Patent Application
20090001556
Indium solder is typically used as thermal interface material (TIM) for central processing unit (CPU) packages or any other packages that may use heat spreader. However, using Indium may increase the cost of the packages.
The invention described herein is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference labels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention, although different, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described herein, in connection with one embodiment, may be implemented within other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, it is to be understood that the location or arrangement of individual elements within each disclosed embodiment may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, appropriately interpreted, along with the full range of equivalents to which the claims are entitled. In the drawings, like numbers refer to the same or similar functionality throughout the several views.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
The following description may include terms, such as upper, lower, top, bottom, first, second, etc. that are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting.
Referring to
Referring to
In another embodiment, if the coating layer 102 comprises a Bi layer, the Bi component in the coating layer 102 and Sn component in the base metal layer 104 may form eutectic phase (e.g., eutectic SnBi) with the temperature being ramped up to about 140-180° C. and the euctectic SnBi may then melt around the temperature to diffuse Bi component into the Sn matrix of the base metal layer 104, so as to form the TIM bonding. The obtained TIM 132 may have a melting point that is higher than that of the eutectic SnBi or SnBiAg.
While the methods of
While certain features of the invention have been described with reference to embodiments, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, which are apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the invention.
