This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2015-0057542, filed on Apr. 23, 2015, and 10-2015-0135584, filed on Sep. 24, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments relate to a core for reverse reflow, a semiconductor package, and a method of fabricating the semiconductor package and, more particularly, to a core for reverse reflow, a semiconductor package, and a method of fabricating the semiconductor package, enabling the fabrication of a semiconductor package having a high degree of precision and high bonding strength.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are widely used in household electronic appliances including televisions, mobile phones, and computers. Recently, the use of PCBs has extended to vehicles. As a solder that is used in household electronic appliances, tin (Sn)-lead (Pb) based alloy products are often used. In this regard, lead (Pb) is an element determining wettability, strength, and mechanical characteristics of an alloy to be formed, and due to the inclusion of lead (Pb), the melting point of the alloy may be lowered down to 183° C., and accordingly, thermal damage occurring when the solder is soldered with electronic components in the procedure of semiconductor processes may be prevented.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop that environmental problems associated with lead (Pb) are more stringently regulated, three elements-based, lead-free solder alloy of tin (Sn)-silver (Ag)-copper (Cu) has been suggested. For high-density mounting of three-dimensional packages, plating balls to be used are formed by plating metallic or non-metallic core with Ni, and forming a two elements-based plating layer including, for example, tin (Sn)-silver (Ag), or a three elements-based plating layer including, for example, tin (Sn)-silver (Ag)-copper (Cu), thereon to transfer electric signals of the packages. These plating balls show excellent stand-off characteristics, because in a reflow process, the core is not melted and only a plated solder layer is melted. However, the three elements-based solder plating layer is manufactured at high costs, and the solder layer has low quality stability and low bonding strength.
One or more embodiments include a core for reverse reflow, which enables the fabrication of a semiconductor package having high bonding strength and a high degree of precision.
One or more embodiments include a semiconductor package that has a high degree of precision and high bonding strength.
One or more embodiments include a method of fabricating a semiconductor package having a high degree of precision.
One or more embodiments include an electronic system including a semiconductor package that has a high degree of precision and high bonding strength.
Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.
According to one or more embodiments, a reverse-reflow core includes: a core; a first metal layer that coats the core; and a second metal layer that coats the first metal layer. In some embodiments, the first metal layer may include nickel (Ni) or cobalt (Co), and the second metal layer may include gold (Au) or platinum (Pt). In some embodiments, a thickness of the second metal layer may be in a range of about 0.01 μm to about 0.3 μm.
According to one or more embodiments, a semiconductor package includes: a semiconductor apparatus including a bump pad; and a bump portion bonded to the bump pad. Herein, the bump portion may include: a core; an intermetallic compound layer formed on the core; and a solder layer coating the intermetallic compound layer. In some embodiments, the thickness of a portion of the solder layer may decrease as the distance between the portion of the solder layer and the bump pad increases.
The solder layer may coat the intermetallic compound layer in such a manner that the solder layer completely surrounds the core. The intermetallic compound of the intermetallic compound layer may include at least one selected from NiCu3Sn4, (Cu,Ni)6Sn5, and Ni3Sn4. In some embodiments, the semiconductor package may further include a first metal layer between the core and the intermetallic compound layer.
In some embodiments, the semiconductor apparatus may be a semiconductor chip. In some embodiments, optionally, the semiconductor apparatus may include a package substrate, and a semiconductor chip disposed on the package substrate, and the bump pad may be provided on the package substrate. The solder layer may not substantially include an organic material.
In some embodiments, the thickness of the solder layer may be monotonically decreased away from the bump pad.
According to one or more embodiments, a method of fabricating a semiconductor package includes: providing a substrate with a bump pad thereon; dotting solder paste or reflowed solder bump on the bump pad; providing a reverse-reflow core on the solder paste or the reflowed solder bump; and reflowing the solder paste or the solder bump to form a solder layer on the reverse-reflow core, wherein the reverse-reflow core may include a gold (Au) or platinum (Pt) layer as a surface thereof.
In some embodiments, the gold (Au) or platinum (Pt) layer may have a thickness of about 0.1 μm to about 0.3 μm. The reflowing of the solder paste may be performed at a temperature of about 200° C. to about 300° C.
