Patent ID: 12249804

Further aspects of the optoelectronic component are specified below in numbered form.

Aspect 1. An optoelectronic component comprising:

a housing comprising:a leadframe having two external electrical contact locations and two contact webs,a housing body, into which the leadframe is embedded, whereineach contact web extends laterally from a respective one of the external electrical contact locations to a mounting surface of the housing, such that contact surfaces of the contact webs are exposed at the mounting surface,an optoelectronic semiconductor chip,an optical element arranged on the mounting surface of the housing, whereinelectrical contact structures of the optical element are electrically conductively connected to the contact surfaces of the contact webs.
Aspect 2. The optoelectronic component according to the preceding aspect comprising a housing wall extending around the mounting surface.
Aspect 3. The optoelectronic component according to either of the preceding aspects,wherein the contact webs have a smaller thickness than the external electrical contact locations.
Aspect 4. The optoelectronic component according to any of the preceding aspects,wherein the housing body is embodied in black fashion.
Aspect 5. The optoelectronic component according to any of the preceding aspects,wherein each contact surface is arranged at a bottom surface of a recess.
Aspect 6. The optoelectronic component according to any of the preceding aspects,wherein the leadframe has a supporting frame extending around the external electrical contact locations.
Aspect 7. The optoelectronic component according to any of the preceding aspects,wherein the leadframe has anchor webs for mechanical stabilization.
Aspect 8. The optoelectronic component according to any of the preceding aspects,wherein the electrical contact structures are in direct contact with the contact surfaces of the contact webs.
Aspect 9. The optoelectronic component according to any of the preceding aspects,wherein the optoelectronic semiconductor chip is a surface-emitting semiconductor laser chip.
Aspect 10. The optoelectronic component according to any of the preceding aspects,wherein the optoelectronic semiconductor chip is mounted on an electrical connection location of the leadframe and is electrically conductively connected to two further electrical connection locations by means of a bond wire.

The optoelectronic component can be produced for example by the method described below. Features and embodiments disclosed solely in connection with the optoelectronic component in the present case can also be embodied in the case of the method and vice versa.

In accordance with one embodiment of the method for producing an optoelectronic component, a housing described here is provided.

In accordance with one embodiment of the method, an optoelectronic semiconductor chip is applied to a mounting surface of the housing.

In accordance with one embodiment of the method, an optical element is applied to the mounting surface of the housing.

This method, too, can be carried out in a batch process, i.e. in a process in which a plurality of optoelectronic components are produced in parallel. By way of example, the method steps already described above of a batch process for producing a multiplicity of housings are carried out for this purpose. In this case, however, the housings are generally not singulated after production of the housing bodies. Rather, optoelectronic semiconductor chips are generally applied to the electrical connection locations provided for receiving the optoelectronic semiconductor chip. In a next step, the optoelectronic semiconductor chips are generally electrically contacted, for example with the aid of bond wires. Finally, the resultant assemblage can be singulated into individual optoelectronic components at the end. An optical element can then be placed onto each mounting surface of each housing.

Furthermore, it is also possible firstly for all the housings to be provided with the optical element and only then for the optoelectronic components to be separated.

The optoelectronic component can be used for example in a motor vehicle, in devices appertaining to consumer electronics or in sensor technology. If the optoelectronic component comprises a surface-emitting semiconductor laser chip as light source, then one possible application consists in a time of flight measurement.

Particularly preferably, the leadframe contains further structures, such as recesses for alignment, for example, in the edge region extending around the panel.

Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the housing, of the optoelectronic component, of the method for producing a housing, and of the method for producing an optoelectronic component will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below in association with the figures.

With reference to the schematic illustrations inFIGS.1to3, a method for producing a housing for an optoelectronic component in accordance with one exemplary embodiment is explained in greater detail.

FIG.4shows a schematic sectional illustration of a housing in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

With reference to the schematic illustrations inFIGS.5and6, a method for producing a housing for an optoelectronic component in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment is explained in greater detail.

With reference to the schematic illustrations inFIGS.7and8, a method for producing an optoelectronic component in accordance with one exemplary embodiment is explained in greater detail.

FIG.9shows a schematic sectional illustration of an optoelectronic component in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

Elements that are identical, of identical type or act identically are provided with the same reference signs in the figures. The figures and the size relationships of the elements illustrated in the figures among one another should not be regarded as to scale. Rather, individual elements, in particular layer thicknesses, may be illustrated with an exaggerated size in order to enable better illustration and/or in order to afford a better understanding.

In the case of the method in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIGS.1to3, a leadframe1is provided in a first step (FIG.1).

The leadframe1has two external electrical contact locations2and two contact webs3. Moreover, the leadframe1comprises an electrical connection location4for the mounting of an optoelectronic semiconductor chip5and also two further electrical connection locations6for electrical contacting with a respective bond wire. In addition, the leadframe1has a supporting frame7. The supporting frame7extends completely around the electrical connection location4for the mounting of the optoelectronic semiconductor chip5, the further electrical connection locations6for receiving the bond wires and the two external electrical contact locations2.

Moreover, the leadframe1has mechanical anchor webs8, which connect the electrical connection location4for the mounting of the optoelectronic semiconductor chip5, the further electrical connection locations6for receiving the bond wires and the two external electrical contact locations2to the supporting frame7in a mechanically stable manner.

Each contact web3extends laterally from a respective external electrical contact location2. However, in contrast to the anchor webs8, the contact webs3are not connected to the supporting frame7.

By way of example, the leadframe1is formed from copper and provided with a gold coating at least in places.

