San Jose, CA, September 8, 2011 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, has announced its entry into the semiconductor back-end manufacturing tool market with the launch of the FPA-5510iV semiconductor lithography tool for next-generation semiconductor packaging.
As smart phones, tablet PCs and other electronic devices become progressively smaller and more intelligent, the demand for integration and shrinkage on semiconductor devices continues to increase. One way to realize such integration is to employ a three-dimensional layout of chips, layering multiple semiconductor chips vertically and interconnecting the chips to configure a single device. To facilitate this interconnection, the industry has developed Through Silicon Via (TSV) and Bump processes, enabling multifold increases of memory capacity, high-speed data transfer, and reduced electricity consumption in a smaller layout area.
The launch of the new Canon FPA-5510iV semiconductor lithography tool accommodates the industry’s TSV and Bump process needs. The tool, which utilizes technology cultivated through the company’s best-selling FPA-5500iZ front-end tool series, marks Canon’s first-ever back-end lithography stepper. Relative to back-end steppers, the tool delivers high resolution, high throughput, and high overlay accuracy to meet the rapidly progressing device demands on performance and integration.
New optics system designed for TSV and Bump
Because the resist film used in the TSV and Bump processes is relatively thick, the FPA-5510iV is equipped with an optimized Numerical Aperture for patterning features sized from one to several tens of microns, and small, deep vertical holes in the thick resist. The Numerical Aperture is adjustable to handle various patterns, controlling the image depth of focus, resolution and resist profile.
High productivity
The FPA-5510iV features a large exposure area and high-intensity exposure to deliver high-productivity performance as compared with back-end steppers. The system’s projection lens optics expose an area measuring 52 x 34 mm, compared with the 26 x 33 mm area exposed by front-end tools, and the illumination optics utilize a 4.5kW high-intensity lamp as the light source.
Benefits of the FPA-5510iV Semiconductor Lithography Tool
1. New FPA-5510iV Optical System is optimized to support Through Silicon Via (TSV)* 1 and bump*2 processes
- The New Projection Lens of the 10iV provides optimum Numerical Aperture (NA)*3 conditions for TSV and bump processes that require resolution from 1-50 microns with large aspect ratios. The FPA-5510iV’s low NA range provides a large Depth of Focus (DoF) to support TSV processes that require imaging through thick films and resists.
- The FPA-5510iV Projection Lens NA is variable between 0.10-0.18, allowing control of the optical system performance including resolution, DoF and resist profile.
2. FPA-5510iV provides high productivity relative to back-end steppers
The New 2:1 reduction Projection Lens of the FPA-5510iV provides wide-field exposure capability (52x34mm) that enables the FPA-5510iV to overlay 2 standard, front-end scanner fields in a single exposure. The large field size provides the FPA-5510iV with high productivity and throughput relative to back-end steppers, while also supporting the process standards of current advanced packaging applications.
The FPA-5510iV utilizes a 4.5kW Mercury Lamp and a high-efficiency illumination optical system to provide high-intensity, high-uniformity light to the wafer during exposure.
The FPA-5510iV also allows the use of i-line light, or a combination of i-line and h-line light for exposure. Use of dual-wavelengths can raise exposure intensity to increase stepper throughput for the high-dose rough bump processes.
3. The FPA-5510iV provides accurate Overlay
The Alignment System for the 10iV adopts proven technology from the FPA-5500 platform of steppers that have demonstrated the greatest overlay accuracy among back-end exposure systems*5.
The FPA-5510iV Alignment System automatically monitors and corrects for baseline and lens magnification change due to optics and substrate heating to provide 300 nanometer overlay accuracy*5.
*5: As of 2011 June 30th, based on Canon Inc.’s internal investigation of backend lithography system performance
4. 10iV Optional Units support bonded wafer handling and backside alignment
The FPA-5510iV offers an optional Through-Silicon Alignment (TSA)*6 System to provide backside alignment capability required for next-generation packaging and 3D integration.
The FPA-5510iV TSA Scope uses infrared light to penetrate through silicon to view and measure alignment marks buried in bonded-wafer stacks. The 5510iV aligns directly to front-end alignment marks, eliminating the need to form additional marks to support backside processing of the wafer.
The FPA-5510iV offers an optional, non-contact Wafer Edge Shielding (WES) Unit that accurately and efficiently masks a portion of each shot on the edge of the wafer during exposure. Use of the WES allows negative-tone resist along the wafer perimeter to be stripped away during development.
FPA-5510iV options also support the processing of severely warped wafers that often result from wafer bonding and thinning operations.
* 6 Through Silicon Alignment (TSA): Alignment method that transmits long-wavelength infrared light through silicon,
to observe alignment marks that exist on a wafer
Increasing demand for 3-dimensional devices is affecting market trends for Semiconductor Lithography Tools
It is expected that adoption of 3-Dimensional chip stacking that primarily uses TSV technology, will continue to grow in the market areas including high-functioning, cloud computing products, smart phones, tablet PC’s and MPU’s. Adoption of 3-D technology in the server memory market is accelerating. Based on the projected growth of 3-D technology adoption, it is expected that the backend market for semiconductor lithography tools will expand favorably.
For further information please contact the Semiconductor Division of Canon USA via email at semi-info@cusa.canon.com and by phone at 408-468-2000.
Home Page for Canon USA Semiconductor Equipment: www.usa.canon.com/cusa/semiconductor
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2010†, with global revenues of more than US $45 billion and is listed as number five in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies 2011 list. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – “all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future” – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.
