Hermetic package for pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device and method of manufacturing the same

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6507097
  • Patent Number
    6,507,097
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, November 29, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 14, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A hermetic package for a pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device and methods of manufacturing one or more of such packages. In one embodiment, the package includes: (1) a device substrate having: (1a) an active region containing an electrically conductive pattern that constitutes at least a portion of the device and (1b) a bonding region surrounding the active region, (2) a non-porous mounting substrate having a bonding region thereon and (3) a nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive, located between the bonding region of the device substrate and the bonding region of the mounting substrate, that cures at a temperature substantially below a pyroelectric sensitive temperature of the device, the active region proximate a void between the device substrate and the mounting substrate.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is directed, in general, to surface acoustic wave circuits and, more specifically, to a hermetic package for a surface acoustic wave circuit and method of manufacturing such hermetic package therefor.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Electronic signal processing by means of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices has been widely adopted by the electronics industry. Such SAW devices can be designed to operate as analog electrical filters that operate at over a wide range of frequencies and have several advantages over conventional technologies. One such advantage is that they can be designed to provide complex signal processing in a single unit. Saw devices also benefit from the ability to be mass produced using semiconductor microfabrication techniques which produces highly uniform devices at a substantially reduced cost. SAW devices can be easily integrated into many digital communications systems and designed to operate in high harmonic modes in the gigahertz (GHz)frequency range.




The response characteristics of a particular SAW device are governed by several factors. One is the geometry of conductors laid out on the SAW resonator's piezoelectric substrate. A typical geometry for a SAW resonator includes first and second SAW finger sets. Portions of the finger sets are interdigitated in a central region of the SAW resonator and are employed to generate or attenuate acoustic waves. Additional non-interdigitated finger sets lie outside of the central region and serve to reflect acoustic waves back into the central region. Proper operation and containment of the acoustic waves require precise construction of both the central and outlying regions.




The interdigitated finger sets act as input and output signal ports when an AC voltage is applied to the signal input portion of the metal lines. Application of an appropriate input electrical AC signal provides the stimulus to create an acoustic wave that may typically be a Rayleigh wave with motion confined to about one acoustic wavelength under the free surface of the piezoelectric substrate. Alternatively, the acoustic excitation may be a “leaky wave,” which also finds application in modern radio frequency devices. This wave is propagates to the receiver portion. The fingers corresponding to the signal receiving portion draw energy from the acoustic wave in the lattice and convert it into a filtered electrical signal.




However, effective operation at high frequencies and general reduction in device size require a SAW resonator with smaller, more closely spaced finger sets. An undesirable effect of these small geometries is that the metal lines become subject to failure. One particularly troublesome mechanism of failure resulting from formation of large voltage gradients in the piezoelectric substrate. Such voltage gradients may develop as a result of thermal gradients developed during heating cycles in the manufacturing process, given the inherent pyroelectric nature of the piezoelectric substrate. When the gradient exceeds a threshold, arcing may occur, damaging or destroying the ability of the interdigitated metal lines to transmit and detect the surface acoustic wave.




Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a surface acoustic wave device and a method of manufacturing a surface acoustic wave device that reduces or eliminates the damage to the device resulting from the presence of voltage gradients in the piezoelectric substrate.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a hermetic package for a pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device and methods of manufacturing one or more of such packages. In one embodiment, the package includes: (1) a device substrate having: (1a) an active region containing an electrically conductive pattern that constitutes at least a portion of the device and (1b) a bonding region surrounding the active region, (2) a non-porous mounting substrate having a bonding region thereon and (3) a nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive, located between the bonding region of the device substrate and the bonding region of the mounting substrate, that cures at a temperature substantially below a pyroelectric sensitive temperature of the device, the active region proximate a void between the device substrate and the mounting substrate.




The present invention therefore introduces the broad concept of forming a hermetic seal for a pyroelectric-sensitive device of a nonmetallic sealing adhesive. Curing the adhesive involves relatively low temperatures, thereby avoiding any substantial pyroelectric effects that might harm the device.




