The present invention pertains to assembling of electronic members on an IC chip or a silicon substrate. Especially, the present invention pertains to assembling of electronic members metallurgically joined to the surface of an IC chip.
In order to eliminate noise generated due to variation in the power voltage when power is turned ON, a bypass capacitor is connected to the outside of the semiconductor device. The capacitor can be attached to the circuit substrate where the semiconductor device is assembled. However, with this method, the assembly density of the circuit substrate cannot be increased. As a result, a semiconductor device containing a capacitor has been proposed.
For example, as shown in
As shown in
The semiconductor device containing electronic members in the prior art has electronic members soldered by means of solder paste, so it has the following problems. Due to lead-free solder, the wettability to the electrodes of an electronic member degrades. In addition, bad problems pertaining to storage stability, feeding stability and high melting point exist. Also, a step of operation should be present for formation of the solder paste by means of screen printing. Consequently, the cost rises. In addition, voids are generated in the joining portion, and a problem of residual liquid flux exists due to gas generated from the substrate. Especially, when voids are generated, poor electrical connection of the electronic members results, and the reliability degrades. In addition, due to poor joints, short circuits may occur due to bridging.
In addition, for the electronic members assembled on the semiconductor chip or assembly substrate, the attachment position of conductor patterns 14 is restricted due to the positioning, spacing and other relationships. Consequently, depending on the electronic member, the connection distance to conductor patterns 14 is lengthened, the electrical characteristics of the electronic member degrade, or noise is generated between the semiconductor chip and the electronic member. In order to alleviate degradation of the electrical characteristics and noise, new electronic members should be added, leading to an increase in the number of parts and an increase in cost.
The objective of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a highly reliable semiconductor device characterized by the fact that electronic members can be joined with high reliability and easily without using solder paste.
In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device characterized by the fact that the electrical characteristics of the electronic members are stabilized, the size is miniaturized, and the cost is cut.
The present invention provides a semiconductor device characterized by the following facts: the semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate having plural circuit elements formed on it, plural protrusion-shaped metal electrodes, which are formed on the semiconductor substrate and which are electrically connected to selected elements of the plural circuit elements, and at least one electronic member with the following features: it is an electronic member having a first and a second electrode; the first electrode is metallurgically joined to a first protrusion-shaped metal electrode; the second electrode is metallurgically joined to a second protrusion-shaped metal electrode; and it is arranged on the semiconductor substrate; the first and second electrodes are connected to the first and second protrusion-shaped metal electrodes by means of ultrasonic thermo-compression bonding.
As a preferable scheme, each the protrusion-shaped electrode comprises an electrode, a Cu layer, and a palladium layer formed on the Cu layer; gold is plated on the first and second electrodes of the electronic member, and the metal joint comprises a gold-palladium eutectic. Also, as a preferable scheme, each the protrusion-shaped electrode comprises an electrode, a Cu layer, and a palladium layer formed on the Cu layer; Cu is plated on the first and second electrodes of the electronic member, and the metal joint comprises a Cu-palladium eutectic. In addition, each protrusion-shaped metal electrode may comprise a nickel layer between the Cu layer and palladium layer.
The following scheme may also be adopted: each protrusion-shaped metal electrode comprises a wiring layer that extends via an insulating film on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the first or second electrode is metallurgically joined to the extended wiring layer. As a preferable scheme, the first electrode is connected via the first extended wiring layer to a first electrode pad; the second electrode is connected via the second extended wiring layer to a second electrode pad; and a first electroconductive distance from the first electrode to the first electrode pad is equal to a second electroconductive distance from the second electrode to the second electrode pad. Also, the following scheme may be adopted: a space is formed between the electronic member and the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the space is filled with an underfilling resin.
Also, the present invention provides a semiconductor device characterized by the fact that the semiconductor device has the following parts: a semiconductor substrate having plural circuit elements formed on it, plural protrusion-shaped metal electrodes, which are formed on the semiconductor substrate and which are electrically connected to selected elements of the plural circuit elements, with each of the protrusion-shaped metal electrodes having an electrode, a Cu layer formed on the electrode, and a palladium layer formed on the Cu layer, and at least one capacitor with the following features: it is at least one capacitor having a first and a second electrode; gold plating is applied on the first and second electrodes of the electronic member; the first and second electrodes are metallurgically joined to first and second protrusion-shaped metal electrodes by means of ultrasonic thermo-compression bonding; and it is arranged on the semiconductor substrate.
