Patents Examined by Nema Berezny
  • Patent number: 6639308
    Abstract: A semiconductor package that can fit semiconductor chips of various sizes without having to change the footprint of the carrier package. One aspect of the semiconductor package comprises a leadframe, a semiconductor chip attached to the leadframe, electrical connectors electrically connecting the semiconductor to the leadframe, and a sealing material. The leadframe has a plurality of leads, with each one of the plurality of leads having an upper side, a lower exposed side, and a laterally exposed side. The upper side of each one of the plurality of leads define a generally co-planar surface. Further, after sealing material encapsulates the components of the semiconductor package in a spacial relationship, the lower exposed side and the lateral exposed side of the plurality of leads are exposed to the outside surface of the semiconductor package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Timothy Crowley, Angel Orabuena Alvarez, Jun Young Yang
  • Patent number: 6635968
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method is used for packaging a thin semiconductor chip in an economical manner. A semiconductor chip having one electrode terminal, a first member having a first conductor on its surface, and a second member having a second conductor on its surface are prepared. The first and second members are positioned such that the first and second conductors face each other, and the semiconductor chip is held between the members. In this arrangement, one of the first and second conductors is in electrical contact with the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Usami
  • Patent number: 6627531
    Abstract: A device integration method and integrated device. The method may include the steps of directly bonding a semiconductor device having a substrate to an element; and removing a portion of the substrate to expose a remaining portion of the semiconductor device after bonding. The element may include one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna, and a matching network comprised of passive elements. A second thermal spreading substrate may be bonded to the remaining portion of the semiconductor device. Interconnections may be made through the first or second substrates. The method may also include bonding a plurality of semiconductor devices to an element, and the element may have recesses in which the semiconductor devices are disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Enquist
  • Patent number: 6627483
    Abstract: A method for mounting an electronic component. In one example of this method, the electronic component is an integrated circuit which is placed against an element of a carrier, such as a frame of a carrier. The electronic component has a plurality of elongate, resilient, electrical contact elements which are mounted on a corresponding first electrical contact pads on the electronic component. The electronic component is secured to the carrier, aNd the carrier is pressed against a first substrate having a plurality of second electrical contacts on a surface of the first substrate. In a typical example of this method, the electronic component is an integrated circuit which is being tested while being held in a carrier. The integrated circuit has been singulated from a wafer containing a plurality of integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Ondricek, David V. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 6617200
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device that makes it possible to expose the back side of a die pad as well as a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device can include a lead frame that has portions to be sandwiched by first and second molds and a die pad that is down set at a distance greater than the depth of a recessed part of the first mold. The die pad is placed on the bottom of the recessed part of the first mold and the lead frame is disposed so that the portions to be sandwiched are suspended above the first mold. The molding process is carried out as the second mold presses the portions of the lead frame to be sandwiched in the direction of the first mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Sone
  • Patent number: 6614110
    Abstract: An electronic packaging module for inverted bonding of electronic devicss including semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, electomechanical devices and MEMS is produced with protuberances on the conductive pattern of the substrate. The protuberances are of a soft, ductile metal capable of being metallurgically bonded to the input/output pads of electronic devices. The input/output pads of the devices may be simultaneously bonded to the protuberances of the packaging module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Benedict G Pace
  • Patent number: 6603207
    Abstract: An electrode structure for a semiconductor device and a method for forming the electrode structure, and a mounted body including the semiconductor device are provided in which the semiconductor device can be easily connected to a circuit board with high reliability. An aluminum electrode is formed on an IC substrate. A passivation film is formed on the IC substrate so as to cover the peripheral portion of the aluminum electrode. A bump electrode is formed on the aluminum electrode by a wire bonding method. An aluminum oxide film is formed on the surface of the aluminum electrode that is exposed around the bump electrode. A conductive adhesive is applied as a bonding layer to the tip portion of the bump electrode of the semiconductor device by a transfer method or a printing method. The semiconductor device is aligned in the face-down state in such a manner that the bump electrode abuts on a terminal electrode of a circuit board, and is provided on a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Bessho
