The present invention relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same, and particularly to a semiconductor light-emitting device having enclosed therein a semiconductor light-emitting element that emits ultraviolet light and a method of manufacturing the same.
Semiconductor devices in which semiconductor elements are enclosed in semiconductor packages are conventionally known. In the case of a semiconductor light-emitting module, a support on which a semiconductor light-emitting element is placed and a transparent window member such as glass that allows light from the light-emitting element to pass through are joined and sealed airtight.
For example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2 each disclose a semiconductor light-emitting module in which a substrate having a recess storing a semiconductor light-emitting element and a window member are joined.
Patent Literature 3 discloses an ultraviolet light-emitting device in which a mount substrate having an ultraviolet light-emitting element mounted thereon, a spacer, and a cover made of glass are joined.
Patent Literature 4 discloses an optical semiconductor device in which light output at a side surface of an optical semiconductor element is reflected by a metal layer provided on an inclined light-reflecting surface to be directed to a window member to thus enhance light output.
However, further improvement in sealability and joint reliability between a substrate and a window member is needed. A semiconductor light-emitting element that emits ultraviolet light, in particular an AlGaN-based semiconductor light-emitting element, tends to degrade if airtightness is insufficient. Hence, a semiconductor device including the semiconductor light-emitting element is required to be highly airtight.
Moreover, AlGaN-based crystals degrade due to moisture. In particular, when the emission wavelength is shorter, AlGaN-based crystals are more likely to degrade as Al increases in composition. In view of this, a structure in which a substrate and a glass cover are made airtight by a metal joint material is used as an airtight structure that keeps moisture from entering a package containing a light-emitting element. This structure, however, has the problem in that airtightness is insufficient in the case of being used in a humid environment or a wet area.
For example, a ceramic substrate and a window member are provided with respective metal layers, and a joint material such as an AuSn sheet is sandwiched between these metal layers and melted to form an airtight structure. The inventor of the present invention, however, learned that a time difference in melting between the parts of the AuSn sheet in contact with the metal layers and the parts of the AuSn sheet not in contact with the metal layers causes poor airtightness.
More specifically, metalized Au is dissolved in the parts that have melted first, and the resultant Au ratio increases the melting point and the parts solidify. Hence, the parts other than the parts that have melted and solidified first undergo subsequent melting. Such inconsistency in melting start point can cause poor joint and poor airtightness. Further, strain (residual strain) caused by melting and solidification remains in a joint layer, which may induce cracks or the like during use and cause poor airtightness.
In view of the above, the present invention has an object of providing a semiconductor device having high reliability, i.e. maintaining high airtightness even in long-term use, and having high environmental resistance such as moisture resistance and corrosion resistance, and a method of manufacturing the same. The present invention also has an object of providing a semiconductor device including a highly reliable airtight joint that can prevent degradation inside a joint layer without residual stress which causes cracks in the joint portion, and a method of manufacturing the same.
A semiconductor light-emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a semiconductor light-emitting element; a substrate having a mount portion for the semiconductor light-emitting element and a frame portion that is provided to stand on an outer peripheral part of the mount portion and has, on a top surface thereof, a substrate joint surface to which an annular substrate metal layer is fixed; and a light-transmitting cap made of glass and having a window portion that allows light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element to pass through and a cap joint surface to which an annular cap metal layer of a size corresponding to the substrate metal layer is fixed, the cap joint surface being joined to the substrate metal layer by a joint layer to seal the light-transmitting cap to the substrate with an internal space that houses or contains the semiconductor light-emitting element therein, wherein the top surface of the frame portion is inclined to decrease in height from an outer peripheral part toward an inner peripheral part of the frame portion.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below. These embodiments may be modified or combined as appropriate. In the following description and the attached drawings, substantially same or equivalent parts are given the same reference signs.
As illustrated in
In the drawings, the side surfaces of the substrate 11 are parallel to x direction and y direction, and the upper surface of the substrate 11 is parallel to xy plane.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The cap metal layer 21 is joined to the substrate metal layer 12 by a joint layer 22, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The semiconductor light-emitting element 15 such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or a semiconductor laser is joined onto the first wiring electrode 14A by a metal joint layer 15A, and a bonding pad 15B of the light-emitting element 15 is electrically connected to the second wiring electrode 14B through a bonding wire 18C.
The light-emitting element 15 is an aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN)-based semiconductor light-emitting element (LED) in which a semiconductor structure layer including an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer is formed. In the light-emitting element 15, the semiconductor structure layer is formed on (i.e. joined to) a conductive support substrate (silicon: Si) through a reflection layer.
The light-emitting element 15 includes an anode electrode (not illustrated) on the opposite surface (also referred to as the back surface of the light-emitting element 15) to the surface of the support substrate to which the semiconductor structure layer is joined, and is electrically connected to the first wiring electrode 14A on the substrate 11. The light-emitting element 15 also includes a cathode electrode (pad 15B) on the opposite surface (also referred to as the front surface of the light-emitting element 15) to the surface of the semiconductor structure layer to which the support substrate is joined, and is electrically connected to the second wiring electrode 14B through a bonding wire.