In one embodiment of the present invention, the active region is sunken into the device substrate relative to the bonding region thereof to accommodate at least a portion of the void. In an alternative embodiment, a central region of the mounting substrate is sunken into the mounting substrate relative to the bonding region thereof to accommodate at least a portion of the void. In another alternative embodiment, both the device and mounting substrates have sunken portions that together accommodate the void.




In one embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive has a cure temperature of at most 150° Fahrenheit. Of course, other cure temperatures and ranges are within the broad scope of the present invention.




In one embodiment of the present invention, the device substrate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: (1) bismuth germanium oxide, (2) gallium arsenide, (3) lithium borate, (4) lithium niobate, (5) lithium tantalate, (6) langasite, (7) lead zirconium tantalate and (8) quartz. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as a device substrate, depending upon the particular application involved.




In one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting substrate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: (1) ceramic, (2) silicon and (3) glass. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as a mounting substrate, depending upon the particular application involved.




In one embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: (1) acrylate coated with silicon nitride, (2) acrylate coated with silicon carbide, (3) acrylate coated with silicon oxide, (4) acrylate coated with aluminum nitride, (5) acrylate coated with aluminum oxide, (6) benzocyclobutene coated with silicon nitride, (7) benzocyclobutene coated with silicon carbide, (8) benzocyclobutene coated with silicon oxide, (9) benzocyclobutene coated with aluminum nitride, (10) benzocyclobutene coated with aluminum oxide and (11) epoxy resin. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as an adhesive, depending upon the particular application involved.




In one embodiment of the present invention, the device is selected from the group consisting of: (1) a surface acoustic wave device, (2) a micro-electromechanical system device, (3) a mirror device and (4) a piezoelectric device. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other devices are within the broad scope of the present invention.




In one embodiment of the present invention, the device substrate and the mounting substrate have coextensive footprints. Noncoextensive footprints are within the broad scope of the present invention.




The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, preferred and alternative features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1A

illustrates a hermetic package for a pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device constructed according to the principles of the present invention, the illustration depicting a portion of a mounting substrate


150


removed for clarity;





FIG. 1B

illustrates the mounting substrate


150


illustrated in

FIG. 1A

;





FIG. 2

illustrates a method of manufacturing a hermetic package for a pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device according to the principles of the present invention; and





FIG. 3

illustrates method of manufacturing a hermetic package for a plurality of pyroelectric-sensitive electronic devices.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




Referring initially to

FIGS. 1A and 1B

, illustrated are a pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device hermetic package


100


and a mounting substrate


150


included therein. The package


100


includes a device substrate


110


, the non-porous mounting substrate


150


and a nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive


180


.




The device substrate


110


may comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of bismuth germanium oxide, gallium arsenide, lithium borate, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, langasite, lead zirconium tantalate, and quartz. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as the


110


device substrate, depending upon the particular application involved. The device substrate


110


includes an active region


120


, containing an electrically conductive pattern


130


that constitutes at least a portion of a pyro-sensitive electronic device, and a bonding region


140


surrounding the active region


120


. In the illustrated embodiment, the active region


120


is located within a void formed by a recess


145


in the bonding region


140


, the active region


120


thereby sunken into the device substrate


110


relative to the bonding region


140


. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that while the void formed by the recess


145


in bonding region


140


is desirable in some applications, the active region


120


and the electrically conductive pattern


130


contained therein may also be located directly on the surface of the device substrate


110


comprising the bonding region


140


, such an alternative embodiment thus excluding the recess


145


.




The non-porous mounting substrate


150


, which may comprise ceramic, silicon or glass, includes a bonding region


160


thereon, a footprint of the bonding region


160


at least partially conforming to a footprint of the bonding region


140


. In the illustrated embodiment, a footprint of the mounting substrate


150


is coextensive with a footprint of the device substrate


110


. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that some applications will not require such coextensiveness. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting substrate


150


includes a void formed by a recess


165


in a central region of the bonding region


160


, the central region thereby sunken into the mounting substrate


150


relative to the bonding region


160


. While in the illustrated embodiment a void is formed by both the recess


145


and the recess


165


, some applications won't include the recess


165


formed in the bonding region


160


. However, those skilled in the art will understand that either the recess


165


or the recess


145


is necessary to form the void proximate the active region


120


containing the electrically conductive pattern


130


.




The nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive


180


is located between the device substrate


110


and the mounting substrate


150


and adheres the two bonding regions


140


,


160


to one another. The bonding of the two bonding regions


140


,


160


creates a hermetic seal around the active area


120


and the electrically conductive pattern


130


contained therein. In one embodiment, the void formed by the recesses


145


,


165


is evacuated prior to adhering the bonding surfaces


140


,


160


, such that the void contains a vacuum upon sealing. By evacuating the void and subsequently sealing the void by means of the hermetic seal created by the hermetic sealing adhesive


180


, operation of the electronic device partially formed by the electrically conductive pattern


180


will not be disturbed or otherwise influenced by unwanted solids, liquids, particulate or other contaminants. In this manner, an unpassivated, pyroelectric-sensitive and contact-sensitive electronic device may nonetheless be protected to ensure predictable performance.




In one embodiment, the nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive comprises a material having a cure temperature substantially below a pyroelectric sensitive temperature of the electronic device at least partially formed by the electrically conductive pattern


130


. The pyroelectric sensitive temperature is that temperature at which thermal gradients within the device substrate


110


generate corresponding voltage gradients sufficient for arcing to occur across the electrically conductive pattern


130


, thereby damaging or destroying the device at least partially formed by the electrically conductive pattern


130


. It is known to those skilled in the art that the adhesive


180


may therefore comprise material having a cure temperature of at most 150° Fahrenheit. Of course, other cure temperatures and ranges are within the broad scope of the present invention.




By curing the adhesive


180


at a temperature below the pyroelectric sensitive temperature of the electronic device, voltage gradients driven by thermal gradients in the pyroelectric material are prevented from developing and subsequently damaging or destroying the ability of the interdigitated metal lines forming the electrically conductive pattern


130


to transmit and detect a surface acoustic wave. The adhesive


180


may comprise acrylate, benzocyclobutene or epoxy coated with at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, aluminum nitride and aluminum oxide. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as the adhesive


180


, depending upon the particular application involved.




In the illustrated embodiment, the electrically conductive pattern


130


may comprise SAW conductors. Such SAW conductors may cooperate to form multiple SAW resonators or other typical SAW circuits. Those skilled in the art should recognize that the conductive pattern


130


is not limited by the scope of the present invention to SAW applications, and that the architecture of the package


100


is equally beneficial to applications calling for other piezoelectric, MEMS or mirror devices that would benefit from the hermetic passivation and pyro-electric sensitivity ensured by this architecture.




Turning now to

FIG. 2

, illustrated is a method


201


of manufacturing an embodiment of a pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device hermetic package


200


, which in the present embodiment may be similar to the package


100


illustrated in FIG.


1


A. The method


201


begins at a step


290


, wherein a device substrate


210


is provided. The device substrate


210


may comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of bismuth germanium oxide, gallium arsenide, lithium borate, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, langasite, lead zirconium tantalate, and quartz. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as the device substrate


210


, depending upon the particular application involved.




The device substrate


210


includes an active region


220


, containing an electrically conductive pattern


230


that constitutes at least a portion of a pyro-sensitive electronic device, and a bonding region


240


surrounding the active region


220


. In the illustrated embodiment, the active region


220


is located within a void formed by a recess


245


in the bonding region


240


, the active region


220


thereby sunken into the device substrate


210


relative to the bonding region


240


. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that while the void formed by the recess


245


in bonding region


240


is desirable in some applications, the active region


220


and the electrically conductive pattern


230


contained therein may also be located directly on the surface of the device substrate


210


comprising the bonding region


240


, such an alternative embodiment thus excluding the recess


245


.




In a step


292


, a non-porous mounting substrate


250


is formed. The mounting substrate


250


, which may comprise ceramic and/or silicon, includes a bonding region


260


thereon, a footprint of the bonding region


260


at least partially conforming to a footprint of the bonding region


240


. In the illustrated embodiment, a footprint of the mounting substrate


250


is substantially coextensive with a footprint of the device substrate


110


. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that some applications will not require such coextensiveness. In the illustrated embodiment, mounting substrate


250


includes a void formed by a recess


265


in a central region of the bonding region


260


, the central region thereby sunken into the mounting substrate


250


relative to the bonding region


260


. While in the illustrated embodiment the void is formed by both the recess


245


and the recess


265


, some applications won't include the recess


265


formed in the bonding region


260


. However, those skilled in the art will understand that either the recess


265


or the recess


245


is necessary to form the void proximate the active region


220


containing the electrically conductive pattern


230


.




