The present invention relates to microelectronic packaging, and more particularly to stacking microelectronic packages in an array to increase packaging density.
Trends in microelectronic devices are toward increasing miniaturization, circuit density, operating speeds and switching rates. These trends have directly impacted the complexity associated with the design and manufacture of microelectronic dice, microelectronic devices, which include the microelectronic die and a substrate, microelectronic packages, as well as computing devices in general. Examples of computing devices include, but are not limited to servers, personal computers and “special” purpose computing devices. Personal computers may have form factors, such as desktop, laptop, tablet, and the like. “Special” purpose computing devices may include set top boxes, personal digital assistants, wireless phones, and the like.
In particular, attention has increasingly shifted to microelectronic packaging as a means to meet the demands for enhanced system performance. As shown in
As demand increases, it has become necessary to use multiple dice that work in conjunction with one another. When using multiple dice, however, it becomes critical to position the dice close together since excessive signal transmission distance deteriorates signal integrity and propagation times. The use of conventional single-die microelectronic packages, however, is not commensurate with the need to shorten signal transmission distance because they typically have an area (or footprint) many times larger than the area of the die. This not only increases transmission distances, but it also decreases packaging density.
One solution to create higher density packaging, reduce area requirements and shorten signal transmission distances has been to vertically stack and electrically interconnect multiple dice in a single microelectronic package. Another solution has been to stack multiple microelectronic packages, such as ball grid arrays (BGA) and chip scale packages (CSP) in an array. Although these stacked microelectronic packages provide certain advantages, further size reduction and performance enhancement has been difficult to obtain due to the physical dimension, design and manufacturing constraints of the individual microelectronic packages and the interconnection to the other microelectronic packages in the array.
A number of problems exist with stacking prior art microelectronic packages. One, it limits package-to-package interconnect scalability, which involves varying the interconnect pitch (distance between center points of the conductive pads) without changing the gap in between packages. For a fine pitch interconnect, the conductive interconnect 58 must be decreased so as not to bridge with adjacent interconnects. However, it is important to keep appropriate standoff distance from one microelectronic package to another in order to accommodate the die, encapsulation material, and other components, if used. To maintain this standoff distance, the interconnect 58 must be of a sufficient quantity, which limits decreasing the pitch. Decreasing the pitch, however is necessary to keep up with the advancements in microelectronic packages, as more input/output signal leads and power leads are required.
Another problem with stacking microelectronic packages is that the package carrier substrate 52, especially the carrier substrate at the bottom of the stack, commonly is subjected to increased stress and flexing. The flexing of the carrier substrate is undesirable because it tends to result in open connections, reduces the microelectronic package effectiveness, and leads to microelectronic package failure.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Carrier substrate 12 of first microelectronic package 8 has land pads 16 exposed at a die side 9 of carrier substrate 12, outside the periphery of the die 10 and encapsulation material 14. It is understood in the art that land pads is a term for referring to pads, plated through holes, or any other structure that allows for electrical communication between the carrier substrate circuitry and an attached component.
Intermediate substrate 20 can be coupled or laminated to the carrier substrate 12, such that it encompasses the periphery of die 10 and encapsulation material 14. Intermediate substrate 20 comprises a variety of dielectric materials, including but not limited to C-stage thermoset polymer resins, epoxies, and the like. In other embodiments that do not include encapsulation material 14, the intermediate substrate 20 can encompass the periphery of die 10, or it may have a cavity that is sized to accommodate the die volume such that it covers die 10.
Intermediate substrate 20 has a plurality of conductive risers 18 disposed therein. Conductive risers 18 have a first end 13 and a second end 15, and are in relative alignment such that the first end 13 may be in electrical communication with land pads 16 of carrier substrate 12. The second end 15 of conductive risers 18 are also positioned to enable electrical interconnection with bond pads 16′ of adjacent second microelectronic package 7. Conductive risers 18 may reduce the size of interconnects 22 needed for electrical interconnection, which may allow for a finer pitch in land pads 16 and bond pads 16′. Conductive risers 18 comprise a variety of conductive materials, including, but not limited to, copper, gold, nickel, and various other metals and metal alloys.
Second microelectronic package 7 can be positioned adjacent to microelectronic package 8. Microelectronic package 7 is substantially the same as first microelectronic package 8, and comprises a microelectronic die 10 encased in encapsulation material 14 that is electrically interconnected to a carrier substrate 12. Carrier substrate 12 of second microelectronic package 7 further comprises land pads 16 on the die side 9 and bond pads 16′ on the non-die side 11. It is understood in the art that bond pads is a term for referring to pads, plated through holes, or any other structure that allows for electrical communication between the carrier substrate circuitry and an attached component.
Bond pads 16′ are positioned for relative alignment and electrical interconnection with the second end 15 of conductive risers 18 disposed in the intermediate substrate 20 of the first microelectronic package 8. Interconnects 22 electrically interconnect conductive risers 18 with bond pads 16′. Interconnects 22 comprise a conductive material including, but not limited to, leaded solder, lead-free solder, conductive or conductor-filled epoxy, and other conductive substances known to those skilled in the art. Second microelectronic package 7 also comprises intermediate substrate 20, having conductive risers 18 disposed therein, in much the same way as discussed above with regard to the intermediate substrate 20 for first microelectronic package 8.
