Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080241991 | GANG FLIPPING FOR FLIP-CHIP PACKAGING - An improved method and apparatus for packaging integrated circuits are described. More particularly, a method and apparatus for use in securing a plurality of integrated circuit dice to a lead frame panel are described. Each integrated circuit die includes an active surface having a multiplicity of solder bumps. The lead frame panel includes an array of device areas, each including a plurality of leads. The method includes positioning a plurality of dice into designated positions on a carrier such that the active surfaces of the dice are facing upwards. The carrier includes a carrier frame including an associated array of carrier device areas. A lead frame panel may be positioned over the carrier such that the solder bumps on the active surfaces of the dice are adjacent and in contact with the associated leads of the associated device areas. | 10-02-2008 |
20080241993 | GANG FLIPPING FOR IC PACKAGING - A method of handling an IC wafer that includes a multiplicity of dice is described. Solder bumps are formed on bond pads on the active surface of the wafer. The back surface of the bumped wafer is adhered to a first mount tape. The wafer is singulated while it is still secured to the first tape to provide a multiplicity of individual dice. The active surfaces of the singulated dice are then adhered to a second tape with the first tape still adhered to the back surfaces of the dice. The first tape may then be removed. In this manner, the back surfaces of the dice may be left exposed and facing upwards with the active surfaces of the dice adhered to the second tape. The described method permits the use of a conventional die attach machine that is not designated for use as a flip-chip die attach machine. | 10-02-2008 |
20090026621 | Bond pad stacks for ESD under pad and active under pad bonding - A combination of layout improvements and inner layer dielectric (ILD) material improvements provides a bond pad stack that is robust for both gold (Au) and copper (Cu) wires in circuits with only one or two pad metal layers. The layout improvements involve removing all vias between the top metal layer and the metal layers below top metal in the area under the passivation opening (where probe tips and the bond wire are placed). This allows for a more homogenous material without via discontinuities, thereby reducing stress concentration points in the ILD. The ILD material improvement involves adding a layer of silicon nitride in addition to the silicon oxide layer. Traditionally, the ILD consists of either spun-on or high density plasma (HDP) oxides. The growth of the thin layer of silicon nitride over the oxide on the topmost ILD layer provides a composite of significantly increased toughness and prevents cracks or other damage from propagating into the underlying active circuits and routing. | 01-29-2009 |
20090072367 | LEADFRAME - Particular embodiments of the present invention provide a leadframe suitable for use in packaging IC dice that enables stress reduction in and around the die, die attach material, die attach pad and mold interfaces. More particularly, various leadframes are described that include recesses in selected regions of the top surface of the die attach pad. | 03-19-2009 |
20090115035 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGE - Integrated circuit (IC) packages are described. Each IC package includes a die having an exposed metallic layer deposited on its back surface. Solder joints are arranged to physically and electrically connect I/O pads on the active surface of the die with associated leads. A molding material encapsulates portions of the die, leadframe and solder joint connections while leaving the metallic layer exposed and uncovered by molding material. | 05-07-2009 |
20090160037 | METHOD OF PACKAGING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - A method of packaging an integrated circuit die having a plurality of I/O pads is described. The method includes positioning the die within a die attach area of a first leadframe that includes a plurality of first leads. The method also includes positioning a second leadframe that includes a plurality of second leads over the first leadframe. The method further includes electrically connecting each of the second leads to both an associated I/O pad and a first lead. | 06-25-2009 |
20090174069 | I/O PAD STRUCTURE FOR ENHANCING SOLDER JOINT RELIABILITY IN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICES - A semiconductor device is described. The device includes an integrated circuit die having an active surface that includes a plurality of input/output (I/O) pads. The device further includes a plurality of crack resistant structures. Each crack resistant structure is formed over an associated I/O pad and includes an associated raised portion. Each I/O pad may be bumped with solder such that a solder bump is formed over the associated crack resistant structure on the I/O pad. | 07-09-2009 |
20090267216 | INKJET PRINTED LEADFRAMES - Apparatuses and methods for inkjet printing electrical interconnect patterns such as leadframes for integrated circuit devices are disclosed. An apparatus for packaging includes a thin substrate adapted for high temperature processing, and an attach pad and contact regions that are inkjet printed to the thin substrate using a metallic nanoink. The nanoink is then cured to remove liquid content. The residual metallic leadframe or electrical interconnect pattern has a substantially consistent thickness of about 10 to 50 microns or less. An associated panel assembly includes a conductive substrate panel having multiple separate device arrays comprising numerous electrical interconnect patterns each, a plurality of integrated circuit devices mounted on the conductive substrate panel, and a molded cap that encapsulates the integrated circuit devices and associated electrical interconnect patterns. The molded cap is of substantially uniform thickness over each separate device array, and extends into the space between separate device arrays. | 10-29-2009 |
