Abstract: An integrated circuit module, a land grid array module, and a method for forming the module, include a substrate, which mounts one or more chips or discrete electronic components, and a cap for covering the substrate, and including at least one protrusion coupled to the cap for limiting the amount of flexing of the substrate during actuation. The at least one protrusion can be either rigidly fixed to the cap or adjustably inserted through the cap.

Abstract: A solder composition and associated method of formation. The solder composition comprises a substantially lead-free alloy that includes tin (Sn), silver (Ag), and copper. The tin has a weight percent concentration in the alloy of at least about 90%. The silver has a weight percent concentration X in the alloy. X is sufficiently small that formation of Ag3Sn plates is substantially suppressed when the alloy in a liquefied state is being solidified by being cooled to a lower temperature at which the solid Sn phase is nucleated. This lower temperature corresponds to an undercooling &dgr;T relative to the eutectic melting temperature of the alloy. Alternatively, X may be about 4.0% or less, wherein the liquefied alloy is cooled at a cooling rate that is high enough to substantially suppress Ag3Sn plate formation in the alloy. The copper has a weight percent concentration in the alloy not exceeding about 1.5%.

Abstract: An integrated circuit module, a land grid array module, and a method for forming the module, include a substrate, which mounts one or more chips or discrete electronic components, and a cap for covering the substrate, and including at least one protrusion coupled to the cap for limiting the amount of flexing of the substrate during actuation. The at least one protrusion can be either rigidly fixed to the cap or adjustably inserted through the cap.

Abstract: An integrated circuit module, a land grid array module, and a method for forming the module, include a substrate, which mounts one or more chips or discrete electronic components, and a cap for covering the substrate, and including at least one protrusion coupled to the cap for limiting the amount of flexing of the substrate during actuation. The at least one protrusion can be either rigidly fixed to the cap or adjustably inserted through the cap.

Abstract: A solder composition and associated method of formation. The solder composition comprises a substantially lead-free alloy that includes tin (Sn), silver (Ag), and copper. The tin has a weight percent concentration in the alloy of at least about 90%. The silver has a weight percent concentration X in the alloy. X is sufficiently small that formation of Ag3Sn plates is substantially suppressed when the alloy in a liquefied state is being solidified by being cooled to a lower temperature at which the solid Sn phase is nucleated. This lower temperature corresponds to an undercooling &dgr;T relative to the eutectic melting temperature of the alloy. Alternatively, X may be about 4.0% or less, wherein the liquefied alloy is cooled at a cooling rate that is high enough to substantially suppress Ag3Sn plate formation in the alloy. The copper has a weight percent concentration in the alloy not exceeding about 1.5%.

Abstract: An integrated circuit module, a land grid array module, and a method for forming the module, include a substrate, which mounts one or more chips or discrete electronic components, and a cap for covering the substrate, and including at least one protrusion coupled to the cap for limiting the amount of flexing of the substrate during actuation. The at least one protrusion can be either rigidly fixed to the cap or adjustably inserted through the cap.

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement for connecting electronic devices to one another. The connector arrangement uses tensile members and compression members, at least the tensile members of which act to provide both an electrical connection between electronic devices and force over a range of distances to hold the devices together. The tensile members provides tensile force acting to hold the electronic devices together while the compression members provide an opposing compressive force over a range of distances which balances the tensile force to thereby form a cellforce connector used to connect an array of electrical contact points on one electronic device to a corresponding array of electrical contact points on another electronic device.

Abstract: A heat sink in a heat transfer relationship with a substrate such as an integrated chip, chip carrier, or other electronic package. The heat sink is connected to a frame which is connected to a printed circuit board or other suitable support on which the substrate is positioned. The heat sink, which extends through an aperture in the frame is coupled to a surface of the substrate. The heat sink is mechanically decoupled from the substrate. Large heat sinks may be thermally connected to surface mount substrates mounted using technologies such as ceramic ball or column grid arrays, plastic ball or column grid arrays, or solder balls or columns. The heat sink is attached coaxially through the aperture to the substrate. After assembly and lead/tin or other metallic surface mount interconnects are relaxed such that the substrate and is completely supported by the frame and the heat sink imparts zero or nearly zero downward force.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting a first area array component to a substrate with a joining material. The apparatus has a nozzle directing heat toward both the first area array component and the portion of the substrate beneath the first area array component to melt the joining material. An elastic seal contacts the substrate and prevents the heat from affecting other components adjacent the first area array component. The nozzle is pressed against the substrate to restrain warping of the substrate, which might be caused by the heating of the first area array component, and to prevent damage to the substrate. The nozzle can tilt so that it conforms to the surface of the substrate. The first area array component is allowed to move freely in the direction of a plane of the substrate under the surface tension of the molten joining material during heating to center the first area array component.

