Patents by Inventor Tiao Zhou

Tiao Zhou has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7294530
    Abstract: A device, such as an integrated circuit or an electronic circuit component is affixed to a substrate. A first encapsulation structure encases a first integrated circuit and has at least one groove formed therein. An adhesive partially fills the groove in the first encapsulation structure. A second integrated circuit is affixed to the first encapsulation structure by use of the adhesive in the groove. A second encapsulation structure at least partially encases the first encapsulation structure, the first integrated circuit, and the second integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20070200224
    Abstract: A thermally-enhanced ball grid array package structure is provided that includes an integrated circuit chip, a heat spreader and a substrate. The integrated circuit chip has a specified surface area. The heat spreader is coupled to the integrated circuit chip. The substrate is coupled to the heat spreader. The substrate has a specified surface area. The heat spreader covers a specified portion of the surface area of the substrate that is greater than the surface area of the integrated circuit chip. The heat spreader is operable to dissipate heat from the integrated circuit chip over the specified portion of the surface area of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiao Zhou, Michael Hundt
  • Patent number: 7244967
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit sensor package. The method comprises the steps of: 1) mounting a substrate on a first mold block, the substrate comprising a substantially planar material having a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface that contacts a mounting surface of the first mold block; 2) placing an adhesive on the first substrate surface; 3) placing an integrated circuit sensor on the adhesive; and 4) pressing a second mold block against the first substrate surface. The second mold block comprising a cavity portion for receiving the integrated circuit sensor, a contact surface surrounding the cavity portion, and a compliant layer mounted with the cavity portion. Pressing the second mold block against the first substrate surface causes the contact surface to form with the first substrate surface a seal surrounding the integrated circuit sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hundt, Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20070085222
    Abstract: An integrated circuit die having an active area that must remain exposed after packaging is secured by a compliant die attachment by which the integrated circuit die is held in position within a transfer mold during encapsulation. The compliant die attachment may comprise a flexible, compressible tape having pressure-sensitive adhesive, alone or with a rigid substrate support, or a compliant adhesive preferably applied only around a periphery of the die attach area. Deformation of the compliant die attachment under mold clamping pressure allows complete contact of the mold with the active area, preventing bleeding of the encapsulating material under the edge of a mold portion onto the active area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Tiao Zhou, Michael Hundt
  • Patent number: 7180175
    Abstract: A thermally-enhanced ball grid array package structure is provided that includes an integrated circuit chip, a heat spreader and a substrate. The integrated circuit chip has a specified surface area. The heat spreader is coupled to the integrated circuit chip. The substrate is coupled to the heat spreader. The substrate has a specified surface area. The heat spreader covers a specified portion of the surface area of the substrate that is greater than the surface area of the integrated circuit chip. The heat spreader is operable to dissipate heat from the integrated circuit chip over the specified portion of the surface area of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiao Zhou, Michael J. Hundt
  • Patent number: 6998721
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device includes but is not limited to: a first integrated circuit affixed to a substrate; an electronic circuit component affixed to the substrate; a first encapsulation structure encasing the first integrated circuit; a second integrated circuit affixed to the first encapsulation structure; and a second encapsulation structure which at least partially encases the first encapsulation structure, the first integrated circuit, and the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20050282310
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device includes but is not limited to: a first integrated circuit affixed to a substrate; an electronic circuit component affixed to the substrate; a first encapsulation structure encasing the first integrated circuit; a second integrated circuit affixed to the first encapsulation structure; and a second encapsulation structure which at least partially encases the first encapsulation structure, the first integrated circuit, and the electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics Inc.
    Inventor: Tiao Zhou
  • Patent number: 6900535
    Abstract: A ball or land grid array plastic substrate portion is formed with a hole therethrough in the region on which the integrated circuit die is to be formed, with a copper heat slug inserted within the opening having a bottom surface substantially aligned with the bottom surface of the plastic portion to allow molding tooling for conventional ball or land grid array packages to be employed. The integrated circuit die is mounted on the heat slug, which has a solderable bottom surface and is directly soldered to the PCB. An additional copper heat spreader region is formed on an upper surface of the plastic portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20050082718
    Abstract: The bottom mold portion for a transfer molding system is covered with a deformable material. During mold clamping, the deformable material contacts the bottom surface of the packaging substrate on which the integrated circuit die is mounted. Deformation of this relatively soft covering on the bottom mold portion accommodates thickness variations in the packaging substrate, as well as non-planarity of the adhesive layer between the integrated circuit die and packaging substrate in exposed active area integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Hundt, Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20040241905
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit sensor package. The method comprises the steps of: 1) mounting a substrate on a first mold block, the substrate comprising a substantially planar material having a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface that contacts a mounting surface of the first mold block; 2) placing an adhesive on the first substrate surface; 3) placing an integrated circuit sensor on the adhesive; and 4) pressing a second mold block against the first substrate surface. The second mold block comprising a cavity portion for receiving the integrated circuit sensor, a contact surface surrounding the cavity portion, and a compliant layer mounted with the cavity portion. Pressing the second mold block against the first substrate surface causes the contact surface to form with the first substrate surface a seal surrounding the integrated circuit sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hundt, Tiao Zhou
