Central Processing Unit (CPU) has high requirement to the Input/output (IO) and the power consumed by the CPU. For example, a CPU may include a plurality of cores, and needs to consume a considerable amount of power. On the other hand, the requirement to the provided power is also high. For example, the power supply voltages need to be very stable. Accordingly, a plurality of voltage regulators may be connected to the same CPU chip to provide power.
Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is 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 invention. 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 “underlying,” “below,” “lower,” “overlying,” “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.
A multi-tier package and the method of forming the same are provided in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The multi-tier package may be formed using a Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) process. The intermediate stages of forming the package are illustrated. Some variations of some embodiments are discussed. Throughout the various views and illustrative embodiments, like reference numbers are used to designate like elements.
Referring to
Referring to
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, device dies 24 are Integrated Voltage Regulator (IVR) dies, which include voltage regulators for regulating voltage supplies for the overlying dies. The circuits in the IVRs are schematically illustrated as 26, which are formed on semiconductor substrate 28. In accordance with alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, device dies 24 include logic dies or memory dies such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) dies, Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) dies, or the like.
The IVR circuits 26 may include analog pump circuits, digital control blocks, and other circuits that are used for regulating voltages. The analog pump circuits are used for pumping currents into, for example, the overlying logic dies. The digital control blocks have the function of determining when the analog circuits need to pump currents. The digital control blocks, when used in advanced IVR, can determine how many phases of the analog pumps need to be turned on in order to optimize current output to the overlying device dies. In addition, device dies 24 may also include inductors 30 electrically coupled to the analog pump circuits and the digital control blocks. The IVR circuit may also include voltage drop detection circuits, which reside in device dies 52 (including 52A, 52B, and 52C,
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, device dies 24 are stand-alone IVR dies, wherein no other logic circuits other than those are used by voltage regulator circuits are built in device dies 24. In accordance with alternative embodiments, some logic circuits or memory circuits are built inside device dies 24 along with the voltage regulator circuits.
Device dies 24 include semiconductor substrates 28, which may be silicon substrates, silicon carbon substrates, III-V compound semiconductor substrates, or the like. Device dies 24 also include interconnect structures 32. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, interconnect structure 32 includes a plurality of dielectric layers 34, and metal lines and vias (not shown) in dielectric layers 34. Dielectric layers 34 may include Inter-Metal Dielectric (IMD) layers, which may be formed of low-k dielectric materials having dielectric constants (k values) lower than about 3.5, lower than about 3.0, or lower than about 2.5, for example. Also, close to the top surfaces of device dies 24, there may exist non-low-k passivation layers such as silicon nitride layers, silicon oxide layers, Un-doped Silicate Glass (USG) layers, and/or polymer layers. Furthermore, at the surface of interconnect structure 32 reside metal pillars 40 (including 40A and 40B) in a surface dielectric layer 34. Metal pillars 40 may be copper-containing pads, aluminum-containing pads, or the like. In accordance with some embodiments, the top surface of the top one of dielectric layers 34 is coplanar with the top surfaces of metal pillars 40. In accordance with some embodiments, a portion of surface dielectric layer 34 covers metal pillars 40. The surface dielectric layer 34 may be a polymer layer, which may be formed of polybenzoxazole (PBO), for example.
Inductors 30 are embedded in interconnect structures 32, and are also parts of the voltage regulator circuits. Inductors 30 may be formed using metal lines and vias connected to have a shape of coils. Accordingly, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, inductors 30 are on-chip inductors integrated in the same chips as the IVR circuits. In accordance with alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, inductors 30 are formed outside of IVR dies 24 as stand-alone inductors.
Device dies 24 also include through-vias (alternatively referred to as through-silicon vias or through-substrate vias) 36 (include 36A and 36B). It is appreciated that although through-vias 36 are illustrated as penetrating through the semiconductor substrates 28 in
Through-vias 36A and 36B are used to connect the conductive features over semiconductor substrate 28 to the conductive features underlying the respective semiconductor substrate 28. Through-vias 36B are electrically coupled to the devices (such as the IVR circuits, conductive lines, inductor 30, etc.) inside the respective device dies 24. Through-vias 36B may also be electrically coupled to metal pillars 40B. Through-vias 36A in a device die 24, on the other hand, are solely used for connecting the conductive features (such as in device dies 52 in
As shown in
Referring to
Next, a planarization step such as a Chemical Mechanical Polish (CMP) step or a grinding step is performed to planarize encapsulating material 44, until metal pillars 40 of device dies 24 are exposed. The respective step is shown as step 206 in the process flow shown in
Referring to
RDLs 48 are formed to electrically couple to metal pillars 40. RDLs 48 may include metal traces (metal lines) and vias underlying and connected to the respective metal traces. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, RDLs 48 are formed through plating processes, wherein each of RDLs 48 includes a seed layer (not shown) and a plated metallic material over the seed layer. The seed layer and the plated metallic material may be formed of the same material or different materials.
