This application relates generally to semiconductor devices and methods for making such devices. More specifically, this application describes semiconductor packages that contain multiple dies and methods for making such packages.
Semiconductor packages are well known in the art. Often, these packages may include one or more semiconductor devices, such as an integrated circuit (“IC”) die, which may be connected to a die pad that is centrally formed in a lead frame. In some cases, bond wires electrically connect the IC die to a series of terminals that serve as an electrical connection to an external device, such as a printed circuit board (“PCB”). An encapsulating material can be used to cover the bond wires, the IC die, the terminals, and/or other components to form the exterior of the semiconductor package. A portion of the terminals and possibly a portion of the die pad may be externally exposed from the encapsulating material. In this manner, the die may be protected from environmental hazards—such as moisture, contaminants, corrosion, and mechanical shock—while being electrically and mechanically connected to an intended device that is external to the semiconductor package.
After it has been formed, the semiconductor package is often used in an ever growing variety of electronic applications, such as disk drives, USB controllers, portable computer devices, cellular phones, and so forth. Depending on the die and the electronic application, the semiconductor package may be highly miniaturized and may need to be as small as possible.
In most instances, each semiconductor package only contains a single die that contains an IC device. Thus, the functionality of each semiconductor package is often limited to the functions of that particular IC device which the die contains.
This application relates to semiconductor packages that contain multiple dies and methods for making such packages. The semiconductor packages contain a leadframe with multiple dies and also contain a single premolded clip that connects the dies. The premolded clip connects the solderable pads of the source die and gate die to the source and gate of the leadframe via standoffs. The solderable pads on the dies and on the standoffs provide a substantially planar surface to which the premolded clip is attached. Such a configuration increases the cross-sectional area of the interconnection when compared to wirebonded connections, thereby improving the electrical (RDSon) and the thermal performance of the semiconductor package. Such a configuration also lowers costs relative to similar semiconductor packages that use wirebonded connections.
The following description can be better understood in light of the Figures, in which:
The Figures illustrate specific aspects of the semiconductor packages that contain multiple dies and methods for making such packages. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the methods and structures produced through these methods. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. It will also be understood that when a layer, component, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another layer, component, or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer, component, or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions will not be repeated.
The following description supplies specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding. Nevertheless, the skilled artisan would understand that the semiconductor packages and associated methods of using the packages can be implemented and used without employing these specific details. Indeed, the devices and associated methods can be placed into practice by modifying the illustrated devices and associated methods and can be used in conjunction with any other apparatus and techniques conventionally used in the industry. For example, while the description below focuses on methods for making for semiconductor devices in the IC industry, it could be used for and applied to other electronic devices like optoelectronic devices, solar cells, MEMS structures, lighting controls, power supplies, and amplifiers.
Some embodiments of the semiconductor packages that contain multiple dies connected by a premolded clip and methods for making such packages are shown in the Figures. In some embodiments, the semiconductor devices are provided in the form of a quad, flat no-lead (QFN) semiconductor package. In other embodiments, the semiconductor devices are provided in the form of a power quad, flat no-lead (PQFN) semiconductor package.
The semiconductor packages can be made using any methods that provides the structures illustrated and described herein. In some embodiments, the method for making a semiconductor package provides a first leadframe that is used to create a premolded clip. As illustrated in
Next, as shown in
The molded leadframe 20 can then be separated into the individual molded clip leadframes 25 (or premolded clips) depicted in
Next, the leadframe for the semiconductor package (or base leadframe) can be provided. In some embodiments, the leadframe 30 is configured as depicted in
The leadframe 30 can be configured to minimize the length of topset feature needed for these dies that will later be placed on the leadframe 30. By minimizing the length of the topset feature, the length of the DAP can be increased. In some configurations, the topset feature is configured as a folded standoff 32 as depicted in
A close-up of this feature shows that the standoff 32 extends from the side of the leadframe 30 in a vertical direction. The standoff can have any length and width consistent with its function described herein. In some embodiments, the standoff can have a length of about 40 mils and a width of about 5 mils.
The standoff can be configured to be offset or flush relative to the adjacent edge of the leadframe or DAP. The embodiments where the standoff is configured as flush is depicted in
The extra length added by the standoff 32 (relative to the rest of the leadframe 30) depends on the thickness of the dies since the upper surface of the standoff 32 will be substantially planar with the upper surface of the dies that will be attached to the DAPs.
A comparison of the standoff feature with conventional topset features is depicted in
Once the leadframe 30 with the DAPs 34, 36, and 38 have been formed, the dies 42, 44, and 46 are then provided on this leadframe 03 as shown in
In some embodiments, the dies can contain any IC device known in the art. The IC device in any given die may be the same or different than the IC device used in any other dies. Some non-limiting examples of the IC devices include audio amplifier, LDO, logic driver, signal switch, or combinations thereof.
