjust the first chamber 330a to a non-vacuum environment, the cap layer 320 has a first opening 322 penetrating the cap layer 320, and the first opening 322 is connected with the first chamber 330a for regulating a pressure of the first chamber 330a. As such, it is benefit for integrating the accelerator and the gyroscope in the same chip package.
The first plug 350 is in the first opening 322, and an upper surface 352 of the first plug 350 and an upper surface 324 of the cap layer 320 are coplanar. In addition, the first seal cap 360 is disposed above the cap layer 320 to seal the first opening 322, so as to prevent the gas leaking from the first plug 350. As such, the first chamber 330a is maintained at a pressure value required by the first micro-electromechanical device 340a (the acceleration sensor). Furthermore, the first seal cap 360 completely covers the upper surface 352 of the first plug 350 to effectively prevent the gas leaking from the first plug 350, and thus enhances the yield of the chip package 300.
Continuing in
In the beginning of the process, the first chamber 430a and the second chamber 430b are both vacuum environments. In the present embodiments, a pressure of the first chamber 430a is adjusted to a first pressure, and a pressure of the second chamber 430b is adjusted to a second pressure. The cap layer 420 has a first opening 422a and a second opening 422b penetrating the cap layer 420, which the first opening 422a is connected with the first chamber 430a for adjusting the pressure of the first chamber 430a to the first pressure, and the second opening 422b is connected with the second chamber 430b for adjusting the pressure of the second chamber 430b to the second pressure. The first pressure is different from the second pressure, but not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the first pressure is the same as the second pressure.
The first plug 450a and the second plug 450b are respectively in the first opening 422a and the second opening 422b, and an upper surface 452a of the first plug 450a, an upper surface 452b of the second plug 450b and an upper surface 424 of the cap layer 420 are coplanar. In addition, the first seal cap 460a and the second seal cap 460b are disposed above the cap layer 420 to respectively seal the first opening 422a and the second opening 422b, so as to prevent the gas leaking from the first plug 450a and the second plug 450b. As such, the first chamber 430a is maintained at the first pressure, and the second chamber 430b is maintained at the second pressure. Furthermore, the first seal cap 460a completely covers the upper surface 452a of the first plug 450a, and the second seal cap 460b completely covers the upper surface 452b of the second plug 450b, so as to effectively prevent the gas leaking from the first plug 450a and the second plug 450b, and thus enhances the yield of the chip package 400.
Refer to following descriptions to further understand a fabricating method of the chip package. Refer to
Refer to step 510 and
Continuing in step 520 and
In some other embodiments, the first opening 322 is first formed to penetrate the cap layer 320. After that, the cap layer 320 having the first opening 322 is bonded to the wafer 610.
Continuing in step 530 and
Continuing in step 540 and
Continuing in step 550 and
In some embodiments, the step of patterning the photosensitive epoxy 630 is omitted. Instead, the photosensitive epoxy 630 is directly polished to the upper surface 324 of the cap layer 320, so as to form the first plug 350 in the first opening 322.
Continuing in step 560 and
Continuing in step 570 and
Refer to following descriptions to further understand another fabricating method of the chip package. Refer to
Refer to step 710 and
Continuing in step 720 and
In some other embodiments, the first opening 422a and the second opening 422b are first formed to penetrate the cap layer 420. After that, the cap layer 420 having the first opening 422a and the second opening 422b is bonded to the wafer 810.
Continuing in step 730 and
Continuing in step 740 and
Continuing in step 750 and
Continuing in step 760 and
Continuing in step 770 and
In some embodiments, the step of patterning the second photosensitive epoxy 840 is omitted. Instead, the first photosensitive epoxy 830 and the second photosensitive epoxy 840 are directly polished to the upper surface 424 of the cap layer 420, so as to form the first plug 450a and the second plug 450b respectively in the first opening 422a and the second opening 422b.
Continuing in step 780 and
Continuing in step 790 and
The embodiments of the present disclosure discussed above have advantages over existing methods and structures, and the advantages are summarized below. The present disclosure uses a wafer-level packaging technology to prepare environments having various pressures required by different micro-electromechanical devices, so as to integrate these micro-electromechanical devices in one chip package. In addition, the seal cap made of the metal or the oxide further prevents the gas leakage of the chamber, and thus increases the yield and the lifetime of the chip package. Accordingly, a novel and simple process of regulating the pressure of the chamber is provided by the present disclosure, so as to increase the efficiency of the process.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 62/113,998, filed Feb. 9, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62113998 | Feb 2015 | US |