MA-COM M541

Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
M/A-COM Products
Rev. V3
Discussion
Chip Bonding Methods
Chip Diode devices for use in integrated circuits and
hybrid integrated circuits have proliferated in the last few
years. Today circuit designer is faced with a multiplicity
of alternatives in the involving tradeoffs of particular advantages and disadvantages. The obvious advantages in
the use of chip diodes in hybrid integrated circuit applications are their very small size and potentially lower cost.
Small size and simplicity of structure give the benefit of
minimal parasitics, but as the size of the diode becomes
smaller, handling and production problems increase. By
outlining our conclusions, we hope to help the designer
overcome some of the difficulties encountered when
using chips in MIC applications. M/A-COM Tech manufactures a large selection of chip and packaged diodes
for hybrid integrated circuits. Obviously not all diode
types are available in all configurations. Characteristics
such as breakdown voltage or capacitance may limit the
size of the chip or its form.
The biggest problem in using chip diodes is the damage
encountered when assembling chips into circuits. In general, the value of the integrated circuits far exceeds the
cost of the chip itself. When packaged diodes are used,
the critical die attach and top contract operations are performed by M/A-COM tech and all devices are RF tested
after assembly into the package. When the circuit fabricator performs the die attach and wire bonding operation on
a complex substrate, he /she runs the risk of losing or
damaging a chip during the bonding operation which can
results in the loss of the whole circuit or in an expensive
rework cycle.
Silicon Chip Devices
CERMACHIP™ PIN Diodes
Oxide Passivated PIN Chips
Beam Lead PINs
Snap Varactor Chips
Tuning Varactor Chips
MNS Chip Capacitors
Schottky Chips
Beam Lead Schottky Diodes
PF transistor Chips (Low Noise)
Silicon Chip Devices
Gunn Diodes
GaAs Tuning Varactors
Beam lead GaAs Tuning Varactors
GaAs Multipliers
GaAs Schottky Mixers
GaAs Abrupt and Hyperabrupt Tuning Varactors
GaAs Beam lead Schottky
The most common problems that arise when bonding
chips to the circuit are: the introduction of excessive series
resistance, especially under forward bias conditions due to
the improper bonding of the chip to the ground plane; poor
reliability due to the entrapment of fluxes under the bond;
and mechanical failure of the bond under thermal shock or
temperature cycling. All three conditions are the results of
improper wetting of the die to the ground plane and are
usually caused by inadequate cleanliness or inadequate
bonding conditions,
The Influence of the Circuit Board on
Chip bonding Methods
Selection of the chip bonding method must take into consideration the characteristics of the circuit board material
being used.
Chip diodes usually require specialized equipment for die
attachment to the circuit and for wire or strap bonding to
the top of the chip. These operations require a clean
work environment and special handling equipment such
as vacuum pickups, hot gas bonders and/or thermal
compression bonding equipment.
Stripline teflon fiberglass circuits should be soft soldered.
Most eutectic solders melt at temperatures too high (250300ºC) to be used with teflon fiberglass boards. Conductive epoxies can also be used, but the results may not be
reliable. The use of Gunn diodes on teflon fiberglass circuits is not recommended because the major problem in
operating these diodes is removal of heat. It is absolutely
essential that eutectic solders or thermal compression
bonding be used to bond these diodes to achieve the best
thermal resistance. Soft solders and conductive epoxies
are not acceptable methods for bonding Gunn diodes. The
use of beam lead diodes with teflon fiberglass boards is
not generally recommended. Because these boards are
flexible, they may bend during or after bonding and cause
the diode leads to break.
Not all MIC circuits require chips. In many cases
(especially for conventional stripline circuits) a hybrid
circuit package or carrier will give satisfactory results and
can be handled much more easily without a large investment in fabrication equipment. M/A-COM Tech supplies
a broad band of diodes in stripline or carrier packages.
In many cases conductive epoxies will give good results
with little or no complex equipment required. Although the
high temperature and long them reliability of this type of
band is not generally as good as eutectic solder, the use
of conductive epoxies is an acceptable and sample way to
fabricate most circuits.
