This application claims priority to Malaysian Patent Application No. PI2020004589, filed on Sep. 4, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Various aspects relate generally to the field of semiconductor chip package manufacturing. More particularly devices and methods of creating devices for improved heat dissipation in a stacked chip package.
3D stacked chip packages face challenges dissipating heat. For example, 3D stacked integrated circuit (IC) packages such as high bandwidth memory (HBM) may include the application of a thermal interface material (TIM) between stacked chips and/or cavities between dies for lateral heat path dissipation. Because stacked chip packages may have a longer heat dissipation paths, reducing the heat dissipation path is desirable for robust thermal dissipation and device reliability.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. It should be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of exemplary aspects of the invention, and are neither limitative nor necessarily drawn to scale of the present invention.
In the following description, various aspects of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific details and aspects of aspects in which the aspects of this disclosure are practiced.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” The words “plurality” and “multiple” in the description and claims refer to a quantity greater than one. The terms “group,” “set”, “sequence,” and the like refer to a quantity equal to or greater than one. Any term expressed in plural form that does not expressly state “plurality” or “multiple” similarly refers to a quantity equal to or greater than one. The term “lesser subset” refers to a subset of a set that contains less than all elements of the set. Any vector and/or matrix notation utilized herein is exemplary in nature and is employed for purposes of explanation. Aspects of this disclosure described with vector and/or matrix notation are not limited to being implemented with vectors and/or matrices and the associated processes and computations may be performed in an equivalent manner with sets or sequences of data or other information.
The term chips (also referred to herein as “silicon dies”) are generally “packaged” prior to shipping and merging with other electronics packages. This packaging typically involves encapsulating the chips in a material and providing electrical contacts on the outside of the housing to provide an interface for the chip. Among other things, chip packaging can provide protection against impurities, provide mechanical support, dissipate heat and reduce thermo-mechanical stress.
The terms “over”, “to”, “between” and “on” as used herein may refer to a relative position of one layer with respect to other layers. One layer “over” or “on” another layer or bonded “to” another layer may be directly in contact with the other layer or may have one or more intervening layers. One layer “between” layers may be directly in contact with the layers or may have one or more intervening layers.
Although a silicon die may refer to a processor chip, a radio-frequency (RF) chip, an integrated passive device (IPD) chip, or a memory chip may be mentioned in the same sentence, but it should not be construed that they are equivalent structures. The appearance of the phrase “aspect” various places throughout this disclosure are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more aspects.
Various features are grouped together for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate aspect.
Integrating a molded heat spreader in a stacked chip package improves thermal dissipation. For example, in a 3D stacked integrated circuit package including a molded integrated heat spreader may shorten the heat dissipation path. Stacking chips perpendicular to each other allows for shorter heat dissipation paths. Each chip of stacked chip package is surrounded by a conductive frame. For example, a chip and conductive frame may be coupled to a package substrate. The conductive frame encircles the chip. A conductive plate may be coupled directly on top of the conductive frame and the chip. For example, the conductive plates may be coupled to thermal VIAs of the chip. The conductive plates may not be coupled to any other chips and used to dissipate heat. Gaps between elements such as frames, plates, and chips may be filled with an encapsulation or molding material. The conductive frame and the conductive plates form a container over the chip with an opening at the top between two conductive plates. The conductive frame is not in direct contact with the chip. The two conductive plates are in direct contact with a top surface of both the conductive frame and the chip.
The conductive plates form a conductive plane directly over the first frame and the first chip as previously described. The conductive plates include a gap or opening to expose a surface of the first chip so that a second chip may be coupled to the first chip in the opening. The second chip is perpendicularly positioned directly over the first chip. Conductive plate may be extended to at least partially encircle the second chip. A second conductive frame is directly coupled to conductive plates. A second pair of conductive plates are directly coupled to the second conductive frame and a third chip in much the same way as the first conductive plates are attached to the first conductive frame and the first chip. The second conductive plates may at least partially encircle a fourth chip disposed on the third chip.
