Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electronic circuits and, more particularly, to Integrated Circuit (IC) devices and methods for packaging IC dies.
IC packaging or assembly processes generally involve enclosing IC chips in protective materials and providing electrical connections to IC chips. Conventional IC packaging techniques typically use metal shielding on outer surfaces of IC device packages for electrical connections. However, additional circuit areas used for electrical connection result in bigger package size. In addition, additional circuit areas used for electrical connection may hinder a subsequent plating process. Further, additional circuit areas used for electrical connection on outer surfaces of IC device packages may cause cosmetic issues.
Embodiments of a method for packaging Integrated Circuit (IC) dies and an IC device are described. In an embodiment, a method for packaging IC dies involves creating openings on a substrate, where side surfaces of the openings on the substrate are covered by metal layers, placing the IC dies into the openings on the substrate, applying a second metal layer to the substrate, where the IC dies are electrically connected to at least a portion of the second metal layer, and cutting the substrate into IC devices. Other embodiments are also described.
In an embodiment, the method further involves applying the metal layers to the side surfaces of the openings such that the metal layers on the side surfaces of the openings are in contact with a third metal layer on an upper surface of the substrate and with a fourth metal layer on a bottom surface of the substrate.
In an embodiment, each of the metal layers that are applied to the side surfaces of the openings and the second, third and fourth metal layers comprises copper (Cu).
In an embodiment, the method further involves applying a tape layer to the fourth metal layer on the bottom surface of the substrate before placing the IC dies into the openings on the substrate.
In an embodiment, the method further involves applying a film layer and a fifth metal layer to the substrate after placing the IC dies into the openings on the substrate.
In an embodiment, the method further involves removing the tape layer after applying the film layer and the fifth metal layer to the substrate.
In an embodiment, the method further involves applying ultraviolet (UV) lasers to create a first set of openings on the fifth metal layer.
In an embodiment, the method further involves creating a second set of openings on the film layer such that a plurality of contact pads on the IC dies are exposed.
In an embodiment, the method further involves attaching a sixth metal layer to the fourth metal layer on the bottom surface of the substrate.
In an embodiment, applying the second metal layer to the substrate involves attaching the second metal layer to the fifth metal layer.
In an embodiment, the method further involves removing some portions of the second metal layer by photo patterning such that the contact pads on the IC die are electrically connected to the at least the portion of the second metal layer.
In an embodiment, the method further involves depositing solder mask layers on opposite sides of the substrate.
In an embodiment, cutting the substrate into the IC devices involves cutting the substrate using saw blades into Quad Flat No-lead (QFN) devices.
In an embodiment, the method further involves depositing metal contacts onto the substrate, and wherein cutting the substrate into the IC devices comprises cutting the substrate using saw blades into ball grid array (BGA) devices.
In an embodiment, a method for packaging IC dies involves creating openings on a substrate, sputtering a metal material to side surfaces of the openings such that the side surfaces of the openings are electronically connected to metal layers attached to an upper surface and a bottom surface of the substrate, placing the IC dies into the openings on the substrate, applying a second metal layer to the substrate, where the IC dies are electrically connected to at least a portion of the second metal layer, and cutting the substrate into IC devices.
In an embodiment, the method further involves applying a tape layer to a third metal layer attached to the bottom surface of the substrate before placing the IC dies into the openings on the substrate, applying and laminating a film layer and a fourth metal layer to the substrate after placing the IC dies into the openings on the substrate, and removing the tape layer after applying and laminating the film layer and the fourth metal layer to the substrate
In an embodiment, the method further involves comprising applying ultraviolet (UV) lasers to create a plurality of openings on the fourth metal layer and the film layer such that a plurality of contact pads on the IC dies are exposed.
In an embodiment, an IC device includes a substrate having an opening, an IC die that is located within the opening of the substrate, a first metal layer attached to a bottom surface of the substrate, a second metal layer attached to an upper surface of the substrate, where a side surface of the opening is covered by a third metal layer that is in contact with the first and second metal layers, a film layer that surrounds the IC die, a fourth metal layer that is electrically connected to the second metal layer and a contact pad of the IC die, a first solder mask layer attached to the first metal layer, and a second solder mask layer attached to the film layer and the fourth metal layer.
In an embodiment, the IC device further includes metal contacts connected to contact pads of the IC die.
In an embodiment, the first, second, third and fourth metal layer comprise copper (Cu).
Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, depicted by way of example of the principles of the invention.
Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements.
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
As previously described, traditional IC packaging techniques typically use metal shielding on outer surfaces of IC device packages for electrical connection, which results in bigger package size, hinder a subsequent plating process and cause cosmetic issues. Compared with traditional IC chip packaging techniques, embodiments of the present invention use the metal layer 216 attached to the side surface 112 of the opening 102 to provide an electrical connection within the packaged IC device 170. Consequently, compared with traditional IC chip packaging techniques, embodiments of the present invention produce packaged IC devices with smaller dimensions (e.g., thinner IC packages). In addition, compared with traditional IC chip packaging techniques, embodiments of the present invention do not require an extra process for shielding. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention provide six-side protection for the IC die. Additionally, the metal layer 178 attached to the IC die 124 can be used as a heat sink for the IC die, which can lower the IC die temperature. Further, compared with traditional IC chip packaging techniques, embodiments of the present invention reduce or even eliminate the usage of wire bonds.
An IC packaging process in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to
After the tape application step depicted in
After the stacked layers application step depicted in
After the desmear step depicted in
After the metal sputter step, a metal layer 256 is attached to the substrate 200 in a metal planting step.
After the metal planting step, some portions of the Cu layers 232, 256 on the substrate 200 are etched away in a photo patterning step.
After the photo patterning step, solder mask layers 260, 262 are attached to the substrate 200 in a solder mask deposition step.
After the solder mask deposition step, the substrate 200 is processed in a surface finishing step.
In some embodiments, metal contacts are deposited onto the substrate to form a ball grid array (BGA) in a ball deposition step.
Although the operations of the method herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of the method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.
In addition, although specific embodiments of the invention that have been described or depicted include several components described or depicted herein, other embodiments of the invention may include fewer or more components to implement less or more feature.
Furthermore, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and depicted, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and depicted. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
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