This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0023534, filed on Mar. 19, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Illustrative embodiments relate to a semiconductor device package including a package substrate having fuses and a plurality of semiconductor chips, and a semiconductor module and an electronic apparatus including the semiconductor device package.
Electronic technology including semiconductor technology could be said to be moving toward processing larger amounts of information at higher speeds. Accordingly, various techniques have been researched and applied in electronic technology fields to which semiconductors are applied, and thereby developed. As one example, a technique for integrating a plurality of semiconductor devices into one semiconductor device package has been developed. This technique involves not only increasing a storage capacity of a semiconductor memory device, but also integrating a microprocessor and various semiconductor memory devices into one semiconductor device package. That is, one semiconductor device package not only serves as one high-capacity semiconductor device, but also operates as one complete electronic system.
Illustrative embodiments provide a package substrate used in a semiconductor device package which can selectively deactivate semiconductor chips among a plurality of semiconductor chips.
Illustrative embodiments also provide a semiconductor device package which can selectively deactivate semiconductor chips among a plurality of semiconductor chips.
Illustrative embodiments also provide a semiconductor module including a semiconductor device package which can selectively deactivate semiconductor chips among a plurality of semiconductor chips.
Illustrative embodiments also provide an electronic apparatus including a semiconductor device package which can selectively deactivate semiconductor chips among a plurality of semiconductor chips.
Illustrative embodiments are directed to a semiconductor device package including a package substrate including first pads and second pads on a first surface of the package substrate, and fuses corresponding to the second pads on a second surface of the package substrate, and first and second semiconductor chips including, a plurality of chip pads on the first surface of the package substrate and being electrically connected to the first pads and the second pads, respectively, and wherein the first pads are electrically connected to both one of the chip pads of the first semiconductor and one of the chip pads of the second semiconductor, wherein the second pads are selectively electrically connected to one of the chip pads of the first semiconductor or one of the chip pads of the second semiconductor.
Illustrative embodiments are directed to a semiconductor device package including a package substrate, the package substrate including, a plurality of pads on a first surface of the package substrate, and a plurality of fuses on a second surface of the package substrate and corresponding to the plurality of pads, wherein the plurality of pads are electrically connected to the plurality of fuses through vias, respectively, wherein the plurality of fuses are electrically connected to each other, and at least two semiconductor chips on the first surface of the package substrate, the semiconductor chips including, a plurality of chip pads electrically connected to the plurality of pads.
Illustrative embodiments are directed to a semiconductor package substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, first pads and second pads on the first surface, fuses on the second surface corresponding to the second pads respectively, and vias electrically connecting the second pads to the fuses respectively.
Illustrative embodiments are directed to a semiconductor package substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a plurality of pads on the first surface, and a plurality of fuses on the second surface, corresponding to the plurality of the pads respectively, wherein the plurality of the pads are electrically connected to the plurality of the fuses through vias, and wherein the fuses are electrically connected to each other.
Illustrative embodiments are directed to a semiconductor module including a module substrate, and a plurality of semiconductor device packages on the module substrate, wherein at least one of the semiconductor device packages comprises, a package substrate, the package substrate including, a plurality of pads on a first surface of the package substrate, and a plurality of fuses on a second surface of the package substrate and corresponding to the plurality of pads, wherein the plurality of pads are electrically connected to the plurality of fuses through vias, respectively, wherein the plurality of fuses are electrically connected to each other, and at least two semiconductor chips on the first surface of the package substrate, the semiconductor chips including a plurality of chip pads electrically connected to the plurality of pads.
Illustrative embodiments are directed to a semiconductor module including a module substrate, and a plurality of semiconductor device packages on the module substrate, wherein at least one of the semiconductor device packages comprises, a package substrate, the package substrate including, a plurality of pads on a first surface of the package substrate, and a plurality of fuses on a second surface of the package substrate and corresponding to the plurality of pads, wherein the plurality of pads are electrically connected to the plurality of fuses through vias, respectively, wherein the plurality of fuses are electrically connected to each other, and at least two semiconductor chips on the first surface of the package substrate, the semiconductor chips including a plurality of chip pads electrically connected to the plurality of pads.
Illustrative embodiments are directed to an electronic apparatus including a memory unit including at least one semiconductor device package, a controller to control the electronic apparatus being electrically connected to the memory unit, and an input/output unit electrically connected to the controller, and wherein the semiconductor device package includes a package substrate, the package substrate includes a plurality of pads on a first surface of the package substrate, and a plurality of fuses on a second surface of the package substrate and corresponding to the plurality of pads, wherein the plurality of pads are electrically connected to the plurality of fuses through vias, respectively, wherein the plurality of fuses are electrically connected to each other, and at least two semiconductor chips on the first surface of the package substrate, the semiconductor chips including a plurality of chip pads electrically connected to the plurality of pads.
