Abstract: A flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry (ICs) disposed along one or both of its major sides. Contacts are distributed along the flexible circuitry to provide connection between the module and an application environment. A rigid substrate is configured to provide space on one side where the populated flex is disposed while in some embodiments, heat management or cooling structures are arranged on one side of the module to mitigate thermal accumulation in the module.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method that mounts integrated circuit devices onto substrates and a system and method for employing the method in stacked modules. The contact pads of a packaged integrated circuit device are substantially exposed. A solder paste that includes higher temperature solder paste alloy is applied to a substrate or to the integrated circuit device to be mounted. The integrated circuit device is positioned to contact the contacts of the substrate. Heat is applied to create high temperature joints between the contacts of the substrate and the integrated circuit device resulting in a device-substrate assembly with high temperature joints. The formed joints are less subject to re-melting in subsequent processing steps. The method may be employed in devising stacked module constructions such as those disclosed herein as preferred embodiments in accordance with the invention. Typically, the created joints are low in profile.

Abstract: The present invention stacks integrated circuits (ICs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. In another aspect, the invention provides a lower capacitance memory expansion addressing system and method and preferably with the CSP stacked modules provided herein. In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, a form standard provides a physical form that allows many of the varying package sizes found in the broad family of CSP packages to be used to advantage while employing a standard connective flex circuitry design. In a preferred embodiment, the form standard will be devised of heat transference material such as copper to improve thermal performance. In an alternative embodiment, the form standard may include a heat spreader portion with mounting feet. In a preferred embodiment of the memory addressing system, a high speed switching system selects a data line associated with each level of a stacked module to reduce the loading effect upon data signals in memory access.

Abstract: A circuit module is provided in which at least one secondary substrate and preferably two such secondary substrates are populated with integrated circuits (ICs). A rigid core substrate for the circuit module is comprised of a structural member and a connective member. In a preferred embodiment, the structural member is comprised of thermally conductive material while the connective member is comprised of conventional PWB material. The secondary substrate(s) are connected to the connective member with a variety of techniques and materials while, in a preferred embodiment, the connective member exhibits, in a preferred embodiment, traditional module contacts which provide an edge connector capability to allow the module to supplant traditional DIMMs.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement on the use of flexible circuit connectors for electrically coupling IC devices to one another in a stacked configuration by use of the flexible circuit to provide the connection of the stacked IC module to other circuits. Use of the flexible circuit as the connection of the IC module allows the flexible circuit to provide strain relief and allows stacked IC modules to be assembled with a lower profile than with previous methods. The IC module can be connected to external circuits through the flexible circuit connectors by a variety of means, including solder pads, edge connector pads, and socket connectors. This allows for IC devices to occupy less space then with previous methods, which is beneficial in modules such as memory modules with multiple, stacked memory devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for combining a leaded package IC and a semiconductor die using a flex circuitry to reduce footprint for the combination. A leaded IC package is disposed along the obverse side of a flex circuit. In a preferred embodiment, leads of the leaded IC package are configured to allow the lower surface of the body of the leaded IC package to contact the surface of the flex circuitry either directly or indirectly through an adhesive. A semiconductor die is connected to the reverse side of the flex circuit. In one embodiment, the semiconductor die is disposed on the reverse side of the flex while, in an alternative embodiment, the semiconductor die is disposed into a window in the flex circuit to rest directly or indirectly upon the body of the leaded IC package. Module contacts are provided in a variety of configurations. In a preferred embodiment, the leaded IC package is a flash memory and the semiconductor die is a controller.

Abstract: Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry (ICs), and contacts are distributed along the flexible circuitry to provide connection to an application environment. The flexible circuitry is disposed about a rigid substrate, placing the ICs on one or both sides of the substrate with one or more layers of integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate. The substrate is preferably devised from thermally-conductive materials and one or more thermal spreaders are in thermal contact with at least some of the ICs. Optionally, as an additional thermal management feature, the module may include a high thermal conductivity thermal sink or area that is disposed proximal to higher thermal energy IC devices. In preferred embodiments, extensions from the substrate body or substrate core encourage reduced thermal variations amongst the ICs of the module while providing an enlarged surface for shedding thermal energy from the module.

Abstract: The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. In a two-high CSP stack or module devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two CSPs are stacked, with one CSP disposed above the other. The two CSPs are connected with flex circuitry. A form standard is disposed between the flex circuitry and a CSP in the stack. The form standard can take many configurations and may be used where flex circuits are used to connect CSPs to one another in stacked modules having two or more constituent CSPs. For example, in stacked modules that include four CSPs, three form standards are employed in preferred embodiments, although fewer may be used. The form standard provides a thermally conductive physical form that allows many of the varying package sizes found in the broad family of CSP packages to be used to advantage while employing a standard connective flex circuitry design.

Abstract: Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry disposed along one or both of its major sides. Contacts distributed along the flexible circuitry provide connection between the module and an application environment. The circuit-populated flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid substrate thus placing the integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate with one or two layers of integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate. The substrate form is preferably devised from thermally conductive materials and includes a high thermal conductivity core or area that is disposed proximal to higher thermal energy devices such as an AMB when the flex circuit is brought about the substrate. Other variations include thermally-conductive clips that grasp respective ICs on opposite sides of the module to further shunt heat from the ICs.