In some embodiments, the reverse-reflow core may be off-centered by 5 μm or less before and after the reflowing of the solder paste.
In the reflowing of the solder paste, the solder paste may be elevated along a surface of the reverse-reflow core in a direction opposite to a direction of gravity.
In some embodiments, a thickness of the solder layer may gradually decrease away from the substrate.
According to one or more embodiments, an electronic system includes: a controller; an input or output unit to input or output data; a memory unit to store the data; n interface unit to transmit data to an external apparatus; and a bus to connect the controller, the input/output unit, the memory unit, and the interface unit so that the controller, the input/output unit, the memory unit, and the interface unit communicate with each other. In some embodiments, at least one of the controller and the memory unit may include the semiconductor package.
These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technical teaching of the present disclosure. In other words, particular structural and functional description of the present disclosure are provided in descriptive sense only; various changes in form and details may be made therein and thus should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. As the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in the present description, and thus it should not be understood that the present disclosure includes every kind of variation examples or alternative equivalents included in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
In the present description, terms such as ‘first’, ‘second’, etc., are used to describe various elements. However, it is obvious that the elements should not be defined by these terms. The terms are used only for distinguishing one element from another element. For example, a first element may be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element, without departing from the teaching of the present disclosure.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this present disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.
Referring to
The core 111 may include metal or an organic material in the art, an organic/organic composite, or an organic/inorganic composite.
In various embodiments, when the core 111 includes an organic material, the core 111 may include a plastic core including a thermosetting resin, such as an epoxy-based resin, a melamine-formaldehyde-based resin, a benzoguanamine-formaldehyde-based resin, a divinylbenzene resin, a divinylether resin, an oligo resin, a polydiacrylate resin, or an alkylenebisacrylamide resin, a plastic core including a thermoplastic resin, such as a polyvinylchloride resin, a polyethylene resin, a polystyrene resin, a nylon resin, or a polyacetal resin, or an elastic core, such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber. In various embodiments, the core 111 may include a plastic core including a mixed resin including the thermosetting resin and the thermoplastic resin.
When the core 111 includes an organic material, the core 111 may be formed by using a polymer synthesis method. In various embodiments, the core 111 may be formed by suspension, emulsification, or dispersion-polymerization, and may have a diameter of about 20 μm to about 300 μm.
When the core 111 includes metal, the core 111 may include, for example, pure copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), or an alloy thereof.
The core 111 illustrated in
The first metal layer 113 may be provided on the core 111. The first metal layer 113 may be formed directly on the core 111; or an intervening material layer may be interposed between the core 111 and the metal layer 113.
Components consisting of the first metal layer 113 may be, for example, gold (Au), silver (Ag), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), or antimony (Sb), but is not limited thereto. These materials may be used alone or in any combinations. In various embodiments, the first metal layer 113 may be formed by plating, physical vapor deposition, or chemical vapor deposition. When the first metal layer 113 is formed by plating, for example, nickel may be used by electroplating or electroless plating.
When the first metal layer 113 is formed, a brightener may be used to improve roughness of the surface of the first metal layer 113. That is, due to the use of the brightener, the first metal layer 113 may have a brightened surface. Non-limiting examples of the brightener include an oxygen-containing organic compound, for example, a polyether-based compound, such as polyethyleneglycol; a nitrogen-containing organic compound, such as a tertiary amine compound or a quaternary ammonium compound; and/or a sulfur-containing organic compound, such as a sulfonate group.
A thickness of the first metal layer 113 may be in a range of about 1 μm to about 5 μm. The first metal layer 113 may react with tin (Sn)-based solder paste to form, for example, an intermetallic compound, such as NiCu3Sn4, (Cu,Ni)6Sn5, or Ni3Sn4.
The second metal layer 115 may be further formed on the first metal layer 113.
The second metal layer 115 may have a thickness of about 0.01 μm to about 0.3 μm, or about 0.1 μm to about 0.2 μm. When the second metal layer 115 is too thin, a solder that has been subjected to reflowing may not completely cover the core for reverse reflow. When the second metal layer 115 is too thick, fabrication costs are high, and when subjected to reflowing, the second metal layer 115 may react with a tin (Sn)-based solder to form an intermetallic compound (IMC) having low strength, for example, AuSn4.
