1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-178906, filed Jul. 31, 2009, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Regarding a memory device, a memory embedded logic device, and the like, generally, a memory cell portion having a dedicated structure formed by a complicated process, a MOS transistor on a silicon substrate, and a logic portion including a wiring layer are formed on the same semiconductor chip.
However, when the memory cell portion and the logic portion are formed on the same semiconductor chip, the logic portion has to be subjected to a thermal treatment required for forming the memory cell portion, thereby causing degradation of device performance of the logic portion.
Additionally, when a taller capacitor, such as an STC (stacked capacitor) of a DRAM memory cell, is formed to maintain characteristics of the capacitor with miniaturization of semiconductor devices, a wiring inter-layer film of the logic portion has to be made thicker. Consequently, a through hole for connecting wirings is deep, thereby complicating the processing of wirings, increasing wiring resistance, and decreasing the reliability.
Further, regarding a transistor of the memory cell portion, a priority is given to miniaturization and a small leakage current. Regarding a transistor of the logic portion, on the other hand, a priority is given to performance. For this reason, a condition for impurity implantation differs between the memory cell portion and the logic portion, and therefore different ion implantation processes are required, thereby causing an increase in the number of processes of processing wafers and causing higher costs.
Moreover, with further miniaturization, different transistors, such as a three-dimensional transistor for a memory cell and a strained transistor for a peripheral circuit, are required for the memory cell portion and the logic portion, thereby causing an increase in the number of processes and in higher costs.
To solve the above problems, for example, when a DRAM chip 100 includes a memory cell array 101, and a low control circuit 102 and a column control circuit 103 which control the memory cell array 101, as shown in
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H08-008392 discloses a method of connecting multiple semiconductor chips. Specifically, terminals 122 are formed on a side surface of a semiconductor chip 121. Receiving portions 123 are formed on a side surface of another semiconductor chip. Then, the terminals 122 are engaged with the respective receiving portions 123. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-79387 discloses a method of connecting multiple semiconductor devices.
As a method of connecting multiple semiconductor chips, for example, bonding pads 133 and 134 on semiconductor chips 131 and 132, respectively, are connected by wires 135. However, for example, more than 1000 wires are required for connecting a memory array control portion and a peripheral circuit, thereby causing difficulties.
Further, regarding the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H08-008392, the terminals 122 and the receiving portions 123 have to be formed on the side surface of the semiconductor chip 121, thereby making it difficult to provide a sufficient number of wires for connecting the chips.
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, first and second semiconductor chips. The first semiconductor chip includes a first engaging portion. The first engaging portion includes a first conductor. The second semiconductor chip includes a second engaging portion engaged with the first engaging portion. The second engaging portion includes a second conductor being electrically in contact with the first conductor.
In another embodiment, a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to a wiring layer and an insulating layer over the wiring layer. The insulating layer includes a receiving portion adjacent to a first side surface of the insulating layer. The receiving portion has a second side surface and a first bottom surface. The second side surface vertically extends from the wiring layer. The second side surface connects to the first side surface. The first bottom surface is a first upper surface of a first portion of the wiring layer.
In still another embodiment, a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to a substrate and a wiring layer over the substrate. A stack of the substrate and the wiring layer includes first and second receiving portions that are adjacent to a first side surface of the stack. First and second bottom surfaces of the first and second receiving portions are included in the substrate, respectively. Second and third side surfaces of the first and second receiving portions vertically extend from the first and second bottom surfaces, respectively.
The above features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments. The accompanying drawings explain a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device in the embodiments. The size, the thickness, and the like of each illustrated portion might be different from those of each portion of an actual semiconductor device.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many alternative embodiments can be accomplished using the teachings of the present invention and that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated herein for explanatory purposes.