In a step


294


, a nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive


280


is located between the device substrate


210


and the mounting substrate


250


and adheres the two bonding regions


240


,


260


to one another. The bonding of the two bonding regions


240


,


260


creates a hermetic seal around the active area


220


and the electrically conductive pattern


230


contained therein. In one embodiment, the void formed by the recesses


245


,


265


is evacuated prior to adhering the bonding surfaces


240


,


260


, such that the void contains a vacuum upon sealing. By evacuating the void and subsequently sealing the void by means of the hermetic seal created by the hermetic sealing adhesive


280


, operation of the electronic device partially formed by the electrically conductive pattern


280


will not be disturbed or otherwise influenced by unwanted solids, liquids, particulate or other contaminants. In this manner, an unpassivated, pyroelectric-sensitive and contact-sensitive electronic device may nonetheless be protected to ensure predictable performance.




In a final step


296


, a heat source


285


is employed to cure the adhesive


280


. Those skilled in the art should understand the heat sources conventionally available for curing the adhesive


280


. In one embodiment, the nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive comprises a material having a cure temperature substantially below a pyroelectric sensitive temperature of the electronic device at least partially formed by the electrically conductive pattern


230


. It is known to those skilled in the art that the adhesive


280


may therefore comprise material having a cure temperature of at most 150° Fahrenheit. Of course, other cure temperatures and ranges are within the broad scope of the present invention.




By curing the adhesive


280


at a temperature below the pyroelectric sensitive temperature of the electronic device, voltage gradients driven by thermal gradients in the pyroelectric material are prevented from developing and subsequently damaging or destroying the ability of the interdigitated metal lines forming the electrically conductive pattern


230


to transmit and detect a surface acoustic wave. The adhesive


280


may comprise acrylate, epoxy or benzocyclobutene coated with at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, aluminum nitride and aluminum oxide. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as the adhesive


280


, depending upon the particular application involved.




In the illustrated embodiment, the electrically conductive pattern


230


may comprise SAW conductors. Such SAW conductors may cooperate to form multiple SAW resonators or other typical SAW circuits. Those skilled in the art should recognize that the conductive pattern


230


is not limited by the scope of the present invention to SAW applications, and that the architecture of the package


200


is equally beneficial to applications calling for other piezoelectric, MEMS or mirror devices that would benefit from the hermetic passivation and pyro-electric sensitivity ensured by this architecture.




Turning now to

FIG. 3

, illustrated is a method


301


of manufacturing an embodiment of a hermetic package


300


comprising a plurality of pyroelectric-sensitive SAW devices


330


. The method


301


begins at a step


390


, wherein a plurality of SAW devices


330


is arranged on a device substrate wafer


310


. The device substrate wafer


310


may comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of bismuth germanium oxide, gallium arsenide, lithium borate, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, langasite, lead zirconium tantalate, and quartz. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as the device substrate


310


depending upon the particular application involved.




The device substrate wafer


310


includes a plurality of active regions


320


, each of the plurality of active regions


320


containing an electrically conductive pattern


330


that constitutes at least a portion of a pyro-sensitive SAW device, and a plurality of bonding regions


340


, each of the plurality of bonding regions


340


surrounding a corresponding active region


320


. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the plurality of active regions


320


is located within a corresponding one of a plurality of voids each formed by a recess


345


in one of the plurality of bonding regions


340


. Each active region


320


is thereby sunken into the device substrate wafer


310


relative to a corresponding bonding region


340


. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that while the plurality of voids formed by the plurality of recesses


345


in the plurality of bonding regions


340


is desirable in some applications, the plurality of active regions


320


and the plurality of electrically conductive patterns


330


contained therein may also be located on the surface of the device substrate wafer


310


comprising the plurality of bonding regions


340


, such an alternative embodiment thus excluding the plurality of recesses


345


.




