1. Field of Invention
The present disclosure relates to inductive structures of the type having at least a winding with at least a coil developed around a ferromagnetic core, to a method for integrating an inductive structure in an electronic device package, and to a multichip device utilizing the inductive structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, the progress of integration has had a key role during the last years in the field of electronics. In particular, the need of increasing the potential of an electronic apparatus without increasing the physical magnitude of the object comprising it has pushed, first of all, to reduce the geometric dimensions characteristic of the electronic devices in general (such as for example the channel length of MOSFET transistors).
Three-dimension circuit solutions have also been proposed, in particular exploiting the z dimension of electronic devices integrated in a chip or die, i.e., a dimension orthogonal to a development plane of the chip, by packing, one above the other, more dices and leading to the emergence of the so called stacked devices or multichip.
The market needs and new technological knowledge have enabled realization, by exploiting both the above indicated solutions, i.e., the reduction of the geometric dimensions of the devices and their arrangement according to the z dimension, of real systems inside the same package of an integrated device, the so called Systems in Package, hereafter indicated with SIP.
It is also known that, in the field of multichip devices and of SIP, in case the application had required an inductor of considerable value (higher than some nH), constructors of the multichip device or SIP have provided, up to now, the use of an external discrete component suitably connected by the final user by means of an external PCB, with subsequent increase in the dimensions and the complexity of construction and use of the device itself.
In fact, the discrete inductors on sale with significant saturation currents (higher than 0.5 A) and with inductance value around μH have such dimensions that they cannot be integrated in a SIP. Generally, when the final thickness dimensions are particularly narrow (lower than 1.5 mm), the discrete components, so as to be integrated in a package, must have greatest dimensions equal to a SMD0402 (0.5 mm×1 mm and 0.5 mm of thickness) thus with thickness lower than 700 μm. The discrete inductors with inductance values in the order of the tens of μH and with saturation currents higher than 0.5 A have instead thickness higher than 1 mm.
In the field the need is thus strongly felt of realizing an inductor with considerable inductance value (in particular, higher than some nH) directly integrated in a package of an integrated circuit for realizing a multichip device, such as a stacked device or a SIP.
A known technical solution to meet this need is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,901, granted on Aug. 17, 2004, in the name of Hai Young Lee et al.
Such a document describes an inductor realized with the bonding wires due to the presence of pairs of bonding terminals or pads realized on a substrate of a semiconductor device and of one or more bonding wires configured so as to form a ring and thus an inductive winding. An injection step is also provided for using an epoxy resin to complete the package containing the inductor.
Although advantageous under several aspects, this solution shows some drawbacks. For example, it is immediately evident that the inductor thus realized has a non-confined magnetic field, jeopardizing the operation of the integrated system wherein it is implemented.
The technical problem underlying the present disclosure is that of devising an integrated inductive structure having such structural and functional characteristics as to realize geometric structures of electronic components integrated in a multichip and which use the magnetic properties of one or more coils, simultaneously overcoming the limits and the drawbacks still affecting the devices formed according to prior designs.
The disclosed embodiments are directed to a winding around a ferromagnetic core having a multilayer structure of a ferromagnetic material deposited on a package substrate of a multichip device, such as for example an SIP or a stacked device. In particular, the winding includes at least a coil realized by exploiting the bonding wires or the tracks of a first metallization layer of the package substrate of the multichip device.
In accordance with one embodiment disclosed herein, an inductive structure is provided that includes at least one winding having at least one coil and developed around a ferromagnetic core, the inductive structure integrated in a package of an electronic device, the ferromagnetic core formed by means of a ferromagnetic structure arranged above a substrate of the package.
In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, the ferromagnetic structure is formed of multiple layers that include a plurality of layers of flat ferromagnetic material overlapped onto each other and separated by intervening layers of insulating material that is preferably an adhesive material.