Illustrative embodiments are directed to an electronic apparatus including a memory unit including at least one semiconductor device package, a controller to control the electronic apparatus being electrically connected to the memory unit, and an input/output unit electrically connected to the controller, and wherein the semiconductor device package includes a package substrate, the package substrate includes a plurality of pads on a first surface of the package substrate, and a plurality of fuses on a second surface of the package substrate and corresponding to the plurality of pads, wherein the plurality of pads are electrically connected to the plurality of fuses through vias, respectively, wherein the plurality of fuses are electrically connected to each other, and at least two semiconductor chips on the first surface of the package substrate, the semiconductor chips including a plurality of chip pads electrically connected to the plurality of pads.
Illustrative embodiments are described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that various aspects of the drawings may have been exaggerated for clarity.
Various illustrative embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some illustrative embodiments are shown. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.
Detailed illustrative embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing illustrative embodiments. Illustrative embodiments may have many alternate forms and the illustrative embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting.
Accordingly, while embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, illustrative embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit illustrative embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, illustrative embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of illustrative embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of illustrative embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or a relationship between a feature and another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, for example, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation which is above as well as below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or viewed or referenced at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.
Illustrative embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of embodiments (and intermediate structures).
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
In order to more specifically describe illustrative embodiments, various aspects will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the inventive concept defined by the appended claims is not limited to illustrative embodiments described.
The branch pads 117 may be formed on a first surface of the package substrate 110 and understood by separating one macro pad 115 into two or more parts. The branch pads 117 may be physically and electrically connected to each other using vias 167 formed in the package substrate 110. More specifically, the package substrate 110 has connectors 150 such as solder lands or solder balls formed on the other surface thereof, the connectors 150 being used for electrically connecting the package substrate 110 to a module board, a system board or the like. Since the branch pads 117 have a similar function, they are physically and electrically connected to one of the connectors 150. Therefore, the branch pads 117 may be separately formed on one surface of the package substrate 110, on which the semiconductor chips are disposed. Further, the branch pads 117 may be integrally formed on the other surface of the package substrate 110, which is connected to the module board or the system board.
The branch pads 117 may be formed on the first surface of the package substrate 110 and electrically and/or physically connected to the connectors 150 formed on the second surface of the package substrate 110 through branch vias 167 and/or fuses 160. The branch vias 167 may correspond to the branch pads 117, respectively. The fuses 160 may be exposed. Each of the branch pads 117 may be exclusively connected to the semiconductor chips 120 and 130. The number of the branch pads 117 is greater than the number of the semiconductor devices 120 and 130.
In particular, the branch pads 117 may supply operating voltages Vdd or Vss to the first and second semiconductor chips 120 and 130. When an operating voltage is not supplied to a specific semiconductor chip, a controller that controls the semiconductors may recognize that the corresponding semiconductor chip is not present. That is, in order to deactivate the corresponding semiconductor chip, not all electrical signal transmission lines need to be cut.
When a fuse 160 is cut, an electrical signal is not supplied to a branch via 167 and a branch pad 117 connected to the cut fuse 160. Therefore, a semiconductor chip electrically connected to the cut fuse 160 does not operate. When the fuse 160 is cut, a semiconductor chip controller or semiconductor module controller considers that a specific semiconductor chip is originally absent from the semiconductor device package 100, and then controls the semiconductor device package 100.
According to conventional devices, when such a fuse is not cut, and if a specific semiconductor chip has caused an abnormality, the entire semiconductor device package would malfunction. The entire malfunctioning semiconductor device package would then be discarded.
In the semiconductor device package 100 according to an illustrative embodiment, however, when a specific semiconductor chip causes an abnormality, a fuse 160 electrically connected to the semiconductor chip may be cut, which makes it possible to cause the controller to recognize that the semiconductor chip is absent. Therefore, the entire semiconductor device package 100 does not malfunction, and is not discarded because of the specific semiconductor chip.
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In a semiconductor device package that is not consistent with illustrative embodiments, when an abnormality occurs in a semiconductor chip after the packaging process, a fuse may be cut in a state in which the semiconductor chip is packaged. Then, the abnormal semiconductor chip can be deactivated, and the semiconductor chip package can be continuously used.
On the other hand, in a semiconductor device package according to illustrative embodiments, when a specific semiconductor chip causes an abnormality after a packaging process, the semiconductor chip can be deactivated so that the semiconductor device package can be continuously used. Therefore, the yield and efficiency of the semiconductor device package can increase and the price of products can be reduced.
The foregoing is representative of illustrative embodiments and is not to be construed as limiting such embodiments. Although a few illustrative embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in illustrative embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this inventive concept as defined in the appended claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is representative of various illustrative embodiments and is not to be construed as limiting the specific illustrative embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2009-0023534 | Mar 2009 | KR | national |