Abstract: A workpiece (120) has protruding conductive features (140) at least on a first side. The second side is processed while the workpiece is held from the first side by a holder (220H). To prevent damage to the protruding features and flatten the workpiece (which could be otherwise warped), a spacer (210) is inserted between the workpiece and the holder. The spacer has holes (250) receiving the protruding features. The workpiece can be held by forces generated by the holder such as vacuum or an electrostatic force, without an adhesive. Other features and advantages are provided.

Abstract: A microelectronic component (110, 120) has a contact pad (110C, 120C, 920C) recessed in a cavity (410) and covered by underfill tape (130). The cavity has a void (410V) below the underfill tape. A protruding contact pad of another microelectronic component ruptures the underfill tape to enter the cavity and bond to the recessed contact pad. The void helps in rupturing the underfill tape, thus reducing the amount of underfill residue between the two contact pads and improving the contact resistance. Also provided is a microelectronic component having a substrate with a cavity and having a through-substrate via extending into the cavity. Other features are also provided.

Abstract: A microelectronic component (110, 120) has a contact pad (110C, 120C, 920C) recessed in a cavity (410) and covered by underfill tape (130). The cavity has a void (410V) below the underfill tape. A protruding contact pad of another microelectronic component ruptures the underfill tape to enter the cavity and bond to the recessed contact pad. The void helps in rupturing the underfill tape, thus reducing the amount of underfill residue between the two contact pads and improving the contact resistance. Also provided is a microelectronic component having a substrate with a cavity and having a through-substrate via extending into the cavity. Other features are also provided.

Abstract: A workpiece (120) has protruding conductive features (140) at least on a first side. The second side is processed while the workpiece is held from the first side by a holder (220H). To prevent damage to the protruding features and flatten the workpiece (which could be otherwise warped), a spacer (210) is inserted between the workpiece and the holder. The spacer has holes (250) receiving the protruding features. The workpiece can be held by forces generated by the holder such as vacuum or an electrostatic force, without an adhesive. Other features and advantages are provided.

Abstract: Various circuit boards and stiffener frames and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes fabricating a stiffener frame that has a surface adapted to engage a side of a circuit board. The surface includes a projection to protect a corner of the circuit board.

Abstract: A heat spreader-package assembly is provided having a heat spreader mounted to a package board with an adhesive. The heat spreader has an upper portion and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the upper portion. The heat spreader has a flange that extends from the sidewalls continuously about a periphery of the upper portion and has a plurality of holes. The holes allow the uncured adhesive to flow therethrough. When the adhesive has cured, a head is formed from the adhesive on an upper side of the flange to establish a riveted connection.

Abstract: An intregrated circuit package, which has an intregrated circuit die thereto, is mounted to a system board. The ground trace of the system board is connected to the package, which has a pluality of ground leads on its surface. An electrically conductive epoxy is placed on the ground leads and adheres the package lid to the package board and ground the package lid. A heat sink is mounted to the package lid with an electrically conductive adhesive or electrically conductive slips that extend from a flange of the package lid to a flange of the heat sink to ground the heat sink.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for precoining a ball grid array (BGA) type package prior to electrical characterization of the package employs a heated pressing plate with a smooth, flat bottom. The heated pressing plate is controllably pressed against a plurality of solder balls attached to a chip scale package. The heated pressing planarizes the tops of the solder balls, thereby evening out height differences among the solder balls. With the height differences evened out, a grounding plate of a test fixture can be applied on the array of solder balls and reliably contact each of the solder balls that are to be grounded, regardless of their initial height differences.

Abstract: An extruded heat exchanger that reduces manufacturing costs and material waste, without compromising heat spreading effects. The heat exchanger has an upper surface that is thermally coupled to a heat sink. Two sidewalls extend only from opposite edges of the upper surface. A flange extends from each of the opposing sidewalls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for precoining a ball grid array (BGA) type package prior to electrical characterization of the package employs a heated pressing plate with a smooth, flat bottom. The heated pressing plate is controllably pressed against a plurality of solder balls attached to a chip scale package. The heated pressing planarizes the tops of the solder balls, thereby evening out height differences among the solder balls. With the height differences evened out, a grounding plate of a test fixture can be applied on the array of solder balls and reliably contact each of the solder balls that are to be grounded, regardless of their initial height differences.

Abstract: An improved multilayer integrated circuit package. The package, which has a plurality of layers of conducting leads, has metal vias which connects leads in a first layer connected to leads in a second layer. The improvement comprises having at least on of the vias with a cross-section such that the via is much larger in a first direction than in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: An improved multilayer integrated circuit package. The package, which has a plurality of layers of conducting leads, has metal vias which connects leads in a first layer connected to leads in a second layer. The improvement comprises having at least one of the vias with a cross-section such that the via is much larger in a first direction than in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction.

Abstract: An improved method for eutectically bonding a silicon wafer onto a gold preform is described. A gold/silicon seed is placed on a pure gold preform. Then a die is placed onto the pure gold preform and the gold/silicon seed, wherein the seed acts as a catalyst to form an eutectic bond.

Abstract: An improved method for eutectically bonding a silicon wafer onto a gold preform is described. A gold/silicon seed is placed on a pure gold preform. Then a die is placed onto the pure gold preform and the gold/silicon seed, wherein the seed acts as a catalyst to form an eutectic bond.