In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, the multilayer ferromagnetic structure has a closed configuration that is shaped substantially in the form of a ring.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a circuit is provided, that circuit including a ferromagnetic core formed from a plurality of ferromagnetic layers disposed between layers of adhesive material in an integrated structure; and at least one coil of electrically conductive material formed around the ferromagnetic core, the circuit formed above a substrate of an integrated electronic device.
A method for integrating an inductive structure is provided in accordance with another embodiment in which the inductive structure is integrated on a package substrate that includes providing a package substrate; forming in the package substrate at least one metallization line; integrating on the package substrate at least one electronic device; forming on the package substrate an inductive structure next to the electronic device by depositing a multilayer ferromagnetic structure on the package substrate next to the electronic device, and forming at least one coil of a winding of the integrated inductive structure by means of an electric connection of a portion of the metallization line.
In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing method, the electric connection of a portion of the metallization line includes bonding a first end and a second end of one portion of the metallization line above the multilayer ferromagnetic structure.
In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing method, a coating step is included that includes coating the multilayer ferromagnetic structure with an insulating layer, preferably involving a lower face of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure arranged next to the package substrate and an upper face thereof that is opposite to the lower face.
In accordance with another aspect of this method, the coating step involves all faces of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure.
The characteristics and the advantages of the inductive structure according to the invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of indicative and non limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings.
With reference to these figures, and in particular to
In particular, the inductive structure 1 comprises a winding 2 developed around a ferromagnetic core 3.
Advantageously according to the invention, the ferromagnetic core 3 is realized by a ferromagnetic structure suitably arranged above a package substrate so as to be contained inside the winding 2, as it will be clarified hereafter in the description, this package comprising besides the inductive structure 1 at least a further electronic device.
Suitably, the ferromagnetic structure is implemented by means of a multilayer 3 obtained by overlapping different layers 3a of flat ferromagnetic material that are glued onto each other, as shown in
In other words, the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 includes an overlapping of layers 3a of flat ferromagnetic material and of layers 3b of insulating material, suitably adhesive, alternated with each other, and easily inserted in an integration process of a multichip device, as it will be clarified hereafter in the description.
Advantageously, because the ferromagnetic band is very thin, a rather accurate control of the final thickness of the torroidal core is possible.
It is to be noted that the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 inserted inside the winding 2 confines the magnetic field of the inductive structure 1 and not to notably influence the interconnections close thereto inside a package.
In a preferred embodiment, the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 has a closed configuration, substantially ring-shaped, as shown in
The multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 advantageously obtain substantial inductance values for the integrated inductor in the inductive structure 1, and thus it allows its use inside a package for integrated circuits, the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 being deposited on a package substrate 4, as shown in greater detail in
Only by way of example, it is noted that the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 utilizes the ferromagnetic material commercially known with the name VITROVAC 6150. This material has relative magnetic mobilities equal to 1300, and in the configuration shown in
Since the thickness of the ferromagnetic layers or bands 3a of VITROVAC 6150 is equal to 25 μm, to obtain the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 of suitable thickness, different layers of this material have been overlapped, suitably glued to each other.
It is possible to verify that, with a multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 having a thickness equal to 750 μm, obtained for example by overlapping fifteen layers 3a of ferromagnetic material, as shown in
The magnetic field inside the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 2 thus obtained is schematically shown in
The inductive structure 1 includes the winding 2 equipped with a plurality of coils 5, each one having a first portion 5a, comprising for example a length portion D of a metallization line 5c realized on the package substrate 4, as well as a second portion 5b, made for example of a bonding wire 5d, joined to each other in a ring-like configuration to form the coil 5, as shown in
Preferably, the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 is arranged above the package structure 4 so as to be contained inside the coil 5. In particular the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 is arranged above the metallization line 5c, inside the first and the second end X1 and X2 of the same, with the bonding wire 5d suitably passing above this structure 3 to connect the first and the second end X1 and X2.