Third microelectronic package 6 may be positioned adjacent to second microelectronic package 7. Microelectronic package 6 also is substantially the same as first microelectronic package 8, and comprises a microelectronic die 10 encased in encapsulation material 14 that is electrically interconnected to a carrier substrate 12. Carrier substrate 12 of third microelectronic package 6 comprises bond pads 16′ on the non-die side 11 of carrier substrate 12. Bond pads 16′ of third microelectronic package 6 are positioned for relative alignment and electrical interconnection with the conductive risers 18 of the intermediate substrate 20 of second microelectronic package 7. Interconnects 22 electrically interconnect conductive risers 18 with bond pads 16′ of the third microelectronic package 6.
In addition to the stacked array of three microelectronic packages 8,7,6, as illustrated in
The gap height 17 between microelectronic packages may be adjusted for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to the microelectronic package thickness. Adjustment to the gap height may help accommodate additional components such as heat spreaders (not shown), provide a required standoff distance, or increase the pitch of the microelectronic packages without increasing the interconnect 22.
The substrate blank material may be application dependent, such as to provide a predetermined material stiffness, and/or control the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Thus, other suitable dielectric materials for intermediate substrate blank 30 may include, but are not limited to polymer matrix composites, such as glass cloth reinforced polymer.
Conductive riser 18 can be removed from conductive material 34 using, for example, a punch and die process. Aperture 35 in intermediate substrate blank 30 can be formed by a similar process. As conductive riser 18 is being punched out of conductive material 34, it can be accordingly pressed into aperture 35. Conductive riser 18 and aperture 35 may be created by other techniques, including but not limited to, drilling, augering, laser etching or inserting the conductive material 34 into aperture 35 in a non-solid phase and curing to a solid phase.
It is desirable for the overall thickness of the conductive material 34 and the conductive plating 36 to be the same as or greater than the thickness of the intermediate substrate blank 30′, including adhesive layer 32, such that a portion of the conductive plating 36 is flush with or protrudes slightly above and below the surfaces of the intermediate substrate blank 30 and adhesive layer 32, when inserted in aperture 35. A slight protrusion allows the conductive riser 18 to electrically interconnect with land pads 16 and bond pads 16′ (not shown) when the intermediate substrate 30 is secured to the microelectronic package carrier substrate 12, for example, during the hot press process, or during a reflow process. In other embodiments, conductive risers 18 are formed from a conductive material 34 without conductive plating 36. Conductive plating can be pre-positioned on the land pads 16 and bond pads 16′ such that electrical interconnection is made during a reflow process or the hot press process.
Intermediate substrate 31 may be coupled to microelectronic package 33 by using a suitable processes, depending on the material used for adhesive layer 32. In one embodiment wherein the adhesive layer 32 is a B-stage resin, a hot press process may be used to secure intermediate substrate 31 to carrier substrate 12. The hot press process may help to ensure an electrical/mechanical bond between land pads 16 and conductive risers 18 by causing conductive plating 36 to flow and cure.
In one embodiment, using a C-Stage resin for intermediate substrate blank 30 and a B-stage resin for adhesive layer 32, a vacuum can be applied such that the pressure within the chamber is less than about 10 kilo Pascals. Heat and pressure can then be applied to bond carrier substrate 12 and intermediate substrate 31, as well as electrically/mechanically bond land pads 16 to the corresponding conductive risers 18. Applying a pressure about between 0.5–10 mega Pascals at a temperature about between 150–350 degrees Celsius may provide acceptable lamination of the intermediate substrate 31 to carrier substrate 12, and accordingly may act as a package stiffener. Further, this may help to ensure electrical interconnection between land pads 16 and conductive risers 18. It can be appreciated that the pressure and temperature of the hot press may be varied depending on the curing properties of adhesive layer 32 and, if used, the conductive plating 36.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4396457 | Bakermans | Aug 1983 | A |
5123163 | Ishikawa et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
5594275 | Kwon et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5973393 | Chia et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
6072233 | Corisis et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6180881 | Isaak | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6476476 | Glenn | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6509639 | Lin | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6538312 | Peterson et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6847109 | Shim | Jan 2005 | B1 |
20010006258 | Hur | Jul 2001 | A1 |
20010054758 | Isaak | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20020017710 | Kurashima et al. | Feb 2002 | A1 |
20020017727 | Uemura | Feb 2002 | A1 |
20020053728 | Isaak et al. | May 2002 | A1 |
20020066952 | Taniguchi et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020135057 | Kurita | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20020135066 | Corisis et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20030042564 | Taniguchi et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030062612 | Matsuo et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030073266 | Takahashi et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030111722 | Nakao | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030164540 | Lee et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030168254 | Kariya et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20040058472 | Shim | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040125574 | Yoon | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20050085034 | Akiba et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2003-31768 | Jan 2003 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040262733 A1 | Dec 2004 | US |