For example, the conductive frame may be coupled to the package substrate. The chip may be couple to the package substrate within the conductive frame so that the conductive frame encircles a periphery of the chip. The bottom surface of the conductive frame and the bottom surface of the chip are coupled to the package substrate. A pair of conductive plates are in direct contact with a portion of the top surface of the conductive frame and a portion of the top surface of the chip. The conductive plates are in a plane over the conductive frame and chip. The conductive plates may extend across the conductive frame and the chip in such a way that a portion of the top surface of the conductive frame and a portion of the top surface of the chip are exposed. A subsequent chip may be positioned on the exposed top surface of the conductive frame and the chip. The subsequent chip may be at least partially encircled by the conductive frame. The subsequent chip may be electrically coupled to the conductive frame and the chip. The subsequent chip may be oriented in a different direction than the first chip. For example, the subsequent chip may be oriented perpendicular relative to the chip. The conductive plate may be extended and positioned directly on the conductive frame and the chip in such a way to encircle the subsequent chip.
A stacked chip package configured with alternating chips positioned orthogonally relative to each other may improve heat flow and/or thermal dissipation in a device. Heat spreaders including conductive frames and conductive plates may surround chips and span across chips, such as silicon dies, and connected to the thermal interface of a chip. An Integrated molded heat spreader may include vertically stacked heat spreaders corresponding to vertically stacked chips.
An integrated molded heat spreader provides efficient thermal dissipation. Efficient thermal dissipation allows device miniaturization and/or performance improvements as compared to conventional 3D die-stacked packages which limit the number of stacked dies due to thermal dissipation deficiency. The integrated molded heat spreader allows for an increased 3D die stacking hierarchy because of its efficient thermal dissipation.
Additionally, an integrated molded heat spreader may provide improved electrical performance, such as signal and power integrity. Noise shielding, for example, electromagnetic and/or radio frequency interferences and power decoupling may be integrated as part of the solution. For example, the integrated molded heat spreader may be coupled to a reference voltage e.g., a ground reference voltage (Vss) from the package substrate and/or chips through the conductive frames and the conductive plates for noise shielding. In an aspect, an on-package voltage regulator may be included adjacent to the stacked configuration as previously described. This solution may also include decoupling capacitors and a power management module.
The molded integrated heat spreader for improved thermal dissipation may include a mold substrate. For example, the mold substrate may comprise one or more polymer layers including epoxy resins and/or silicon composites.
The stacked chip package may include several different types of chips. For example, the chip package may include 4 different chips. Chips may include a top surface and a bottom surface where the top and bottom surface are opposite sides of the chip. For example, a first stacked chip may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a platform controller hub (PCH). The first stacked chip may include a plurality of through silicon VIAs (TSVs) at least partially extending through a bottom surface and a top surface of the first stacked chip. The TSVs facilitate data signal transmission, power supply, and/or ground reference voltage connections. The first stacked chip may be coupled to the package substrate through its bottom surface. The first conductive frame encircling the first stacked chip may be made of a copper layer, tin-silver (SnAg) solder composites, or nano particle composites. For example, carbon nano-tube composites may encircle a periphery of the first stacked chip. The first conductive frame is spaced apart from the first stacked chip by the mold layer. For example, the spacing between the first conductive frame and the first stacked chip may range from 100 μm to approximately 2 mm. The first set of conductive plates may be seated on the first conductive frame and extends across a portion of the top surface of the first stacked chip. The conductive plates may be in direct contact with thermal TSVs of the chip to facilitate thermal dissipation away from the chip. Alternatively, the thermal TSVs may not be in physical contact with a metal redistribution layer (RDL) coupled to the bottom surface of the first stacked chip.
A second stacked chip may be one of several different types of chips. For example, the second stacked chip may be a memory device. The second stacked chip may include top and bottom surfaces. The bottom surface of the second stacked chip may be coupled to TSVs of the top surface of the first stacked chip. The second stacked chip may be oriented in a perpendicular direction relative to the orientation of the first stacked chip. The conductive plates connected to the first stacked chip and the first conductive frame may partially encircle a periphery of the second stacked chip. The first set of conductive plates may be separated from the second stacked chip by the mold layer. For example, the spacing between the first conductive plates and the second stacked chip may range from 25 μm to approximately 2 mm. The second stacked chip may include a plurality of through silicon VIAs (TSVs) at least partially extending through the top and bottom surfaces to facilitate data signal transmission, power supply, and/or ground reference voltage connections.