It is to be noted that the winding is not a closed path, in other words if the ends X1 and X2 are interconnected by using the first metal level of the substrate, they are not interconnected through a bonding wire so that the current flows in the winding in a desired way.
Moreover, the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 2 is suitably coated, at least in correspondence with a lower face thereof, arranged next to the package substrate 4 and to an upper face thereof, arranged next to an apical point Y of the bonding wire 5d, by means of an electrically insulating glue layer so as not to create conductive short-circuits between the coils.
In a preferred embodiment of the integrated inductive structure 1 according to the invention, this electrically insulating glue layer is arranged on all the faces of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3. Preferably the entire multilayer ferromagnetic structure 2 is coated with an electrically insulating glue.
Advantageously, to implement the integrated inductor in a multichip device by means of the inductive structure 1, the rules for the positioning of the bondfingers (not shown since conventional) and of the bonding wires used for the realization of a generic multichip device are suitably respected, so as not to have any problems with short-circuits between the bonding wires in consequence of the resin injection and of the molding carried out on the multichip device itself.
Possibly, if the application requires a quality factor characteristic of the integrated inductor higher than the one that can be obtained with the configuration described with reference to
The integrated inductor structure described herein finds advantageous application, for example, in step-up voltage converters where it is used to carry out changes in an operative voltage. The sole limitations of the integrated inductor thus obtained for these applications are constituted by the characteristics of the ferromagnetic material used, and they are linked to the highest switch frequency of the magnetization of the material itself and to the saturation magnetic field.
The inductive structure 1 is also suitable for implementing a transformer, as schematically shown in
In a way known to a technician of the field, the number of coils comprised in the primary 2 and secondary winding 6 enable dimensioning of the transformer obtained by means of the inductive structure 1 as desired. Also in this case, the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 2 has a closed configuration, substantially ring-like shaped, in particular with a rectangular plan-form shape and equipped with a central opening, also preferably rectangular.
Thus, it is possible to produce a transformer suitable for use in a package of a multichip device, in particular a stacked device or a SIP.
Considered the geometric characteristics of the bonding wire (which normally has a section equal to 25 μm) and the rules tidying the routing in the substrate of the multichip device, the transformer of the integrated inductive structure 1 can be used for frequencies higher than the tens of kHz.
By using bonding wires with greater sections, it is possible to operate the transformers at a lower frequency than the one indicated.
The integrated inductive structure 1 is also suitable for producing a sensor schematically shown in
The sensor configuration shown in
In fact, by measuring the current induced in the sensor thus realized by the integrated inductive structure 1, the variation of the magnetic flux linked with its winding 2 can be determined.
The integrated inductive structure 1 can be used for a relay, schematically shown in
In the example of
In this way, by applying a current onto the winding 2 of the first portion 1a, it is possible to generate a magnetic field B outside the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3. If the first bonding wire 7a is placed inside this magnetic field B, it moves and it can thus can generate a contact with the other wire 7b.
It is however important to emphasize that in this case the use of the two different materials for the bonding wires (one being ferromagnetic, the other not) is to be provided. Moreover, the contact surface between the two wires could be reduced, implying quite a high parasite contact resistance.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the integrated inductive structure 1 suitable to implement a relay, schematically shown in
In particular, the first switch element 8 includes a mobile element able to create the electric contact with the second switch element 9. In the embodiment shown in
Both of the switch elements 8 and 9 are glued with a conductive glue (or welded) on a pad of the package substrate of a multichip device with which the integrated inductive structure 1 suitable to implement the relay is integrated. In this way they are short-circuited with the relative connection. By inverting the direction of the current flowing in the winding 2 of the first portion 1a of the inductive structure 1 it is possible to move away the two switch element 8 and 9 and to ease the opening of the switch in the second portion 1b.
