Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to a semiconductor package with electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield and a fabricating method thereof.
A semiconductor package may emit EMI that may interfere with operation of other semiconductor packages. Accordingly, various semiconductor packages may comprise EMI shield to help reduce EMI from being emitted and to block EMI from other sources.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present disclosure as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor package with EMI shield and a fabricating method thereof.
The above and other objects of the present disclosure will be described in or be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.
Various example embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that they can be made and used by those skilled in the art.
Various aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments of the disclosure are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will convey various aspects of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
The terminology used here is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or.” As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, “x and/or y” means “one or both of x and y”. As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, “x, y and/or z” means “one or more of x, y and z.” As utilized herein, the term “exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms “e.g.” and “for example” set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.
Also, the singular forms 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 in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
In addition, it will be understood that when an element A is referred to as being “connected to” (or “coupled to”) an element B, the element A can be directly connected to (or coupled to) the element B, or an intervening element C may be present between the elements A and B so that the element A can be indirectly connected to the element B.
Furthermore, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various members, elements, regions, layers and/or sections, these members, elements, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one member, element, region, layer, and/or section from another. Thus, for example, a first member, a first element, a first region, a first layer, and/or a first section discussed below could be termed a second member, a second element, a second region, a second layer, and/or a second section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
Spatially relative terms, such as “upper,” “lower,” “side,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) 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 the device in the figures is turned upside-down, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below.
For ease of reference, a semiconductor device that is shielded on all sides in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure may be referred to as a semiconductor package. However, the use of this term “semiconductor package” does not limit in any way the various embodiments of the disclosure.
The drawings and descriptions may leave out some parts of a semiconductor device/package in order to make the description/explanation clearer. Accordingly, it should be understood that various embodiments of the disclosure may include specific parts (for example, through vias, one or more layers of electrical connections, one or more layers of dielectrics/passivation/insulation, underfills, etc.) that are not described here.
To reduce noise emitted by a device, and to reduce susceptibility to noise from another device, a device manufacturer may provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding for the device. The EMI shield may be at a system level such as for the entire smartphone 100 or the laptop 102, at a chip or electronic component level for a semiconductor package or semiconductor dies, or at different levels in between.
Accordingly, an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure may be a semiconductor package comprising one or more semiconductor devices, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield on all external surfaces of the semiconductor package, and an opening in which an electrical interconnect is placed to form electrical contact with a pad.
Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure may be a method for shielding a semiconductor device, where the method comprises attaching, to the semiconductor device comprising a top encapsulant and a bottom encapsulant, a first carrier to a bottom surface of the bottom encapsulant, for example when the semiconductor device does not have a first carrier already attached. The method may comprise forming an external electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield on all external surfaces of the semiconductor device that are not covered by the first carrier. A second carrier may be attached to a top surface of the top encapsulant and the first carrier may be removed from the bottom encapsulant of the semiconductor device. An external bottom EMI shield may then be formed on a bottom surface of the bottom encapsulant.
A further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure may be a semiconductor package comprising semiconductor devices, where the semiconductor package also comprises a top encapsulant and a bottom encapsulant, and the top encapsulant may encapsulate at least two of the semiconductor devices. An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield may be on all external surfaces of the semiconductor package, and an internal EMI shield may be between two of the semiconductor devices. Furthermore, an electrical interconnect may be electrically connected to at least one of the semiconductor devices via a pad, where the pad is located in the bottom encapsulant.
The electrical connectors 206 (e.g., interconnection structures, such as conductive balls or bumps, conductive posts or pillars, etc.) may be coupled to the pads 208 on a lower side of the substrate 201. The electronic device 234, the electrical connectors 206, and the pads 208 may be covered by an encapsulant 230.
While the term “encapsulant” is used, it should be understood that any similar structure that covers or encapsulates the various semiconductor dies 212, 214, 222, and 224, the electronic devices 232 and 234, the conductive traces 204, the pads 208, etc. may also be referred to as “encapsulant.” Accordingly, molding may be an example of an encapsulant. An encapsulant may comprise an encapsulant material/layer, insulating material/layer, passivation material/layer, dielectric material/layer, etc.
Some examples of encapsulant material may be pre-preg, a build-up film, a polymer, polyimide (PI), benzocyclobutene (BCB), polybenzoxazole (PBO), bismaleimide triazine (BT), a molding material, a phenolic resin, an epoxy, silicone, acrylate polymer, combinations thereof, equivalents thereof, etc.