Abstract: An IC die and a flexible circuit structure are integrated into a lower stack element that can be stacked with either further integrated lower stack element iterations or with pre-packaged ICs in any of a variety of package types. The present invention may be employed to stack similar or dissimilar integrated circuits and may be used to create modularized systems. In a preferred embodiment, a die is positioned above the surface of portions of a pair of flex circuits. Connection is made between the die and the flex circuitry. A protective layer such as a molded plastic, for example, is formed to protect the flex-connected die and its connection to the flex. Connective elements are placed along the flex circuitry to create an array of module contacts along the second side of the flex circuitry. The flex circuitry is positioned above the body-protected die to create an integrated lower stack element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for devising stackable assemblies that may be then stacked to create a stacked circuit module. One or more integrated circuit (IC) die are disposed on one or more sides of a redistribution substrate that is preferably flexible circuitry. In some preferred embodiments, the die and redistribution substrate are bonded together and wire-bond connected. Two or more stackable assemblies are interconnected through frame members to create low profile high density stacked circuit modules.

Abstract: Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry disposed along one or both of its major sides. Contacts distributed along the flexible circuitry provide connection between the module and an application environment. The circuit-populated flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid substrate thus placing the integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate with one or two layers of integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate. The substrate form is preferably devised from thermally conductive materials and includes a high thermal conductivity core or area that is disposed proximal to higher thermal energy devices such as an AMB when the flex circuit is brought about the substrate. Other variations include thermally-conductive clips that grasp respective ICs on opposite sides of the module to further shunt heat from the ICs.

Abstract: Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry (ICs) disposed along one or both of major sides. Contacts are distributed along the flexible circuitry to provide connection between the module and an application environment. The populated flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid substrate thus placing the integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate with one or more layers of integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate. The substrate form is preferably devised from thermally-conductive materials and one or more thermal spreaders are disposed in thermal contact with at least some of the constituent integrated circuitry of the module. Optionally, as an additional thermal management feature, the module may include a high thermal conductivity thermal sink or area that is disposed proximal to higher thermal energy IC devices.

Abstract: Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry disposed along one or both of its major sides. Contacts distributed along the flexible circuitry provide connection between the module and an application environment. The circuit-populated flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid substrate thus placing the integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate with one or two layers of integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate. The substrate form is preferably devised from thermally conductive materials and includes a high thermal conductivity core or area that is disposed proximal to higher thermal energy devices such as an AMB when the flex circuit is brought about the substrate. Other variations include thermally-conductive clips that grasp respective ICs on opposite sides of the module to further shunt heat from the ICs.

Abstract: The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, a form standard associated with one or more CSPs provides a physical form that allows many of the varying package sizes found in the broad family of CSP packages to be used to advantage while employing a standard connective flex circuitry design. In a preferred embodiment, the contacts of the lower CSP will be compressed before flex circuitry is attached to a combination of the CSP and a form standard to create lower profile contacts between CSP and the flex circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention stacks packaged integrated circuits into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. The invention provides techniques and structures for aggregating chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) or leaded packages with other CSPs or with monolithic or stacked leaded packages into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. The present invention can be used to advantage with packages of a variety of sizes and configurations ranging from larger packaged base elements having many dozens of contacts to smaller packages such as, for example, die-sized packages such as DSBGA. In a preferred embodiment devised in accordance with the present invention, a base element CSP and a support element CSP are aggregated through a flex circuit having at least two conductive layers that are patterned to selectively connect the two CSP elements.

Abstract: A combination composed from a form standard and a CSP is attached to flex circuitry. Solder paste is applied to first selected locations on the flex circuitry and adhesive is applied to second selected locations on the flex circuitry. The flex circuitry and the combination of the form standard and CSP are brought into proximity with each other. During solder reflow operation, a force is applied that tends to bring the combination and flex circuitry closer together. As the heat of solder reflow melts the contacts of the CSP, the combination collapses toward the flex circuitry displacing the adhesive as the solder paste and contacts merge into solder joints. In a preferred embodiment, the form standard will be devised of heat transference material, a metal, for example, such as copper would be preferred, to improve thermal performance. In other embodiments, the methods of the invention may be used to attach a CSP without a form standard to flex circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for constructing stacked circuit modules and precursor assemblies with flexible circuitry. Using the methods of the present invention, a single set of flexible circuitry whether articulated as one or two flex circuits may be employed with CSP devices of a variety of configurations either with or without form standards.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for combining a leaded package IC and a semiconductor die using a flex circuitry to reduce footprint for the combination. A leaded IC package is disposed along the obverse side of a flex circuit. In a preferred embodiment, leads of the leaded IC package are configured to allow the lower surface of the body of the leaded IC package to contact the surface of the flex circuitry either directly or indirectly through an adhesive. A semiconductor die is connected to the reverse side of the flex circuit. In one embodiment, the semiconductor die is disposed on the reverse side of the flex while, in an alternative embodiment, the semiconductor die is disposed into a window in the flex circuit to rest directly or indirectly upon the body of the leaded IC package. Module contacts are provided in a variety of configurations. In a preferred embodiment, the leaded IC package is a flash memory and the semiconductor die is a controller.

Abstract: A circuit module that includes a system for reducing thermal variation and cooling the circuit module. In preferred embodiments, the module includes a thermally-conductive rigid substrate having first and second lateral sides, an edge, and an integrated cooling component. The integrated cooling component reduces thermal variation and cools the circuit module. Flex circuitry populated with a plurality of ICs and exhibiting a connective facility that comprises plural contacts for use with an edge connector is wrapped about the edge of the thermally-conductive substrate. Heat from the plurality of ICs is thermally-conducted by the thermally-conductive substrate to the integrated cooling component.