It is to be noted that for both the embodiments of the inductive structures 1 suitable to implement a relay, the triggering portion 1b includes a ferromagnetic contact that must be free to move. Therefore, the area wherein this inductive structure 1 is formed does not have to be covered by resin. The inductive structure 1 thus includes a protective plastic casing for the area of the mobile contact. In a preferred embodiment of the inductive structure 1, inside this protective area a void is created so as to avoid problems of oxidation of the metallic and ferromagnetic contacts.
In a further embodiment, shown with reference to
It is also possible to interpose, between this first layer 4a and second layer 4b, a suitable ferromagnetic material for increasing the magnetic potentialities of the winding 2 thus obtained.
In particular, the SIP 10 includes the integrated inductive structure 1 formed next to a stack 11 of a first 11a and of a second chip 11b, mounted on a package substrate 4, which is equipped with a ball grid array 12, and possibly separated by an interposer 13.
The present disclosure also relates to a method for integrating an inductive structure 1 on a package substrate 4, in particular in a multichip device such as a stacked device or a SIP. The method includes the steps of:
providing a package substrate 4;
forming in this package substrate 4 at least one metallization line 5c;
integrating on the package substrate 4 at least one electronic device, in particular a chip stack 11.
Advantageously, the method also provides the steps of:
forming on this package substrate 4 an inductive structure 1 next to this chip stack 11.
In particular, this step of forming an integrated inductive structure 1 includes the steps of:
depositing a multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 on this package substrate 4 next to this chip stack 11; and
forming at least one coil 5 of a winding 2 of this integrated inductive structure 1 by means of an electric connection of a portion 5a of this metallization line 5c.
In particular, the electric connection of a first end X1 and of a second end X2 of the portion 5a of the metallization line 5c is carried out by means of bonding above the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3, as shown in
In this method, it is possible to form a winding 2 having a plurality of coils 5 by using a plurality of metallization lines and bonding wires.
In this case, the method advantageously provides that this bonding step is performed simultaneously with at least one bonding step of the process flow suitable to form the chip stack 11.
Alternatively, this electric connection of a first end X1 and of a second end X2 of the portion 5a of the metallization line 5c is accomplished through routing of at least one further portion of a further or second metallization line formed in a second layer 4b of the package substrate 4 distinct from a first layer 4a of this package substrate 4 wherein the first metallization line 5c is formed.
Also in this case it is possible to implement a winding 2 having a plurality of coils 5 by means of a plurality of first and second metallization lines.
Advantageously, the method also provides that the deposition step of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 of the package substrate 4 includes the steps of:
depositing a plurality of layers 3a of flat ferromagnetic material overlapped onto each other to form the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3.
In a preferred embodiment, the method also provides that the deposition step of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 on the package substrate 4 includes the steps of:
depositing a plurality of layers 3a of flat ferromagnetic material and a plurality of layers 3b of adhesive material, overlapped onto each other in an alternated way.
Advantageously, this deposition step of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 on the package substrate 4 is performed simultaneously with at least one deposition step of at least one chip of the stack.
For example, a small block of ferromagnetic material being cut and already packed to form a multilayer material, can be treated in an identical way as the “dices”, i.e., it can be placed on the substrate with suitable “pick and place” machines.
Finally, the method includes, before the step of forming the winding 2, at least one coating step of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 3 by means of an insulating layer, in particular an insulating glue layer.
In particular, this coating step provides a deposition of this insulating layer on a lower face of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 2, arranged next to the package substrate 4 and on an upper face thereof, opposite the lower face. Suitably, this insulating layer is deposited on all the faces of the multilayer ferromagnetic structure 2.
In substance, the embodiments of inductive structure 1 described herein enable production of an inductor, a transformer, a sensor, and a relay inside a package of an electronic device.
Thus, by using the inductive structure 1 described herein, it is possible to increase the potentiality of the systems that can be formed in a package, for example by allowing the insertion inside the package of inductors with considerable inductance values suitable for particular applications and with saturation currents close to one Ampere, without interfering in a significant way with the rest of the system integrated therewith.
All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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05425635.9 | Sep 2005 | EP | regional |