Microstrip Packages and Chip Carriers
1
ADVANCED: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology Solutions
• North America Tel: 800.366.2266 • Europe Tel: +353.21.244.6400
is considering for development. Performance is based on target specifications, simulated results,
• India Tel: +91.80.43537383
• China Tel: +86.21.2407.1588
and/or prototype measurements. Commitment to develop is not guaranteed.
Visit www.macomtech.com for additional data sheets and product information.
PRELIMINARY: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology
Solutions has under development. Performance is based on engineering tests. Specifications are
typical. Mechanical outline has been fixed. Engineering samples and/or test data may be available. M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. and its affiliates reserve the right to make
Commitment to produce in volume is not guaranteed.
changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice.
Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
Soft solders, such as the eutectic composition of antimony
or lead tin, give excellent reliability and good high temperature characteristics. The use of flux for soldering is
not recommended at any time. Instead, a cover gas such
as a forming gas (80% N2, 20% H2, or 95% N2, 5% H2)
should be used. When applicable, probably the best die
down procedure is an ultrasonic silicon gold thermal compression bond or a high temperature eutectic solder (such
as gold tin eutectic– 80% Au, 20% Sn) with a melting
point of approximately 280ºC.
Chip Die Down Bonding Techniques
Hot Gas Bonding of Chips
The hot gas bonder is one of the most convenient ways of
bonding chips onto a metal ground plane or circuit. Both
silicon and GaAs may be bonded using similar techniques.
GaAs is brittle and softer than silicon. The use of gold tin
solder perform (80% Au, 20% Sn) with an eutectic melting
point of 280ºC is recommended. A clean, gold plated surface is required to insure good wetting. The perform
should be large enough to insure that the die fits within
the area shown. The perform should be ~1 mil thick.
The heating stage should be set at 250 ± 5ºC. An 80% N2,
20% H2 forming gas is effective as the hot gas jet. The
temperature at the tip should be approximately 400ºC.
The wetting time after the solder reflow is critical for
strong bonding. It should be carefully controlled; 3 sec ± 1
sec. If done correctly, the shear strength of a 10 X 10 mil
die will average 250-300 grams.
Die Down
Method
Resultant
High
Thermal Temperature Temperature
Resistance
Required
Capabilities
M/A-COM Products
Rev. V3
SOLDER PREFORM
CHIP
Ribbon and Wire Attachment
It is recommended that thermo-compression bonding be
used. The bonding tip should be smaller than the anode
contact. The exact conditions will depend on the tool
types used. It is recommended that a half hard gold wire
or strap be used. The wire or strap diameter should be
smaller than the diameter of the anode contact. Typical
bonding force should be 20 to 15 grams, and should not
exceed 30 grams. When wire bonding, a thermal compression wedge bonder is recommended using a heated
stage and heated tip. The stage temperature should be ~
240ºC ± 10ºC and the recommended temperature for the
tip is 120ºC. Ultrasonic scrubbing is not recommended.
Furnace Solder of Dice
A moving belt furnace is also an excellent method for soldering chips. A belt furnace with an 80-20 forming gas
atmosphere and nitrogen curtains on the ends of the furnace is recommended. All parts should be clean and free
of oil and grease.
The temperature and speed of the belt should be adjusted
so that the parts reach ~ 25-50ºC over the melting point of
solder for a period of 2 to 5 minutes. Adequate tooling and
furnace temperatures are usually necessary to obtain
good alignment. “Clean” gases are also very important.
The criteria for acceptable solder die is shown on the following page.
Power
Handling
Capability
Ease of
Operation
Special
Equipment
Required
Potential
Problems
Conductive
Epoxy
Good with
proper
technique
Room temp to
150˚C
Good
Low to
medium power
Easiest to
apply
Little to none
High series or thermal
resistance
Soft solder i.e.,
Pb-Sn-Ag
(90,5,5)
Pb-Sn (60,40)
Good to very
good
200 - 280˚C
Good
Good to very
good for low or
high power
Simple
application
Heated stage
hot gas bonder
or gas curtain
and furnace
Flux is usually required
with lead solders.
