The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Continuing advances in semiconductor manufacturing processes have resulted in semiconductor devices with finer features and/or higher degrees of integration. Functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while feature sizes (i.e., the smallest component that can be created using a fabrication process) have decreased. This scaling-down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs.
A chip package not only provides protection for semiconductor devices from environmental contaminants, but also provides a connection interface for the semiconductor devices packaged therein. Smaller package structures, which take up less space or are lower in height, have been developed to package the semiconductor devices.
New packaging technologies have been developed to further improve the density and functionality of semiconductor dies. These relatively new types of packaging technologies for semiconductor dies face manufacturing challenges.
Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It should be noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Further, 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 feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. 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. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.
Some embodiments of the disclosure are described. Additional operations can be provided before, during, and/or after the stages described in these embodiments. Some of the stages that are described can be replaced or eliminated for different embodiments. Additional features can be added to the semiconductor device structure. Some of the features described below can be replaced or eliminated for different embodiments. Although some embodiments are discussed with operations performed in a particular order, these operations may be performed in another logical order.
Embodiments of the disclosure may relate to package structures such as three-dimensional (3D) packaging, 3D-IC devices, and 2.5D packaging. Embodiments of the disclosure form a package structure including a substrate that carries one or more dies or packages and a protective element (such as a protective lid) aside the dies or packages. The protective element may also function as a warpage-control element and/or heat dissipation element.
Other features and processes may also be included. For example, testing structures may be included to aid in the verification testing of the 3D packaging, 3DIC devices, and/or 2.5 D packaging. The testing structures may include, for example, test pads formed in a redistribution layer or on a substrate that allows testing to be conducted using probes or probe cards and the like. Verification testing may be performed on intermediate structures as well as the final structure. Additionally, the structures and methods disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with testing methodologies that incorporate intermediate verification of known good dies to increase the yield and decrease costs.
In some embodiments, the chip structure 100A is a semiconductor wafer. In some embodiments, the chip structure 100A is a memory-containing chip structure such as a semiconductor wafer that includes multiple memory elements. In some embodiments, the memory elements are non-volatile memory elements such as resistive random access memory (RRAM) elements, magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) elements, or the like.
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In some embodiments, a front-side interconnection structure 116 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 104 for providing electrical connections to the device elements. The front-side interconnection structure 116 includes multiple conductive features 114 that are surrounded by multiple dielectric layers 112. The conductive features 114 may include conductive contacts, conductive lines, and conductive vias. The formation of the front-side interconnection structure 116 may involve multiple deposition processes, multiple patterning processes, and multiple planarization processes.
The device elements in the device region 106 of the chip structure 100A may be interconnected by the front-side interconnection structure 116 to form integrated circuit devices. In some embodiments, these device elements may form memory cell array elements, word line switch elements, level shifter elements, or the like.
In some embodiments, the chip structure 100A includes multiple transistors 108 and multiple resistive elements 110, as shown in
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The dielectric layer 118 may be made of or include silicon oxide, carbon-containing silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, carbon-containing silicon oxynitride, one or more other suitable materials, or a combination thereof. The dielectric layer 118 may be deposited using a CVD process, an ALD process, one or more other applicable processes, or a combination thereof.
Afterwards, one or more photolithography processes and one or more etching processes are used to partially remove the dielectric layer 118. As a result, multiple openings that are used to contain conductive features are formed in the dielectric layer 118. One or more conductive materials are then deposited over the dielectric layer 118 to overfill these openings. A planarization process is then used to remove the portions of the conductive materials outside of the openings. As a result, the remaining portions of the conductive materials form the conductive features 120, as shown in
The conductive materials may be made of or include copper, aluminum, cobalt, tungsten, nickel, gold, platinum, one or more other suitable materials, or a combination thereof. The conductive materials may be deposited using a CVD process, an electroplating process, an electrochemical plating process, an ALD process, a PVD process, one or more other applicable processes, or a combination thereof. The planarization process may include a CMP process, a grinding process, a dry polishing process, an etching process, one or more other applicable processes, or a combination thereof. The planarization process may be used to provide a highly planarized bonding surface of the chip structure 100A.
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In some embodiments, multiple through substrate vias including a through substrate via 126 are formed in the chip structure 100B, as shown in
In some embodiments, a dielectric layer 122 and multiple conductive features 124 are formed over the backside of the chip structure 100B, as shown in
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In some embodiments, the chip structure 100B is placed directly on the chip structure 100A. As a result, the dielectric layers 118 and 122 are in direct contact with each other and bonded to each other. The conductive features 120 and 124 are in direct contact with each other.
