Abstract: Example embodiments of a semiconductor chip packaging apparatus and method thereof are disclosed. The packaging apparatus may include a plating unit to perform a conductive plating process to form a conductive plating layer on external terminals of a semiconductor chip package, and a reflow unit adapted to melt the conductive plating layer. The plating unit and reflow unit may be disposed in a single line with the plating module. Thus, it is possible to effectively suppress the growth of whiskers on the plating layer of the external terminals, and to secure economical efficiency, reducing costs, and allowing mass production.

Abstract: A reinforced solder bump connector structure is formed between a contact pad arranged on a semiconductor chip and a ball pad arranged on a mounting substrate. The semiconductor chip includes at least one reinforcing protrusion extending upwardly from a surface of an intermediate layer. The mounting substrate includes at least one reinforcing protrusion extending upwardly from a ball pad, the protrusions from both the chip and the substrate being embedded within the solder bump connector. In some configurations, the reinforcing protrusions from the contact pad and the ball pad are sized and arranged to have overlapping upper portions. These overlapping portions may assume a wide variety of configurations that allow the protrusions to overlap without contacting each other including pin arrays and combinations of surrounding and surrounded elements. In each configuration, the reinforcing protrusions will tend to suppress crack formation and/or crack propagation thereby improving reliability.

Abstract: A method of forming a bump may involve providing a seed layer on a contact pad of a wafer. A shielding layer and a photosensitive mask layer may be formed on the seed layer. The photosensitive mask layer may be exposed and developed to form a mask pattern. An exposed portion of the shielding layer may be removed. The bump may be formed by plating the exposed seed layer.

Abstract: An interconnection structure includes an integrated circuit (IC) chip having internal circuitry and a terminal to electrically connect the internal circuitry to an external circuit, a passivation layer disposed on a top surface of the IC chip, the passivation layer configured to protect the internal circuitry and to expose the terminal, an input/output (I/O) pad, where the I/O pad includes a first portion in contact with the terminal and a second portion that extends over the passivation layer, and an electroless plating layer disposed on the I/O pad.

Abstract: A reinforced solder bump connector structure is formed between a contact pad arranged on a semiconductor chip and a ball pad arranged on a mounting substrate. The semiconductor chip includes at least one reinforcing protrusion extending upwardly from a surface of an intermediate layer. The mounting substrate includes at least one reinforcing protrusion extending upwardly from a ball pad, the protrusions from both the chip and the substrate being embedded within the solder bump connector. In some configurations, the reinforcing protrusion from the contact pad and the ball pad are sized and arranged to have overlapping under portions. These overlapping portions may assume a wide variety of configurations that allow the protrusions to overlap without contacting each other including pin arrays and combinations of surrounding and surrounded elements. In each configuration, the reinforcing protrusions will tend to suppress crack formation and/or crack propagation thereby improving reliability.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the selective laser repair apparatus and method may allow the repair of metal bumps in a semiconductor device stack by applying a laser beam to a damaged and/or defective bump. Metal bumps may be repaired and individual chips and/or packages forming a device stack need not be separated. The operation of a control unit and a driving unit may position a laser unit such that a laser beam may be irradiated at the damaged and/or defective metal bump. An X-ray inspection unit may obtain information about the damaged and/or defective metal bump.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a semiconductor package are disclosed. The apparatus may include at least a semiconductor chip having input/output (I/O) pads arranged on a surface thereof, a first dielectric layer formed on the surface of the semiconductor chip which may expose the I/O pads, a seed metal layer selectively formed on the first dielectric layer and the I/O pads, re-routing lines formed on the seed metal layer and electrically coupled to the I/O pads, a protective coating layer on side surfaces and an upper surface of each re-routing line, a second dielectric layer formed on the first dielectric layer which may cover the re-routing lines surrounded with the protective coating layer, and solder balls formed on the respective pads and electrically coupled to the re-routing lines.

Abstract: The chip package includes a first and second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip has a first connection structure that electrically connects to a bond pad on a first surface of the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip has a second connection structure. The second connection structure is electrically connected to a bond pad on a first surface of the second semiconductor chip and extends through the second semiconductor chip to a second surface of the second semiconductor chip. A portion of the second connection structure extending to the second surface of the second semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the first connection structure and formed of a harder material than the first connection structure.

Abstract: A printed circuit board and a semiconductor package module using the same in which solder joint reliability (SJR) is improved. The printed circuit board includes: a first terminal exposed to the external of the printed circuit board in a print circuit pattern to be connected to a solder ball of a semiconductor package; a second terminal exposed to the external of the printed circuit board in the printed circuit pattern to be connected to another printed circuit board; and a buffer layer, which is an insulating layer formed adjacent the first terminal, being formed of a thermal absorption material, e.g. an elastomer, configured to absorb thermal stress caused by any difference of coefficients of thermal expansion between the semiconductor package and the first terminal, wherein the printed circuit board is a multi-layered printed circuit board including alternately layered insulators and printed circuit patterns.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing WLCSP devices that includes preparing at least two wafers, each wafer having a plurality of corresponding semiconductor chips, each semiconductor chip having through electrodes formed in the peripheral surface region, forming or applying a solid adhesive region to a central surface region, stacking a plurality of wafers and attaching corresponding chips provided on adjacent wafers with the solid adhesive region and connecting corresponding through electrodes of adjacent semiconductor chips, dividing the stacked wafers into individual chip stack packages, and injecting a liquid adhesive into a space remaining between adjacent semiconductor chips incorporated in the resulting chip stack package. By reducing the likelihood of void regions between adjacent semiconductor chips, it is expected that a method according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention exhibit improved mechanical stability and reliability.