Cleaning of flux must
be done carefully
Eutectic Solder
Au-Sn (80,20)
Sn-Sb (97,3)
Very good
Approx. 300˚C
Approx. 230˚C
Good
Very good
Simple
application
Heated stage
or hot gas
bonder
Needs clean reducing
atmosphere
Gold silicon
Eutectic
(Thermal Compression Bond)
Very good
Approx. 380˚C
Good
Very good
Most difficult
Ultrasonic
bonder with
heated stage &
tip preferable
Cleanliness, proper
bonding conditions
180 - 200˚C
2
ADVANCED: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology Solutions
• North America Tel: 800.366.2266 • Europe Tel: +353.21.244.6400
is considering for development. Performance is based on target specifications, simulated results,
• India Tel: +91.80.43537383
• China Tel: +86.21.2407.1588
and/or prototype measurements. Commitment to develop is not guaranteed.
Visit www.macomtech.com for additional data sheets and product information.
PRELIMINARY: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology
Solutions has under development. Performance is based on engineering tests. Specifications are
typical. Mechanical outline has been fixed. Engineering samples and/or test data may be available. M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. and its affiliates reserve the right to make
Commitment to produce in volume is not guaranteed.
changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice.
Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
Rev. V3
Cleanliness
Chip Die Down Bonding Techniques
(Cont’d)
Everything should be clean and degreased. It is a good
idea to clean the circuit in a alkaline solution to remove
any traces of plating solutions. The circuit should then be
degreased.
Ultrasonic thermal Compression bonding of Dice
In a small circuit, ultrasonic bonding gives a very reliable
and strong bond. The die should be free of oxides and
have no metallization. The bonding surface should have
~2.5 micrometers of a soft gold, preferably from a high
cyanide gold bath.
The stage of the bonder should be set at ~ 200-250ºC
and the bond pressure ~ 400 grams / mm2
Shelf Life
The conductive epoxy must be within the warranty shelf
and/or pot life. It is advisable to use one half the listed pot
life since manufactures tend to be optimistic on pot life
estimates. Thus, if the pot life is stated to be 2 days, it is
much safer to use new epoxy every day.
Curing
i.e.: ~ 50 grams for 0.010 X 0.010 inch die
~ 200 grams for 0.020 X 0.020 inch die
~ 300 grams for 0.030 X 0.030 inch die
These values can vary rather widely and some experimentation may be necessary to find the best results.
The criteria for a good thermal compression bond should
be the same as for a soldered joint.
Die Bonding with Conductive Epoxies
Although some military and telecommunications systems
do not allow the use of conductive epoxies, satisfactory
die down bonds may be obtained using these epoxies.
The following precautions should be observed to obtain
consistently strong bonds.
BOND STRENGTH (GRAMS)
M/A-COM Products
250
200
The epoxy must be cured in the air or in an oxidizing atmosphere. The reaction requires oxygen. The epoxy oven
should be clean (not used for other functions) and should
have a good air flow to carry fumes. The epoxy will not
cure well if there are other solvent fumes in the atmosphere.
Carrier Fluid
The carrier fluid must not be allowed to flow on the top of
the chip. Not only will it make the chip unbondable, it will
be almost virtually impossible to detect under normal
bonding procedures. If a vacuum tip is used to put the
chip in place remove the vacuum when the chip is 10 to
30 mils from the epoxy. Static charge will hold the chip to
the tip. If the vacuum tip touches the epoxy it will become
coated with epoxy carrier fluid and contaminate the next
chip with the carrier material. This same problem may
occur with the use of tweezers. The tweezers should be
cleaned before pickup another chip if they touch the epoxy.
150
100
50
0
0.01
0.012
0.020
0.030
CHIP SIZE - EDGE LENGTH (INCHES)
3
ADVANCED: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology Solutions
• North America Tel: 800.366.2266 • Europe Tel: +353.21.244.6400
is considering for development. Performance is based on target specifications, simulated results,
• India Tel: +91.80.43537383
• China Tel: +86.21.2407.1588
and/or prototype measurements. Commitment to develop is not guaranteed.