Hereinafter, a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is explained. Various semiconductor devices may be used in the first embodiment as long as a semiconductor chip is included therein. For example, a BGA (Ball Grid Array) semiconductor device 1 as shown in
The BGA semiconductor device 1 schematically includes: a wiring board 2 having top and bottom surfaces 2a and 2b, multiple connection pads 3 being disposed on the top surface 2a, and multiple lands (not shown) being disposed on the bottom surface 2b so as to be electrically connected to the connection pads 3; a semiconductor chip 4 on the top surface 2a of the wiring board 2; wires 6 electrically connecting the electrode pads 5 on the semiconductor chip 4 to the connection pads 3 on the wiring board 2; a seal 7 made of an insulating resin, the seal 7 covering the semiconductor chip 4 and the wires 6; and external terminals (solder balls) 8 on the respective lands.
The semiconductor chip 4 includes a first semiconductor chip 11 and a second semiconductor chip 12 electrically connected to the first semiconductor chip 11, as shown in
The second semiconductor chip 12 of the first embodiment may include, but is not limited to, a chip that is connected to a memory-cell-array control circuit that outputs/receives data and a control signal to/from an external device. For example, the semiconductor chip 12 may include, for example, a word-line switching circuit, a sense-amp selecting circuit, a main amp, an input-output circuit, and the like.
As shown in
As shown in
The first semiconductor chip 11 includes multiple first receiving portions 24 adjacent to a side surface 11d of the first insulating film 23. A first extending portion 25 is defined by the two first receiving portions 24.
Specifically, multiple first receiving portions 24 are formed at a predetermined pitch adjacent to a side surface 11a of the first semiconductor chip 11. The first receiving portion 24 is in substantially rectangular in plan view. In other words, the first receiving portion 24 defines a trench groove that is semiopen. The first receiving portion 24 has a bottom surface and side surfaces vertically extending from the bottom surface. A depth of the first receiving portion 24 (i.e., a depth of the side surfaces of the first receiving portion 24) is a predetermined value 1.
The first extending portion 25 outwardly extends toward the side surface 11a of the first semiconductor chip 11. The first receiving portion 24 and the first extending portion 25 are alternately arranged along a side 26 of the first semiconductor chip 11.
A terminal portion 27 of the first wiring layer 22 is the bottom surface 24a of the first receiving portion 24. In other words, most parts of the first wiring layer 22 are covered by the first insulating film 23. However, the first receiving portion 24 is not covered by the first insulating film 23. Therefore, the terminal portion 27 of the first wiring layer 22 is exposed.
The size of the first receiving portion 24 is determined such that one exposed terminal portion 27 corresponds to one first receiving portion 24. The first receiving portions 24 are formed so that all the terminal portions 27 to be electrically connected to the second semiconductor chip 12 are exposed. In other words, the number of the first receiving portions 24 is the same as that of the terminal portions 27 to be electrically connected to the second semiconductor chip 12, which is for example, more than 1000.
The terminal portions 27 of the first wiring layer 22 are arranged along the side 26 of the first semiconductor chip 11. Although the side surface of the terminal 27 is adjacent to the side surface 11d of the semiconductor chip 11 as shown in
The second insulating film 33 includes a cutout portion 36 on the side of the side surface 12a of the second semiconductor chip 12. Specifically, the cutout portion 36 has a side surface vertically extending from the second wiring layer 32. Second extending portions 35, which will be explained later, extend from the side surface of the cutout portion 36 to the side surface 12a of the second semiconductor chip 12. The second extending portion 35 includes a terminal portion 38, which is an exposed portion 37 of the second wiring layer 32.
