Which Type of Lasers Are Used in Semiconductor Manufacturing?

Semiconductors are a critical component of electronic devices—whether it’s a phone, electric vehicle, or computer, semiconductors are an integral part of the inner workings. Semiconductors assist the conductivity between a non-conductor and a conductor and, in turn, control the electricity flow.

The assembly process is extremely detailed, with many steps to create the perfect semiconductor that is the foundation of so many electronics. Although semiconductors are complex to manufacture, using semiconductor laser equipment makes manufacturing more tolerable.

Laser technology is frequently used in semiconductor manufacturing because of its thin, precise, versatile, and powerful beam. Using lasers for manufacturing is effective and has been successful with cutting, marking, coating removal, measuring, and welding. In this article, we’ll discuss the fundamentals of semiconductor lasers, the types of lasers used, their applications, the manufacturing process, and the future of lasers.

Wafers

Silicon

Crystal Oscillators

Nickel plating

Lead Frames

Copper

IC Packages

Epoxy

Main Types of Lasers Used in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Solid State Laser

Solid state lasers are the most frequently used lasers for manufacturing. These lasers are a category of lasers known for high power and their use of ores for the laser medium. The ores are commonly made up of yttrium, aluminium, garnet, or yttrium vanadate crystal. The machine oscillates light through the medium in order to refine the wavelength and output a clean, concise beam.

Fibre Laser

Fibre lasers are a type of laser within the solid-state category. These lasers are known for high-speed marking, engraving, and cutting. A fibre laser uses fibre as a resonator and creates an overlapping structure with fibre cladding doped with Yb ions. After that, it pumps the laser diode excitation inside for use. Some uses for fibre lasers include removing burr in the preproduction process, marking traceability codes, and removing resin to analyse defects.

Excimer Laser

Excimer lasers are deep ultraviolet lasers with a 126 nm to 351 nm wavelength. These semiconductor lasers are used for polymer micro-processing.

Laser Technology and Its Role in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Cutting

Semiconductors go through a long production process that includes various cutting steps. For instance, semiconductors are made from cutting out wafers from crystal blocks and cutting stencils out of films.

Because of the high-powered laser with a thin beam, lasers are used for the ability to cut cleanly. Clean cuts are necessary as semiconductors have to fit nicely into the final product, like a phone, computer, or camera.

Welding

Semiconductor (LD) laser welding, also known as laser diode welding, is the process of melting adjoined sections together. This type of laser welding is special because it does not use a lamp as the excitation source. One example of adjoining in semiconductor manufacturing is welding a wafer to a supporting plate.

Removing Coating

Coating removal for semiconductors is part of the manufacturing process for cleaning the semiconductor or analysing defects. Removing coating could be deburring resin or copper, removing gold plating, or removing thin film coating. In the instance of deburring, semiconductor lasers use their thin and precise beam to remove excess material without damaging any of the product.

On the other hand, removing coating for analysing a defective mould also allows manufacturers to see a defect without disassembling and damaging the product.

Marking

Laser marking machines are used for 2D code marking on IC chips, LED ceramic packaging, silicon wafers, and more. Since the laser marker has an extremely small beam spot, the laser can create readable marks even at microscopic levels.

Measuring

Laser sensors can measure semiconductors at many different steps of the semiconductor fabrication process. With wafers, KEYENCE’s LT-Series laser sensor measures thickness, wear level, and thermal expansion. Sensors can also measure wire bonding height, the height of resin molds, and the shape of BGA balls.

Weighing the Benefits and Obstacles of Laser Ablation in Semiconductor Production

Benefits of Laser Ablation

Efficient

Lasers use automation and repeated tasks to conduct processing. The only hands-on step involves programming the laser for the application that is needed.

Versatile

Because excimer lasers have high absorption rates and thin beams, laser ablation can be done on a wide range of materials.

Precise

With the power and thin beam combined, excimer lasers are precise when conducting ablation. For instance, KEYENCE’s lasers include 3-axis control that autofocuses and autocorrects based on the target area for uniformity across the whole material.

Disadvantages

High Initial Cost

Laser machines are an investment, with a high initial cost; however, the benefits of precision and versatility often provide a great ROI.

A Step-by-Step Overview of Laser-Based Semiconductor Fabrication

Here’s an example of the step-by-step process of the semiconductor fabrication of an IC package:

1. Materials Are Purified and Shaped into Wafers

Wafers are the raw material used for starting fabrication. Lasers have many roles with wafers including, cutting wafers out of an ingot, dicing after lamination, marking identifiers for "good" or "no good", and marking 2D codes.

2. Bonding to Lead Frames

After the wafers are cut out by lasers, they are bonded to lead frames. For the lead frame to be ready for the wafer, the laser will mark the frame with an identifying mark. After that, laser markers roughen the surface for the lead frame and wafer adhesion. Once they are stuck together, the laser marker removes the burrs. Finally, when the burrs are removed, the laser marker once again marks the frame.

3. Moulding and Processing

Now that the lead frame is done, it is ready for moulding and processing to turn into an IC package. When the IC package is made, the laser once again marks identification on both the wafer and package.

Past, Present, and Future of Laser Applications in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Semiconductor lasers have been around for over 60 years and have evolved greatly over time. Beginning with a single wavelength without a clear purpose, lasers are now a multi-faceted and popular technology that assists across the semiconductor manufacturing process. Lasers measure, cut, clean, mark, and weld semiconductors, and there is only more innovation to come.

As semiconductors develop and new technologies arise, laser applications will face new opportunities to show off the technology. Looking to the future, it’s predicted that lasers will only get stronger in power and shorter in pulse for more efficient manufacturing.