Visit www.macomtech.com for additional data sheets and product information.
PRELIMINARY: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology
Solutions has under development. Performance is based on engineering tests. Specifications are
typical. Mechanical outline has been fixed. Engineering samples and/or test data may be available. M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. and its affiliates reserve the right to make
Commitment to produce in volume is not guaranteed.
changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice.
Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
M/A-COM Products
Rev. V3
Figure 3. Die Bonding Criteria
Table 2. Visual Inspection for Good Die-Down Bonds (Using a 5-15x Microscope)
Die Down
Method
Visual
(Good Bond Criteria)
Typical Bond Strength
(In Stress)
Extra Rs From1
Die Down (0.020” Chip)
Conductive Epoxy
Flat and max epoxy thickness
~0.001 inch - 90% min wetting
~ 50-100 kgms/cm2
Less than 0.15 ohms
Soft Solder
Flat - max solder thickness
0.001 inch - 90% min wetting
~ 70-100 kgms/cm2
Less than 0.10 ohms
Gold-tin Eutectic Solder
Flat - max solder thickness
0.001 inch - 90% min wetting
Flat - 90% min wetting
~ 100-150 kgms/cm2
Less than 0.10 ohms
~ 100 kgms/cm2
Less than 0.10 ohms
Thermal Compression Bond
Note: 1. This is the approximate extra RF series resistance from an ideal lossless bond of 0.020” x 0.020” chip
Table 3. Methods for Top-Bonding Diode Chips
Type of Chip
Type of Circuit Board
Ceramic
Planer Chip with Gold Metal on Anode
Beam Lead
Schottky Diodes with Planer Contacts
Hermetic CERMACHIP ™
Teflon Fiberglass Metal Ground
Wedge bond 0.002 diameter gold wire or 0.001 x 0.005 strap.
Bonding tool must be smaller than anode pad.
Ultrasonic bond
Bonding tip size 0.002 minimum
Special tools are available for beam leads
NOT RECOMMENDED
Wedge bond 0.0007 diameter gold wire.
Bonding tip size 0.001 maximum
Wedge bond.
0.001 x 0.005 strap is best
Bonding tip size 0.005 maximum
Wedge bond, or parallel gap
Or welded strap
Planer Chips with Very Small Node
Pads (less than 0.002)
Wedge bond 0.0007 to 0.001 diameter gold wire.
Bonding tip size 0.001 maximum
Mesa Diodes (Small)
Wedge bond. Use 5 mil strap, if possible
Bonding tool tip size 0.001 to 0.002.
4
ADVANCED: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology Solutions
• North America Tel: 800.366.2266 • Europe Tel: +353.21.244.6400
is considering for development. Performance is based on target specifications, simulated results,
• India Tel: +91.80.43537383
• China Tel: +86.21.2407.1588
and/or prototype measurements. Commitment to develop is not guaranteed.
Visit www.macomtech.com for additional data sheets and product information.
PRELIMINARY: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology
Solutions has under development. Performance is based on engineering tests. Specifications are
typical. Mechanical outline has been fixed. Engineering samples and/or test data may be available. M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. and its affiliates reserve the right to make
Commitment to produce in volume is not guaranteed.
changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice.
Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
M/A-COM Products
Rev. V3
Reliability Problems
Top Contacting Methods
Silver conductive epoxies should not be used where they
will come into contact with lead tin solders or high tin
solder. There can be an anodic reaction which may
cause failure of the bond.
The usual criteria for choosing a specific top bonding
technique are the size of the top contact of the chip, the
type of chip, the sensitivity of the chip to temperature and
pressure , the type of circuit board and the equipment
available. Table 3 illustrates some suggested top bonding methods listed by type of the chip and circuit applications. Usually the simplest contacts are gold strap 0.001
X 0.005 inch or a 0.0007 to 0.001 inch diameter wedge
bonded gold wire. The inductance of a 1 mil diameter
wire will be ~ 0.05 nH for a 0.20 inch long lead. This inductance can be reduced considerably by using multiple
contact wires or by using straps (a technique which also
increases reliability).
