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UltraSource – Your Thin Film Source

UltraSource provides build-to-print thin film manufacturing services for a diverse set of high technology companies.

UltraSource Inc thin film sample

UltraSource, a Vishay Intertechnology company, is one of the most advanced thin film circuit and thin film interconnect manufacturers in the world.

Our 25,000 square foot facility in southern New Hampshire houses a complete array of cleanrooms and equipment specially tailored for manufacturing reliable, high-quality thin film products. UltraSource was founded in 1991 and acquired by Vishay in 2018.

UltraSource is an industry leader in high-performance thin film circuits and thin film interconnects. UltraSource products are used in many applications demanding zero failures and zero downtime. UltraSource is AS9100 certified, attracting and retaining customers in aerospace, defense, satellite, and medical industries where quality and high reliability is an absolute must.

UltraSource has developed a comprehensive scheduling and planning software system that enables us to manage supply and demand. Complex manufacturing routings are programmed with set up and run times, and the software system schedules the work centers in the factory.

What is Thin Film?

Thin film is the term used to describe a circuit technology used to fabricate devices for a variety of electronic and optical applications.

The term “thin film” is derived from the fact that the deposited films are only a few microns (aka micrometers) in thickness, and the films are usually applied to the substrate by sputtering. Sputtering is a physical vapor deposition process (PVD) that is used to metalize the base material (or substrate) with the desired metallization. Sputtering takes place in a vacuum chamber (see below) and sputtering equipment provides precise process controls and uniformity. The use of sputtering to apply the thin films is one of the reasons why the technology is so reliable.
Schematic of thin film sputtering process
Mask aligning and exposure during thin film substrate manufacturing

The thin film circuit patterns are defined using photolithography (photoresists and photomasks).

Thin film circuits are typically constructed on ceramic or crystalline substrates. Specific thin film substrate materials are chosen to optimize performance in their application, and usually focus on specific properties like dielectric constant, loss tangent, thermal conductivity, surface finish, flatness, etc. Metals other than gold can also be deposited in order to provide solderability, resistors, or solder damming. Thin film metallizations work very well for high performance wire bonding, soldering, and epoxy attachment methods.

Thin film circuits are machined to size by using dicing (diamond sawing) or laser machining.

After the thin film circuit is built, components such as inductors, diodes, chip resistors, MMIC’s, etc. can be attached. In many applications, thin film technology is used because there is no alternative technology capable of delivering the necessary performance. This is often the case for high frequency microwave circuits where the small circuit size, line definition, and repeatability provide a significant performance advantage over other circuit manufacturing methods.
Advantages of using thin film technology over other technologies over other circuit manufacturing methods:

PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGES OF THIN FILM

  1. High frequency performance
  2. Dense lines and spaces
  3. Tighter tolerances possible on factors that affect circuit performance (line width, gap width, substrate thickness, polish, etc.)
  4. Wide variety of substrate materials
  5. Highly polished substrates
  6. Flat substrates for optical uses
  7. Predictability of design
  8. Long term reliability
  9. Ability to integrate passive features like resistors, capacitors, couplers, etc.
  10. Thermal conductivity

ECONOMICAL ADVANTAGES OF THIN FILM

  1. Circuit miniaturization
  2. Long term reliability
  3. Low development costs
  4. Rapid prototyping
  5. Ability to integrate passive features like resistors, capacitors, couplers, etc.
Thin film sputteringThin film fine lines, resistors, and plated through holesExamples of thin film circuits and interconnects

Substrates

The substrate is the foundation on which the thin film components are built. The substrate properties have significant influence on the performance of the device. Alumina is still the most common substrate material due to its surface quality, cost, and high frequency performance.

High power thin film submount

Conductor/Resistor Films

Thin film resistors are typically used for precision applications. Their values are very accurate and have an excellent temperature coefficient. Inductance and capacitance are generally lower. Thin film resistors are used in medical equipment, audio installations, precision controls and measurement devices. Thick film resistors are used in lower-cost applications where high accuracy and precision are not needed.

Vias

Vias provide electrical and thermal connections between layers of thin film substrates. The vias are filled with with gold, copper or polyimide depending on the application and cost target. Gold and copper provide highly conductive and reliable connections while eliminating epoxy or solder bleed-through. A polyimide via eliminates epoxy or solder bleed-through but at a much lower cost than the pure metal filled via products.

Copper Filled Via

Cross-Overs & Dams

Polyimide is used to create solder dams – structures that stops the flow of solder from one location to another. Polyimide is also used to create a cross-over, or bridge, on the circuit board.

Polyimide cross-over Lange coupler

The Process

Thin Film products begin with a concept for a new circuit. The concept is then turned into a design which can then be put into production. UltraSource is here to help transform your design ideas from concept to reality.

Custom thin film fabrication from concept to production

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