As mentioned above, before the placing of the chip structure 100B, planarization processes are performed, so as to provide highly planarized bonding surfaces of the chip structures 100A and 100B. In some embodiments, there is no gap between the dielectric layers 118 and 122. In some embodiments, there is no gap between the conductive features 120 and 124. In some embodiments, a thermal operation is then used to enhance the bonding between the conductive features 120 and 124. The temperature of the thermal operation may within a range from about 100 degrees C. to about 700 degrees C.
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In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 is formed using a more advanced technology node than the chip structures 100A-100C. In some embodiments, the average gate width of the chip structures 100A-100C is wider than the average gate width of the chip structure 160. For example, the average gate width of the chip structures 100A-100C may be in a range from about 5 nm to about 50 nm. The average gate width of the chip structure 160 may be in a range from about 0.5 nm to about 10 nm. In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 includes gate-all-around (GAA) transistors, and the chip structures 100A-100C includes FinFET transistors. In some embodiments, the chip structures 100A-100C do not include any GAA transistors.
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In some embodiments, a front-side interconnection structure 166 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 162 for providing electrical connections to the device features 170 that are surrounded by multiple dielectric layers 168. The conductive features 170 may include conductive contacts, conductive lines, and conductive vias. The formation of the front-side interconnection structure 166 may involve multiple deposition processes, multiple patterning processes, and multiple planarization processes.
The device elements in the device regions 164A, 164B, and 164C of the chip structure 160 may be interconnected by the front-side interconnection structure 166 to form multiple integrated circuit devices. The device elements at the device region 164A may form cache elements, global buffer elements, or the like. The device elements at the device region 164B may form accumulator elements, local buffer elements, activation elements, pooling elements, or the like. The device elements at the device region 164C may form analog-to-digital converter (ADC) elements, input and/or output elements, or the like. The device elements at the device region 164C may be used to convert the analog signals from the chip structures 100A-100C into digital signals. Afterwards, the digital signals may be further transferred to the device regions 164A and/or 164B for further operation.
In some embodiments, multiple through substrate vias including through substrate vias 172A, 172B, and 172C are formed in the chip structure 160, as shown in
In some embodiments, a dielectric layer 174 and multiple conductive features 176 are formed over the front-side interconnection structure 166 of the chip structure 160, as shown in
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In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 is placed directly on the chip structure 100C. As a result, the dielectric layers 138 and 174 are in direct contact with each other. The conductive features 136 and 176 are in direct contact with each other.
As mentioned above, before the placing of the chip structure 160, planarization processes are performed, so as to provide highly planarized bonding surfaces of the chip structures 100C and 160. In some embodiments, there is no gap between the dielectric layers 138 and 174. In some embodiments, there is no gap between the conductive features 136 and 176. In some embodiments, a thermal operation is then used to enhance the bonding between the conductive features 136 and 176. The temperature of the thermal operation may within a range from about 100 degrees C. to about 700 degrees C.
In some embodiments, the through substrate vias 126 are used to provide communication between the device elements in the device regions 106 of the chip structures 100A-100C and the device elements in the device region 164C of the chip structure 160. For example, one of the memory cells formed in the chip structure 100A may be electrically connected to one of the ADC elements formed in the device region 164C of the chip structure 160 by some of the through substrate vias 126. In some embodiments, the through substrate vias 126 vertically overlap the device region 164C of the chip structure 160, as shown in
Afterwards, the carrier substrate 102 is removed, and redistribution structure 190 and conductive bumps 196 are then formed on the chip structure 160, as shown in
The conductive features 194 may include conductive line and conductive vias. The conductive features 194 may be made of or include copper, cobalt, aluminum, gold, one or more other suitable materials, or a combination thereof. The formation of the redistribution structure 190 may involve multiple deposition processes, multiple patterning processes, and multiple planarization processes.
The conductive bumps 196 may include a solder material. The solder material may be a tin-containing material. The tin-containing material may further include copper, silver, gold, aluminum, lead, one or more other suitable materials, or a combination thereof. In some other embodiments, the solder material is lead-free.
