System and method for flux coat, reflow and clean
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for performing a solder reflow process comprising a plurality of stations within one system frame comprising:
- a first station for coating flux on a substrate;
a second station for reflowing the flux on the substrate;
a third station for removing the flux and cleaning the substrate; and
an automated transfer device for transferring the substrate from one station to another station;
wherein the second station includes a circular shaped reflow device that has multiple spaces to provide a temperature profile for reflowing the flux in a controlled low oxygen environment;
wherein the reflow device includes a housing that defines a hollow interior, the housing including a door for both loading and unloading the substrate from the reflow device, the housing being divided into a first substrate space in which the substrate is in a first position;
a second substrate space in which the substrate is in a second position;
third substrate space in which the substrate is in a third position; and
a fourth substrate space in which the substrate is in a fourth position, wherein the first substrate space is located behind the door such that the first position defines an initial loading and unloading position;
wherein the first substrate space is selectively sealed off from the second, third and fourth substrates spaces with a controllable mechanism to prevent air from flowing between the first substrate space and the other substrate spaces; and
wherein the controllable mechanism comprises a pair of shutters that move between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position, the shutters seal the first substrate space from the rest of the interior of the housing, thereby allowing the door to be opened or closed without introducing air into the rest of the interior including the other substrate spaces.
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Abstract
The use of lead-free solder (flux) in Wafer Level Packaging applications requires more control of the temperature and environment during the reflow process. The flux needs to be applied by spin coating, reflowed in a controlled environment and then removed with a cleaning process. Incorporating these three processes in one compact system provides an efficient and economical solution. The unique design of the reflow oven consists of multiple hotplates and one cold plate, arranged in a circle to allow wafers to proceed through the oven in a rotary fashion.
29 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for performing a solder reflow process comprising a plurality of stations within one system frame comprising:
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a first station for coating flux on a substrate; a second station for reflowing the flux on the substrate; a third station for removing the flux and cleaning the substrate; and an automated transfer device for transferring the substrate from one station to another station; wherein the second station includes a circular shaped reflow device that has multiple spaces to provide a temperature profile for reflowing the flux in a controlled low oxygen environment; wherein the reflow device includes a housing that defines a hollow interior, the housing including a door for both loading and unloading the substrate from the reflow device, the housing being divided into a first substrate space in which the substrate is in a first position;
a second substrate space in which the substrate is in a second position;
third substrate space in which the substrate is in a third position; and
a fourth substrate space in which the substrate is in a fourth position, wherein the first substrate space is located behind the door such that the first position defines an initial loading and unloading position;wherein the first substrate space is selectively sealed off from the second, third and fourth substrates spaces with a controllable mechanism to prevent air from flowing between the first substrate space and the other substrate spaces; and wherein the controllable mechanism comprises a pair of shutters that move between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position, the shutters seal the first substrate space from the rest of the interior of the housing, thereby allowing the door to be opened or closed without introducing air into the rest of the interior including the other substrate spaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification