Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electronic packages, and more particularly to package substrates with glass cores that include exposed surfaces with angled baffles for cavitation protection.
Recent trends in semiconductor packaging applications are to use glass cores for the package substrate. Glass cores enable improved stiffness and flatter surfaces. As such, routing in the buildup layers can have traces with finer line/space dimensions. Additionally, glass cores enable through glass vias (TGVs) that may provide improved electrical properties compared to traditional plated through holes that are formed through organic core substrates.
However, the use of a glass core negatively impacts thermal performance. That is, glass cores have poor heat transfer properties, which can be a detriment to the electronic package. In some high end applications, liquid cooling of the package substrate is used to improve the thermal performance. However, cavitation may occur over the glass core, which further reduces the thermal performance of the package substrate.
Described herein are package substrates with glass cores that include exposed surfaces with angled baffles for cavitation protection, in accordance with various embodiments. In the following description, various aspects of the illustrative implementations will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative implementations. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative implementations.
Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention, however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
As noted above, glass core package substrates provide mechanical and electrical benefits compared to organic core substrates. However, thermal performance of glass core packages can be a significant drawback. In advanced packaging architectures, a liquid cooling solution may be used in order to cool the package substrate. The exposed portions of the glass may undergo cavitation, which further reduces the heat transfer away from the glass core.
Accordingly, embodiments disclosed herein include glass cores that have one or more notches. The notches (sometimes referred to as baffles) reduce the presence of cavitation and improves heat transfer. Additionally, the notches increase the surface area of the core that is in contact with the thermal fluid. This also improves the heat transfer away from the package substrate. In some embodiments, the notches may be provided adjacent to edges of the core. The notches may be exposed. That is, the width of the buildup layers may be narrower than a width of the glass core, and the notches are outside of the buildup layers. In one particular instance, the notches have tapered sidewalls. This may result in a triangular shaped notch. In other embodiments, the notches may have flat bottoms. The notches may be narrower than the through glass vias (TGVs). Additionally, the notches may have a depth that is less than half the thickness of the core. Alternatively, the depth of the notches may be greater than half the thickness of the core. In such embodiments, the notches on opposite surfaces of the core may be offset from each other.
In an embodiment, glass cores with notches may be fabricated using various process flows. In one process flow, the notches are filled with a thermally decomposable polymer. After completion of the buildup layers, the polymer is decomposed, which results in material overlying the notches to lift off. In a second embodiment, the buildup layers are removed with a laser ablation process. In such embodiments, sidewalls of the buildup layers may be tapered.
In embodiments disclosed herein, glass cores are used for the package substrates. A glass core or a core that comprises glass may refer to a core substrate that is substantially all glass. That is, a core that comprises glass is distinct from a traditional organic core that may include glass fiber reinforcement. The glass material used in embodiments disclosed herein may be glass that is patternable with a laser assisted etching process. For example, the glass may include fused silica glass or a borosilicate glass. In such processes, the glass may be exposed by a laser. The laser results in a microstructure and/or phase of the glass being altered. The exposed portions of the glass may then be etch selective to the unexposed portions of the glass. For example, a wet etching process may be used in order to selectively etch the exposed portions of the glass relative to the unexposed portions of the glass.
In an embodiment, the glass cores described herein may have any suitable thickness. For example, the glass cores may have thicknesses between approximately 10 μm and approximately 1,000 μm. Though, thinner or thicker glass cores may also be used in some embodiments. As used herein, “approximately” may refer to a range of values within ten percent of the stated value. For example, approximately 10 μm may refer to a range of values between 9 μm and 11 μm. Depending on the thickness of the glass core, a single sided or double sided laser exposure may be necessary to pattern the glass using a laser assisted etching process. In the case of a double sided patterning operation, the TGVs may have an hourglass shaped profile. An hourglass shaped profile may refer to a structure that has a width at a midpoint of the structure that is narrower than the top and bottom of the structure.
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In an embodiment, TGVs 130 may be formed through a thickness of the substrate 101. The TGVs 130 may have sloped sidewalls 131, typical of laser assisted patterning processes. In a particular embodiment, the TGVs 130 are formed with a dual sided patterning process, and the TGVs 130 include an hourglass shaped cross-section. In some instances, a narrowest portion of the TGVs 130 may be at a midpoint between the first surface 104 and the second surface 106.