The inner shield 202′ may act to block electromagnetic signals from the devices covered by the encapsulant 210 to the devices covered by the encapsulant 220, and vice versa. The outer shield 202 on the top, the bottom, and the four sides of the semiconductor package 200 may act to block electromagnetic signals from the semiconductor package 200 from propagating outside the semiconductor package 200, as well as blocking electromagnetic signals from other semiconductor devices (not shown) from entering the semiconductor package 200. Since the semiconductor package 200 is EMI shielded on all six of its sides except for small areas at the bottom where the electrical connectors 206 are located, there should be minimal EMI to other electronic devices due to the semiconductor package 200. Similarly, there may be minimal EMI to the semiconductor package 200 due to other electronic devices external to the semiconductor package 200.
While semiconductor dies were specifically mentioned, various embodiments of the disclosure may also comprise blocking EMI to/from passive devices in the semiconductor package 200 such as, for example, resistors, capacitors, and inductors, as well as from signal traces. Additionally, a semiconductor die may be replaced with a semiconductor device that may comprise semiconductor die(s), discrete active device(s), and/or passive device(s).
At 1002, a semiconductor device 300 of
The semiconductor device 300 may comprise, for example, semiconductor dies 312, 314, 322, and 324, and electronic devices 332 and 334 that may be passive devices or active devices, or a combination of passive and active devices. The semiconductor device 300 may also comprise conductive traces 302 (vias, RDLs, pads, wires, electrical interconnects, etc.). The conductive traces 302 may be embedded, for example, in a substrate 308. The semiconductor dies 312, 314, 322, and 324 may be covered by an encapsulant 306 (e.g., an upper encapsulant), and the conductive traces 302 and the electronic device 332 may be embedded in the substrate 308. The electronic device 334 may be covered by an encapsulant 304 (e.g., a lower encapsulant). Note that the encapsulant 306 and the encapsulant 304 may be, but need not be, formed of a same material.
While the term “encapsulant” is used, it should be understood that any similar structure that covers or encapsulates the various semiconductor dies 312, 314, 322, and 324, and the electronic device 334, etc. may also be referred to as “encapsulant.” Accordingly, an encapsulant may be any suitable encapsulant material/layer, insulating material/layer, passivation material/layer, dielectric material/layer, etc.
Some examples of encapsulant material may be pre-preg, a build-up film, a polymer, polyimide (PI), benzocyclobutene (BCB), polybenzoxazole (PBO), bismaleimide triazine (BT), a molding material, a phenolic resin, an epoxy, silicone, acrylate polymer, combinations thereof, equivalents thereof, and the like.
At block 1004, an internal shield is formed. This can be seen in the semiconductor device 300 of
As shown in
The material for the internal shield 402 may be deposited using a suitable deposition process depending on the dimensions of the internal shield 402 and/or the characteristics of the material, such as, for example, sputtering, electroplating, electroless plating, vacuum deposition, dipping, printing, injecting, flooding, etc.
At 1006, external EMI shielding is provided at five sides of the semiconductor device. For example, the semiconductor device 300 of
At 1008, a carrier 610 is added on top of the semiconductor device 300, as shown in
Referring to
At 1010, as shown in
At 1012, the semiconductor package 700 of
The ablation process may be a single step or multi-step process. For example, a two step ablation process is shown in
Another process may be a three step process, for example, comprising first removing the EMI shielding material 702, then performing the first stage removal of the encapsulant material 304, then performing the second stage removal of the encapsulant material 304. Another process may allow, for example, multiple sweeps of the laser (or jets of gas or fluid) where the width of the depression is controlled for each sweep of the laser. Accordingly, various processes may be used to form different shapes of the opening 802 to expose the pads 320.
In yet another example implementation, a one step process may be utilized to form the opening 802. For example, a single laser ablation (or other material removal) step may be performed to form the opening 802. In such an implementation, the opening 802 may have continuous side walls (e.g., vertical side walls, sloped side walls, etc.).
At 1014, the semiconductor package 700 of
When the EMI shielding of the semiconductor package 700 is finished, the carrier 610 may be removed with an appropriate method, which may be similar to the method described with respect to the carrier 310. The semiconductor package 700 may then be ready for assembly as part of, for example, a printed circuit board.
Various other processes can be followed for shielding all six sides of a semiconductor device. For example, some embodiments may form the internal shield 402 and the external shield 502 at the same time. Other embodiments may form the external shield 502 on only a portion of the vertical side surfaces of the semiconductor device 300 along with the external shield 502 on a top surface of the semiconductor device 300. Then, in a later step, the remainder of the external shield 502 may be formed on the vertical side surfaces of the semiconductor device 300 along with forming the external bottom shield 702 on the bottom surface of the semiconductor device 300.