Multiple second receiving portions 34 are formed in a stack of the second semiconductor substrate 31 and the second wiring layer 32. The second receiving portions 34 are adjacent to the side surface 12a of the second semiconductor chip 12. Specifically, the second receiving portion 34 has a bottom surface included in the second semiconductor substrate 31, and side surfaces vertically extending from the bottom surface. The bottom and side surfaces of the second receiving portion 34 form a semiopen trench groove, as shown in
The first extending portions 25 of the first semiconductor chip 11 are engaged with the respective second receiving portions 34 of the second semiconductor chip 12, and thereby the side surface 11a of the first semiconductor chip 11 is connected to the side surface 12a of the second semiconductor chip 12. Accordingly, the second receiving portion 34 is substantially the same size as the first extending portion 25. The shape of the second receiving portion 34 is substantially the same as that of the first extending portion 25 in plane view. The height 1 of the first extending portion 25 is substantially the same as the depth m of the first receiving portion 24.
The second extending portion 35 is defined by the two receiving portions 34. Thus, the second receiving portion 34 and the second extending portion 35 are alternately arranged along the side 39 of the second semiconductor chip 12, as shown in
Although it has been explained above that the second extending portions 35 are adjacent to the side surface 12a of the second semiconductor chip 12 as shown in
As shown in
Specifically, the first extending portions 25 of the first semiconductor chip 11 are engaged with the respective second receiving portions 34 of the second semiconductor chip 12. At the same time, the second extending portions 35 of the second semiconductor chip 12 are engaged with the first receiving portions 24 of the first semiconductor chip 11. Accordingly, the terminal portions 27 of the first wiring layer 22 are in contact with the respective terminal portions 38 of the second wiring layer 32, and thereby the first semiconductor chip 11 is electrically connected to the second semiconductor chip 12.
The first and second wirings 22 and 32 are arranged at the same pitch as circuit portions in the semiconductor chip. Wirings for transmitting and receiving a low-and-column switching signal, local input-and-output lines, and the like are connected to the first and second wirings 22 and 32, which is impossible in the related art.
Preferably, a bottom surface of the first receiving portion 24 is covered by a flexible metal film so that stress applied to the receiving portions 24 and 34 of the semiconductor chips 11 and 12 is reduced when the first semiconductor chip 11 is engaged with the second semiconductor chip 12.
Additionally, when the first extending portions 25 are engaged with the respective receiving portions 34, side surfaces 11d of the first extending portions 25 are preferably fixed to the side surface of the cutout portion 36 through a resin in order to enhance the connection strength.
Further, the exposed portions 27 and 37 of the first and second wirings 22 and 32 are preferably covered by relatively-flexible metal films made of Au and the like using an electroless plating method, in order to reduce stress and connection resistance at the time of connection of the first and second semiconductor chips 11 and 12.
Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing the semiconductor chip 4 of the first embodiment is explained.
As shown in
Then, a pattern 43 is formed over the first insulating film 23, as shown in
To expose the terminal portions 27 of the first wiring layer 22, the pattern 43 is formed so as to mask the first wiring layer 22 excluding regions of the terminal portions 27 of the first wiring layer 22 in plan view as shown in
Then, the semiconductor wafer 41 is diced along a dicing line 44 into multiple pieces of the first semiconductor chips 11, as shown in
Separately from the process of forming the first semiconductor chip 11, various elements and the second wiring layer 32 are formed on an element formation region 46 of a semiconductor wafer 45 as shown in
Although not shown, a sense amp switching circuit, a main amp, a control circuit for connection to an external device, connection pads, and the like are arranged in the element formation region 46. The second wiring layer 32 is formed so as to extend to one end 46a of the element formation region 46. Then, a second insulating film 33 is formed over the element formation region 46 so as to cover the various elements and the second wiring layer 32.
Then, a pattern 47 is formed over the second insulating film 33, as shown in
In order to form the exposed portion 37 of the second wiring layer 32, the pattern 47 is formed so that portions of the second insulating film 33, which cover the terminal portions 38 of the second wiring layer 32, are removed. Further, the pattern 47 is formed so as to extend over the one end 46a of the element formation region 46. Accordingly, the second receiving portion 34 and the second extending portion 35 of the second semiconductor chip 12 are alternately and precisely arranged along the side 39 of the second semiconductor chip 12 if horizontally viewed from the side surface 12a thereof after the dicing process.