Bond Strength
The shear bond strength of good epoxy joint can approach that of solder 50-100Kgms/cm2. The thickness of
the conductive epoxy should be kept at 0.001” or less.
The shear bond strength should be about:
40-60 grams for 0.010 X 0.010 inch chip
150-250 grams for 0.020 x 0.020 inch chip
350-500 grams for 0.030 x 0.030 inch chip
In general the epoxy will shear before the chip breaks.
Weak bonds are usually caused by the use of old epoxy,
bonds that are too thick, or lack cleanliness.
Thermal Resistance
Although the thermal resistance of silver conductive epoxy bonds is a little higher than that of gold tin eutectic
solder, it is still satisfactory for all but the highest power
applications as long as the epoxy is kept thin.
Visual Inspection
Die down bonds should be checked regularly using a 515X microscope and should meet visual criteria shown in
table 2.
Top Bonding to the Chip
Most chips can be bonded with a wedge bonder. The
size and shape of the contact will depend on the size of
the bonding pads and the parasitic inductance or capacitance requirement of the circuit.
Selection of Bonding Equipment Tools & Tips
The choice of bonding equipment and tools depends
greatly on the type of circuit and chips to be used. Most
bonding equipment manufactures have useful literature
available.
Wire Bonding
It is very difficult to give definite parameter values of
force pressure time and temperature for an optimum
bonding schedule. Different wires or strap sizes, bonding
surfaces or semiconductor die characteristics require
different bonding conditions. In general, the bonding parameters should be adjusted to maximize reproducibility
at a high bond pull strength.
Most problems are caused by improper bonding machine
and tool settings as well as improper maintenance and
cleanliness. It is important to control the movement of the
part being bonded, alignment of tools, tool height, angle,
and tool condition.
A gold strap is effective for the majority of applications.
Critical criteria in this procedure are cleanliness, bonding
tip shape, tip pressure, and stage temperature.
5
ADVANCED: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology Solutions
• North America Tel: 800.366.2266 • Europe Tel: +353.21.244.6400
is considering for development. Performance is based on target specifications, simulated results,
• India Tel: +91.80.43537383
• China Tel: +86.21.2407.1588
and/or prototype measurements. Commitment to develop is not guaranteed.
Visit www.macomtech.com for additional data sheets and product information.
PRELIMINARY: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology
Solutions has under development. Performance is based on engineering tests. Specifications are
typical. Mechanical outline has been fixed. Engineering samples and/or test data may be available. M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. and its affiliates reserve the right to make
Commitment to produce in volume is not guaranteed.
changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice.
Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
M/A-COM Products
Rev. V3
In general, the die will crack or “crater” if too hard a wire
or excessive pressure is used. Too little pressure results
in small, weak bonds.
A good wire bond should be stronger then the wire and
should also be two or three times the wire diameter as
illustrated.
Also illustrated are drawings of another type of wire
bond, the ball bond, As with all top bonds to planar die,
the wire (or strap) should break during a pull test before
the bond breaks.
When wire bonding, the deformed width of the wire
should be about 1.3 to 1.8 times the wire thickness as
shown in the wire bond sketch below.
Wire Bonding to GaAs Junctions
GaAs is very brittle, and although the above mentioned
procedures apply, the following extra precautions should
be taken when wire bonding.
Wire bonds to the junctions are best made using a thermal compression wedge bonder with a heated stage and
tip. A stage temperature of 240ºC and a tip temperature
of 120ºC is recommended. Typical bonding force should
be the region of 20 grams for the smallest junctions but
less than 40 grams for all others junctions. It is recommended that dead soft gold wire be used with a diameter
of 0.0007 inches for the smallest mesa and 3 mil X
0.0005 ribbon for the largest mesa and 50 ohms attachment. For GaAs diodes, such as PIN diodes in parallel
configuration, two ribbons are preferable.
Strap Bonding
If the deformed width is too small, the bond will tend to
lift off. If it is too large (greater than 1.8 times the wire
diameter) the wire tends to weaken and break.