The second metal layer 115 may include, for example, gold (Au), platinum (Pt), or an alloy thereof. The second metal layer 115 may be easily mixed with solder paste by heating. Since the second metal layer 115 includes metal that is hardly oxidized, the surface of the reverse-reflow core 110 may be suppressed from being oxidized due to the second metal layer 115.
The second metal layer 115 may be formed by, for example, electrolytic plating, electroless plating, physical vapor deposition, or chemical vapor deposition and so forth. However, a method for forming the second metal layer 115 is not limited thereto.
The reverse-reflow core 110 in itself is not used as a solder bump. The reverse-reflow core 110 may constitute a part of a semiconductor interconnect after being subjected to a reflow process together with solder paste. Explanations thereof will now be provided.
Referring to
The substrate 134 may be a printed circuit board (PCB). In various embodiments, the substrate 134 may be a rigid PCB, a flexible PCB, a tape substrate, or a rigid-flexible PCB.
When the substrate 134 is a PCB, the substrate 134 may include a core board with a first resin layer and a second resin layer respectively disposed on top and bottom surfaces thereof. Each of the first resin layer and the second resin layer may have a multi-layered structure. In various embodiments, a signal layer, a ground layer, or a power source layer may be disposed among layers constituting the multi-layered structure, and the signal layer, the ground layer, and the power source layer may form an interconnection pattern. In various embodiments, a conductive interconnection pattern may be formed on the first resin layer and/or the second resin layer. The conductive interconnection pattern may be electrically connected to the semiconductor chip 136 and the bump pad 132.
Each of the first resin layer and the second resin layer may include, for example, an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, a polyimide resin, an acryl resin, or a polyolefin resin.
The bump pad 132 may be a conductive pad, for example, a metal pad. In various embodiments, the bump pad 132 may be a copper (Cu) pad, a nickel (Ni) pad, or a nickel-plated aluminum (Al) pad. However, the bump pad 132 is not limited thereto.
The semiconductor chip 136 may be a semiconductor substrate. In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate may be a silicon (Si) substrate. In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate may include a semiconductor element, such as germanium (Ge), or a compound semiconductor, such as silicon carbide (SiC), gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium arsenide (InAs), and indium phosphide (InP). In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate may have a SOI (silicon on insulator) structure. In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate may include a buried oxide (BOX) layer.
The semiconductor substrate may have an active surface to which various semiconductor devices may be provided. The semiconductor devices may include a memory device, a core circuit device, a peripheral circuit device, a logic circuit device, or a control circuit device. Examples of the memory device include a volatile semiconductor memory device, such as DRAM or SRAM, or a non-volatile memory device, such as a flash memory, a phase-change RAM (PRAM), a resistive RAM (RRAM), a ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), a magnetic RAM (MRAM), EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash EEPROM. Optionally, an image sensor, such as system LSI (large-scale integration) or CIS (CMOS imaging sensor), a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), an active device, or an passive device may be provided to the active surface of the semiconductor substrate.
Optionally, the semiconductor apparatus 130 may further include an encapsulant 138 sealing the semiconductor chip 136. In various embodiments, the encapsulant 138 may include an epoxy molding compound.
Referring to
The solder paste 120 may include a mixture including conductive metal powder and flux in a liquid state.
In various embodiments, the conductive metal powder used to prepare the solder paste 120 may include at least one selected from tin (Sn), gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), copper (Cu), bismuth (Bi), palladium (Pd), chromium (Cr), calcium (Ca), nickel (Ni), germanium (Ge), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), tungsten (W), antimony (Sb), lead (Pb), and an alloy thereof. In various embodiments, the solder paste 120 may include a lead (Pb)-containing solder alloy, for example, a Sn—Pb based alloy, a Sn—Pb—Ag based alloy, or a lead-free solder alloy, such as, Sn—Ag based alloy, a Sn—Bi based alloy, a Sn—Zn based alloy, a Sn—Sb based alloy, or a Sn—Ag—Cu alloy. The solder paste 120 may include Sn in an amount of at least 50%, at least 60%, or at least 90%, based on the total weight of metal. When the conductive metal powder includes two or more metal components, an alloy thereof may be used. When the conductive metal powder is prepared by using an alloy, the metal powder may not substantially include an organic material.