Abstract: A method of fabricating wafer level chip scale packages may involve forming a hole to penetrate through a chip pad of an IC chip. A base metal layer may be formed on a first face of a wafer to cover inner surfaces of the hole. An electrode metal layer may fill the hole and rise over the chip pad. A second face of the wafer may be grinded such that the electrode metal layer in the hole may be exposed through the second face. By electroplating, a plated bump may be formed on the electrode metal layer exposed through the second face. The base metal layer may be selectively removed to isolate adjacent electrode metal layers. The wafer may be sawed along scribe lanes to separate individual packages from the wafer.

Abstract: A method of forming a solder bump may involve forming a first photoresist pattern on a wafer having a pad. The first photoresist pattern may have an opening that exposes a portion of the pad. A first under bump metallurgy (UBM) layer may be formed on the pad, and a second UBM layer may be formed on the first photoresist pattern. A second photoresist pattern may be formed that exposes the first UBM layer and covers the second UBM layer. A solder bump may be formed in the opening. The second photoresist pattern and the first photoresist pattern may be removed using a stripper, thereby removing the second UBM layer by a lift-off method.

Abstract: A solder bump structure may have a metal stud formed on a chip pad of a semiconductor chip. Surfaces of the metal stud may be plated with a solder. The metal stud may be located on a substrate pad of the substrate. The substrate pad may have a pre-solder applied thereto. After a solder reflow, the solder bump may have a concave shape.

Abstract: A flip chip device may have a semiconductor chip with an active surface on which chip pads and a protective layer may be provided. Solder bumps may be provided on the active surface and electrically connected to the chip pads. And a solder bar may be provided on a portion of the protective layer. The solder bar may disperse thermal stress produced in the solder bumps. A metal core may be embedded within the solder bar. The flip chip device may be mounted on and flip-chip bonded to a substrate. The substrate may have land pads to which the solder bumps and the solder bar may be mechanically joined. The solder bar increases a joint area between the flip chip device and the substrate and reinforces solder connections therebetween.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip for flip chip bonding, a mounting structure for the semiconductor chip, and methods for forming a semiconductor chip for flip chip bonding and for fabricating a printed circuit board for a mounting structure of a semiconductor chip are provided which may improve connection between a solder bump of the semiconductor chip and a substrate of the printed circuit board without having to use an underfill material. A polymer core of the solder bump may be supported between a 3-dimensional UBM and a 3-dimensional top surface metallurgy, so as to establish connection strength of the solder bump without using underfill material, and to absorb the stresses which may concentrate on the solder bump due to the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion between metals.

Abstract: A solder bump structure may be formed using a dual exposure technique of a photoresist, which may be a positive photoresist. The positive photoresist may be coated on an IC chip. First openings may be formed at first exposed regions of the photoresist by a first exposure process. Metal projections may be formed in the first openings. A second opening may be formed at a second exposed region of the photoresist by a second exposure process. The second exposed region may include non-exposed regions defined by the first exposure process. A solder material may fill the second opening and may be reflowed to form a solder bump. The metal projections may be embedded within the solder bump.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating an ultra thin flip-chip package. In the above method, an under barrier metal film is formed on a bond pad of a semiconductor chip. Three-dimensional structured solder bumps are formed on the under barrier metal film, each of the solder bumps including a bar portion and a ball portion disposed at an end of the bar portion. The semiconductor chip including the three-dimensional structured solder bumps is bonded to a solder layer on a printed circuit board to complete a flip-chip package. According to the present invention, by employing the three-dimensional structured solder bumps, it is possible to lower the height of the solder bumps, thereby improving the reliability of an ultra thin flip-chip package.

Abstract: A reinforced solder bump connector structure is formed between a contact pad arranged on a semiconductor chip and a ball pad arranged on a mounting substrate. The semiconductor chip includes at least one reinforcing protrusion extending upwardly from a surface of an intermediate layer. The mounting substrate includes at least one reinforcing protrusion extending upwardly from a ball pad, the protrusions from both the chip and the substrate being embedded within the solder bump connector. In some configurations, the reinforcing protrusion from the contact pad and the ball pad are sized and arranged to have overlapping under portions. These overlapping portions may assume a wide variety of configurations that allow the protrusions to overlap without contacting each other including pin arrays and combinations of surrounding and surrounded elements. In each configuration, the reinforcing protrusions will tend to suppress crack formation and/or crack propagation thereby improving reliability.