In some embodiments, one or more dicing operations are used to separate the bonded chip structures (or bonded wafers) into multiple package structures. One of the package structures is shown in
In some embodiments illustrated in
In some embodiments, the chip structure 100A is a semiconductor wafer. In some embodiments, the chip structure 100A is a memory-containing chip structure such as a semiconductor wafer that includes multiple memory elements. In some embodiments, the memory elements are non-volatile memory elements such as resistive random access memory (RRAM) elements, magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) elements, or the like.
In some embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 104 has device regions 106A and 106B. Multiple device elements are formed in and/or on the device regions 106A and 106B. Examples of the various device elements include transistors (e.g., metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET), complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, bipolar junction transistors (BJT), or other suitable elements. Various processes may be used to form the various device elements, including deposition, etching, implantation, photolithography, annealing, and/or other suitable processes.
In some embodiments, a front-side interconnection structure 116 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 104 for providing electrical connections to the device elements. The front-side interconnection structure 116 includes multiple conductive features 114 that are surrounded by multiple dielectric layers 112. The conductive features 114 may include conductive contacts, conductive lines, and conductive vias. The formation of the front-side interconnection structure 116 may involve multiple deposition processes, multiple patterning processes, and multiple planarization processes.
The device elements in the device regions 106A and 106B of the chip structure 100A may be interconnected by the front-side interconnection structure 116 to form integrated circuit devices. In some embodiments, the device elements at the device region 106A may form memory cell array elements, word line switch elements, level shifter elements, or the like. In some embodiments, the device elements at the device region 106B may form analog-to-digital converter (ADC) elements, input and/or output elements, or the like.
In some embodiments, the chip structure 100A includes multiple transistors 108A and multiple resistive elements 110 at the device region 106A, as shown in
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In some embodiments, multiple through substrate vias including a through substrate via 126 are formed in the chip structure 100B, as shown in
In some embodiments, a dielectric layer 122 and multiple conductive features 124 are formed over the backside of the chip structure 100B, as shown in
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In some embodiments, the chip structure 100B is placed directly on the chip structure 100A. As a result, the dielectric layers 118 and 122 are in direct contact with each other and bonded to each other. The conductive features 120 and 124 are in direct contact with each other.
As mentioned above, before the placing of the chip structure 100B, planarization processes are performed, so as to provide highly planarized bonding surfaces of the chip structures 100A and 100B. In some embodiments, there is no gap between the dielectric layers 118 and 122. In some embodiments, there is no gap between the conductive features 120 and 124. In some embodiments, a thermal operation is then used to enhance the bonding between the conductive features 120 and 124. The temperature of the thermal operation may within a range from about 100 degrees C. to about 700 degrees C.
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Afterwards, a chip structure 160 is provided and bonded to the chip structure 100C, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 is a semiconductor wafer. In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 is a logic control chip structure such as a semiconductor wafer that includes multiple logic control elements.
In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 is formed using a more advanced technology node than the chip structures 100A-100C. In some embodiments, the average gate width of the chip structures 100A-100C is wider than the average gate width of the chip structure 160. In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 includes gate-all-around (GAA) transistors, and the chip structures 100A-100C includes FinFET transistors. In some embodiments, the chip structures 100A-100C do not include any GAA transistors.
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In some embodiments, a front-side interconnection structure 166 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 162 for providing electrical connections to the device features 170 that are surrounded by multiple dielectric layers 168. The conductive features 170 may include conductive contacts, conductive lines, and conductive vias. The formation of the front-side interconnection structure 166 may involve multiple deposition processes, multiple patterning processes, and multiple planarization processes.
The device elements in the device regions 164A and 164B of the chip structure 160 may be interconnected by the front-side interconnection structure 166 to form multiple integrated circuit devices. The device elements at the device region 164A may form cache elements, global buffer elements, or the like. The device elements at the device region 164B may form accumulator elements, local buffer elements, activation elements, pooling elements, or the like.
The device elements at the device regions 106B of the chip structures 100A-100C may be used to convert the analog signals from the device regions 106A of the chip structures 100A-100C into digital signals. Afterwards, the digital signals may be further transferred to the device regions 164B of the chip structure 160 for further operation. In some embodiments, the through substrate vias 126 in the chip structures 100B and 100C are used to provide communication between the device elements in the device regions 106B and 164B. The digital signals may thus be transferred to the chip structure 160 through the through substrate vias 126 for further operation. In some embodiments, the through substrate vias 126 vertically overlap the device region 164B of the chip structure 160, as shown in
In some embodiments, multiple through substrate vias including through substrate vias 172A and 172B are formed in the chip structure 160, as shown in
In some embodiments, a dielectric layer 174 and multiple conductive features 176 are formed over the front-side interconnection structure 166 of the chip structure 160, as shown in
Afterwards, the chip structure 160 is bonded to the chip structure 100C through direct bonding, as shown in
In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 is placed directly on the chip structure 100C. As a result, the dielectric layers 138 and 174 are in direct contact with each other and bonded to each other. The conductive features 136 and 176 are in direct contact with each other.
