1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to packages and methods of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a package with an embedded chip and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
With the advancement of semiconductor technology, a semiconductor product may be in various package forms. In order to pursue the goal of compact size, a chip scale package (CSP) is brought to the market that is characterized in that the chip scale package is the same as or slightly greater than a chip in size.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,892,179, 6,103,552, 6,287,893, 6,350,668 and 6,433,427 disclosed a conventional CSP structure in which a built-up structure is formed on a chip directly, without using a chip carrier, such as a substrate or a lead frame. A redistribution layer (RDL) technique is used to redistribute electrode pads on the chip to desired locations.
However, the above CSP structure has an disadvantage that the application of the RDL technique and the conductive traces applied on the chip are limited by the size of the chip or the area of an active surface of the chip. In consequence, as the chip is higher in integration and smaller in size, there is no sufficient area on the chip for a greater number of solder balls to be implanted on the chip for the chip to be electrically connected to external electronic devices.
To address the disadvantage, U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,469 discloses a method of fabricating a wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP), including forming a built-up package on a chip, so as to provide a spacious enough surface area on which a greater number of input/output ends or solder balls may be installed.
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Through the above processes, more solder balls 17 may be formed to be connected with other electronic devices, because the encapsulant 13 that encapsulates the chip 12 may provide a surface area greater than the active surface 121 of the chip 12.
However, the drawbacks of the above processes include that since the chip 12 is adhered to the glue film 11 with the active surface 121 facing the glue film 11, the glue film 11 is likely extended or contracted due to the heating to the glue film 11, and, as such, the chip 12 is offset, and that the softened glue film 11 due to the heat during the package mold process makes the chip 12 offset. Further, the circuit layer 15 cannot be connected to the electrode pads 120 of the chip 12 during the subsequent RDL process, which results in poor electrical connection quality.
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Therefore, how to provide a chip scale package and a method of fabricating the same, to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, ensure the electrical connection quality between the circuit layer and the electrode pads, improve the reliability of the product, and reduce the fabrication cost, is becoming one of the most important issues in the art.
The present invention provides a package of embedded chip, which comprises: a dielectric layer having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; a plurality of conductive pillars formed in the dielectric layer and exposed from the second surface of the dielectric layer; a chip embedded in the dielectric layer and having an active surface and an inactive surface opposing the active surface, a plurality of electrode pads disposed on the active surface; a circuit layer formed on the first surface of the dielectric layer; a plurality of conductive blind vias formed in the dielectric layer, allowing the circuit layer to be electrically connected via the conductive blind vias to each of the electrode pads and each of the conductive pillars; and a first solder mask layer formed on the first surface of the dielectric layer and the circuit layer and having a plurality of first holes for exposing a part of the circuit layer from the first holes.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the conductive pillars are made of copper.
In an embodiment, the inactive surface of the chip is exposed from the second surface of the dielectric layer. The package further comprises a second solder mask layer that is formed on the second surface of the dielectric layer, the inactive surface of the chip and each of the conductive pillars, wherein the second solder mask layer has a plurality of second holes, allowing a part of the surfaces of each of the conductive pillars to be exposed form the second holes.
In another embodiment, the inactive surface of the chip has a heat sink. The package further comprises a second solder mask layer formed on the second surface of the dielectric layer, the heat sink and each of the conductive pillars, wherein the second solder mask layer has a plurality of second holes, allowing a part of each of the conductive pillars to be exposed form the second holes.
The package further comprises a plurality conductive elements formed on the circuit layer in each of the first holes.
The package further comprises a built-up structure that is formed on the first surface of the dielectric layer and the circuit layer, wherein the first solder mask layer is formed on an outermost layer of the built-up structure.
The present invention further provides a method of fabricating a package of embedded chip, comprising: forming a plurality of neighboring conductive pillars on a carrier, and defining a chip-mounted region on the carrier; mounting within the chip-mounted region a chip having an active surface and an inactive surface opposing the active surface, with the inactive surface facing the carrier, wherein a plurality of the electrode pads are disposed on the active surface; forming on the carrier, each of the conductive pillars and the chip a dielectric layer to encapsulate the chip, the dielectric layer having an exposed first surface and a second surface attached to the carrier; forming a circuit layer on the first surface of the dielectric layer, and forming a plurality of conductive blind vias in the dielectric layer, allowing the circuit layer to be electrically connected via the conductive blind vias to each of the electrode pads and each of the conductive pillars; forming on the first surface of the dielectric layer and the circuit layer a first solder mask layer; removing the carrier to expose the second surface of the dielectric layer and each of the conductive pillars; and forming on the first solder mask layer a plurality of first holes for exposing a part of the circuit layer from the first holes.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier and the conductive pillars are made of copper, wherein the carrier is removed by etching.
