IP Library Granted Patent US 10,076,800
Granted Patent B2
US 10,076,800 · App. 14/954,243 · Granted Sep 18, 2018

Method and device for a high temperature vacuum-safe solder stop utilizing laser processing of solderable surfaces for an electronic module assembly

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,076,800
App. No.
14/954,243
Granted
Sep 18, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A process for manufacturing an electronic component having attaches includes providing a first component having a first attach, forming trenches on a portion of the first attach with a laser to form a solder stop, and providing a second component comprising a second attach. The process further includes providing solder between the first attach and the second attach to form a connection between the first component and the second component, where the trenches contain the solder to a usable area. A device produced by the process is disclosed as well.

Claims (62)

1. A process for manufacturing an electronic component having attaches comprising:

providing a first component having a first attach;

forming trenches on a portion of the first attach with a laser to form a solder stop;

providing a second component comprising a second attach; and

providing solder between the first attach and the second attach to form a connection between the first component and the second component,

wherein the trenches are arranged and configured such that the providing solder between the first attach and the second attach forms a fillet between the first attach and the second attach,

wherein the trenches are configured to impede solder wetting; and

wherein the trenches comprise a plurality of parallel boundary trenches and at least one additional trench arranged parallel and between the plurality of boundary trenches.

2. A process for manufacturing an electronic component having attaches comprising:

providing a first component having a first attach;

forming trenches on a portion of the first attach with a laser to form a solder stop;

providing a second component comprising a second attach; and

providing solder between the first attach and the second attach to form a connection between the first component and the second component,

wherein the trenches are arranged and configured such that the providing solder between the first attach and the second attach forms a fillet between the first attach and the second attach;

wherein the trenches are configured to impede solder wetting; and

wherein the trenches comprise at least one boundary trench and a plurality of trench portions arranged perpendicular to and that extend in a direction to intersect the at least one boundary trench.

3. A process for manufacturing an electronic component having attaches comprising:

providing a first component having a first attach;

forming trenches on a portion of the first attach with a laser to form a solder stop;

providing a second component comprising a second attach; and

providing solder between the first attach and the second attach to form a connection between the first component and the second component,

wherein the trenches are configured to impede solder wetting; and

wherein the trenches comprise a plurality of parallel boundary trenches and further comprise a plurality of parallel trench portions arranged between the plurality of boundary trenches, and the plurality of parallel trench portions are perpendicular to and extend in a direction to intersect the plurality of parallel boundary trenches.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the forming the trenches with the laser comprises removing a portion of a plated surface from the first component to expose an underlying base plate or substrate.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the forming the trenches with the laser comprises oxidizing a base plate or substrate arranged below a plated surface of the first component.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the forming the trenches with the laser comprises removing at least one plated surface from the first component and further comprises oxidizing a base plate or substrate arranged below the at least one plated surface of the first component.

7. The process of claim 1 further comprising:

plating the first component with a metallic surface to form a plated surface; and

configuring at least a portion of the plated surface as the first attach,

wherein the first component comprises a metallic construction;

wherein the metallic construction comprises at least one of the following: aluminum and copper;

wherein the plated surface comprises at least one of the following: nickel, silver, palladium, and gold; and

wherein the forming the trenches with the laser comprises oxidizing a portion of the first component below the plated surface of the first component.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the forming trenches on the portion of the attaches with the laser to form the solder stop further comprises operating the laser based on computer aided design files implemented by a processor of the laser.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the first component comprises one of the following: a substrate of a power electronic module, a semiconductor device, a heat spreader, an electrical terminal, a passive element, and a base plate of a power electronic module.

10. A process for manufacturing an electronic component having attaches comprising:

providing a first component having a first attach, the first component including at least one plating layer arranged on a base plate or substrate;

forming trenches on a portion of the first attach with a laser to form a solder stop by removing a portion of the at least one plating layer from the base plate or the substrate;

providing a second component comprising a second attach; and

providing solder between the first attach and the second attach to form a connection between the first component and the second component,

wherein the trenches are configured to impede solder wetting; and

wherein the trenches comprise a plurality of parallel boundary trenches and further comprise a plurality of trench portions arranged between the plurality of boundary trenches, and the plurality of trench portions extend in a direction to intersect the plurality of parallel boundary trenches.

11. A process for manufacturing an electronic component having attaches comprising:

providing a first component having a first attach, the first component including at least one plating layer arranged on a base plate or substrate;

forming trenches on a portion of the first attach with a laser to form a solder stop by removing a portion of the at least one plating layer from the base plate or the substrate;

providing a second component comprising a second attach; and

providing solder between the first attach and the second attach to form a connection between the first component and the second component,

wherein the trenches are configured to impede solder wetting; and

wherein the trenches comprise a plurality of parallel boundary trenches and at least one additional trench arranged parallel and between the plurality of boundary trenches.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the plurality of trench portions are arranged perpendicular to the at least one boundary trench.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the plurality of trench portions comprise a plurality of parallel trench portions arranged between the plurality of boundary trenches, and the plurality of parallel trench portions intersect the plurality of parallel boundary trenches.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein the forming the trenches with the laser comprises removing a portion of a plated surface from the first component to expose an underlying base plate or substrate.

15. The process of claim 10 wherein the trenches are arranged and configured such that the providing solder between the first attach and the second attach forms a fillet between the first attach, the second attach, and the trenches.

16. The process of claim 10 wherein the forming the trenches with the laser comprises removing at least one plated surface from the first component and further comprises oxidizing a base plate or substrate arranged below the at least one plated surface of the first component.

17. The process of claim 10 further comprising:

plating the first component with a metallic surface to form the at least one plating layer; and

configuring at least a portion of the at least one plating layer as the first attach,

wherein the first component comprises a metallic construction;

wherein the metallic construction comprises at least one of the following: aluminum and copper; and

wherein the at least one plating layer comprises at least one of the following: nickel, silver, palladium, and gold.

18. The process of claim 10 wherein the forming trenches on the portion of the attaches with the laser to form the solder stop further comprises operating the laser based on computer aided design files implemented by a processor of the laser.

19. The process of claim 10 wherein the first component comprises one of the following: a substrate of a power electronic module, a semiconductor device, a heat spreader, an electrical terminal, a passive element, and a base plate of a power electronic module.

Assignments (11)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Mar 26, 2026
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075280/0919 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0381 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0588 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 64185/0755 Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 072989/0001 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0113 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 17, 2025
From: CREE FAYETTEVILLE, INC.
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 072902/0746 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 064185/0755 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: CREE, INC.
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 059085/0667 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 13, 2021
From: CREE FAYETTEVILLE, INC.
To: CREE, INC.
Reel/Frame 057291/0406 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2016
From: STABACH, JENNIFER; MCPHERSON, BRICE; O'NEAL, CHAD B.
To: CREE FAYETTEVILLE, INC.
Reel/Frame 039201/0341 →