FIG.2shows a schematic sectional illustration along the line A-A of the leadframe1fromFIG.1. In this case, a contact web3extends laterally from each external electrical contact location2. The two contact webs3each have a smaller thickness than the external electrical contact locations2. At a surface of the leadframe1, the external electrical contact locations2terminate flush with the contact webs3. The external electrical contact locations2and the contact webs3initially lie in a main plane of extent of the leadframe1.

In a next step, the contact webs3are bent out of the main plane of extent9of the leadframe1(FIG.3). Particularly preferably, contact surfaces10of the contact webs3, which are end surfaces of the contact webs3in the present case, are situated in a common main plane of extent. In the present case, the common main plane of extent11of the contact surfaces10runs parallel to the main plane of extent9of the leadframe1.

In a next step, a housing body12is produced, which embeds the leadframe1. In this case, each contact web3extends laterally from one of the external electrical contact locations2to a mounting surface13of the housing14, wherein the contact surfaces10of the contact webs3are exposed at the mounting surface13. The housing body12can be produced by means of foil assisted molding, for example. Particularly preferably, a black housing material is used for the housing body12.

The leadframe1is embedded into the housing body12in such a way that only surfaces of the leadframe1for electrical contacting are exposed, namely surfaces of the external electrical contact locations2and also the contact surfaces10of the contact webs3.

The housing14in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIG.4can be produced for example by the method described with reference toFIGS.1to3.

The housing14in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIG.4has a black housing body12, into which a leadframe1is embedded. The leadframe1comprises external electrical contact locations2. A contact web3extends laterally from each external electrical contact location2to a mounting surface13of the housing14. Contact surfaces10of the contact webs3are exposed at the mounting surface13.

The mounting surface13has recesses15, wherein each contact surface10is arranged at a bottom surface16of a recess15. The recesses15are produced during the production of the housing body12by means of foil assisted molding when the contact webs3press into a foil with which a mold is lined.

In the case of the housing14in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIG.4, the contact webs3form an electrically conductive connection from the mounting surface13of the housing14to a rear side of the housing14, said rear side being situated opposite the mounting surface13and the external electrical contact locations2being freely accessible at said rear side. In this case, the external electrical contact locations2terminate flush with a surface of the housing body12.

The mounting surface13of the housing14in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIG.4is furthermore surrounded by a housing wall17extending completely around the mounting surface13in the present case.

In the case of the method in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIGS.5and6, in contrast to the method in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIGS.1and3, a panel18with a multiplicity of leadframes1of identical type is provided (FIG.5). The method in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIGS.5and6is therefore a batch process.

The leadframes1are embodied for example as already described with reference toFIG.1. A common outer frame19extends completely around the multiplicity of leadframes1. The common outer frame19comprises for example markings for alignment (not illustrated).

In a next step, the leadframes1are surrounded by a multiplicity of housing bodies12, for example by means of foil assisted molding.FIG.6shows by way of example a plan view of a leadframe1embedded into a black housing body12.

Afterward, the housings14are singulated, thus giving rise to a multiplicity of housings14such as have already been described for example with reference toFIG.4. In particular, the finished housing14no longer comprises a supporting frame7of each leadframe1, rather said supporting frame is removed during singulation.

In the case of the method for producing an optoelectronic component in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIGS.7and8, firstly a housing14is provided, such as has already been described with reference toFIG.4.

In a next step, an optoelectronic semiconductor chip5is applied to the electrical connection location4of the leadframe1that is provided for receiving the optoelectronic semiconductor chip5(FIG.7). The optoelectronic semiconductor chip5is electrically contacted with bond wires (not illustrated).

The optoelectronic semiconductor chip5is for example a surface-emitting semiconductor laser chip, such as a VCSEL. During operation, the surface-emitting semiconductor laser chip5emits electromagnetic radiation, preferably visible light, from a radiation exit surface20.

In a next step, an optical element21, such as is illustrated schematically inFIG.8, is applied to a mounting surface13of the housing14, said mounting surface being surrounded by a housing wall17. The optical element21has an electrical contact structure22extending partly around an optically active surface23. The electrical contact structures22of the optical element21are a conductor track, for example. The electrical contact structures22are vapor-deposited as a metallic layer, for example. Furthermore, it is also possible for the electrical contact structure22to be formed from an electrically conductive paste or from an electrically conductive ink. The optically active surface23has a lens array, for example.

The optoelectronic component in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIG.9can be produced for example by a method such as has been described with reference toFIGS.7and8.

The optoelectronic component in accordance with the exemplary embodiment inFIG.9has a housing14such as has already been described with reference toFIG.4. Furthermore, the optoelectronic component comprises an optoelectronic semiconductor chip5, for example a surface-emitting semiconductor laser chip. Moreover, an optical element21is applied on a mounting surface13of the housing14. A housing wall17extends around the optical element21and fixes the optical element21. Furthermore, electrical contact structures22of the optical element21are in direct contact with the contact surfaces10exposed at the mounting surface13, such that these are electrically conductively connected to one another.

The optical element21sets an emission characteristic of the optoelectronic semiconductor chip5in a desired manner. If the optoelectronic semiconductor chip5is a surface-emitting semiconductor laser chip, then in particular a far field of the surface-emitting semiconductor laser chip is set to a desired value that does not harm the human eye. By means of a resistance measurement via the external electrical contact locations22on a rear side of the optoelectronic component, it is advantageously possible to ascertain in a simple manner whether or not the component still comprises the optical element21.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments by the description on the basis of said exemplary embodiments. Rather, the invention encompasses any novel feature and also any combination of features, which in particular includes any combination of features in the patent claims, even if this feature or this combination itself is not explicitly specified in the patent claims or exemplary embodiments.