Patents Assigned to Vertical Circuits, Inc.
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Publication number: 20090315174Abstract: According to the invention, die shift is reduced or substantially eliminated, by cutting the wafer in two stages. In some embodiments a first wafer cutting procedure is carried out prior to thinning the wafer to the prescribed die thickness; and in other embodiments the wafer is thinned to the prescribed die thickness prior to carrying out a first wafer cutting procedure. The first wafer cutting procedure includes cutting along a first set of streets to a depth greater than the prescribed die thickness and optionally along a second set of streets to a depth less than the die thickness. The result of the first cutting procedure is an array of strips or blocks of die, each including a plurality of connected die, that are less subject to shift than are individual singulated die. In a second wafer cutting procedure the die are singulated by cutting through along the second set of streets.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: VERTICAL CIRCUITS, INC.Inventors: Reynaldo Co, DeAnn Eileen Melcher, Weiping Pan, Grant Villavicencio
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Publication number: 20090230528Abstract: Stacked die assemblies are electrically connected to connection sites on any support, without electrical connection to any interposed substrate or leadframe, and without solder.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: VERTICAL CIRCUITS, INC.Inventors: Simon J. S. McElrea, Marc E. Robinson, Lawrence Douglas Andrews, JR.
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Publication number: 20090206458Abstract: A flat leadless package includes at least one die mounted onto a leadframe and electrically connected to leads using an electrically conductive polymer or an electrically conductive ink. Also, an assembly includes stacked leadless packages electrically connected to leads using an electrically conductive polymer or an electrically conductive ink. Also, a package module includes an assembly of stacked leadless packages mounted on a support and electrically connected to circuitry in the support using an electrically conductive polymer or an electrically conductive ink.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2008Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: VERTICAL CIRCUITS, INC.Inventors: LAWRENCE DOUGLAS ANDREWS, JR., JEFFREY S. LEAL, SIMON J.S. McELREA
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Patent number: 7535109Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for vertically interconnecting semiconductor die, integrated circuit die, or multiple die segments. Metal rerouting interconnects which extend to one or more sides of the die or segment can be optionally added to the die or multi die segment to provide edge bonding pads upon the surface of the die for external electrical connection points. After the metal rerouting interconnect has been added to the die on the wafer, the wafer is optionally thinned and each die or multiple die segment is singulated from the wafer by cutting or other appropriate singulation method. After the die or multiple die segments are singulated or cut from the wafer, insulation is applied to all surfaces of the die or multiple die segments, openings are made in the insulation above the desired electrical connection pads, and the die or multiple die segments are placed on top of one another to form a stack.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Marc E. Robinson, Alfons Vindasius, Donald Almen, Larry Jacobsen
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Publication number: 20090102038Abstract: A die prepared for stacking in a chip scale stacked die assembly, having interconnect sites in an area inward from a die edge and interconnect pads near at least one die edge. Second-level interconnection of the stacked die assembly can be made by way of connections between a first die in the assembly and circuitry on a support; and interconnection between die in the stack can be made by way of connection of z-interconnects with bonds pads in the die attach side of the support near or at one or more die edges. Methods for preparing the die include processes carried out to an advanced stage at the wafer level or at the die array level.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: VERTICAL CIRCUITS, INC.Inventors: SIMON J.S. MCELREA, Marc E. Robinson, Lawrence Douglas Andrews, JR., Terrence Caskey, Scott McGrath, Yong Du, Al Vindasius
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Publication number: 20090065916Abstract: A conformal coating on a semiconductor die provides adhesion between the die and a support. No additional adhesive is necessary to affix the die on the support. The conformal coating protects the die during assembly, and serves to electrically insulate the die from electrically conductive parts that the die may contact. The conformal coating may be an organic polymer, such as a parylene, for example. Also, a method for adhering a die onto a support, which may optionally be another die, includes providing a coating of a conformal between the die and the support, and heating the coating between the die and the support. The conformal coating may be provided on a die attach area of a surface of the die, or on a die mount region of a surface of the support, or on both a die attach area of a surface of the die and on a die mount region of a surface of the support; and the conformal coating may be provided following placement of the die on the support.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: VERTICAL CIRCUITS, INC.Inventors: Scott Jay Crane, Simon J.S. McElrea, Scott McGrath, Weiping Pan, De Ann Melcher, Marc E. Robinson
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Publication number: 20090068790Abstract: Methods for depositing interconnect material at a target for electrical interconnection include pulsed dispense of the material. In some embodiments droplets of interconnect material are deposited in a projectile fashion. In some embodiments the droplets are shaped by movement of the deposition tool following a deposition pulse and prior to separation of the droplet mass from the tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Terrence Caskey, Lawrence Douglas Andrews, JR., Simon J.S. McElrea, Scott McGrath, Jeffrey S. Leal
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Publication number: 20080315407Abstract: Stackable integrated circuit devices include an integrated circuit die having interconnect pads on an active (front) side, the die having a front side edge at the conjunction of the front side of the die and a sidewall of the die, and a back side edge at the conjunction of back side of the die and the sidewall; the die further includes a conductive trace which is electrically connected to an interconnect pad and which extends over the front side edge of the die. In some embodiments the conductive trace further extends over the sidewall, and, in some such embodiments the conductive trace further extends over the back side edge of the die, and in some such embodiments the conductive trace further extends over the back side of the die. One or both of the die edges may be chamfered. Also, methods for making such a device. Also, assemblies including such a device electrically interconnected to underlying circuitry (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence Douglas Andrews, JR., Simon J.S. McElrea, Terrence Caskey, Scott McGrath, Yong Du
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Publication number: 20080315434Abstract: An electrically insulative conformal coating is applied at least to the active (front) side and one or more sidewalls of the die during wafer processing. Also, a die has an electrically insulative conformal coating applied to at least the active (front) side and sidewalls. Also, assemblies include a stack of such die, electrically interconnected die-to-die; and assemblies include such a die or a stack of such die, electrically interconnected to underlying circuitry (for example in a substrate or a circuit board).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Simon J.S. McElrea, Terrence Caskey, Scott McGrath, DeAnn Eileen Melcher, Reynaldo Co, Lawrence Douglas Andrews, JR., Weiping Pan, Grant Villavicencio, Yong Du, Scott Jay Crane, Zongrong Liu
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Publication number: 20080303131Abstract: In die stack assembly configurations successive die in the stack are offset at a die edge at which die pads are situated, and the die are interconnected by electrically conductive traces. In some embodiments the electrically conductive traces are formed of an electrically conductive polymer. An electrically insulative conformal coating is provided having openings at die pads that are electrically connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Simon J.S. McElrea, Lawrence Douglas Andrews, JR., Scott McGrath, Terrence Caskey, Scott Jay Crane, Marc E. Robinson, Loreto Cantillep
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Publication number: 20080224279Abstract: A die assembly includes a die mounted to a support, in which the support has interconnect pedestals formed at bond pads, and the die has interconnect terminals projecting beyond a die edge into corresponding pedestals. Also, a support has interconnect pedestals. Also, a method for electrically interconnecting a die to a support includes providing a support having interconnect pedestals formed at bond pads on the die mount surface of the support, providing a die having interconnect terminals projecting beyond a die edge, positioning the die in relation to the support such that the terminals are aligned with the corresponding pedestals, and moving the die and the support toward one another so that the terminals contact the respective pedestals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Terrence Caskey, Lawrence Douglas Andrews, Scott McGrath, Simon J.S. McElrea, Yong Du, Mark Scott
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Publication number: 20070290377Abstract: Semiconductor die are typically manufactured as a large group of integrated circuit die imaged through photolithographic means on a semiconductor wafer or slice made of silicon. After manufacture, the silicon wafer is thinned, usually by mechanical means, and the wafer is cut, usually with a diamond saw, to singulate the individual die. The resulting individual integrated circuit has six exposed surfaces. The top surface of the die includes the circuitry images and any passivation layers that have been added to the top layer during wafer fabrication. The present invention describes a method for protecting and insulating all six surfaces of the die to reduce breakage, provide electrical insulation for these layers, and to provide physical surfaces that can be used for bonding one semiconductor die to another for the purpose of stacking die in an interconnected module or component.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2007Publication date: December 20, 2007Applicant: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Al Vindasius, Marc Robinson