The light-emitting element 15 is not limited to the foregoing type in which the semiconductor structure layer is joined to the support substrate, and may be of a type in which the semiconductor structure layer is formed on a growth substrate that transmits light emitted from the semiconductor structure layer.
For example, in the case where the growth substrate is conductive, the light-emitting element 15 includes the cathode electrode on the back surface of the growth substrate (i.e. the opposite surface to the semiconductor structure layer) (not illustrated), and the anode electrode (pad electrode for bonding wire connection) on the upper surface of the semiconductor structure layer. The cathode electrode of the light-emitting element is joined onto the first wiring electrode 14A through the metal joint layer 15A, and the pad electrode of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the second wiring electrode 14B through the bonding wire 18C.
In the case where the growth substrate is insulating, the light-emitting element 15 includes the anode electrode on the p-type semiconductor layer on the upper side of the semiconductor structure layer, and the cathode electrode on the n-type semiconductor layer. The anode electrode and the cathode electrode of the light-emitting element are respectively joined to the first wiring electrode 14A and the second wiring electrode 14B through a metal joint layer.
The light-emitting element 15 is preferably an aluminum nitride-based light-emitting element that emits ultraviolet light of 265 nm to 415 nm in wavelength. Specifically, a light-emitting element having a light emission center wavelength of 265 nm, 275 nm, 355 nm, 365 nm, 385 nm, 405 nm, or 415 nm is used.
Semiconductor crystals forming aluminum nitride-based light-emitting elements that emit ultraviolet light (UV-LED elements) have high Al composition, and are susceptible to oxidative degradation by oxygen (O2) or water (H2O). In the case where a joint member containing organic matter such as flux is used to join the light-emitting element 15 to the first wiring electrode 14A, residual flux (organic matter) causes accumulation of carbide on the front surface of the light-emitting element. Such accumulation of carbide can be prevented by mixing filler gas with a small amount of O2. Mixed O2 poses no problem as it is inactivated before degrading the light-emitting element 15.
A protection element 16 that is a Zener diode (ZD) connected to the first wiring electrode 14A and the second wiring electrode 14B is provided on the substrate 11, and prevents the light-emitting element 15 from electrostatic discharge damage.
As illustrated in
The wiring electrodes 14, the mount electrodes 17, and the metal vias 18 are, for example, tungsten/nickel/gold (W/Ni/Au) or nickel chromium/gold/nickel/gold (NiCr/Au/Ni/Au).
With reference to
The joint between the substrate 11 and the cap outer edge portion 13B of the light-transmitting cap 13 will be described below.
As illustrated in
In this embodiment, a circular annular AuSn ribbon not containing flux is used as the joint material 22A. When the joint material (AuSn ribbon) 22A is pressed (joining pressure PF) between the substrate metal layer 12 at the upper end of the frame and the cap metal layer 21, the outer edges of the ribbon are pressed from both sides, i.e. from the substrate metal layer 12 and the cap metal layer 21, and come into close contact with the substrate metal layer 12 and the cap metal layer 21.
Heating (for example, 280° C.) causes the close contact part on the outer side of the ribbon to reach a melting start point MP, and the joint material 22A melts and solidifies inward from this part to join the substrate metal layer 12 and the cap metal layer 21. Since the melting and solidification progress inward from the melting start point MP the joint layer 22 is kept from containing residual stress. This produces a highly reliable joint without residual stress which causes cracks in the joint portion.
The joint layer volume (Vc) is determined based on the shape of the top surface 11T of the frame 11A inclined at the inclination angle θ with respect to the cap joint surface 13T. Hence, by setting the joint material volume (Vs) of the AuSn joint material to be equivalent to the joint layer volume (Vc) (i.e. Vs≈Vc), the joint layer 22 can be formed while keeping the AuSn joint material from protruding.
In the case where the internal pressure of the semiconductor light-emitting device 10 is set to reduced pressure in a range of room temperature to rated operating temperature (80° C.), the window member (glass) is stressed inward in the device, as illustrated in
The substrate metal layer 12 can extend to the inner wall 11E (indicated by the dashed line in the drawing) of the frame 11A. This prevents water and flux residues from adsorbing on the front surface of the ceramic substrate 11.
As described above, with the semiconductor light-emitting device 10 according to this embodiment, the melting start point of the joint material is set, so that the joint stability can be improved. Moreover, since the volume of the joint layer 22 can be set and adjusted, leakage and dripping of the joint material can be prevented.
AuSn bumps 22B (joint material bumps) as a joint material not containing flux are arranged on the cap metal layer 21 of the light-transmitting cap 13. The plurality of AuSn bumps 22B are formed on the whole circumference of the rectangular annular cap metal layer 21, and are arranged at such intervals that allow adjacent bumps to coalesce upon melting when joining the light-transmitting cap 13 to the substrate 11.