The flux may be a flux prepared by mixing a solvent, a rosin, a thixotropic agent, and an activator.
The solvent used to prepare the flux may be, for example, an organic solvent having a boiling point of 180° C. or higher. Examples of such a solvent include diethyleneglycolmonohexylether, diethyleneglycolmonobutylether, diethyleneglycolmonobutyletheracetate, tetraethyleneglycol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, and α-terpineol.
In various embodiments, the rosin may be selected from a gum rosin, a water-added rosin, a polymerization rosin, and an ester rosin.
In various embodiments, the thixotropic agent may be selected from hydrogenated castor oil, fatty acid amide, natural oil, synthetic oil, N,N′-ethylene bis-12-hydroxy stearylamide, 12-hydroxystearic acid, 1,2,3,4-di-benzylidene-D-sorbitol, and derivatives thereof.
In various embodiments, the activator may be amine salt of hydrohalic acid. Examples thereof include amine salt of hydrochloride or hydrobromide, such as triethanolamine, diphenylguanidine, ethanolamine, butylamine, aminopropanol, polyoxyethylenoleylamine, polyoxyethylenelaureamine, polyoxyethylenestearylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, methoxypropylamine, dimethylaminopropylamine, dibutylaminopropylamine, ethylhexylamine, ethoxypropylamine, ethylhexyloxypropylamine, bispropylamine, isopropylamine, diisopropylamine, piperidine, 2,6-dimethylpiperidine, aniline, methylamine, ethylamine, 3-amino-1-propene, dimethylhexylamine, or cyclohexylamine.
However, the solvent, the rosin, the thixotropic agent, and the activator are not limited to these materials listed above.
The flux may be prepared by mixing the solvent, the rosin, the thixotropic agent, and the activator at a certain ratio. Based on the total weight of 100 wt % of the flux, the amount of the solvent may be, for example, in a range of about 30 wt % to about 60 wt %, the amount of thixotropic agent may be, for example, in a range of about 1 wt % to about 10 wt %, and the amount of the activator may be, for example, in a range of about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt %.
When the amount of the solvent is too small, the viscosity of the flux may be too high and accordingly, the viscosity of a solder paste including the solvent may also be high, leading to a decrease in printing properties including a filling property of solder and non-uniform coating. When the amount of the solvent is too great, the viscosity of the flux may be too low and accordingly, the viscosity of a solder paste including the solvent may also be low, leading to precipitation and separation of solder powder from the flux.
When the amount of the thixotropic agent is too small, the viscosity of the solder paste is too low, leading to precipitation and separation of the solder powder from the flux. When the amount of the thixotropic agent is too great, the viscosity of the solder paste is too high, leading to a decrease in printing properties including a filling property of solder and non-uniform coating.
In various embodiments, when the ratio of the activator to the other constituting components is too low, solder powder may not be melted and accordingly, a sufficient bonding force may not be obtained. When the ratio of the activator to the other constituting components is too high, the activator may be more likely to react with solder powder during storage, leading to a decrease in stability of solder paste during storage.
The flux may further include a viscosity stabilizer. Examples of the viscosity stabilizer include polyphenols, a phosphoric acid-based compound, a sulfur-based compound, a tocopherol, a tocopherol derivative, an ascorbic acid, and an ascorbic acid derivative, all of which are soluble in the solvent. When the amount of the viscosity stabilizer is too great, it may decrease the solubility of the solder powder. In various embodiments, the amount of the viscosity stabilizer may be about 10 wt % or less based on the weight of the flux.
In preparing solder paste, the amount of the flux may be controlled to be in a range of about 5 wt % to about 30 wt % based on 100 wt % of the solder paste after the preparation. When the amount of the flux is too small, paste may not be obtained due to the lack of the flux, and when the amount of the flux is too great, the flux content ratio in the solder paste is too high and accordingly, the metal content ratio may be too low, leading to difficulty in forming a solder bump having a desired size when solder is melted.