Abstract: An electronic component having a socketable bump grid array comprising shaped-solder coated metallic spheres is provided by a method which comprises positioning solder coated metal spheres in an aligning device having a plurality of openings corresponding to the array, the openings being tapered preferably in the form of a truncated cone with the base of the cone being at the upper surface of the aligning device and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the solder coated metal sphere. The opening is configured so that a sphere positioned in the opening extends partially above the upper surface of the aligning device. The pads of the substrate are then contacted with the positioned spheres and, when the solder is reflowed, the solder forms a bond between the conductive layer on the substrate in contact with the solder-coated metal sphere and takes the shape of the aligning device and which maintains a solder coating on the whole surface of the metal sphere.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting a first area array component to a substrate with a joining material. The apparatus has a nozzle directing heat toward both the first area array component and the portion of the substrate beneath the first area array component to melt the joining material. An elastic seal contacts the substrate and prevents the heat from affecting other components adjacent the first area array component. The nozzle is pressed against the substrate to restrain warping of the substrate, which might be caused by the heating of the first area array component, and to prevent damage to the substrate. The nozzle can tilt so that it conforms to the surface of the substrate. The first area array component is allowed to move freely in the direction of a plane of the substrate under the surface tension of the molten joining material during heating to center the first area array component.

Abstract: An electronic component having a socketable bump grid array comprising shaped-solder coated metallic spheres is provided by a method which comprises positioning solder coated metal spheres in an aligning device having a plurality of opening corresponding to the array, the openings being tapered preferably in the form of a truncated cone with the base of the cone being at the upper surface of the aligning device and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the solder coated metal sphere. The opening is configured so that a sphere positioned in the opening extends partially above the upper surface of the aligning device. The pads of the substrate are then contacted with the positioned spheres and, when the solder is reflowed, the solder forms a bond between the conductive layer on the substrate in contact with the solder-coated metal sphere and takes the shape of the aligning device and which maintains a solder coating on the whole surface of the metal sphere.

Abstract: A method for producing interconnect structures and circuit boards including placing an area array component having connection bumps on the corresponding metal contacts on a substrate disposed on a backing plate, providing heat curable joining material in communication with the bumps and contacts, contacting a gas nozzle directly to a portion of the substrate surrounding the component to press the substrate between the nozzle and the backing plate to restrain the substrate from wrapping, heating the component, the joining material and the substrate proximate the metal contacts while maintaining the nozzle on the substrate to cure the joining material, and cooling the component, the joining material and the substrate. Selected components can also be replaced utilizing the gas nozzle for restraining the substrate from wrapping.

Abstract: A heat sink is placed in a heat transfer relationship with a substrate such as an integrated chip, chip carrier, or other electronic package, without imparting stressful forces to the substrate by connecting the heat sink to a frame which is connected to a support such as a printed circuit board or other suitable carrier on which the substrate is positioned. The heat sink extends through an aperture in the frame and is in heat transfer relationship with a surface of the substrate; however, it is mechanically decoupled from the substrate. The invention has particular application in thermally connecting large heat sinks to substrates that are surface mounted on the support using technologies such as ceramic ball or column grid arrays, plastic ball or column grid arrays, or solder balls or columns.

Abstract: Electrically conductive and abrasion resistant polymeric compositions, methods of fabrication thereof and uses thereof are described. Admixtures of abrasion resistant materials and electrically conductive polymeric materials are formed. Many of these admixtures are light transmitting and can be used as an abrasion resistant light transmitting electrostatic discharge layers. The light transmitting discharge layer is useful as a surface coating for visual displays such as CRT screens to avoid electrostatic accumulation of dust and scratching.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for removing solid material and liquid material that may contain solid material from a substrate. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus and method for removing molten solder which may contain solid particles and solder balls or columns from a substrate using a unique squeegee. Also, disclosed is a method for removing solder balls or columns from a substrate using a backer having an adhesive thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for removing solid material and liquid material that may contain solid material from a substrate. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus and method for removing molten solder which may contain solid particles and solder balls or columns from a substrate using a unique squeegee. Also, disclosed is a method for removing solder balls or columns from a substrate using a backer having an adhesive thereon.

Abstract: A porous metal block for selectively removing solder or braze from a substrate is disclosed. The block comprises a plurality of protrusions which absorb solder or braze through capillary action. The number and dimensions of the protrusions vary depending on the application. Also disclosed is a process for making such a block involving a unique two steps sintering process.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a new interconnection and a method for making the same, and more particularly, to an elongated solder interconnection and a method for making the same. On an electronic carrier, a pad is formed on which a solder mass is deposited and capped with a metal layer, thereby forming an elongated solder interconnection. A further elongated solder interconnection can now be formed by forming a second solder mass on the first solder mass that has been capped by a metal layer. Additional elongated solder interconnection can be formed by capping the preceding solder mass and/or the last solder mass with a metal capping layer. Alternatively, the encapsulating layer can be in the form of a sidewall spacer formed on the sidewalls of the solder mass.

Abstract: A porous metal block for selectively removing solder or braze from a substrate is disclosed. The block comprises a plurality of protrusions which absorb solder or braze through capillary action. The number and dimensions of the protrusions vary depending on the application. Also disclosed is a process for making such a block involving a unique two steps sintering process.