In an embodiment of the present invention, further comprises coating the inactive surface of the chip with an adhesive layer, to allow the chip to be positioned on the carrier, and removing the adhesive layer after the carrier is removed, so as to expose the inactive surface of the chip.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the inactive surface of the chip is exposed from the second surface of the dielectric after removing all of the carrier. The method further comprises forming a second solder mask layer on the second surface of the dielectric layer, the inactive surface of the chip and each of the conductive pillars, wherein the second solder mask layer has a plurality of second holes, allowing a part of each of the conductive pillars to be exposed from the second holes.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a part of the carrier is removed, allowing the residual carrier on the inactive surface of the chip to act as the heat sink. The method further comprises forming on the second surface of the dielectric layer, the heat sink and each of the conductive pillars a second solder mask layer, wherein the second solder mask layer has a plurality of second holes, allowing a part of each of the conductive pillars to be exposed from the second holes.
The method further comprises forming on the circuit layer in each of the first holes a plurality of conductive elements.
In sum, in the package of embedded chip and the method of fabricating the same of the present invention, the chip is mounted on the carrier that is formed with conductive pillars, the dielectric layer covers the chip and the conductive pillars, and then the carrier is removed, for the RDL process to be performed subsequently, so as to prevent the chip from being adhered directly to the glue film that is easily to be softened when heated, prevent the encapsulant to generate excessive glue and contaminate and offset the chip, ensure that the circuit layer is in well contact with the electrode pads during the subsequent fabrication processes, and the problem of invalid packages can be effectively avoid.
Moreover, the conductive pillars may increase the supporting force, and the problems of the prior art that the warpage happens because only the glue film is used to provide the supporting force and glue is residual on the encapsulant are solved.
Further, through the design of the conductive pillars, other electronic devices may be connected externally when the stacking process is performed, without penetrating the encapsulant to form the conductive vias, as the prior art teaches. Therefore, the fabrication process of the present invention is simplified, and the fabrication time and cost are reduced because no need of filling with the conductive material.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments would be evident based on the present disclosure, and that proves or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the following description, numerous specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In order to avoid obscuring the present invention, some well-known configurations and process steps are not disclosed in detail.
Likewise, the drawings showing embodiments of the structure are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and are shown greatly exaggerated in the drawings. Similarly, although the views in the drawings for ease of description generally show similar orientations, this depiction in the drawings is arbitrary for the most part. Generally, the invention can be operated in any orientation.
For expository purposes, the term “horizontal” as used herein is defined as a plane parallel to the plane or surface of the substrate, regardless of its orientation. The term “vertical” refers to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal as just defined. Terms, such as “on”, “above”, “below”, “bottom”, “top”, “side” (as in “sidewall”), “higher”, “lower”, “upper”, “over”, and “under”, are defined with respect to the horizontal plane.
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In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4G′, a part of the carrier 20 is removed by etching, allowing the residual carrier 20 on the inactive surface 22b of the chip 22 to act as a heat sink 201, and allowing the second surface 23b of the dielectric layer 23 and each of the conductive pillars 200 to be exposed from the heat sink 201.
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In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4I′, if the above-described processes are performed according to the structure shown in FIG. 4G′, each of the first holes 250a exposed from the circuit layer 24 is formed in the first solder mask layer 25a, and each of the conductive elements 26 is formed on the exposed circuit layer 24, in order to connect other electronic devices 28. A second solder mask layer 25b′ is also can be formed on the second surface 23b of the dielectric layer 23, the heat sink 201 and each of the conductive pillars 200, and then a plurality of second holes 250b′ are formed in the second solder mask layer 25b′, allowing a part of each of the conductive pillars 200 to be exposed form each of the second holes 250b′, allowing the conductive elements 27 to be formed on each of the conductive pillars 200 in each of the second holes 250b′, so as to connect other electronic devices.
In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4F′, a built-up structure 29 may be alternatively formed on the first surface 23a of the dielectric layer 23 and the dielectric layer 24 first, and then the first solder mask layer 25a′ is formed on an outermost layer of the built-up structure 29, allowing a part of the outermost layer circuit of the built-up structure 29 to be exposed from the first holes 250a′, so as to form other conductive elements on the circuit in the first holes 250a′ in the subsequent process. The built-up structure 29 has at least one dielectric layer, a circuit formed on the dielectric layer, and a plurality of conductive blind vias formed in the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the circuit layer 24 and the circuit.
In another embodiment, another built-up structure may be further formed on the second surface 23b of the dielectric layer 23 (not shown in figures) after removing the carrier 20 (as shown in
In the present invention, the chip 22 is mounted on the carrier 20, then the dielectric layer 23 covers the chip 22, and then the carrier 20 is removed, without using the glue film of the prior art. Therefore, the problems of the prior art that the encapsulant excessive glue and chip contamination are solved.