A dotting amount of the solder paste 120 may depend on the viscosity of the solder paste 120, the size of the bump pad 132, and the size of a reverse-reflow core to be disposed on the solder paste 120.
Referring to
The reverse-reflow core 110 may be the same as the reverse-reflow core which has been described in connection with
Referring to
When the temperature of the solder paste 120 is raised, the solder paste 120 may be melted, coating the surface of the reverse-reflow core 110. For example, the solder paste 120 may be melted, moving along a side wall of the reverse-reflow core 110, and ultimately completely covering the surface of the reverse-reflow core 110.
Although the solder paste 120 is located under the reverse-reflow core 110, melted solder paste may move in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity and may be elevated along the surface of the reverse-reflow core 110. Here, since the viscosity of the melted solder paste 120 may be considerably too decreased, the reverse-reflow core 110 may be moved closer to the substrate 134 than a position initially disposed on the solder paste 120 which is not melted. Without wishing to be limited to a particular theory, such a movement of the reverse-reflow core 110, a surface tension of the reverse-reflow core 110, and affinity between the second metal layer constituting the reverse-reflow core 110 and the solder paste 120 may contribute to the elevation of the solder paste 120 against the gravity.
The reflow process may be performed at a temperature of about 200° C. to about 300° C., for example, about 230° C. to about 260° C. The reflow process may be performed for about 20 seconds to about 100 seconds, or about 30 seconds to about 80 seconds.
As a result, a semiconductor interconnect including the reverse-reflow core 110 and the solder layer 120a may be provided on the bump pad 132 provided to the substrate 134.
In general, a solder paste is formed by using an alloy instead of plating. Accordingly, compared to a solder formed by plating, the solder paste may not include organic impurities at all, or if any, in substantially small amounts. In other words, before used for packaging, a solder ball (copper core solder ball, CCSB) in the art using a copper core is prepared by forming a solder layer surrounding a copper core by plating. Accordingly, the solder layer may contain impurities that may be introduced thereto during the plating.
However, in embodiments, a solder paste is dotted on a bump pad and then, a core is disposed on the solder paste, followed by being subjected to a reflow process. Herein, the solder paste is prepared by using an alloy instead of plating, and accordingly, the solder paste may not include unnecessary organic impurities at all, or if any, in substantially small amounts.
Referring to
Regarding the solder layer 120a of the reverse-reflow core 110, the thickness T3 of the portion of the solder layer 120a corresponding to the line extending perpendicular to the substrate 134 from the center of the reverse-reflow core 110 may be the smallest than those of the remaining portions of the solder layer 120a.
In this order from the thickness T3 corresponding to the line extending parallel to the substrate 134 through the thickness T1, the thickness of the solder layer 120a may gradually increase.
The reverse-reflow core 110 illustrated in
Referring to
The second metal layer 115 of the reverse-reflow core 110 illustrated in
In various embodiments, the first metal layer 113 may partially or completely form an intermetallic compound together with the solder layer 120a, thereby forming an interfacial layer 116. In various embodiments, a portion of the first metal layer 113 may form an intermetallic compound with the solder layer 120a. In various embodiments, the first metal layer 113 may completely form an intermetallic compound with the solder layer 120a. The solder layer 120a may be a tin (Sn)-based solder. In various embodiments, the intermetallic compound may include a component constituting the core 111. When the first metal layer 113 completely forms an intermetallic compound with the solder layer 120a, the first metal layer 113 illustrated
The intermetallic compound may include, for example, at least one selected from NiCu3Sn4, (Cu,Ni)6Sn5, and Ni3Sn4. However, the intermetallic compound is not limited thereto, and may vary according to materials constituting the core 111, the first metal layer 113, and the solder layer 120a.
The interfacial layer 116 may include an intermetallic compound that contains a component derived from the first metal layer 113 and a component derived from the solder layer 120a. Furthermore, the interfacial layer 116 may include an alloy that contains a component derived from the second metal layer 115 and the component derived from the solder layer 120a.
