Monolithic LTCC seal frame and lid
A method for forming a monolithic seal frame and lid for use with a substrate and electronic circuitry comprises the steps of forming a mandrel from a ceramic and glass based material, forming a seal frame and lid block from a ceramic and glass based material, creating a seal frame and lid by forming a compartment and a plurality of sidewalls in the seal frame and lid block, placing the seal frame and lid on the mandrel such that the mandrel fits within the compartment, and cofiring the seal frame and lid block.
1. A method for forming a monolithic seal frame and lid for use with a substrate and electronic circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a mandrel from a ceramic and glass based material;
forming a seal frame and lid block from a ceramic or ceramic and glass based material;
creating a seal frame and lid by forming a compartment and at least one sidewall in the seal frame and lid block;
placing the seal frame and lid on the mandrel such that the mandrel fits within the compartment; and
cofiring the seal frame and lid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mandrel is formed to have roughly the same footprint as the electronic circuitry and a greater height than the sidewalls of the seal frame and lid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mandrel is formed by stacking a plurality of sheets of ceramic and glass based material one on another.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seal frame and lid block is formed by stacking a plurality of sheets of ceramic and glass based material one on another.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall is formed by removing ceramic and glass based material from the seal frame and lid block.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall is formed by routing the ceramic and glass based material of the seal frame and lid block.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall is formed to have an inner surface with a draft angle which ranges from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 45 degrees.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of coating at least a portion of the upper surface of the mandrel with a high-temperature lubricant before the seal frame and lid is placed thereon.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of coating at least a portion of the seal frame and lid with a layer of metal after the seal frame and lid has been cofired.
10. A method for forming a monolithic seal frame and lid for use with a substrate and electronic circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a mandrel from a ceramic and glass based material, the mandrel having roughly the same footprint as the electronic circuitry with roughly the same length and width as the electronic circuitry;
coating at least a portion of the upper surface of the mandrel with a high-temperature lubricant;
forming a seal frame and lid block from a ceramic and glass based material;
forming a seal frame and lid by routing ceramic and glass based material from the seal frame and lid block to create a compartment and at least one sidewall;
placing the seal frame and lid on the mandrel such that the mandrel fits within the compartment;
cofiring the seal frame and lid; and
coating at least a portion of the seal frame and lid with a layer of metal.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the mandrel is formed by stacking a plurality of sheets of ceramic and glass based material one on another.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the seal frame and lid block is formed by stacking a plurality of sheets of ceramic and glass based material one on another.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of forming a plurality of divider walls between the at least one sidewall in the seal frame and lid block.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the mandrel is formed to have a greater height than the sidewalls of the seal frame and lid.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one sidewall is formed to have an inner surface with a draft angle which ranges from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 45 degrees.
16. A method for forming a monolithic seal frame and lid for use with a substrate and electronic circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a plurality of mandrels from a ceramic and glass based material;
forming a seal frame and lid block from a ceramic and glass based material;
creating a seal frame and lid by removing the ceramic and glass based material from the seal frame and lid block to form at least one sidewall, a plurality of compartments, and at least one divider wall;
placing the seal frame and lid on the mandrels such that one mandrel fits within each compartment; and
cofiring the seal frame and lid.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein each mandrel is formed to have roughly the same footprint as a portion of the electronic circuitry and a greater height than the sidewalls of the seal frame and lid.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of forming at least one notch along an edge of the at least one divider wall.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one sidewall, the compartments, and the divider walls are formed by routing the ceramic and glass material.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one sidewall is formed to have an inner surface with a draft angle which ranges from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 45 degrees.