In a step


392


, a non-porous mounting substrate


350


is formed. The mounting substrate


350


, which may comprise ceramic, silicon or glass, includes a plurality of bonding regions


360


thereon, a footprint of each of the plurality of bonding regions


360


at least partially conforming to a footprint a corresponding one of the plurality of the bonding regions


340


. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting substrate


350


includes a plurality of voids each formed by one of a plurality of recesses


365


in a central region of a corresponding one of the plurality of bonding regions


360


, each central region thereby sunken into the mounting substrate


350


relative to the corresponding bonding region


360


. While in the illustrated embodiment each of the plurality of voids is formed by both a recess


345


and a recess


365


, some applications won't include a recess


365


formed in a bonding region


360


. However, those skilled in the art will understand that either a recess


365


or a recess


345


is necessary to form the void proximate an active region


320


containing an electrically conductive pattern


330


.




In a step


394


, a nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive


380


is introduced between the device substrate wafer


310


and the mounting substrate


350


and adheres a corresponding pair of bonding regions


340


,


360


to one another. The bonding of the two bonding regions


340


,


360


creates a hermetic seal around the corresponding active area


320


and the electrically conductive pattern


330


contained therein. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of voids formed by the recesses


345


,


365


is evacuated prior to adhering the corresponding pair of bonding surfaces


340


,


360


, such that each void contains a vacuum upon sealing. By evacuating the plurality of voids and subsequently sealing the voids by means of the hermetic seal created by the hermetic sealing adhesive


380


, operation of each of the SAW devices partially formed by the plurality of electrically conductive patterns


380


will not be disturbed or otherwise influenced by unwanted solids, liquids, particulate or other contaminants. In this manner, a plurality of unpassivated, pyroelectric-sensitive and contact-sensitive SAW devices may nonetheless be protected to ensure predictable performance.




In a final step


396


, a heat source


385


is employed to cure the adhesive


380


. Those skilled in the art should understand the heat sources conventionally available for curing the adhesive


380


. In one embodiment, the nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive comprises a material having a cure temperature substantially below a pyroelectric sensitive temperature of the plurality of SAW devices at least partially formed by the plurality of electrically conductive patterns


330


. It is known to those skilled in the art that the adhesive


380


may therefore comprise material having a cure temperature of at most 150° Fahrenheit. Of course, other cure temperatures and ranges are within the broad scope of the present invention.




By curing the adhesive


380


at a temperature below the pyroelectric sensitive temperature of the plurality of electronic devices, voltage gradients driven by thermal gradients in the pyroelectric material are prevented from developing and subsequently damaging or destroying the ability of the interdigitated metal lines forming the plurality of electrically conductive patterns


330


to transmit and detect a surface acoustic wave. The adhesive


380


may comprise acrylate, epoxy or benzocyclobutene coated with at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, aluminum nitride and aluminum oxide. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that other materials may be suitable for use as an adhesive, depending upon the particular application involved.




Method


301


may include an additional step (not shown), wherein a passivation layer is formed over at least a portion of the mounting substrate


350


, spanning the mounting substrate


350


and the device substrate wafer


310


. The passivation layer is primarily employed to resolve any mechanical or handling issues that may arise. By protecting the package


300


with the passivation layer, the threat of damage encountered in subsequent manual or automated handling and assembly procedures (e.g., pick-and-place procedures) may be mitigated. The passivation layer may comprise bismuth germanium oxide, gallium arsenide, lithium borate, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, langasite, lead zirconium tantalate, quartz, ceramic, silicon, Pyrex or any other similar material or a combination thereof. The passivation layer may be applied to the package


300


either by injection, transfer molding or liquid disposition.




In the illustrated embodiment, the electrically conductive pattern


330


may comprise SAW conductors. Such SAW conductors may cooperate to form multiple SAW resonators or other typical SAW circuits. Those skilled in the art should recognize that each of the plurality of conductive patterns


330


is not limited by the scope of the present invention to SAW applications, and that the architecture of the package


300


is equally beneficial to applications calling for other piezoelectric, MEMS or mirror devices that would benefit from the hermetic passivation and pyroelectric sensitivity ensured by this architecture.