Referring to
In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 135 may be a silicon (Si) substrate. In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 135 may include a semiconductor element, such as Ge (germanium), or a compound semiconductor, such as SiC (silicon carbide), GaAs (gallium arsenide), InAs (indium arsenide), and InP (indium phosphide). In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 135 may have a SOI (silicon on insulator) structure. In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 135 may include a buried oxide (BOX) layer. In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 135 may include a conductive region, for example, an impurity-doped well or an impurity-doped structure. In various embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 135 may have various device-isolating structures, including a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure.
Various semiconductor devices may be provided on the active surface 135a of the semiconductor substrate 135. The semiconductor devices may include a memory device, a core circuit device, a peripheral circuit device, a logic circuit device, or a control circuit device. Examples of the memory device include a volatile semiconductor memory device, such as DRAM or SRAM, or a non-volatile memory device, such as a flash memory, a phase-change RAM (PRAM), a resistive RAM (RRAM), a ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), a magnetic RAM (MRAM), EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash EEPROM. Optionally, an image sensor, such as system LSI (large-scale integration) or CIS (CMOS imaging sensor), a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), an active device, or an passive device may be provided on the active surface 135a of the semiconductor substrate 135.
An interconnection layer may be provided to semiconductor devices on the active surface 135a of the semiconductor substrate 135. The interconnection layer may include an interconnection pattern and an insulating layer. The interconnection pattern may be electrically connected to the bump pad 132 which is an electrode terminal.
The reverse-reflow core 110 and the solder layer 120a, which constitute the semiconductor interconnect, have been described in detail in connection with
Referring to
The reverse-reflow core 210 may have a diameter of about 20 μm to about 300 μm in a horizontal direction thereof. A height of the reverse-reflow core 210 may be in a range of about 50 μm to about 1000 μm. However, measurements of the reverse-reflow core 210 are not limited thereto.
Referring to
Materials constituting the core 211, the first metal layer 213, and the second metal layer 215 have been described in detail in connection with
Referring to
The reverse-reflow core 210 has been described in detail in connection with
Referring to
When the temperature of the solder paste 120 illustrated in
When an aspect ratio (a ratio of height to width) of the reverse-reflow core 210 is high, the solder paste 120 may not reach a top end of the reverse-reflow core 210. In the case of the reverse-reflow core 210 illustrated in
Referring to
As a result, a semiconductor interconnect including the reverse-reflow core 210 and the solder layer 120a is provided on the bump pad 132 of the substrate 134.
Referring to
The solder layer 120a may not completely coat the reverse-reflow core 210a. This partial coating may be due to a high aspect ratio or height of the reverse-reflow core 210a. In various embodiments, the solder layer 120a that is formed by the reflow process may be elevated along the side wall of the reverse-reflow core 210a only up to a certain level. The elevation level may depend on, for example, the composition and amount of the solder layer 120a, a reflow temperature, or measurements of the reverse-reflow core 210a.
In this regard, the second metal layer (215, see
Although the reverse-reflow core 210a illustrated in
When, as illustrated in
A reverse-reflow core 210b illustrated in
As described above, by controlling the composition and amount of the solder paste 120b, a reflow temperature, or measurements of the reverse-reflow core 210b, it is possible to coat the top surface of the reverse-reflow core 210b by the solder layer 120b. In various embodiments, when a reflow temperature is high, the viscosity of the solder paste 120b is decreased and wettability thereof is improved, leading to a high likelihood that the solder paste 120b coats up to the top surface the reverse-reflow core 210b. In various embodiments, when the amount of the solder paste 120b is great and the viscosity thereof is low, the solder paste 120b may highly likely coat up to the top surface the reverse-reflow core 210b. In various embodiments, when measurements of the reverse-reflow core 210b, that is, the diameter and/or height of the reverse-reflow core 210b are small, the solder paste 120b may highly likely coat up to the top surface the reverse-reflow core 210b.
As illustrated in
Hereinafter, the structure and effects of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to Experimental Examples and Comparative Examples. However, these examples are provided herein for illustrative purpose only, and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
A copper core having a diameter of 184 μm was prepared, and then, a degreasing process and a pickling process were performed thereon to remove an organic material and an oxide film being present on the surface of the copper core therefrom.