Also shown is a curve of the pull strength vs deformed
width of ultrasonic bonded wire.
When bonding a strap, the bond should not deform the
strap by more than 50%. The tool and conditions should
be selected to provide a bond that has at least the same
cross sectional area as the strap itself. For example, a
0.5 mil x 5 mil strap should have a bond cross section of
2.5 mils square or greater. The schematic shown illustrates a typically strong single strap bond to a large
mesa. Cross strapping is used for low parasitic inductance. Careful heat and pressure control must be exercised in order to form a strong, damage free cross strap
bond.
6
ADVANCED: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology Solutions
• North America Tel: 800.366.2266 • Europe Tel: +353.21.244.6400
is considering for development. Performance is based on target specifications, simulated results,
• India Tel: +91.80.43537383
• China Tel: +86.21.2407.1588
and/or prototype measurements. Commitment to develop is not guaranteed.
Visit www.macomtech.com for additional data sheets and product information.
PRELIMINARY: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology
Solutions has under development. Performance is based on engineering tests. Specifications are
typical. Mechanical outline has been fixed. Engineering samples and/or test data may be available. M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. and its affiliates reserve the right to make
Commitment to produce in volume is not guaranteed.
changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice.
Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
M/A-COM Products
Rev. V3
Acceptable Bonds
Wire or strap does not separate when tested.
No fractures in bond.
No separation of metallization.
Wire breaks before bonds
Bad Bonds
Wire separates from bond.
Bond fractures at weld
Separation of metallization
Bonding to Small Mesas
Bond Strength Pull Test
When bonding to a small mesa type diode, it is suggested to always use a strap. The strap, in many cases,
may be larger than the top of the mesa (the larger the
cross section area of the strap, the lower the parasitic
inductance). In the case, it is advisable to bond all or as
much to the entire top of the mesa as possible.
It is extremely important to maintain good quality control
procedures in order to ensure good bonding. The following figures and tables illustrate criteria for visual inspection and for testing of bond strength.
Good Bonding Criteria
When testing a mesa diode, if the bond is good, the
mesa will usually break off before the bond or strap
breaks. For all other bonds, the bonds should be as
strong as the wire or strap when tested by pulling. Improper top bonding usually results in one of the following
problems:
Cracking or stressing the die through excessive pressure.
Weak bonds from inadequate cleanliness or improper
bonding conditions.
Excessive parasitic capacitance from overlapping wire or
strap.
7
ADVANCED: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology Solutions
• North America Tel: 800.366.2266 • Europe Tel: +353.21.244.6400
is considering for development. Performance is based on target specifications, simulated results,
• India Tel: +91.80.43537383
• China Tel: +86.21.2407.1588
and/or prototype measurements. Commitment to develop is not guaranteed.
Visit www.macomtech.com for additional data sheets and product information.
PRELIMINARY: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology
Solutions has under development. Performance is based on engineering tests. Specifications are
typical. Mechanical outline has been fixed. Engineering samples and/or test data may be available. M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. and its affiliates reserve the right to make
Commitment to produce in volume is not guaranteed.
changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice.
Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
M/A-COM Products
Rev. V3
Bonding Beam Lead Diodes
Selection of the beam lead bonding method must take
into consideration the characteristics of the circuit board
material used. Hard substrates such as alumina and
quartz are recommended. Various bonding techniques
are described below and may all be used on hard surfaces.
The beam lead diode is a silicon chip with planar gold
leads which extend from the top surface of the chip
(~0.010 to 0.030 inches). Beam lead diodes are generally the smallest size chips available. They must be handled with care because the leads may easily be distorted
or broken by the normal pressure of tweezers handling.
Most vacuum tips are too large. A vacuum pencil with a
#27 tip is recommended. A pointed wooden stick such as
a sharpened Q tip or toothpick which has been dipped in
isopropyl alcohol can also be used as a pick and place
tool since the beam lead will adhere to the moistened
point. This work should be performed under 10X to 30X
magnification.