  • Patent number: 6817854
    Abstract: The bottom mold portion for a transfer molding system is covered with a deformable material. During mold clamping, the deformable material contacts the bottom surface of the packaging substrate on which the integrated circuit die is mounted. Deformation of this relatively soft covering on the bottom mold portion accommodates thickness variations in the packaging substrate, as well as non-planarity of the adhesive layer between the integrated circuit die and packaging substrate in exposed active area integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hundt, Tiao Zhou
  • Patent number: 6815262
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit sensor package. The method comprises the steps of: 1) mounting a substrate on a first mold block, the substrate comprising a substantially planar material having a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface that contacts a mounting surface of the first mold block; 2) placing an adhesive on the first substrate surface; 3) placing an integrated circuit sensor on the adhesive; and 4) pressing a second mold block against the first substrate surface. The second mold block comprising a cavity portion for receiving the integrated circuit sensor, a contact surface surrounding the cavity portion, and a compliant layer mounted with the cavity portion. Pressing the second mold block against the first substrate surface causes the contact surface to form with the first substrate surface a seal surrounding the integrated circuit sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hundt, Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20040089955
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device includes but is not limited to: a first integrated circuit affixed to a substrate; an electronic circuit component affixed to the substrate; a first encapsulation structure encasing the first integrated circuit; a second integrated circuit affixed to the first encapsulation structure; and a second encapsulation structure which at least partially encases the first encapsulation structure, the first integrated circuit, and the electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tiao Zhou
  • Patent number: 6686227
    Abstract: A method for exposed die molding for integrated circuit packaging is provided that includes providing a mold comprising an upper mold with a flexible material, a lower mold, and a floating plunger. A substrate of an integrated circuit structure is clamped between the upper mold and the lower mold. An integrated circuit die of the integrated circuit structure is clamped between the floating plunger and the upper mold through the flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiao Zhou, Michael J. Hundt
  • Publication number: 20040012084
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit sensor package. The method comprises the steps of: 1) mounting a substrate on a first mold block, the substrate comprising a substantially planar material having a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface that contacts a mounting surface of the first mold block; 2) placing an adhesive on the first substrate surface; 3) placing an integrated circuit sensor on the adhesive; and 4) pressing a second mold block against the first substrate surface. The second mold block comprising a cavity portion for receiving the integrated circuit sensor, a contact surface surrounding the cavity portion, and a compliant layer mounted with the cavity portion. Pressing the second mold block against the first substrate surface causes the contact surface to form with the first substrate surface a seal surrounding the integrated circuit sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hundt, Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20030214021
    Abstract: An integrated circuit die having an active area that must remain exposed after packaging is secured by a compliant die attachment by which the integrated circuit die is held in position within a transfer mold during encapsulation. The compliant die attachment may comprise a flexible, compressible tape having pressure-sensitive adhesive, alone or with a rigid substrate support, or a compliant adhesive preferably applied only around a periphery of the die attach area. Deformation of the compliant die attachment under mold clamping pressure allows complete contact of the mold with the active area, preventing bleeding of the encapsulating material under the edge of a mold portion onto the active area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Tiao Zhou, Michael J. Hundt
  • Publication number: 20030214074
    Abstract: The bottom mold portion for a transfer molding system is covered with a deformable material. During mold clamping, the deformable material contacts the bottom surface of the packaging substrate on which the integrated circuit die is mounted. Deformation of this relatively soft covering on the bottom mold portion accommodates thickness variations in the packaging substrate, as well as non-planarity of the adhesive layer between the integrated circuit die and packaging substrate in exposed active area integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hundt, Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20030206401
    Abstract: A ball or land grid array plastic substrate portion is formed with a hole therethrough in the region on which the integrated circuit die is to be formed, with a copper heat slug inserted within the opening having a bottom surface substantially aligned with the bottom surface of the plastic portion to allow molding tooling for conventional ball or land grid array packages to be employed. The integrated circuit die is mounted on the heat slug, which has a solderable bottom surface and is directly soldered to the PCB. An additional copper heat spreader region is formed on an upper surface of the plastic portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20030151120
    Abstract: A lead frame of a plastic integrated circuit package is fabricated in two steps. First, from a rectangular sheet of metal, lead fingers of the lead frame are formed. Second, the die pad of the lead frame is clamped and is simultaneously separated and downset from the lead fingers of the lead frame by shearing the lead frame with a mated punch die pair. Performing the separation and downset of the die pad from the lead fingers results in essentially no horizontal gap between the lead fingers and the die pad. The downset of the die pad with respect to the lead fingers results in a vertical separation between the die pad and the lead fingers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Michael J. Hundt, Tiao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20030148556
    Abstract: A method for exposed die molding for integrated circuit packaging is provided that includes providing a mold comprising an upper mold with a flexible material, a lower mold, and a floating plunger. A substrate of an integrated circuit structure is clamped between the upper mold and the lower mold. An integrated circuit die of the integrated circuit structure is clamped between the floating plunger and the upper mold through the flexible material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiao Zhou, Michael J. Hundt