Copper cores each having a diameter of 180 μm were prepared, and then, a degreasing process and a pickling process were performed thereon to remove an organic material and an oxide film being present on the surface of each of the copper cores therefrom. Then, an Ni layer having a thickness of 2 μm was formed thereon by using a sulfonic acid-based Ni plating solution at a current density of about 0.5 to about 1 ASD (amperes per square decimeter).
Then, in the case of Experimental Examples 3 to 6, as shown in Table 1, a gold (Au) or palladium (Pd) layer was formed thereon with an appropriate thickness. In the case of Experimental Example 7, as shown in Table 1, a plating layer including (Sn)-(3% Ag)-(0.5% Cu)(hereinafter referred to as SAC) having a thickness of 18 μm was formed on the copper core.
The samples of Experimental Example 1 to 7 were placed for aging in the air atmosphere in an oven at a temperature of 120° C. for 48 hours, and then, the illuminance of the surface of each of the samples was measured. The illuminance was measured by using a MINOLTA CR-400 chroma meter.
In the case of Experimental Examples 1 and 7, the illuminance was reduced greatly, and in the case of Experimental Example 2, the illuminance was slightly reduced. These results show that in the case of Experimental Examples 3 to 6, due to the surface treatment using gold (Au) or palladium (Pd), oxidizing the surfaces of the copper cores was suppressed, and in the case of Experimental Examples 1, 2, and 7, the oxidizing occurred considerably or slightly.
In proportion to the oxidation degree, it is seen that the surfaces of the samples was discolored. In other words, in the case of Experimental Examples 3 to 6, the color of the surfaces of the samples was not changed before and after the aging, and in the case of Experimental Examples 1, 2, and 7, the color of the surfaces of the samples was slightly or considerably changed before and after the aging.
Wettability of the pre-aging samples of Experimental Examples 1 to 6 with respect to solder paste was evaluated. To do this, a metal pad of Cu-OSP (organic solderability preservative) PCB was coated uniformly with SAC305 paste by using a 100 μm-thick mask that had been patterned to have a diameter of 200 μm, and then, the samples of Experimental Examples 1 to 6 were disposed thereon. The resultant structures were subjected to a reflow process. The reflow process was performed at a temperature of 245° C. for 50 seconds.
Wettability of the post-aging samples of Experimental Examples 1 to 6 with respect to solder paste were evaluated in the same manner as used to evaluate the samples of Experimental Examples 8 to 13.
In the case of Experimental Examples 9, 10, and 11, the samples are not exposed and solder forms a solder layer completely covering the samples. From these results, it is seen that the wettability between solder and nickel or solder and gold are fair.
However, in the case of Experimental Examples 16 and 17 in which gold (Au) was coated, the solder layer was still completely coated on the copper cores. From this result, it is seen that the Au coating layer has a strong resistance to oxidizing.
In the case of Experimental Examples 18 and 19 in which palladium (Pd) was coated, before and after the aging, illuminance did not change, but, similar to that before the aging, the wetting characteristics between melted solder and palladium (Pd) were not fair enough.
From these results, it is seen that when gold (Au) is used to form a second metal layer, even when stored for a long period of time, the copper cores show stable wettability with respect to solder.
Referring to
In the case of Experimental Examples 10, 11, 16, and 17, however, the samples were moved by an extremely small distance, for example, about 5 μm or less.
Accordingly, when gold (Au) is used to form a second metal layer, the copper core hardly moves during reflow. Thus, excellent centering characteristics may be obtained.
Referring to
Bonding strength of the samples of Experimental Examples 7 to 13 was measured as follows.
Force was horizontally applied to the samples of Experimental Examples 8 to 13 at heights 10 μm and 80 μm from the PCB. The intensity of force when breaking begins is referred to as a bonding strength.
The sample of Experimental Example 7 was bonded to a PCB substrate having corresponding bump pad, and then, bonding strength thereof was measured in the same manner as used in connection with the samples of Experimental Examples 8 to 13.
In each case, when force is applied in the PCB side (i.e., at a height of 10 μm), bonding characteristics of an interface between a bump pad and a solder are a major determining factor, and when force is applied in the core side (i.e., at a height of 80 μm), bonding characteristics of an interface between a reverse-reflow core and a solder are a major determining factor.