Then, the second receiving portions 34 are formed by selective etching using the terminal portions 38 of the second wiring layer 32 as masks. At the same time, the second extending portions 35 are formed.
Then, the semiconductor wafer 45 is diced along the dicing line 48 into multiple pieces of the second semiconductor chips 12, as shown in
Then, the first semiconductor chip 11 is electrically connected to the second semiconductor chip 12. Specifically, the first extending portions 25 of the first semiconductor chip 11 are engaged with the respective receiving portions 34 of the second semiconductor chip 12. At the same time, the second extending portions 35 of the second semiconductor chip 12 are engaged with the first receiving portions 24 of the first semiconductor chip 11. Accordingly, the terminal portions 38 of the second wiring layer 32 in the second extending portions 35 are electrically in contact with the terminal portions 27 of the first wiring layer 22 in the first receiving portions 24.
Thus, the first semiconductor chip 11 is electrically connected to the second semiconductor chip 12, and thereby the semiconductor chip 4 is formed. Although not shown, a third semiconductor chip, on which a low switching circuit, a control circuit, and the like are formed, may be formed on another wafer according to need so as to be electrically connected to another side surface of the first semiconductor chip 11 in a similar manner.
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the terminal portions 27 of the first wiring layer 22 are directly and electrically connected to the terminal portions 37 of the second wiring layer 32. Therefore, the number of connection wirings between the first and second semiconductor chips 11 and 12 can be increased. For example, more than 1000 wirings can be connected.
Additionally, the first extending portions 27 of the semiconductor chip 11 are directly engaged with the respective second receiving portions 34 of the second semiconductor chip 12. Therefore, the first wiring layer 22 can be precisely connected to the second wiring layer 32, thereby preventing connection defects.
Further, substantially the same number of wirings in a semiconductor chip of the related art can be connected. For this reason, a memory cell portion having a dedicated structure formed by a complicated process, and a logic portion for controlling the memory cell portion can be formed on different wafers, and then the two portions can be connected after a dicing process. Accordingly, a thermal treatment required for forming the memory cell portion does not affect the logic portion, thereby enhancing device performance of the logic portion.
Moreover, even when a taller capacitor, such as an STC, is formed in order to maintain characteristics of the capacitor with miniaturization of DRAM memory cells, the logic portion and the memory cell portion are separately formed, thereby enabling optimization of a wiring structure of the logic portion. Accordingly, an increase in yield and reliability, a reduction in wiring resistance, and the like can be achieved.
Additionally, the transistor formation processes for the memory cell portion and the logic portion can be separately carried out. For this reason, a lithography process for separating the memory cell portion from the logic portion is not required, thereby enabling a reduction in costs.
Further, formation of LDD regions, impurity implantation, and the like can be carried out separately for the memory cell portion and the logic portion, thereby enhancing device performance of each portion. Further, a three-dimensional transistor for a memory cell and a strained transistor for a peripheral circuit can be easily introduced with further miniaturization of semiconductor devices.
As used herein, the following directional terms “forward,” “rearward,” “above,” “downward,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “below,” and “transverse,” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of an apparatus equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to an apparatus equipped with the present invention.
The terms of degree such as “substantially,” “about,” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5 percent of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.
It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be modified and changed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
For example, although it has been explained in the first embodiment that the first semiconductor chip 11 includes a circuit that directly controls the DRAM memory cell and the memory cell array, the first semiconductor chip 11 may include a sense amp, a word-line driver, a data bus buffer, a control circuit, and the like.
Further, although it has been explained in the first embodiment that two semiconductor chips are engaged with each other, three or more semiconductor chips, such as semiconductor chips 51, 52, and 53 shown in
The present invention is widely applicable to semiconductor device manufacturing industries.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2009-178906 | Jul 2009 | JP | national |