During the formation of RDLs 48, dielectric layers 46 are patterned to form via openings (occupied by RDLs 48), and upper-level RDLs 48 extend into the via openings to contact lower-level RDLs 48 or metal pillars 40. In addition, some of RDLs 48 may electrically interconnect device dies 24. The top dielectric layer 46 may be patterned (for example, using laser) to form openings 50 therein, so that some metal pads in RDLs 48 are exposed.
In accordance with some embodiments in which device dies 52A and 52B are CPU dies, integrated circuits 54 may include plurality of functional circuits such as a control unit, memory components, clock circuitry, pad transceiver circuitry, a logic gate cell library, etc. The control unit controls the data paths of the CPU. The memory components include register files, caches (SRAM cells), etc. The Clock circuitry includes clock drivers, Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs), clock distribution networks, or the like. The logic gate cell library is used to implement logic.
Device die 52A is electrically connected to device dies 24A and 24B. In addition, device dies 24A and 24B regulate the voltage supplies for device die 52A. Device die 52B is connected to device dies 24C and 24D. In addition, device dies 24C and 24D regulate the voltage supply for device die 52B. Each of device dies 52A and 52B may include a plurality of cores, and device dies 52A and 52B are alternatively referred to core chips. Device die 52C, which may be an IO chip, is connected to device die 24E, with device die 24E regulating the voltages for IO chip 52C. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, device dies 52A fully overlaps device dies 24A and 24B. Device die 52A may also extend laterally beyond the edges of device dies 24A and 24B. Device dies 52B fully overlaps device dies 24C and 24D. Device die 52B may also extend laterally beyond the edges of the device dies 24C and 24D.
Referring to
Next, package 66 is de-bonded from carrier 20. The respective step is shown as step 216 in the process flow shown in
In a subsequent step, die-saw is performed to saw package 66 into discrete packages 68, which are identical to each other, with one of discrete packages 68 illustrated in
Since package 68 is sawed from package 66, the edges of encapsulating material 44 are vertically aligned to the respective edges of encapsulating material 64. Furthermore, the edges of encapsulating material 44 are also vertically aligned to the respective edges of dielectric layers 46.
Further referring to
Referring to
The embodiments of the present disclosure have some advantageous features. As shown in
In addition, since device dies 24 are small, the through-molding vias that otherwise will be formed (if the embodiments of the present disclosure are not used) to connect interposer 70/package substrate 80 to device dies 52 can be replaced by through-vias 36A. This eliminates the cost for forming the through-molding vias, while essentially there is no production cost for forming through-vias 36A (since through-vias 36A are formed simultaneously as through-vias 36B). Also, IVR dies 24 typically have a low density of metal lines and vias in their interconnect structures. Accordingly, the interconnect structure of the IVR dies may be used for forming embedded inductors.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a package includes an IVR die, wherein the IVR die includes metal pillars at a top surface of the first IVR die. The package further includes a first encapsulating material encapsulating the first IVR die therein, wherein the first encapsulating material has a top surface coplanar with top surfaces of the metal pillars. A plurality of redistribution lines is over the first encapsulating material and the IVR die. The plurality of redistribution lines is electrically coupled to the metal pillars. A core chip overlaps and is bonded to the plurality of redistribution lines. A second encapsulating material encapsulates the core chip therein, wherein edges of the first encapsulating material and respective edges of the second encapsulating material are vertically aligned to each other. An interposer or a package substrate is underlying and bonded to the IVR die.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a package includes a first IVR and a second IVR die, each including metal pillars, voltage regulator circuits electrically coupled to the metal pillars, and an inductor electrically coupled to the voltage regulator circuits. A first encapsulating material encapsulates the first IVR die and the second IVR die therein. The first encapsulating material has a top surface coplanar with top surfaces of the metal pillars in the first IVR die and the second IVR die. A dielectric layer overlaps the first IVR die, the second IVR die, and the first encapsulating material. A plurality of redistribution lines includes portions in the dielectric layer. The plurality of redistribution lines is electrically coupled to the first IVR die and the second IVR die. A first CPU chip and a second CPU chip overlap and are electrically coupled to the first IVR die and the second IVR die, respectively. A second encapsulating material encapsulates the first CPU chip and the second CPU chip therein.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a package includes a first device die, which includes a semiconductor substrate, a first through-via and a second through-via penetrating through the semiconductor substrate, an active circuit at a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a first metal pillar at a top surface of the first device die, and a second metal pillar at a top surface of the first device die. The first metal pillar is electrically coupled to the active circuit and the first through-via. The second metal pillar is electrically coupled to the second through-via, and is electrically decoupled from all active circuits in the first device die. The package further includes a first encapsulating material encapsulating the first device die therein, and a second device die overlapping and electrically coupled to the first device die. A package component is underlying and bonded to the device die. The second through-via and the second metal pillar electrically couple the package component to the second device die.