Since each AuSn bump 22B is formed by deposition of the melt AuSn on the cap metal layer 21, the thermal resistance of the interface between the surface of the cap metal layer 21 and the AuSn bump 22B is low. The AuSn bump 22B may be formed on the substrate metal layer 12 of the frame 11A of the substrate 11.
The AuSn bumps 22B are deposited on the cap metal layer 21 and have good heat conduction, so that all of the AuSn bumps 22B melt simultaneously as a result of heating. Moreover, since each AuSn bump 22B is in point contact with the substrate metal layer 12, the contact is low in thermal resistance even with weak pressing, and thus serves as a stable heat-melting point MP.
By setting the joint material volume (Vs) of the AuSn bumps 22B to be equivalent to the joint layer volume (Vc) (i.e. Vs≈Vc), the joint layer 22 can be formed while keeping the AuSn joint material from protruding out of the substrate metal layer 12 or the cap metal layer 21 (
Thus, even when the joint material is formed in dots (AuSn bumps), all bumps simultaneously melt and spread on the substrate metal layer 12 and the cap metal layer 21 and coalesce in the process, as a result of which an airtight joint of high reliability can be obtained.
The semiconductor light-emitting device according to this embodiment also has the same advantages as the semiconductor light-emitting device according to Embodiment 1. In detail, the melting start point of the joint material is set, so that the joint stability can be improved. Moreover, since the volume of the joint layer 22 can be set and adjusted, protrusion of the joint material can be prevented.
In this embodiment, the substrate metal layer 12 extends from the top surface 11T to the inner wall (inner surface) 11E of the frame 11A so as to cover at least part of the inner wall 11E of the frame 11A.
The joint layer 22 extends to reach and lie on this extension portion (metal layer extension portion) 12E of the substrate metal layer 12. For the extension portion (joint layer extension portion) 22E of the joint layer 22, the joint material volume (Vs) of the AuSn bumps 22B described in Embodiment 2 is set to the joint layer volume (Vc)+the drip amount (α) so that AuSn will drip onto the extension portion 12E of the substrate metal layer 12 upon melting.
As illustrated in the top view (upper drawing), as a result of the AuSn bumps 22B melting, the bumps coalesce and the melted joint material (AuSn) drips onto the inner wall 11E of the frame 11A due to the inclination of the top surface 11T of the frame 11A, forming an extension portion 22E of the joint layer 22.
With the semiconductor light-emitting device 60 according to this embodiment, the joint material (AuSn) dripping onto the inner wall 11E of the frame 11A adsorbs and fixes active gas (water, flux component gas) remaining in the internal space of the semiconductor light-emitting device 60 (the space of the recess RC. This prevents degradation caused by ultraviolet light and active gas inside the joint portion, i.e. the joint layer 22, between the substrate metal layer 12 and the cap metal layer 21, so that an airtight joint of high reliability can be obtained.
The semiconductor light-emitting device according to this embodiment also has the same advantages as the semiconductor light-emitting devices according to the foregoing embodiments. In detail, the melting start point of the joint material is set, so that the joint stability can be improved. Moreover, since the volume of the joint layer 22 can be set and adjusted, leakage of the joint material can be prevented.
The semiconductor light-emitting device 70 according to this embodiment differs from the semiconductor light-emitting device 60 according to Embodiment 3 in that the inner wall of the frame 11A is formed as a projecting surface 11P projecting to the internal space (the space of the recess RC). At the lower end of the projecting surface 11P, a step portion 11J is formed as a step with respect to an element mount surface (and electrode placement surface) 11U of the substrate 11 and projects more to the internal space than the projecting surface 11P.
As illustrated in
[Method of Manufacturing Substrate 11 in Embodiments 1 to 4]
The semiconductor light-emitting device according to the present invention has been described in detail above. Although the foregoing embodiments each describe a semiconductor light-emitting device including a substrate having a frame portion of a rectangular frame shape and a light-transmitting cap of rectangular plate glass, the present invention is not limited to such. For example, the frame portion of the substrate may have a polygonal frame shape, a circular frame shape, an oval frame shape, or the like, and the light-transmitting cap may have a polygonal plate shape, a circular plate shape, an oval plate shape, or the like.
As described in detail above, with the semiconductor light-emitting device and the method of manufacturing the same according to each of the foregoing embodiments, the melting start point of the joint material is set, so that the joint stability can be improved. Moreover, by setting and adjusting the volume of the joint layer between the substrate metal layer and the cap metal layer, leakage of the joint material can be prevented.
It is possible to provide a semiconductor device having an airtight joint of high reliability without residual stress which causes cracks in the joint portion, and a method of manufacturing the same.
Moreover, an airtight joint of high reliability can be obtained by preventing degradation caused by ultraviolet light and active gas inside the joint portion, i.e. the joint layer, between the substrate metal layer and the cap metal layer.
It is thus possible to provide a semiconductor device having high reliability, i.e. maintaining high airtightness even in long-term use, and having high environmental resistance such as moisture resistance and corrosion resistance, and a method of manufacturing the same.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2020-194031 | Nov 2020 | JP | national |