As mentioned above, before the placing of the chip structure 160, planarization processes are performed, so as to provide highly planarized bonding surfaces of the chip structures 100C and 160. In some embodiments, there is no gap between the dielectric layers 138 and 174. In some embodiments, there is no gap between the conductive features 136 and 176. In some embodiments, a thermal operation is then used to enhance the bonding between the conductive features 136 and 176. The temperature of the thermal operation may within a range from about 100 degrees C. to about 700 degrees C.
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Many variations and/or modifications can be made to embodiments of the disclosure. In the embodiments illustrated in
In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 does not have a through substrate via. In some embodiments, similar to the chip structures 100B and 100C, the chip structure 100A also includes one or more through substrate vias 126. In some embodiments, the through substrate vias 126 of the chip structures 100A-100C vertically overlap the device region 164B of the chip structure 160. In some embodiments, the chip structures 100A-100C further include through substrate vias 326. The through substrate vias 326 may be used to provide input and output interconnects and/or power interconnects to the chip structure 160.
In some embodiments, a redistribution structure 300 is formed on the backside of the chip structure 100A, as shown in
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As mentioned above, the chip structure may function as a system on integrated chips (SoIC) that may further be integrated into a chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) package structure, an integrated fan-out (InFO) package structure, or the like. In some embodiments, the heat sink 330 is disposed on the chip structure 160 before the package structure is integrated into another package structure such as a CoWoS package structure, an InFO package structure, or the like. In some other embodiments, the heat sink 330 is disposed after the entire or partial of the packaging processes of the CoWoS package structure or the InFO package structure are performed.
Many variations and/or modifications can be made to embodiments of the disclosure. In the embodiments illustrated in
In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 does not have a through substrate via. In some embodiments, similar to the chip structures 100B and 100C, the chip structure 100A also includes one or more through substrate vias 126. In some embodiments, the through substrate vias 126 of the chip structures 100A-100C vertically overlap the device region 164C of the chip structure 160. In some embodiments, the chip structures 100A-100C further include other through substrate vias that may be used to provide input and output interconnects and/or power interconnects to the chip structure 160.
In some embodiments, a redistribution structure 400 is formed on the backside of the chip structure 100A, in accordance with some embodiments. The redistribution structure 400 includes multiple insulating layers 402 and multiple conductive features 404. The material and formation method of the redistribution structure 400 may be the same as or similar to those of the redistribution structure 190 illustrated in
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As mentioned above, the chip structure may function as a system on integrated chips (SoIC) that may further be integrated into a chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) package structure, an integrated fan-out (InFO) package structure, or the like. In some embodiments, the heat sink 430 is disposed on the chip structure 160 before the package structure is integrated into another package structure such as a CoWoS package structure, an InFO package structure, or the like. In some other embodiments, the heat sink 430 is disposed after the entire or partial of the packaging processes of the CoWoS package structure or the InFO package structure are performed.
Many variations and/or modifications can be made to embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 and the chip structures 100A-100C are bonded together using a wafer on wafer (WoW) process. However, embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the chip structures are bonded together using a chip on wafer (CoW) process.
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In some embodiments, similar to the embodiments illustrated in
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In some embodiments, a front-side interconnection structure 520 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 508 for providing electrical connections to the device elements. The front-side interconnection structure 520 includes multiple conductive features 518 that are surrounded by multiple dielectric layers 516. The conductive features 518 may include conductive contacts, conductive lines, and conductive vias. The formation of the front-side interconnection structure 520 may involve multiple deposition processes, multiple patterning processes, and multiple planarization processes.
The device elements in the device regions 510A and 510B of the chip structures 506A and 506B may be interconnected by the front-side interconnection structure 520 to form integrated circuit devices. In some embodiments, the device elements at the device regions 510A may form memory cell array elements, word line switch elements, level shifter elements, or the like. In some embodiments, the device elements at the device regions 510B may form analog-to-digital converter (ADC) elements, input and/or output elements, or the like.