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Publication number: 20070284716Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for vertically interconnecting semiconductor die, integrated circuit die, or multiple die segments. Metal rerouting interconnects which extend to one or more sides of the die or segment can be optionally added to the die or multi die segment to provide edge bonding pads upon the surface of the die for external electrical connection points. After the metal rerouting interconnect has been added to the die on the wafer, the wafer is optionally thinned and each die or multiple die segment is singulated from the wafer by cutting or other appropriate singulation method. After the die or multiple die segments are singulated or cut from the wafer, insulation is applied to all surfaces of the die or multiple die segments, openings are made in the insulation above the desired electrical connection pads, and the die or multiple die segments are placed on top of one another to form a stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2007Publication date: December 13, 2007Applicant: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Al Vindasius, Marc Robinson, Larry Jacobsen, Donald Almen
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Publication number: 20070252262Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for vertically interconnecting semiconductor die, integrated circuit die, or multiple die segments. Metal rerouting interconnects which extend to one or more sides of the die or segment can be optionally added to the die or multi die segment to provide edge bonding pads upon the surface of the die for external electrical connection points. After the metal rerouting interconnect has been added to the die on the wafer, the wafer is optionally thinned and each die or multiple die segment is singulated from the wafer by cutting or other appropriate singulation method. After the die or multiple die segments are singulated or cut from the wafer, insulation is applied to all surfaces of the die or multiple die segments, openings are made in the insulation above the desired electrical connection pads, and the die or multiple die segments are placed on top of one another to form a stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2007Publication date: November 1, 2007Applicant: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Marc Robinson, Al Vindasius, Donald Almen, Larry Jacobsen
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Patent number: 7245021Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for vertically interconnecting semiconductor die, integrated circuit die, or multiple die segments. Metal rerouting interconnects which extend to one or more sides of the die or segment can be optionally added to the die or multi die segment to provide edge bonding pads upon the surface of the die for external electrical connection points. After the metal rerouting interconnect has been added to the die on the wafer, the wafer is optionally thinned and each die or multiple die segment is singulated from the wafer by cutting or other appropriate singulation method. After the die or multiple die segments are singulated or cut from the wafer, insulation is applied to all surfaces of the die or multiple die segments, openings are made in the insulation above the desired electrical connection pads, and the die or multiple die segments are placed on top of one another to form a stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Al Vindasius, Marc Robinson, Larry Jacobsen, Donald Almen
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Patent number: 7215018Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for vertically interconnecting semiconductor die, integrated circuit die, or multiple die segments. Metal rerouting interconnects which extend to one or more sides of the die or segment can be optionally added to the die or multi die segment to provide edge bonding pads upon the surface of the die for external electrical connection points. After the metal rerouting interconnect has been added to the die on the wafer, the wafer is optionally thinned and each die or multiple die segment is singulated from the wafer by cutting or other appropriate singulation method. After the die or multiple die segments are singulated or cut from the wafer, insulation is applied to all surfaces of the die or multiple die segments, openings are made in the insulation above the desired electrical connection pads, and the die or multiple die segments are placed on top of one another to form a stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: Al Vindasius, Marc Robinson, Larry Jacobsen, Donald Almen
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Patent number: 6486528Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for programming a stack of segments wherein each segment includes a plurality of die which are interconnected through metal interconnects patterned on the surface of each segment. Once the segments are arranged into a stack, the stack is connected to external circuits and each segment is addressed through control lines. Electrically conductive fuses on the segments are used as an interface between the control lines and the die. Segment level programming is performed on each segment by opening the conductive fuses on the segments in a predetermined pattern in order to route the control lines to each segment such that segments are uniquely addressed. After segment level programming, circuit board programming is performed so that any defective die found in the stack is logically replaced with replacement die in the stack.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1999Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Vertical Circuits, Inc.Inventors: David V. Pedersen, Michael G. Finley, Kenneth M. Sautter