SÜSS laser stepper installed at Fraunhofer IZM Berlin
SÜSS MicroTec has successfully installed an ELP300 Excimer laser stepper to support next generation advanced packaging and 3D IC laser debonding applications at the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM), Berlin.
The ELP300 Excimer laser platform is designed for high volume manufacturing and processing of 100mm to 300mm wafers.
The platform provides two novel manufacturing technologies to Fraunhofer IZM used in advanced packaging and 3D applications.
The first is that Excimer ablation provides the means to directly create vias and microstructures to combat technical limitations of traditional photo-dielectrics and photolithography approaches.
The second is it enables laser debonding of 3D IC's and MEMS for a stress free, non-thermal and very cost efficient method to debond thin wafers off a carrier.
The Excimer laser stepper enables the development of higher performance packages in the manufacturing of next generation semiconductor devices, but also potentially provides significant cost savings.
As part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Fraunhofer IZM specialises in applied and industrial contract research. Fraunhofer IZM's focus is on electronic packaging technology and the integration of multifunctional electronics into systems.
With the new ELP laser system the Fraunhofer IZM will broaden its expertise in the field of thin film polymers. These polymers are an important building block in all wafer level packages. Currently the need of photosensitivity has limited the application of new polymers which are required for thinner devices and 3D stacking applications.
With laser ablation completely new polymer systems can be used with enhanced mechanical, physical and chemical properties like lower curing temperature, lower stress, and lower thermal coefficient of expansion. What's more, the laser system will give a much higher flexibility for temporary wafer bonding. Ultrathin wafers can be handled safely without damage even at processes which require temperatures above 3000C.
"The ELP 300 will revolutionise technology in wafer level packaging and 3-D integration," says Michael Toepper manager of WLP at Fraunhofer IZM. "The need of photosensitivity for thin film polymers has been a strong barrier for better mechanical properties which are essential for high reliability of electronic systems. In addition the whole process becomes much cheaper and also much more environmentally friendly due to less consumption of organic solvents and TMAH."
"We see high growth potential for this technology, especially in our core market of advanced packaging and the future growth market for 3D IC's," says Frank P. Averdung, President and CEO of SUSS MicroTec. "We have a long established relationship with the Fraunhofer IZM and we are excited to have our new Excimer laser system installed at this leading research institute."