In such a process, there may be another step to smooth out any overlap there may be of the external shield 502 on the vertical side surfaces of the semiconductor package 700. The overlap may be, for example, from overlapping that may occur on a given area of the vertical side surfaces from when the external shield 502 is formed on the top surface of the semiconductor device 300, and from when the external bottom shield 702 is formed on the bottom surface of the semiconductor device 300. The smoothing step may also be used with other embodiments as needed.
Additionally, various embodiments may also backfill the opening with a filler material, molding material, insulating material, or any other appropriate material. Furthermore, the internal shield 402, the external shield 502, and/or the external bottom shield 702 may be optionally connected to, for example, a ground path/plane of the semiconductor package 700 or to an electrical interconnect(s) that can be connected to a ground path/plane of a device/PCB to which the semiconductor 700 is mounted.
For example, referring to
In another implementation, a first of the openings 802 (e.g., corresponding to a ground interconnect) may be formed to be narrower than others of the openings 802 (e.g., corresponding to general electronic signals). In such an implementation, when the interconnect is formed (e.g., solder reflowed), the interconnect may make electrical contact with the external bottom shield to provide a ground signal contact.
While a typical semiconductor device may have six sides, the disclosure also applies to a semiconductor device having a different number of sides. Additionally, the semiconductor device may have different number of semiconductor dies, different number of internal shields, different number of layers of semiconductor dies, etc. Additionally, while the various semiconductor devices/packages 200, 300, 700 are described as comprising semiconductor dies, it should be understood that a semiconductor device/package may comprise other semiconductor device(s)/package(s), semiconductor dies, passive devices, etc.
Additionally, while the electrical interconnects 902 are described as being electrically connected to the pads 320 that are covered by the encapsulant 304, various embodiments of the disclosure need not be so limited. For example, a pad 320 may be embedded in the encapsulant 304 with at least a bottom surface of the pad 320 exposed. However, it may be noted that if more than the bottom surface of the pad 320 is exposed from the encapsulant 304, then the exposed areas of the pad 320 may need to be insulated to protect from short circuiting to the external bottom shield 702 if an electrical connection between the external bottom shield 702 and the pad 320 is not desired. The insulation may be provided either during forming of the encapsulant 304 or by an additional step prior to forming the external bottom shield 702.
While the semiconductor package with EMI shield and the fabricating method thereof according to various aspects of the present disclosure have been described with reference to certain supporting embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
7851894 | Scanlan | Dec 2010 | B1 |
8093691 | Fuentes et al. | Jan 2012 | B1 |
8420437 | Fan | Apr 2013 | B1 |
9343427 | Kim et al. | May 2016 | B2 |
9935083 | Lee et al. | Apr 2018 | B2 |
20090140419 | Rhyner | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20120008288 | Tsukamoto | Jan 2012 | A1 |
20120217642 | Sun et al. | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120228751 | Song | Sep 2012 | A1 |
20130114235 | Leal | May 2013 | A1 |
20130223041 | Arnold | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20150249058 | Cowley | Sep 2015 | A1 |
20160093576 | Chiu | Mar 2016 | A1 |
20160118337 | Yoon | Apr 2016 | A1 |
20160218049 | Lin et al. | Jul 2016 | A1 |
20160270213 | Salehi | Sep 2016 | A1 |
20160351509 | Dang | Dec 2016 | A1 |
20170018531 | Lin et al. | Jan 2017 | A1 |
20170118877 | Kumbhat | Apr 2017 | A1 |
20180061808 | Wang | Mar 2018 | A1 |
20180096950 | Chen | Apr 2018 | A1 |
20180102345 | Lin | Apr 2018 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
106169445 | Nov 2016 | CN |
101674322 | Nov 2016 | KR |
I397964 | Aug 2012 | TW |
Entry |
---|
Taiwanese Office Letter dated Nov. 24, 2021 for Appln. No. 106144191, 8 pages. |
Chinese Office Letter dated Nov. 4, 2022 for Appln. No. 201810003422.2, 16 pages. |
Taiwanese Office Letter dated Feb. 19, 2024 for Appln. No. 111136204, 8 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20230411303 A1 | Dec 2023 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 17384942 | Jul 2021 | US |
Child | 18138325 | US | |
Parent | 16777519 | Jan 2020 | US |
Child | 17384942 | US | |
Parent | 15404242 | Jan 2017 | US |
Child | 16777519 | US |