  • Patent number: 6596565
    Abstract: A process for forming a thermally enhanced Chip On Board semiconductor device (10) with a heat sink (30) is described. In one aspect, a thermally conducting filled gel elastomer material (50) or a silicon elastomeric material or elastomeric material, if the material is to be removed, is applied to the die surface (18) to which the heat sink is to be bonded. During the subsequent glob top application and curing steps, difficult-to-remove glob top material (38) which otherwise may be misapplied to the die surface adheres to the upper surface of the elastomer material. The elastomer material is removed by peeling prior to adhesion bonding of the heat sink to the die. In another aspect, the thermally conducting filled gel elastomer material (70) is applied between a die surface and the inside attachment surface (46) of a cap-style heat sink to eliminate overpressure on the die/substrate interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Hembree
  • Patent number: 6589814
    Abstract: A method for producing chip scale IC packages includes the step of mounting a lead frame panel on a temporary support fixture in order to provide support and protection during the manufacturing process. An embodiment of the temporary support fixture includes a sheet of sticky tape secured to a rigid frame. The rigid frame maintains tension in the sheet of sticky tape to provide a stable surface to which the lead frame panel can be affixed. Installation of IC chips and encapsulation in protective casings is performed as in conventional IC package manufacturing. If encapsulant material is to be dispensed over the IC chips, an encapsulant dam can be formed around the lead frame panel to contain the flow of encapsulant material. The temporary support fixture can be used in any IC package manufacturing process in which lead frames require supplemental support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shahram Mostafazadeh, Joseph O. Smith
  • Patent number: 6586277
    Abstract: A semiconductor package structure for a ball grid array type package using a plurality of pieces of adhesive elastomer film to attach a semiconductor die to a substrate having conductive traces in order to alleviate thermal mismatch stress between the semiconductor die and the printed circuit board to which the packaged device is soldered, while maintaining the reliability of the packaged device itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Tongbi Jiang
  • Patent number: 6582979
    Abstract: A substrate has a top surface for receiving a semiconductor die. An antenna is patterned on the bottom surface of the substrate. The antenna is accessible by coupling it to a via and, through the via, to a substrate signal bond pad and a semiconductor die signal bond pad. In one embodiment, there is at least one via in the substrate. The at least one via provides an electrical connection between a signal bond pad of the semiconductor die and the printed circuit board. The at least one via provides an electrical connection between a substrate bond pad and the printed circuit board. The at least one via also provides an electrical connection between the signal bond pad of the semiconductor die and a land that is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Coccioli, Mohamed Megahed, Hassan S. Hashemi
  • Patent number: 6576497
    Abstract: A ceramic substrate having two side surfaces in a lengthwise direction and two side surfaces in a widthwise direction intersecting each other. The ceramic substrate also includes at least one flat surface in a thicknesswise direction. Internal electrode films are embedded in the ceramic substrate with film surfaces thereof extending roughly parallel to the flat surface of the ceramic substrate. External electrodes are each provided on the flat surface of the ceramic substrate toward one of the two ends of the ceramic substrate in the lengthwise direction, are electrically continuous with the internal electrode films and are formed over distances and from the two side surfaces in the widthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Taisuke Ahiko, Takaya Ishigaki, Hiroki Sato, Kamiya Takashi, Masanori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6569764
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a first electrode and a second electrode formed on a first main surface and a third electrode formed on a second main surface opposite the first main surface. A first portion of a first lead is placed on the first electrode and a second portion of the first lead is located outside the semiconductor chip. A first portion of a second lead is placed on the second electrode and a second portion of the second lead is located outside the semiconductor chip. A plurality of projecting electrodes are provided between the first portion of the first lead and the first electrode and between the first portion of the second lead and the second electrode to electrically connect them. An insulating sheet is provided between the first portion of the first lead and the first main surface of the semiconductor chip and between the first portion of the second lead and the first main surface of the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Hirashima, Yasushi Takahashi, Ryoichi Kajiwara, Masahiro Koizumi, Munehisa Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 6559487
    Abstract: A high-vacuum packaged microgyroscope for detecting the inertial angular velocity of an object and a method for manufacturing the same. In the high-vacuum packaged microgyroscope, a substrate with an ASIC circuit for signal processing is mounted onto another substrate including a suspension structure of a microgyroscope in the form of a flip chip. Also, the electrodes of the suspension structure and the ASIC circuit can be exposed to the outside through polysilicon interconnection interposed between double passivation layers. The short interconnection between the suspension structure and the ASIC circuit can reduce the device in size and prevents generation of noise, thereby increasing signal detection sensitivity. In addition, by sealing the two substrates at low temperatures, for example, at 363 to 400° C. using co-melting reaction between metal, for example, Au, and Si in a vacuum, the degree of vacuum in the device increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok-jin Kang, Youn-il Ko, Ho-suk Kim