A third stacked chip may be one of several different types of chips. For example, the third stacked chip may be a memory device. The third stacked chip may include top and bottom surfaces. The bottom surface of the third stacked chip may be coupled to TSVs of the top surface of the second stacked chip. The third stacked chip may be oriented in a different direction than that of the second stacked chip. For example, the third stacked chip may be oriented in parallel direction as that of the first stacked chip. The third stacked chip may include a plurality of through silicon VIAs (TSVs) at least partially extending through the top and bottom surfaces to facilitate data signal transmission, power supply, and/or ground reference voltage connections. The second conductive frame can be made of multiple materials. For example, the frame may be made of a copper layer, tin-silver (SnAg) solder composites, or nano particle composites. For example, carbon nano-tube composites. For example, the frame may be coupled to the second set of conductive plates and encircle a periphery of the third stacked chip. The second conductive frame is spaced apart from the third stacked chip by the mold layer. For example, the spacing between the second conductive frame and the third stacked chip may range from 25 μm to approximately 2 mm. The second set of conductive plates seated on the second conductive frame and extend across a portion of the top surface of the third stacked chip. The second set of conductive plates may be in contact with TSVs of the top surface of the third stacked chip to facilitate thermal dissipation away from the third stacked chip. Some TSVs may not be in physical contact with a metal redistribution layer (RDL) coupled to the bottom surface of the third stacked chip.
A fourth stacked chip may be one of several different types of chips. For example, the fourth stacked chip may be a memory device. The fourth stacked chip includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the fourth stacked chip is coupled to TSVs of the top surface of the third stacked chip. The fourth stacked chip may be position in a similar direction as the second stacked chip. For example, the direction of the fourth stacked chip may be parallel to the direction of the second stacked chip. The second set of conductive plates may partially encircle a periphery of the fourth stacked chip. The second set of conductive plates may include an extended conductive plate encircles the fourth stacked chip. The second set of conductive plates may be spaced apart from the fourth stacked chip by the mold layer. For example, the spacing between the second set of conductive plates and the fourth stacked chip may range from 25 μm to approximately 2 mm. The second set of conductive plates are planar to the top surface of the fourth stacked chip, and in contact with thermal interface layer of a system heat sink and/or cooling fan and/or heat-pipe for thermal dissipation.
A stacked chip package including a molded integrated heat spreader may be coupled to a ground reference voltage or a power supply voltage through package substrate contact pads and metal routing for electromagnetic noise shielding. For example, the chip package may be coupled to a ground reference voltage (Vss) or a power supply reference voltage (Vcc) source from a motherboard or a printed circuit board. The device may further include passive components such as decoupling capacitors. Additionally, the device may include a voltage regulator and a power management module adjacent to stacked chips for improved electrical performance through a reduced AC inductance loop.
While the above descriptions and connected figures may depict electronic device components as separate elements, skilled persons will appreciate the various possibilities to combine or integrate discrete elements into a single element. Such may include combining two or more circuits for form a single circuit, mounting two or more circuits onto a common chip or chassis to form an integrated element, executing discrete software components on a common processor core, etc. Conversely, skilled persons will recognize the possibility to separate a single element into two or more discrete elements, such as splitting a single circuit into two or more separate circuits, separating a chip or chassis into discrete elements originally provided thereon, separating a software component into two or more sections and executing each on a separate processor core, etc.
It is appreciated that implementations of methods detailed herein are demonstrative in nature, and are thus understood as capable of being implemented in a corresponding device. Likewise, it is appreciated that implementations of devices detailed herein are understood as capable of being implemented as a corresponding method. It is thus understood that a device corresponding to a method detailed herein may include one or more components configured to perform each aspect of the related method.
All acronyms defined in the above description additionally hold in all claims included herein.
The following examples disclose various aspects of this disclosure:
Example 1 is a chip package including a substrate including a substrate surface; a first chip including a first chip surface and a plurality of thermal vias, wherein the first chip is coupled to the substrate; a conductive frame at least partially surrounding the first chip, wherein the conductive frame is coupled to the substrate, wherein the first chip and the conductive frame have a height that is substantially the same, wherein a remainder of the substrate surface is covered in a layer of encapsulation material having the same height as the first chip and the conductive frame; a second chip positioned on a first portion of the first chip surface, wherein the second chip is positioned to expose at least one exposed portion of the first chip surface, wherein the at least one exposed portion comprises at least one of the plurality of thermal vias; and at least one conductive plate positioned on the at least one exposed portion, wherein the conductive plate is coupled to the conductive frame and the at least one of the plurality of thermal vias.
In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a copper layer.
In Example 3, the subject matter of Examples 1 or 2 wherein the conductive frame comprises a plurality of tin-silver (SnAg) solder composites.
In Example 4, the subject matter of Examples 1 to 3 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a plurality of nano particle composites.
In Example 5, the subject matter of Examples 1 to 4 can optionally further include wherein the plurality of nano particle composites comprise carbon nano tube composites.