The manufacturing method


301


may also include a step (not shown) in which the packaged hermetic wafer assembly


300


may be separated into individual hermetic packages (not shown, but similar to the hermetic package


200


discussed in reference to FIG.


2


), each package containing one or more electronic devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the hermetic wafer assembly


302


may be separated into the individual hermetic packages using wafer dicing, however, one skilled in the art understands that any compatible separation technique may be used.




Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that they can make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.



Claims
  • 1. A hermetic package for a pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device, comprising:a device substrate having: an active region containing an electrically conductive pattern that constitutes at least a portion of said device, and a bonding region surrounding said active region; a non-porous mounting substrate having a bonding region thereon; and a nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive, located between said bonding region of said device substrate and said bonding region of said mounting substrate, that cures at a temperature substantially below a pyroelectric sensitive temperature of said device, said active region proximate a void between said device substrate and said mounting substrate.
  • 2. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said active region is sunken into said device substrate relative to said bonding region thereof to accommodate at least a portion of said void.
  • 3. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein a central region of said mounting substrate is sunken into said mounting substrate relative to said bonding region thereof to accommodate at least a portion of said void.
  • 4. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said adhesive has a cure temperature of at most 150° Fahrenheit.
  • 5. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said device substrate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:bismuth germanium oxide, gallium arsenide, lithium borate, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, langasite, lead zirconium tantalate, and quartz.
  • 6. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting substrate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:ceramic, glass, and silicon.
  • 7. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said adhesive comprises one selected from the group consisting of:acrylate, epoxy, and benzocyclobutene.
  • 8. The package as recited in claim 7 wherein said one is coated with a coating selected from the group consisting of:silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, aluminum nitride, and aluminum oxide.
  • 9. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of:a surface acoustic wave device, a micro-electromechanical system device, a mirror device, and a piezoelectric device.
  • 10. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said device substrate and said mounting substrate have coextensive footprints.
  • 11. A method of manufacturing a hermetic package for a pyroelectric-sensitive electronic device, comprising:forming a device substrate having: an active region containing an electrically conductive pattern that constitutes at least a portion of said device, and a bonding region surrounding said active region; forming a non-porous mounting substrate having a bonding region thereon; introducing a nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive between said bonding region of said device substrate and said bonding region of said mounting substrate; and curing said sealing adhesive at a temperature substantially below a pyroelectric sensitive temperature of said device, said active region proximate a void between said device substrate and said mounting substrate.
  • 12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming said device substrate comprises sinking said active region into said device substrate relative to said bonding region thereof to accommodate at least a portion of said void.
  • 13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming said mounting substrate comprises sinking a central region of said mounting substrate into said mounting substrate relative to said bonding region thereof to accommodate at least a portion of said void.
  • 14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said introducing further comprises introducing an adhesive having a cure temperature of at most 150° Fahrenheit.
  • 15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming said device substrate comprises forming a device substrate comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:bismuth germanium oxide, gallium arsenide, lithium borate, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, langasite, lead zirconium tantalate, and quartz.
  • 16. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming said non-porous mounting substrate comprises forming a mounting substrate comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:ceramic, glass, and silicon.
  • 17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said introducing said adhesive comprises introducing an adhesive comprising one selected from the group consisting of:acrylate, epoxy, and benzocyclobutene.
  • 18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said one is coated with a coating selected from the group consisting of:silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, aluminum nitride, and aluminum oxide.
  • 19. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of:a surface acoustic wave device, a micro-electromechanical system device, a mirror device, and a piezoelectric device.
  • 20. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said device substrate and said mounting substrate have coextensive footprints.
  • 21. A method of manufacturing a hermetic package for a plurality of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, comprising:arranging said plurality of SAW devices on a device substrate wafer such that active regions thereof are surrounded by bonding regions; forming a non-porous mounting substrate having bonding regions thereon that correspond to said bonding regions of said device substrate wafer; introducing a nonmetallic hermetic sealing adhesive between said bonding regions of said device substrate wafer and said bonding regions of said mounting substrate; and curing said sealing adhesive at a temperature substantially below a pyroelectric sensitive temperature of said SAW devices, said active regions thereof proximate voids between said device substrate wafer and said mounting substrate.
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