In an embodiment, one or more notches 120 may be provided into the substrate 101. For example, notches 120 may be provided into the first surface 104 and the second surface 106 of the substrate 101. The notches 120 may be outside of the TGVs 130. That is, the notches 120 may be proximate to the edges 103 and 107 of the substrate 101. For example, the notches 120 may be within approximately 500 μm or less, within approximately 100 μm or less, or within approximately 50 μm or less of the edges 103 and 107. In the illustrated embodiment, four notches 120 are provided on each of the first surface 104 and the second surface 106. Though, it is to be appreciated that any number of notches 120 may be used, in accordance with various embodiments.
In an embodiment, the notches 120 are formed with a laser assisted patterning process. As such, the notches 120 may have tapered sidewalls 121. The tapered sidewalls 121 may meet at a point. In such embodiments, the notches 120 may be referred to as having a triangular shape or a triangular cross-section. In an embodiment, a depth of the notches 120 may be wider than a maximum width of the notches 120. In other embodiments, the depth of the notches 120 may be equal to, or wider than, a maximum width of the notches 120.
In an embodiment, the notches 120 may extend into and out of the plane of
As described in greater detail above, the presence of the notches 120 will aid in improving the thermal performance of the core 105 when liquid cooling solutions are used to control a temperature of the package substrate. Particularly, the notches 120 are designed in order to minimize cavitation. Reducing or eliminating cavitation improves the thermal transfer from the core 105 to the cooling fluid. The notches 120 also increase the surface area in contact with the cooling fluid, which also improves heat transfer out of the core 105.
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In an embodiment, a width WB of the buildup layers 240 may be narrower than a width WC of the core 205. As such, ends of the substrate 201 may be exposed. In an embodiment, one or more notches 220 may be provided into the first surface 204 and the second surface 206 of the substrate 201 outside of the buildup layers 240. That is, the notches 220 may surround a perimeter of the buildup layers 240 in some embodiments. In an embodiment, the notches 220 may include sloped sidewalls 221. The notches 220 may end at a point (to provide triangular shaped notches). In other embodiments, the notches 220 may have a flat bottom surface. More generally, the notches 220 may be similar to any of the notch architectures described in greater detail above with respect to
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In an embodiment, the patterning may also result in the formation of notches 320. The notches 320 may be formed into one or both of the top surface and the bottom surface of the substrate 301. The notches 320 may also have tapered sidewalls 321. The sidewalls 321 may meet at a point in order to provide notches 320 with a triangular shaped cross-section. In other embodiments, notches with flat bottom surfaces may be formed with the patterning process. More generally, notches 320 with any architecture described herein may be patterned into the substrate 301.
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The plugs 327 may be deposited with a lamination process, a deposition process, or the like. Additionally, while the notches 320 are shown as being formed substantially in parallel with the via openings 336, the notches 320 may be formed before the via openings 336. This may allow for the plugs 327 to be formed in the notches 320 before the via openings 336 are formed. In such embodiments, masking layers or the like may not be needed over the via openings 336 in order to form the plugs 327.
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In an embodiment, the patterning may also result in the formation of notches 420. The notches 420 may be formed into one or both of the top surface and the bottom surface of the substrate 401. The notches 420 may also have tapered sidewalls 421. The sidewalls 421 may meet at a point in order to provide notches 420 with a triangular shaped cross-section. In other embodiments, notches with flat bottom surfaces may be formed with the patterning process. More generally, notches 420 with any architecture described herein may be patterned into the substrate 401.
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In an embodiment, the package substrate 500 may comprise a core 505. The core 505 may include a glass substrate 501. TGVs 530 may pass through the substrate 501. Additionally, one or more notches 520 may be formed into the top and/or bottom surface of the substrate 501. The notches 520 shown in
In an embodiment, one or more dies 595 may be coupled to the package substrate 500. For example, die 595 is coupled to the package substrate 500 by interconnects 594. While solder interconnects 594 are shown in
These other components include, but are not limited to, volatile memory (e.g., DRAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM), flash memory, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor, a crypto processor, a chipset, an antenna, a display, a touchscreen display, a touchscreen controller, a battery, an audio codec, a video codec, a power amplifier, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a speaker, a camera, and a mass storage device (such as hard disk drive, compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), and so forth).
The communication chip 606 enables wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from the computing device 600. The term “wireless” and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communications channels, etc., that may communicate data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. The term does not imply that the associated devices do not contain any wires, although in some embodiments they might not. The communication chip 606 may implement any of a number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16 family), IEEE 802.20, long term evolution (LTE), Ev-DO, HSPA+, HSDPA+, HSUPA+, EDGE, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, TDMA, DECT, Bluetooth, derivatives thereof, as well as any other wireless protocols that are designated as 3G, 4G, 5G, and beyond. The computing device 600 may include a plurality of communication chips 606. For instance, a first communication chip 606 may be dedicated to shorter range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a second communication chip 606 may be dedicated to longer range wireless communications such as GPS, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Ev-DO, and others.
