SPTS Leading the Way in Via Reveal Etch Solutions

NEWPORT, Wales and SEMICON, Taiwan, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SPTS Technologies, a leading supplier of advanced wafer processing solutions for the global semiconductor industry and related markets, today announced its industry leading dry etch process technology for via reveal applications. Already established as the tool of record at major customer sites, the Pegasus Rapier module offers a silicon etch rate at least 2 times better than its nearest competitor, class-leading uniformities of +/- 2.5% on 300mm bonded TSV wafers, and the industry's only via reveal endpoint system, ReVia^TM.

Via reveal, or post-TSV processing occurs after the through silicon vias (TSVs) are formed. The wafer is then temporarily bonded, face down, onto a carrier and ground typically to within 5-10 micrometre of the buried TSV's.  The ground Si surface is then dry etched, selectively to the TSV liner oxide, revealing the copper filled vias to a height of around 5 micrometre.  After silicon etching, these via tips are passivated with further dielectric and then polished by chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) to expose the copper ready for RDL (redistribution layer) metallization. 

TSV wafer thickness, carrier wafer thickness, bond layer uniformity, TSV etch uniformity and back-grinding uniformity all contribute to a significant incoming total thickness variation (TTV), which can cause issues with subsequent process steps.  The SPTS Pegasus Rapier module allows flexible multiple mode operation with its dual source design.  In its principal mode, optimum etch depth uniformity is achieved to an edge exclusion of 3mm, preserving the TTV of 'good' incoming wafers. However, if required, alternative operating modes are available where the silicon can be etched with centre-fast or edge-fast profiles to rectify 'problematic' incoming TTV, delivering a more uniform outgoing wafer.

Due to grind rate uncertainties, it is essential that the point at which the vias are revealed can be detected in-situ.  Without endpoint, the user has to independently measure the silicon thickness above the TSVs on every wafer and adjust the etch time accordingly; adding cost, complexity and risk of yield loss in the process flow.  Available only on the Pegasus Rapier, the ReVia end-point system detects the point at which the TSV tips are revealed, enabling a consistent reveal height from one wafer to the next, increasing yields and avoiding scrap. Via reveal processes on wafers with via densities <0.01%  have been successfully end-pointed.

"Etch rate, uniformity control and end-point detection all play their part in delivering the lowest cost per die and the highest yield at a point in the fabrication process where the wafers have an extremely high value," said Dr. Dave Thomas, Marketing Director for etch products. "Our innovative dual source reactor design, coupled with our competence in developing and integrating novel end-point techniques, is maintaining our leadership in this area of the Advanced Packaging market."

About SPTS Technologies
SPTS Technologies (a Bridgepoint portfolio company) designs, manufactures, sells, and supports etch, PVD, CVD and thermal wafer processing solutions for the MEMS, advanced packaging, LEDs, high speed RF on GaAs, and power management device markets. With manufacturing facilities in Newport, Wales, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and San Jose, California, the company operates across 19 countries in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. For more information about SPTS Technologies, please visit www.spts.com

SOURCE SPTS Technologies Ltd