Moreover, in the present invention the chip 22 is mounted on the carrier 20 with the inactive surface 22b facing the carrier 20. Therefore, the extension/contraction problem due to the heating on the glue film does not happen, and the chip 22 will not be offset. Besides, the chip 22 does not generate any displacement, because the carrier 20, when heated, will not be softened during the formation of the dielectric layer 23. Accordingly, during the RDL process the circuit layer 24 may be in well contact with the electrode pads 220 of the chip 22, and the problem of invalid packages can be effectively avoid.
In the present invention, each of the conductive pillars 200 are formed on the carrier 20, such that the supporting force is increased and the whole structure does not suffer the warpage. Therefore, the problem of the prior art that the glue film is used as the only supporting force and thus the warpage is likely to happen is solved. Accordingly, the chip 22 does not offset. Therefore, during the RDL process the circuit layer 24 may be well in contact with the electrode pads 220, and the problem of invalid packages can be effectively avoid.
Through the design of the conductive pillars 200, when a stack process is performed conductive elements 27 such as solder balls may be used to connect another electronic device directly, without the need to penetrate the encapsulant to form the conductive vias. Therefore, the present invention has a simplified process, does not need of filling with the conductive material, and has a reduced fabrication time and cost.
The present invention further provides a package of embedded chip, including: a dielectric layer 23 having a first surface 23a and a second surface 23b opposing the first surface 23a; a plurality of conductive pillars 200 formed in the dielectric layer 23 and exposed from the second surfaces 23b of the dielectric layer 23; a chip 22 embedded in the dielectric layer 23; a circuit layer 24 formed on the first surface 23a of the dielectric layer 23; a plurality of conductive blind vias 240 formed in the dielectric layer 23; and a first solder mask layer 25a formed on the first surface 23a of the dielectric layer 23 and the circuit layer 24.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the conductive pillars 200 are made of copper.
The chip 22 has an active surface 22a and an inactive surface 22b opposing the active surface 22a. A plurality of electrode pads 220 are disposed on the active surface 22a.
The circuit layer 24 is electrically connected via the conductive blind vias 240 to the each of electrode pads 220 and each of the conductive pillars 200.
The first solder mask layer 25a has a plurality of first holes 250a, allowing a part of the circuit layer 24 to be exposed form each of the first holes 250a.
The package further comprises a plurality of conductive elements 26 formed on the circuit layer 24 in each of the first holes 250a.
The package further comprises a built-up structure 29 that is formed on the first surface 23a of the dielectric layer 23 and the circuit layer 24. The first solder mask layer 25a is formed on an outermost layer of the built-up structure 29.
In an embodiment, the inactive surface 22b of the chip 22 is exposed from the second surface 23b of the dielectric layer 23. The package further comprises a second solder mask layer 25b that is formed on the second surface 23b of the dielectric layer 23, the inactive surface 22b of the chip 22 and each of the conductive pillars 200, and the second solder mask layer 25b has a plurality of second holes 250b, allowing a part of the surfaces of each of the conductive pillars 200 to be exposed form the second holes 250b, allowing a plurality of conductive elements 27 to be formed on each of the conductive pillars 200 in the second holes 250b.
In another embodiment, the inactive surface 22b of the chip 22 has a heat sink 201. The package further comprises a second solder mask layer 25b formed on the second surface 23b of the dielectric layer 23, the heat sink 201 and each of the conductive pillars 200, and the second solder mask layer 25b has a plurality of second holes 250b, allowing a part of each of the conductive pillars 200 to be exposed form the second holes 250b, allowing the conductive elements 27 to be formed on each of the conductive pillars 200 in the second holes 250b.
In sum, the package of embedded chip and a method of fabricating the package of embedded chip of the present invention use the design of conductive pillars. Therefore, when a stack process is performed, solder balls may be used to connect another electronic devices directly, such that the process is simplified, and the fabrication time and cost are reduced. Moreover, the present invention uses a carrier to replace the glue film of the prior art, which solves the problems of encapsulant excessive glue and chip contamination.
Besides, through the carrier on which a chip may be mounted and the conductive pillars that may increase the whole supporting force, the warpage does not happen, and the chip does not suffer offset. Accordingly, during the RDL process the circuit layer is well in contact with the electrode pads, and the problem of invalid packages can be effectively avoid. Also, no metal or glue will be residual on the dielectric layer when the carrier is removed.
The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only illustrated to disclose the features and functions of the present invention and not restrictive of the scope of the present invention. It should be understood to those in the art that all modifications and variations according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure of the present invention should fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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099133962 | Oct 2010 | TW | national |