Beam lead diodes are easily damaged by static electricity and/ or current from a small low impedance ground
loop in the circuit. When mounting the diode in the circuit , contact should never be made across the gap. A
static discharge from the operator may flow through the
diode and destroy it. The circuit should always be
grounded before the second lead of the diode is attached.
The preferred methods for bonding a beam lead diode
are thermal compression bonding and parallel gap welding. For thermal compression bonding, the beam lead
diode is placed down (gold beam to gold plated substrate) with the leads resting flat on the pad and the bond
made by using a heated wedge. Heat and pressure form
a metallurgical bond. A minimum of 100 microinches of
gold on the substrate is recommended for optimum
bonding.
In the parallel gap technique, current is first passed
through the substrate metallization, then through the
device lead. Most of the heat is generated at the interface. Extreme care must be taken to see that the step
welder does not discharge through the diode junction, or
the diode will be destroyed. The bonding pressure should
be ~ 900 gms / mm2..
The major advantage of the parallel gap technique is that
a cold ambient may be used. Heat is only generated in
the vicinity of the bond itself. Caution must be taken
when making the second bond because if the diode is
placed in tension, the leads may break.
8
ADVANCED: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology Solutions
• North America Tel: 800.366.2266 • Europe Tel: +353.21.244.6400
is considering for development. Performance is based on target specifications, simulated results,
• India Tel: +91.80.43537383
• China Tel: +86.21.2407.1588
and/or prototype measurements. Commitment to develop is not guaranteed.
Visit www.macomtech.com for additional data sheets and product information.
PRELIMINARY: Data Sheets contain information regarding a product M/A-COM Technology
Solutions has under development. Performance is based on engineering tests. Specifications are
typical. Mechanical outline has been fixed. Engineering samples and/or test data may be available. M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. and its affiliates reserve the right to make
Commitment to produce in volume is not guaranteed.
changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice.
Application Note
M541
Bonding, Handling, and Mounting Procedures for
Chip Diode Devices
The following precautions will ensure better results when
bonding beam leads:
To minimize the lead inductance, the wedge, or heated
tips should be placed as close as possible to the chip
without touching it. The chip is very easily damaged and
case must be taken that the bonding tip does not contact
the chip at any time during the bonding process.
M/A-COM Products
Rev. V3
Handing and Bonding
The rugged construction of SURMOUNT chip devices
allows the use of standard handling and die attach techniques. It is important to note that industry standard electrostatic discharge (ESD) control is required at all times,
due to the nature of Schottky junctions.
Handing
The bonding tip must be perpendicular to the beam during bonding, to prevent a torsional force which will pull
the beams apart. This is particularly important when
bonding the second lead.
The devices can be handled with #3c tweezers for manual placement. The top surface of the die has a protective coating to minimize damage. These devices are
compatible with vacuum pencil or automatic pick and
place installation.
Bonding
Cross Section
Top View
Die attach for these devices is made simple through the
use of surface mount die attach technology. Mounting
pads are conveniently located on the bottom surface of
these device and are removed from the active junction
locations. The devices are well suited for high temperature solder attachment onto hard substrates. The use of
80% gold, 20% tin solder is recommended, but lead tin
solders are acceptable. Conductive epoxy may also be
used for die attach.
When soldering these devices to a hand substrate, hot
gas die bonding is preferred. We recommend utilizing
vacuum tip and force of 60 to 100 grams applied normal
to the top surface of the device. When soldering to soft
substrates, it is recommended to use a lead-tin interface
at the circuit board mounting pads. Position the die so
that its mounting pad are aligned with the circuit board
mounting pads, and reflow the solder by heating the
circuit trace near the mounting pad while applying 60 to
100 grams force perpendicular to the top surface of the
die. Solder reflow must not be accomplished by causing
heat to flow through the die. Consequently, the solder
joints must be made one at a time, or a multi-tip soldering iron could be used to simultaneously reflow all the
solder joints.
Since the HMIC glass is transparent, the edges of the
mounting pads closest to each other can be visually inspected through the die after die attach is completed.
Bottom View
9
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