In some embodiments, the chip structures 506A and 506B includes multiple transistors 512A and multiple resistive elements 514 at the device region 510A, as shown in
In some embodiments, multiple through substrate vias 522 are formed in the chip structures 506A and 506B, as shown in
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In some embodiments, one or more dicing operations are used to separate the bonded chip structures into multiple package structures. One of the package structures is shown in
Many variations and/or modifications can be made to embodiments of the disclosure.
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In some embodiments, a front-side interconnection structure 620 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 608 for providing electrical connections to the device elements. The front-side interconnection structure 620 includes multiple conductive features 618 that are surrounded by multiple dielectric layers 616. The conductive features 618 may include conductive contacts, conductive lines, and conductive vias. The formation of the front-side interconnection structure 620 may involve multiple deposition processes, multiple patterning processes, and multiple planarization processes.
The device elements in the device regions 610A1, 610A2, and 610B of the chip structures 606A and 606B may be interconnected by the front-side interconnection structure 620 to form integrated circuit devices. In some embodiments, the device elements at the device regions 610A1 and 610A2 may form memory cell array elements, word line switch elements, level shifter elements, or the like. In some embodiments, the device elements at the device regions 610B may form analog-to-digital converter (ADC) elements, input and/or output elements, or the like.
In some embodiments, the chip structures 606A and 606B includes multiple transistors 612A and multiple resistive elements 614 at the device regions 610A1 and 610A2, as shown in
In some embodiments, multiple through substrate vias 622 are formed in the chip structures 606A and 606B, as shown in
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In some embodiments, the package structure shown in
Many variations and/or modifications can be made to embodiments of the disclosure. In the embodiments illustrated in
In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 does not have a through substrate via. In some embodiments, multiple conductive structures 702 are formed in the protective layer 536. Each of the conductive structures 702 may penetrate through the protective layer 536 and be electrically connected to one or more of the conductive features 170. The conductive structures 702 may be used to provide input and output interconnects and/or power interconnects to the chip structure 160.
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As mentioned above, the chip structure may function as a system on integrated chips (SoIC) that may further be integrated into a chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) package structure, an integrated fan-out (InFO) package structure, or the like. In some embodiments, the heat sink 712 is disposed on the chip structure 160 before the package structure is integrated into another package structure such as a CoWoS package structure, an InFO package structure, or the like. In some other embodiments, the heat sink 712 is disposed after the entire or partial of the packaging processes of the CoWoS package structure or the InFO package structure are performed.
Many variations and/or modifications can be made to embodiments of the disclosure. In the embodiments illustrated in
In some embodiments, the chip structure 160 does not have a through substrate via. In some embodiments, multiple conductive structures 802 are formed in the protective layer 636. Each of the conductive structures 802 may penetrate through the protective layer 636 and be electrically connected to one or more of the conductive features 170. The conductive structures 802 may be used to provide input and output interconnects and/or power interconnects to the chip structure 160.
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Embodiments of the disclosure form a package structure that includes a stack of multiple chip structures. One or more memory cell array chip structures are bonded to a logic control chip structure through dielectric-to-dielectric bonding and metal-to-metal bonding. The package structure may function as a RRAM accelerator or the like. The performance and reliability of the package structure with the three-dimensional architecture may be greatly improved.
In accordance with some embodiments, a package structure is provided. The package structure includes a first chip structure, and the first chip structure has multiple logic control elements. The package structure also includes a second chip structure directly bonded to the first chip structure through dielectric-to-dielectric bonding and metal-to-metal bonding. The second chip structure has multiple non-volatile memory elements.
In accordance with some embodiments, a package structure is provided. The package structure includes a logic control chip structure, and the logic control chip structure has multiple first transistors with a first average gate width. The package structure also includes a memory array cube directly bonded to the logic control chip structure through dielectric-to-dielectric bonding and metal-to-metal bonding. The memory array cube has multiple second transistors with a second average gate width. The second average gate width is wider than the first average gate width.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method for forming a package structure is provided. The method includes bonding a first memory-containing chip structure to a second memory-containing chip structure through dielectric-to-dielectric bonding and metal-to-metal bonding. The method also includes bonding a logic control chip structure to the second memory-containing chip structure through dielectric-to-dielectric bonding and metal-to-metal bonding. The logic control chip structure is formed using a more advanced technology node than the second memory-containing chip structure.
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/433,659, filed on Dec. 19, 2022, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63433659 | Dec 2022 | US |