As a preferable scheme, the first electrode of the capacitor is electrically connected to the power source potential, and the second electrode is electrically connected to a reference potential. The space between the capacitor and the semiconductor substrate may be filled with an underfilling resin. Also, the plural protrusion-shaped metal electrodes may each comprise a bump electrode consisting of Au or Cu on a palladium layer. In addition, the plural protrusion-shaped metal electrodes may be arranged on an active region where the circuit elements are formed.
In addition, a space may be formed between at least one electronic member and the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the space may be filled with an underfilling resin. Examples of assembled electronic members include capacitors, resistors, filters, and other members. For example, the capacitor may be a bypass capacitor connected to the power source potential and the reference potential. Also, it may be a capacitor for use in an A/D converter. Also, the system may have a package-on-package structure with the semiconductor substrate laminated on another semiconductor substrate. Also, the semiconductor substrate may be a resin package entirely sealed with a resin.
The present invention provides an assembling method for an electronic member characterized by the following facts: the method is for assembling an electronic member on a semiconductor chip; in this method, a semiconductor substrate with circuit elements formed on it is prepared; on the semiconductor substrate, plural protrusion-shaped metal electrodes are formed; each protrusion-shaped metal electrode has an electrode electrically connected to a circuit element, a Cu layer formed on the electrode, and a palladium layer formed on the Cu layer; while the electronic member is heated, the gold-plated electrodes of the electronic member are pressed on the plural protrusion-shaped metal electrodes as a precursory; ultrasonic vibration is applied to the electronic member; and the electrodes of the electronic member are metallurgically joined to the protrusion-shaped metal electrodes. As a preferable scheme, the ultrasonic vibration is turned ON when the electronic member reaches a first load, and the ultrasonic vibration is turned OFF when the electronic member reaches a second load.
In the figures, 100 represents a silicon substrate, 110A, 110B represent a protrusion-shaped metal electrode, 110C represents an extended wiring pattern, 120 represents an electrode pad, 122 represents a TiW/Cu barrier metal layer, 124 represents a Cu layer, 126 represents a nickel layer, 128 represents a palladium layer, 130 represents a protective film, 132 represents an opening, 140, 140A, 140B, 140C represent capacitors, 142 and 144 represent electrodes, 146 represents a main body portion, 148 represents a space.
According to the present invention, the metal electrodes of the electronic member are metallurgically joined to protrusion-shaped metal electrodes formed on the semiconductor substrate or semiconductor chip for assembly. Consequently, the step of formation of solder paste on the substrate of the prior art is not required, so the cost of the semiconductor device can be reduced. Also, since soldering using a solder paste is not performed, poor connections due to generation of voids and generation of foam-like flux residue can be suppressed, and the reliability of joining of the electronic member can be improved. In addition, because the electrodes of the electronic member are connected to protrusion-shaped metal electrodes, the electrical connection distance from the electronic member to the electrodes on the substrate can be decreased, so generation of noise can be suppressed, and good electrical characteristics of the electronic member can be maintained. Especially, when plural electronic members are assembled, the various electrical connection distances can be identical, so that uniformity of the electrical characteristics of the various electronic members can be ensured. In addition, by connecting the electronic member to the protrusion-shaped metal electrodes, miniaturization of the semiconductor device can be promoted.
In the following, an explanation will be given in more detail regarding optimum embodiment of the present invention. Also, the figures are shown in an exaggerated way to facilitate explanation of the characteristic features of the present invention. The scale of the actual semiconductor devices may be different.
Because protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B have the same constitution, in the following, an explanation will be given regarding only protrusion-shaped metal electrode 110A. Here, protrusion-shaped metal electrode 110A preferably comprises electrode pad 120, TiW/Cu barrier metal layer 122, Cu layer 124, nickel layer 126 and palladium layer 128.
The electrode pad 120 consists of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The electrode pad 120 is electrically connected to an underlying metal or polysilicon layer through a via hole not shown in the figure, or it is electrically connected to a diffusion region with a high impurity concentration formed on the surface of semiconductor substrate 100 through a contact hole. The surface of semiconductor substrate 100 is covered with a silicon oxide film or silicon nitride film or other protective film 130. On the protective film 130, opening 132 is formed to expose electrode pad 120. The TiW/Cu barrier metal layer 122 is connected through the opening 132 to electrode pad 120. On TiW/Cu barrier metal layer 122, patterned Cu layer 124, nickel layer 126 and palladium layer 128 are sequentially deposited.
On protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B, capacitor 140 with metallurgically joined electrodes is assembled. For example, the capacitor 140 is a tantalum ceramic capacitor. Gold plating is applied on the surface of electrodes 142, 144 on its two ends. The distance between electrodes 142, 144 of capacitor 140 corresponds to the spacing between protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B. The electrode 142 is metallurgically joined to protrusion-shaped metal electrode 110A, and the electrode 144 is metallurgically joined to protrusion-shaped metal electrode 110B. Here, the metal joint comprises a palladium-gold eutectic.
The capacitor 140 is a bypass capacitor connected to the semiconductor device, and it removes noise due to variation in the power source voltage. In this case, electrode 142 on one side of capacitor 140 is connected via protrusion-shaped metal electrode 110A to the power source voltage, and electrode 144 on the other side of the capacitor is connected to the ground potential or reference potential via protrusion-shaped metal electrode 110B.
In the following, an explanation will be given regarding the method for forming the protrusion-shaped metal electrodes. An aluminum layer is formed over the entire surface of silicon substrate 100, and a conventional photolithographic operation is used to pattern electrode pad 120 as shown in
Then, as shown in
Also, as shown in
The protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B and wiring pattern 110C can be formed on the active region where circuit elements are formed on the semiconductor substrate. In addition, protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B and wiring pattern 110C can also be used as bonding pads in addition to assembling electronic members. With the use of direct bonding on electrode pad 120, a significant level of ultrasonic waves or load is applied on the circuit elements. However, because the protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B and wiring pattern 110C comprise Cu layer 124 on electrode pad 120, even when ultrasonic waves or load is applied on protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B and wiring pattern 110C, Cu layer 124 acts as a buffer material, and damage to the circuit elements can be suppressed.
Because protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B and wiring pattern 110C can be formed on the active region, restrictions on the assembly position of capacitor 140 are relaxed, and the freedom in position becomes very high. If the freedom of the assembly position of capacitor 140 is high, stabilizing of the electrical characteristics of capacitor 140 is promoted. That is, the electrical connection distance from electrodes 142, 144 of capacitor 140 to electrode pad 120 can be reduced, so that generation of noise can be suppressed. Also, when plural capacitors corresponding to plural channels of an A/D converter are assembled, for example, the electrical connection distances from the electrodes of the capacitors to the electrode pads are equal, and uniform electrical characteristics of the capacitors can be realized.
In the following, an explanation will be given regarding the assembling method for a capacitor.
First, on substrate stage 210, chip tray 260 having plural semiconductor chips accommodated in it is carried. By driving substrate stage 210 to move in the X-direction or Y-direction, chip tray 260 is positioned.
Then, by means of motor 250, mounting head 220 is driven to move to a prescribed position. Here, when air is sucked through hole 224 on suction surface 222 of mounting head 220, a capacitor is held on suction surface 222. The mounting head 220 with a capacitor sucked on it is positioned on a semiconductor chip on substrate stage 210. Mounting head 220 is aligned by image processing of video data from recognition camera 230.
The mounting head 220 having a capacitor held on it is heated by heat from ceramic heater 280. As a result, the capacitor is held at about 170° C. Then, mounting head 220 presses with a prescribed load on the capacitor on protrusion-shaped metal electrodes 110A, 110B, and then ultrasonic vibration device 270 is used to apply ultrasonic vibration on mounting head 220.
As shown in
In the following, an explanation will be given regarding several examples of semiconductor devices pertaining to the present embodiment.
In the following, an explanation will be given regarding Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In Embodiment 2, as shown in
In the following, an explanation will be given regarding Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In Embodiment 3, as shown in
In the above, preferable embodiments of the present invention have been explained in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to these schemes. For example, one may also adopt various modifications or changes as long as the gist of the present invention described in the claims is observed.
As a preferable structure of the protrusion-shaped metal electrodes, a palladium layer comprises the top layer, and a Cu layer is present between the palladium layer and the electrode pad. For example, a nickel layer may be present in the protrusion-shaped metal electrodes, or, in addition to the nickel layer, other metal layers may be present. The barrier metal layer is not limited to TiW/Cu. It may also be a TiW layer.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008-206669 | Aug 2008 | JP | national |