Abstract: An improved VLSI device package and an improved method for contacting VLSI devices, in which the occurrences of wire bond shorts and lead voltage drops are substantially reduced, are obtained by providing multiple lead levels in the package, with the N.sub.2 leads on the upper lead level grouped into N.sub.3 bunches separated by N.sub.4 spaces, where each of the N.sub.4 spaces aligns with a bonding target on a corresponding one of the N.sub.1 leads on the lower level leads of the package, and where N.sub.1 <N.sub.2, preferably N.sub.1 .ltoreq.20 to 30% of N.sub.1 +N.sub.2. Wire bonds from the device to the N.sub.1 lower level leads align with the bonding targets, so that wire bonds from the device to the N.sub.2 upper level leads lie in clear corridors between the bonds to the N.sub.1 lower level leads. In this way wire bond crossovers and shorts are avoided. The N.sub.1 lower level leads can be made wide and short and are used for the high current connections.

Abstract: Non-equilibrium sintered ceramics, having a matrix composition near stoichiometric cordierite and undissolved intermediate size alumina particles distributed throughout the matrix, display increased temporary use temperatures over the matrix composition by itself without physical deformation associated with melting. Thermal expansion of the non-equilibrium composition is not excessively higher than the cordierite matrix if the proper size alumina is used.