20100015329 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PACKAGING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH THIN METAL CONTACTS - Methods and arrangements are described for forming an array of contacts for use in packaging one or more integrated circuit devices. In particular, various methods are described for forming contacts having thicknesses less than approximately 10 μm, and in particular embodiments, between 0.5 to 2 μm. | 01-21-2010 |
20100025818 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGE - An integrated circuit package is described that includes an integrated circuit die, a plurality of lower contact leads, and an insulating substrate positioned over the die and lower contact leads. The insulating substrate includes a plurality of electrically conducting upper routing traces formed on the bottom surface of the substrate. The traces on the bottom surface of the substrate electrically couple each lower contact lead with an associated I/O pad. | 02-04-2010 |
20100072613 | INKJET PRINTED LEADFRAME - Apparatuses and methods for inkjet printing electrical interconnect patterns such as leadframes for integrated circuit devices are disclosed. An apparatus for packaging includes a thin substrate adapted for high temperature processing, and an attach pad and contact regions that are inkjet printed to the thin substrate using a metallic nanoink. The nanoink is then cured to remove liquid content. The residual metallic leadframe or electrical interconnect pattern has a substantially consistent thickness of about 10 to 50 microns or less. An associated panel assembly includes a conductive substrate panel having multiple separate device arrays comprising numerous electrical interconnect patterns each, a plurality of integrated circuit devices mounted on the conductive substrate panel, and a molded cap that encapsulates the integrated circuit devices and associated electrical interconnect patterns. The molded cap is of substantially uniform thickness over each separate device array, and extends into the space between separate device arrays. | 03-25-2010 |
20100084748 | THIN FOIL FOR USE IN PACKAGING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - Methods for minimizing warpage of a welded foil carrier structure used in the packaging of integrated circuits are described. Portions of a metallic foil are ultrasonically welded to a carrier to form a foil carrier structure. The ultrasonic welding helps define a panel in the metallic foil that is suitable for packaging integrated circuits. Warpage of the thin foil can be limited in various ways. By way of example, an intermittent welding pattern that extends along the edges of the panel may be formed. Slots may be cut to define sections in the foil carrier structure. Materials for the metallic foil and the carrier may be selected to have similar coefficients of thermal expansion. An appropriate thickness for the metallic foil and the carrier may be selected, such that the warpage of the welded foil carrier structure is limited when the foil carrier structure is subjected to large increases in temperature. Foil carrier structures for use in the above methods are also described. | 04-08-2010 |
20100151614 | WAFER LEVEL METHOD OF FORMING SIDE FIBER INSERTION OPTOELECTRONIC PACKAGES - Optoelectronic packages and wafer level techniques for forming optoelectronic packages are described. In accordance with one apparatus aspect of the invention, a pair of substrates are bonded together to form an optical coupler. A first one of the substrates has a recess that faces the second substrate to at least in part define a channel suitable for receiving an optical transmission medium. A photonic device is mounted on a mounting surface of the second substrate that is opposite its bonded surface. The photonic device faces the reflective surface and an optical path is formed between the channel and the photonic element that both reflects off of the reflective surface and passes through the second substrate. In some embodiments an integrated circuit device and/or solder bumps are also attached to the mounting surface and the second substrate has conductive traces thereon that electrically couple the various electrical components as appropriate (e.g., the photonic device, the integrated circuit device, the solder bumps and/or other components). The substrates may be formed from a wide variety of materials including, glass, plastic and silicon. In some embodiments, at least the second substrate is formed from an optically transparent material and the optical path passes directly though the optically transparent material. In a method aspect of the invention, a variety of wafer level methods for forming such devices are described. | 06-17-2010 |
20110074003 | FOIL BASED SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE - The present inventions relate to methods and arrangements for using a thin foil to form electrical interconnects in an integrated circuit package. One embodiment of the present invention involves attaching multiple dice to a foil carrier structure. The foil carrier structure is made of a thin foil that is bonded to a carrier. The dice and at least a portion of the metallic foil is then encapsulated with a molding material. The carrier is removed, leaving behind a molded foil structure. The exposed foil is patterned and etched using photolithographic techniques to define multiple device areas in the foil. Each device area includes multiple conductive lines. Afterwards, portions of the conductive lines are covered with a dielectric material and other portions are left exposed to define multiple bond pads in the device area. The molded foil structure can be singulated to form multiple integrated circuit packages. | 03-31-2011 |
