Abstract: The present invention stacks integrated circuit packages into circuit modules. In a preferred embodiment, solder paste and primary adhesive respectively are applied to selected locations on the flex circuitry. Supplemental adhesive is applied to add ional locations on the flex circuitry, CSP, or other component. The flex circuitry and the CSP are brought into proximity with each other. During solder reflow operation, a force is applied and the CSP collapses toward the flex circuitry, displacing the primary adhesive and the supplemental adhesive. The supplemental adhesive establishes a bond providing additional support to the flex circuitry. In another embodiment, CSPs or other integrated circuit packages are bonded to each other or to other components with a combination of adhesives. A rapid bond adhesive maintains alignment of the bonded packages and/or components during assembly, and a structural bond adhesive provides additional strength and/or structural integrity to the bond.

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 stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into low profile modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. Low profile contacts are created by any of a variety of methods and materials. A consolidated low profile contact structure and technique is provided for use in alternative embodiments of the present invention. Multiple numbers of CSPs may be stacked in accordance with the present invention. The CSPs employed in stacked modules devised in accordance with the present invention are connected with flex circuitry that exhibit one or two or more conductive layers.

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 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 chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. The CSPs employed in stacked modules devised in accordance with the present invention are connected with flex circuitry. That flex circuitry may exhibit one or more conductive layers with preferred embodiments having two conductive layers. A form standard is disposed along the lower planar surface and extends laterally beyond the package of one or more CSPs in a stacked module. The 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 comprised of heat conductive material such as copper, for example.

Abstract: The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. Multiple numbers of CSPs may be stacked in accordance with the present invention. The CSPs employed in stacked modules devised in accordance with the present invention are connected with flex circuitry. A form standard is disposed along a planar surface of a CSP. The 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. The form standard achieves a reduced profile after the CSP has been attached to the form standard. In addition, in constructing modules in accordance with some preferred modes of the invention, CSP contacts are reduced in height to create lower profile modules. Thus, low profile embodiments of the modules of the present invention are devised.

Abstract: With the use of stacked modules, a system and method for point to point addressing of multiple integrated memory circuits is provided. A single memory expansion board is populated with stacked modules of integrated circuits. The single memory expansion board is located at the terminus of a transmission line, thus, effectively placing at a relative single point in the addressing system, added memory capacity that would otherwise have required multiple memory expansion boards and, consequently, a longer bus. Therefore, signal degradation issues are mitigated and the system has improved tolerance for higher signal speeds with added memory capacity. In a preferred embodiment, a four DIMM socket memory access bus that does not employ stacking is replaced with a single DIMM socket bus that supports stacking up to four high on a single DIMM.

Abstract: The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into low profile modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. Low profile structures provide connection between CSPs of the stacked module and between and to the flex circuitry. Low profile contacts are created by any of a variety of methods and materials including, for example, screen paste techniques and use of high temperature solders, although other application techniques and traditional solders may be employed for creating low profile contacts in the present invention. A consolidated low profile contact structure and technique is provided for use in alternative embodiments of the present invention. The CSPs employed in stacked modules devised in accordance with the present invention are connected with flex circuitry. That flex circuitry may exhibit one or two or more conductive layers.

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 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 is disposed between the flex circuitry and the IC package over which a portion of the flex circuitry is laid. The 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 bonded to the flex circuitry with metallurgical bonds devised from an intermetallic that improves module stability while lowering the module profile.

Abstract: The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into low profile modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. Low profile structures provide connection between CSPs of the stacked module and between and to the flex circuitry. Low profile contacts are created by any of a variety of methods and materials including, for example, screen paste techniques and use of high temperature solders, although other application techniques and traditional solders may be employed for creating low profile contacts in the present invention. A consolidated low profile contact structure and technique is provided for use in alternative embodiments of the present invention. Multiple numbers of CSPs may be stacked in accordance with the present invention. The CSPs employed in stacked modules devised in accordance with the present invention are connected with flex circuitry. That flex circuitry may exhibit one or two or more conductive layers.

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.