The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 20, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 13, 2006
Harry R. Kirk, Campbell, CA (US);
Francois J. Henley, Aptos, CA (US);
Philip James Ong, Milpitas, CA (US);
Harry R. Kirk, Campbell, CA (US);
Francois J. Henley, Aptos, CA (US);
Philip James Ong, Milpitas, CA (US);
Silicon Genesis Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for bonding together substrates in a manner that suppresses the formation of voids between them. In a specific embodiment, a backside of each substrate is adhered to a front area of flexible, porous chuck having a rear area in pneumatic communication with a vacuum. Application of the vacuum causes the chuck and the associated substrate to slightly bend. Owing to this bending, physical contact between local portions on the front side of the flexed substrates may be initiated, while maintaining other portions on front side of the substrates substantially free from contact with each other. A bond wave is formed and maintained at a determined velocity to form a continuous interface joining the front sides of the substrates, without formation of voids therebetween. In one embodiment, the chucks may comprise porous polyethylene sealed with polyimide except for a portion of the front configured to be in contact with the substrate, and a portion of the backside configured to be in communication with a vacuum source.