20110269269 | LASER ABLATION ALTERNATIVE TO LOW COST LEADFRAME PROCESS - The present inventions relate generally to methods for packaging integrated circuits using thin foils that form electrical interconnects for the package. The foil includes a base layer (such as copper) with an optional plating layer (such as silver) suitable for improving adhesion of the bonding wires (or other connectors) to the foil. The base layer (or the plated surface if the foil is preplated) of the foil is patterned by laser ablation to define components (e.g. contacts) of a device area. The patterning is arranged to ablate entirely through selected portions of the plating layer and part, but not all, of the way through corresponding underlying portions of the base layer. In some embodiments, the metallic foil is partially etched after the laser ablation in order to deepen the trenches that define the patterning of the foil. Multiple dice may then be attached to die attach pad areas of the plated foil and electrically coupled to electrical contacts. Some embodiments contemplate encapsulating the dice, bonding wires, and portions of the plated foil with a plastic molding material. Portions of the metallic foil may then be removed by etching, laser ablation, or grinding. The resulting structure may then be singulated to form individual integrated circuit packages. | 11-03-2011 |
20120043660 | THIN FOIL SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE - One aspect of the present invention involves a foil-based method for packaging integrated circuits. Initially, a metallic foil and a photoresist layer are attached with a carrier. The photoresist layer is exposed and patterned. Afterward, multiple integrated circuit dice are connected to the foil. The dice and portions of the foil are encapsulated in a molding material. The foil is then etched based on the patterned photoresist layer to define multiple device areas in the foil, where each device area supports at least one of the integrated circuit dice. Some aspects of the present invention relate to panel arrangements that are involved in the aforementioned method. | 02-23-2012 |
20120326300 | LOW PROFILE PACKAGE AND METHOD - In a method aspect, a multiplicity of ICs are attached to routing on a structurally supportive carrier (such as a wafer). The dice are encapsulated and then both the dice and the encapsulant layer are thinned with the carrier in place. A second routing layer is formed over the first encapsulant layer and conductive vias are provided to electrically couple the first and second routing layers as desired. External I/O contacts (e.g. solder bumps) are provided to facilitate electrical connection of the second routing layer (or a subsequent routing layer in stacked packages) to external devices. A contact encapsulant layer is then formed over the first encapsulant layer and the second routing layer in a manner that embeds the external I/O contacts at least partially therein. After the contact encapsulant layer has been formed, the carrier itself may be thinned significantly and singulated to provide a number of very low profile packages. The described approach can also be used to form stacked multi-chip packages. | 12-27-2012 |
20130043970 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACHIEVING GALVANIC ISOLATION IN PACKAGE HAVING INTEGRAL ISOLATION MEDIUM - An inductor device having an improved galvanic isolation layer arranged between a pair of coil and methods of its construction are described. | 02-21-2013 |
20130127008 | THERMALLY EFFICIENT INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGE - In one aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit package will be described. The integrated circuit package includes at least two integrated circuits that are attached with a substrate. The integrated circuits and the substrates are at least partially encapsulated in a molding material. There is a groove or air gap that extends partially through the molding material and that is arranged to form a thermal barrier between the integrated circuits. | 05-23-2013 |
20130127043 | MICRO SURFACE MOUNT DEVICE PACKAGING - A variety of improved approaches for packaging integrated circuits are described. In one described approach, a multiplicity of dice are mounted on a carrier (e.g., a plastic carrier). Each die has a plurality of wire bonded contact studs secured to its associated I/O pads. An encapsulant is applied over the carrier to cover the dice and at least portions of the contact studs to form an encapsulant carrier structure. After the encapsulant has been applied, a first surface of the encapsulant and the contact studs are ground such that exposed portions of the contact studs are smooth and substantially co-planar with the encapsulant. In some embodiments, a redistribution layer is formed over the encapsulant carrier structure and solder bumps are attached to the redistribution layer. A contact encapsulant layer is applied over the encapsulant carrier structure to provide extra mechanical support for the resulting packages. | 05-23-2013 |
20130127044 | MICRO SURFACE MOUNT DEVICE PACKAGING - A variety of improved approaches for packaging integrated circuits are described. In one described approach, a multiplicity of die cavities are formed in a plastic carrier. In some preferred embodiments, the die cavities are formed by laser ablation. A multiplicity of dice are placed on the carrier, with each die being placed in an associated die cavity. Each of the dice preferably has a multiplicity of I/O bumps formed thereon. An encapsulant is applied over the carrier to form an encapsulant layer that covers the dice and fills portions of the cavities that are not occupied by the dice. In some preferred embodiments, the encapsulant is an epoxy material applied by screen printing and the dice are not physically attached to the carrier prior to the application of the encapsulant. In these embodiments, the epoxy encapsulant serves to secure the dice to the carrier. | 05-23-2013 |
20150069572 | Multilayer High Voltage Isolation Barrier in an Integrated Circuit - A semiconductor package is provided that has a transformer formed within a multilayer dielectric laminate substrate. The transformer has a first inductor coil formed in one or more dielectric laminate layers of the substrate, a second inductor coil formed in one or more dielectric laminate layers of the substrate, and an isolation barrier comprising two or more dielectric laminate layers of the multilayer substrate positioned between the first inductor coil and the second inductor coil. The transformer may be mounted on a lead frame along with one or more integrated circuits and molded into a packaged isolation device. | 03-12-2015 |