Measurement results are shown in Table 2.
Referring to Table 2, in the case of Experimental Examples 7 to 9 in which the copper core solder ball (CCSB) in the art was used, a bonding strength was as low as about 150 gf. In the case of Experimental Examples 12 and 13 in which palladium was used for coating, the bonding strength was about 170 gf.
In the case of Experimental Examples 10 and 11 in which gold (Au) was used for coating, the bonding strength was above 200 gf.
As described above, a core for reverse reflow according to embodiments, a semiconductor package according to embodiments, and a method of fabricating a semiconductor package according to embodiments enable the fabrication of a semiconductor package having high bonding strength to a high degree of precision.
For example, the memory module 1000 may include a printed circuit substrate 1100 and a plurality of semiconductor packages 1200.
The semiconductor packages 1200 may be or may include a semiconductor package according to embodiments. For example, the semiconductor packages 1200 may include at least one semiconductor package selected from semiconductor packages according to embodiments.
The memory module 1000 may be a single in-lined memory module (SIMM) in which the semiconductor packages 1200 are mounted on one surface of the printed circuit substrate 1100, or a dual in-lined memory module (DIMM) in which the semiconductor packages 1200 are mounted on facing surfaces of the printed circuit substrate 1100. The memory module 1000 may be a fully buffered DIMM (FBDIMM) including an advanced memory buffer (AMB) that provides external signals to the semiconductor packages 1200.
In the memory card 2000, a controller 2100 and a memory 2200 may be disposed to exchange electric signals. For example, when the controller 2100 commands, the memory 2200 may transfer data.
The memory 2200 may include a semiconductor package according to an embodiment. In various embodiments, the memory 2200 may include at least one semiconductor package selected from the semiconductor packages according to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure.
The memory card 2000 may configure various kinds of memory cards, for example, a memory stick card, a smart media card (SM), a secure digital card (SD), a mini-secure digital card (mini SD), and a multimedia card (MMC).
Referring to
The memory controller 3220 may include a processing unit 3222 that controls overall operations of the memory apparatus 3200. Also, the memory controller 3220 may include SRAM 3221 that is used as an operating memory of the processing unit 3222. Moreover, the memory controller 3220 may further include a host interface 3223 and a memory interface 3225. The host interface 3223 may include a data exchange protocol between the memory apparatus 3200 and the host. The memory interface 3225 may connect the memory controller 3220 and the memory module 3210 to each other. Further, the memory controller 3220 may further include an error correction code (ECC) block 3224. The ECC block 3224 may detect and correct errors of the data read from the memory module 3210. Although not shown in
Referring to
The controller 4110 may include at least one of a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, and logic devices performing similar functions. The I/O device 4120 may include a keypad, a keyboard, and a display device. The memory device 4130 may store data and/or commands. The memory device 4130 may include at least one of the semiconductor packages described above according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, the memory device 4130 may further include a semiconductor memory device of a different type (for example, a non-volatile memory device and/or SRAM). The interface 4140 may transfer data to a communication network or receive data from the communication network. The interface 4140 may be a wired or a wireless interface. For example, the interface 4140 may include an antenna or a wired/wireless transceiver. Although not shown in
The electronic system 4100 may be applied to a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a web tablet, a wireless phone, a mobile phone, a digital music player, a memory card, or all kinds of electronic products that may transmit and/or receive information in a wireless environment.
Referring to
The electronic devices described above may be mounted in various types of packages, for example, package on package (PoP), ball grid arrays (BGAs), chip scale packages (CSPs), plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC), plastic dual in-line package (PDIP), die in waffle pack, die in wafer form, chip on board (COB), ceramic dual in-line package (CERDIP), plastic metric quad flat-pack (MQFP), thin quad flat-pack (TQFP), small outline integrated circuit (SOIC), shrink small outline package (SSOP), thin small outline package (TSOP), thin quad flat-pack (TQFP), system in package (SIP), multi-chip package (MCP), water-level fabricated package (WFP), and water-level processed stack package (WSP).
While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1020150057542 | Apr 2015 | KR | national |
1020150135584 | Sep 2015 | KR | national |