In other embodiments, the dies can also contain a discrete device. The discrete device in any given die may be the same or different than the discrete device used in any other dies. Any discrete device known in the art can be used, including diodes and/or transistors. Examples of the discrete devices include zener diodes, schottky diodes, small signal diodes, bipolar junction transistors (“BJT”), metal-oxide- semiconductor field-effect transistors (“MOSFET”), insulated-gate-bipolar transistors (“IGBT”), insulated-gate field-effect transistors (“IGFET”), or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the discrete device 134 comprises a MOSFET device.
In yet other embodiments, the dies can also contain a passive device. The passive device in any given die may be the same or different than the passive device used in any other dies. Any passive device known in the art can be used, including capacitors, inductors, resistors, filters, or combinations thereof.
In still other embodiments, the dies can contain any combination of IC devices, discrete devices, and passive devices. For example, in the embodiments shown in the Figures, the die 42 contains a MOSFET, the die 44 contains a MOSFET, and the die 46 contains a controlling IC device.
The dies with the IC device(s), the passive device(s), and/or the discrete device(s) can be manufactured using any known processes. In some embodiments, the three dies can be manufactured separately. But in other embodiments, all of the dies can be manufactured at substantially the same time.
The dies can be attached to the leadframe 30 using any known processes. In some embodiments, this process includes a flip-chip process with solder bumping, which may include the use of solder bumps, balls, studs, and combinations thereof along with a solder paste, followed by a cure and reflow process. In other embodiments, the attachment process includes a flip chip process with the use of a conductive adhesive. The conductive adhesive may be, for example, a conductive epoxy, a conductive film, a screen printable solder paste, or a solder material, such as a lead-containing solder or a lead-free solder.
Next, the premolded clip 25 is attached to the desired dies (i.e., die 42 and die 44). This attachment can be done using any process known in the art. In some embodiments, the attachment process begins by providing any known solder paste 50 on the locations where the premolded clip will be attached. Thus, as shown in
The bottom surface of the premolded clip 25 is then attached to the dies using the solder paste 50. The premolded clip 25 is attached so that the exposed connections on the bottom surface of the premolded clip 25 are connected to the desired parts of the different devices contained in the dies. In some embodiments, the premolded clip 25 is attached to the die so that the source of die 42 is electrically connected through the leadframe to the drain of die 44. In some embodiments, the premolded clip could be attached to all 3 dies.
In the methods described above, the premolded clip 25 is made before the leadframe 30. In other embodiments, though, the premolded clip 25 can be made at substantially the same time or even after the leadframe 30 rather than being made before. The resulting structure after the clip leadframe has been attached to the desired dies is depicted in
If needed, additional connections can be made between the different die(s) and/or between the die(s) and the leadframe 30. In some embodiments, this additional connection(s) can be made by any wirebonding process known in the art. As an example of the wirebonding, the desired portion of the die(s) can be provided with contacts pads on the desired location of the die and the desired location on the leadframe. After that, wirebonds 50 are formed from the contact pads to the desired connection points on the other dies and/or the leadframe 30 to form the electrical connection. The wirebonds 50 can be made from any conductive material known in the art, including Au or Cu, and using any process known in the art. The resulting structure after the wirebonds 50 have been formed is illustrated in
Next, the resulting structure is encapsulated to form the completed semiconductor package 100. The dies, the premolded clip 25, the wirebonds 50, and most of the leadframe 30 can be encapsulated in any molding material 130 known in the art, as shown in
The semiconductor packages formed from this process contain two (or more) dies with devices that are connected to each other via a single premolded clip. The premolded clip 25 is kept substantially planar by using the standoffs on the leadframe on which the dies are located. The premolded clip increases the cross-sectional area of interconnection when compared to conventional wirebonding that is used. With an increased cross-sectional area, the electrical (RDSOon) and the thermal performance of the semiconductor package is improved. In some configurations, one type of conventional semiconductor package used 8 Cu wires to connect the dies. Since the wires have a diameter of about 2 mils, the cross sectional area of the interconnection was about 25 square mils. But using a premolded clip for the same interconnection, yet with a folded standoff having a length of about 40 mils and a width of about 5 mils, provides a cross sectional area of about 200 square mils, yielding an increase of about 700%.
In addition to any previously indicated modification, numerous other variations and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this description, and appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the information has been described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred aspects, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, form, function, manner of operation and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. Also, as used herein, examples are meant to be illustrative only and should not be construed to be limiting in any manner.