The processor 604 of the computing device 600 includes an integrated circuit die packaged within the processor 604. In some implementations of the invention, the integrated circuit die of the processor may be part of an electronic system that includes a package substrate with a core that includes notches for thermal performance improvement, in accordance with embodiments described herein. The term “processor” may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may be stored in registers and/or memory.
The communication chip 606 also includes an integrated circuit die packaged within the communication chip 606. In accordance with another implementation of the invention, the integrated circuit die of the communication chip may be part of an electronic system that includes a package substrate with a core that includes notches for thermal performance improvement, in accordance with embodiments described herein.
The above description of illustrated implementations of the invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. While specific implementations of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
These modifications may be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation.
Example 1: a core, comprising: a substrate with a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface, wherein the substrate comprises glass; through glass vias (TGVs) through the substrate; and notches into the first surface and the second surface of the substrate.
Example 2: the core of Example 1, wherein the notches are provided proximate to edges of the substrate.
Example 3: the core of Example 2, wherein the notches comprise first notches into the first surface of the substrate, wherein the first notches are adjacent to a first edge of the substrate and a second edge of the substrate, and wherein the notches further comprise second notches into the second surface of the substrate, wherein the second notches are adjacent to the first edge of the substrate and the second edge of the substrate.
Example 4: the core of Examples 1-3, wherein the notches are triangular notches into the substrate.
Example 5: the core of Examples 1-4, wherein the notches have a flat bottom surface.
Example 6: the core of Examples 1-5, wherein the notches comprise four two or more notches.
Example 7: the core of Examples 1-6, wherein the notches comprise four or more notches.
Example 8: the core of Examples 1-7, wherein the TGVs have hourglass shaped cross-sections.
Example 9: the core of Examples 1-8, wherein a width of the notches is smaller than a width of the TGVs.
Example 10: the core of Examples 1-9, wherein the glass comprises fused silica glass or a borosilicate glass.
Example 11: a package substrate, comprising: a core with a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface, wherein the core comprises glass; through glass vias (TGVs) through the core; buildup layers over the first surface and the second surface of the core, wherein a width of the buildup layers is less than a width of the core; and notches into the first surface and/or the second surface of the core, wherein the notches are outside of the buildup layers.
Example 12: the package substrate of Example 11, wherein the notches comprise two or more notches.
Example 13: the package substrate of Example 11 or Example 12, wherein the notches have a depth that is less than half a thickness of the core.
Example 14: the package substrate of Examples 11-13, wherein the notches are triangular.
Example 15: the package substrate of Examples 11-14, wherein the notches comprise flat bottom surfaces.
Example 16: the package substrate of Examples 11-15, wherein edges of the buildup layers are substantially vertical.
Example 17: the package substrate of Examples 11-16, wherein edges of the buildup layers are tapered.
Example 18: the package substrate of Example 17, wherein first surfaces of the buildup layers on the core are wider than second surfaces of the buildup layers away from the core.
Example 19: the package substrate of Examples 11-18, wherein a width of the notches is smaller than a width of the TGVs.
Example 20: the package substrate of Examples 11-19, wherein the TGVs have hourglass shaped cross-sections.
Example 21: the package substrate of Examples 11-20, wherein first notches are into the first surface of the core, wherein the first notches are to the left of the buildup layer and to the right of the buildup layer, and wherein second notches are into the second surface of the core, wherein the second notches are to the left of the buildup layer and to the right of the buildup layer.
Example 22: the package substrate of Example 21, wherein there are two or more first notches, and wherein there are two or more second notches.
Example 23: an electronic system, comprising: a board; a package substrate coupled to the board, wherein the package substrate comprises: a core, wherein the core comprises glass; through glass vias (TGVs) through the core; notches into a top surface and/or a bottom surface of the core, wherein the notches have sloped sidewalls; and buildup layers over the top surface and the bottom surface of the core, wherein the notches are adjacent to sidewalls of the buildup layers; and a die coupled to the package substrate.
Example 24: the electronic system of Example 23, wherein the sidewalls of the buildup layers are tapered.
Example 25: the electronic package of Example 23 or Example 24, wherein the notches have flat bottom surfaces.