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 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/223,449, entitled “Tri-Layer COWOS Structure,” filed Dec. 18, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/488,933, entitled “Tri-Layer COWOS Structure,” filed Apr. 17, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,163,851 issued Dec. 25, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/007,714, entitled “Tri-Layer COWOS Structure,” filed Jan. 27, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,627,365 issued Apr. 18, 2017, which application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/260,832, filed Nov. 30, 2015, and entitled “Tri-Layer COWOS Structure,” which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
7557440 | Yamamoto | Jul 2009 | B2 |
7701057 | Rahman et al. | Apr 2010 | B1 |
7750459 | Dang et al. | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7838424 | Karta et al. | Nov 2010 | B2 |
7863742 | Yu et al. | Jan 2011 | B2 |
7932601 | Chang et al. | Apr 2011 | B2 |
8039303 | Shim et al. | Oct 2011 | B2 |
8067308 | Suthiwongsunthorn et al. | Nov 2011 | B2 |
8217502 | Ko | Jul 2012 | B2 |
8252629 | Yee et al. | Aug 2012 | B2 |
8269337 | Hu et al. | Sep 2012 | B2 |
8361842 | Yu et al. | Jan 2013 | B2 |
8415781 | Kariya et al. | Apr 2013 | B2 |
8680647 | Yu et al. | Mar 2014 | B2 |
8698317 | Seo et al. | Apr 2014 | B2 |
8703542 | Lin et al. | Apr 2014 | B2 |
8754508 | Chen et al. | Jun 2014 | B2 |
8754514 | Yu et al. | Jun 2014 | B2 |
8759964 | Pu et al. | Jun 2014 | B2 |
8772151 | Chen | Jul 2014 | B2 |
8778738 | Lin | Jul 2014 | B1 |
8785299 | Mao et al. | Jul 2014 | B2 |
8803306 | Yu et al. | Aug 2014 | B1 |
8809996 | Chen et al. | Aug 2014 | B2 |
8822281 | Pagaila et al. | Sep 2014 | B2 |
8829676 | Yu et al. | Sep 2014 | B2 |
8846548 | Tu et al. | Sep 2014 | B2 |
8877554 | Tsai et al. | Nov 2014 | B2 |
8993377 | Koo et al. | Mar 2015 | B2 |
9048222 | Hung et al. | Jun 2015 | B2 |
9048233 | Wu et al. | Jun 2015 | B2 |
9087835 | Sutardja et al. | Jul 2015 | B2 |
9543170 | Yu et al. | Jan 2017 | B2 |
9627365 | Yu | Apr 2017 | B1 |
9633974 | Zhai et al. | Apr 2017 | B2 |
9735134 | Chen | Aug 2017 | B2 |
9741689 | Chang et al. | Aug 2017 | B2 |
9831224 | Lin et al. | Nov 2017 | B2 |
10748870 | Yu | Aug 2020 | B2 |
10970439 | Zhou | Apr 2021 | B2 |
20100072961 | Kosonocky et al. | Mar 2010 | A1 |
20110291288 | Wu et al. | Dec 2011 | A1 |
20110317387 | Pan et al. | Dec 2011 | A1 |
20120112352 | Chi et al. | May 2012 | A1 |
20130026468 | Yoshimuta et al. | Jan 2013 | A1 |
20130062760 | Hung et al. | Mar 2013 | A1 |
20130062761 | Lin et al. | Mar 2013 | A1 |
20130168848 | Lin et al. | Jul 2013 | A1 |
20130292846 | Lee | Nov 2013 | A1 |
20130307140 | Huang et al. | Nov 2013 | A1 |
20130341800 | Tu et al. | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20140015122 | Chou et al. | Jan 2014 | A1 |
20140045379 | Chen | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140048926 | Wang | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140077356 | Chen | Mar 2014 | A1 |
20140183693 | Tsai | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20140187103 | Chen | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20140203429 | Yu | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20140225222 | Yu | Aug 2014 | A1 |
20140252558 | Yu | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140252597 | Tsai | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140252601 | Lu | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140252608 | Chen | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140252646 | Hung | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140262468 | Chen | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140264885 | Tsai | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140264930 | Yu | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140306355 | Meyer | Oct 2014 | A1 |
20160190113 | Sharan | Jun 2016 | A1 |
20160358889 | Lai | Dec 2016 | A1 |
20180226349 | Yu | Aug 2018 | A1 |
20190123019 | Yu | Apr 2019 | A1 |
20200176346 | Wu | Jun 2020 | A1 |
20200381392 | Yu | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20210028145 | Yu | Jan 2021 | A1 |
20210202312 | Yu | Jul 2021 | A1 |
20210272889 | Wu | Sep 2021 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
102394227 | Mar 2012 | CN |
104037153 | Sep 2014 | CN |
105374693 | Mar 2016 | CN |
20130018090 | Feb 2013 | KR |
20130133166 | Dec 2013 | KR |
20150105183 | Sep 2015 | KR |
20150106815 | Sep 2015 | KR |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20200381392 A1 | Dec 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62260832 | Nov 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16223449 | Dec 2018 | US |
Child | 16995080 | US | |
Parent | 15488933 | Apr 2017 | US |
Child | 16223449 | US | |
Parent | 15007714 | Jan 2016 | US |
Child | 15488933 | US |