  • Patent number: 6555918
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a resin mold, two semiconductor chips positioned inside the resin mold and having front and back surfaces and external terminals formed on the front surfaces, and leads extending from the inside to the outside of the resin mold, wherein each of said leads is branched into two branch leads in at least the resin mold, the one branch lead is secured to the surface of the one semiconductor chip and is electrically connected to an external terminal on the surface thereof through a wire, the other branch lead is secured to the surface of the other semiconductor chip and is electrically connected to an external terminal on the surface thereof through a wire, and the two semiconductor chips are stacked one upon the other, with their back surfaces opposed to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masachika Masuda, Tamaki Wada, Michiaki Sugiyama, Hirotaka Nishizawa, Toshio Sugano, Yasushi Takahashi, Masayasu Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6555469
    Abstract: A chip scale package structure formed by adhering a glass sheet having a pattern of holes matching a pattern of bond pads on a semiconductor wafer so that the pattern of holes on the glass sheet are over the pattern of bond pads on the semiconductor wafer. Metallized pads are formed on the glass sheet adjacent to each hole and in one embodiment a conductive trace is formed from each metallized pad on the glass sheet to the bond pad on the semiconductor wafer under the adjacent hole. In a second embodiment, a pad is formed on the glass sheet adjacent to each hole and the pad extends down the sides of the adjacent hole. The hole is filled with a metal plug that electrically connects the pad on the glass sheet to the bond pad on the semiconductor wafer. In each embodiment, a solder ball is formed on each pad on the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Microcsp, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Malcolm MacIntyre
  • Patent number: 6518674
    Abstract: A temporary attach article of a first component to a second component which includes a first component having a first volume of a fusible material; a second component having a second volume of fusible material; and the first and second components being joined together through the first and second volumes of fusible material, wherein the first volume of fusible material has a melting point higher than a melting point of the second volume of fusible material so that the first and second components may be joined together without melting of the first volume of fusible material and wherein the second volume of fusible material is 5 to 20% of the first volume of fusible material. Also disclosed is a method for temporary attach of devices to an electronic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mario J. Interrante, Thomas E. Lombardi, Frank L. Pompeo, William E. Sablinski
  • Patent number: 6515358
    Abstract: A method of exposing a bond pad includes: providing an integrated circuit having a bond pad, a first passivation layer overlying an area portion of the bond pad, and a second passivation layer overlying the first passivation layer; removing a portion of the second passivation layer above the area portion of the bond pad exposing an area of the first passivation layer; curing the second passivation; and etching a portion of the exposed area of the first passivation layer to expose the top surface of the bond pad. A method of coupling an integrated circuit chip to a chip package is also disclosed as is a method of probing the bond pads of an integrated circuit. A probe card is further disclosed, including a probe assembly coupled to a printed circuit board, the probe assembly having a sloped sidewall portion with a plurality of probing beams extending from the sidewall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: M. Lawrence A. Dass, Kenneth D. Karklin, Krishna Seshan, Amir Roggel
  • Patent number: 6506629
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package includes a package body, such as a transfer molded plastic or preformed ceramic package body, having an IC die positioned therein. A lead frame, such as a peripheral lead, Leads-Over-Chip (LOC), or Leads-Under-Chip (LUC) lead frame, includes a plurality of leads with portions enclosed within the package body that electrically connect to the IC die. A heat sink is positioned at least partially within the package body so a surface of a first portion of the heat sink faces the lead frame in close proximity to a substantial part, such as at least eighty percent, of the area of the enclosed portion of the lead frame to thereby substantially reduce an inductance associated with each of the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Kinsman, Jerry M. Brooks
  • Patent number: 6506631
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing integrated circuits is described. A semiconductor wafer having an active side with circuit structures is provided. An electrically insulating intermediate layer and an electrically conductive conductor foil are applied to the active side. Conductor tracks with terminal balls are formed with a relatively large spacing pattern in the conductor foil. The semiconductor wafer is subsequently divided up into integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Hans-Jürgen Hacke