In Example 6, the subject matter of Examples 1 to 5 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a distance from the first chip.
In Example 7, the subject matter of Examples 1 to 6 can optionally further include wherein the distance from the first chip comprises a range from 100 μm to approximately 2 mm.
In Example 8, the subject matter of Examples 1 to 7 can optionally further include wherein the at least one conductive plate comprises a distance from the second chip.
In Example 9, the subject matter of Examples 1 to 8 can optionally further include wherein the distance from the second chip comprises a range from 25 μm to approximately 2 mm.
In Example 10, the subject matter of Examples 1 to 9 can optionally further include wherein the second chip is positioned perpendicular relative to the first chip.
Example 11 is a method of forming a chip package including: electrically coupling a first conductive frame on a package substrate, wherein the first conductive frame includes a first frame opening; positioning a first chip within the first frame opening and electrically coupling the first chip on the package substrate, wherein the first chip comprises a first orientation; electrically coupling at least one conductive plate to the first conductive frame and a top surface of the first chip, wherein the at least one conductive plate is positioned to leave an exposed portion of the top surface of the first chip; and electrically coupling a bottom surface of a second chip to the top surface of the first chip, wherein the second chip comprises a second orientation different than the first orientation.
In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a copper layer.
In Example 13, the subject matter of Examples 11 and 12 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a plurality of tin-silver (SnAg) solder composites.
In Example 14, the subject matter of Examples 11 to 13 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a plurality of nano particle composites.
In Example 15, the subject matter of Examples 11 to 14 can optionally further include wherein the plurality of nano particle composites comprise carbon nano tube composites.
In Example 16, the subject matter of Examples 11 to 15 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a distance from the first chip.
In Example 17, the subject matter of Examples 11 to 16 can optionally further include wherein the distance from the first chip comprises a range from 100 μm to approximately 2 mm.
In Example 18, the subject matter of Examples 11 to 17 can optionally further include wherein the at least one conductive plate comprises a distance from the second chip.
In Example 19, the subject matter of Examples 11 to 18 can optionally further include wherein the distance from the second chip comprises a range from 25 μm to approximately 2 mm.
In Example 20, the subject matter of Examples 11 to 19 can optionally further include wherein the second chip is positioned perpendicular relative to the first chip.
Example 21 is a method of forming a chip package including: depositing a first dry film resist layer on a package substrate; developing the first dry film resist layer to form a first frame space; removing an undeveloped portion of the first dry film resist layer; electronically coupling a first chip to the package substrate, wherein the first die is positioned within the first frame space and oriented in a first direction; depositing a mold layer over the first frame space and the first chip; removing excess mold layer to expose the a top surface of the first frame space and a top surface of the first chip; replacing the developed first dry film resist from the frame space; forming a conductive frame within the frame space; depositing a second dry film resist layer over a top surface of the chip package; developing the second dry film resist layer to form at least one conductive plate space; removing an undeveloped portion of the second dry film resist layer to create a conductive plate space; forming at least one conductive plate space in the at least one conductive plate space, wherein the least one conductive plate space spans over the conductive frame and a portion of the top surface of the first chip; and electronically coupling a second chip to an exposed surface of the first chip, wherein the first second chip is oriented in a second direction.
In Example 22, the subject matter of Example 21 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a copper layer.
In Example 23, the subject matter of Examples 21 and 22 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a plurality of tin-silver (SnAg) solder composites.
In Example 24, the subject matter of Examples 21 to 23 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a plurality of nano particle composites.
In Example 25, the subject matter of Examples 21 to 24 can optionally further include wherein the plurality of nano particle composites comprise carbon nano tube composites.
In Example 26, the subject matter of Examples 21 to 25 can optionally further include wherein the conductive frame comprises a distance from the first chip.
In Example 27, the subject matter of Examples 21 to 26 can optionally further include wherein the distance from the first chip comprises a range from 100 μm to approximately 2 mm.
In Example 28, the subject matter of Examples 21 to 27 can optionally further include wherein the at least one conductive plate comprises a distance from the second chip.
In Example 29, the subject matter of Examples 21 to 28 can optionally further include wherein the distance from the second chip comprises a range from 25 μm to approximately 2 mm.
In Example 30, the subject matter of Examples 31 to 29 can optionally further include wherein the second chip is positioned perpendicular relative to the first chip.
Example 31 is a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of Examples 11 to 30.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PI2020004589 | Sep 2020 | MY | national |