Abstract: A packaged microelectronic device is provided which includes: (a) a unit having a chip with an upwardly-facing front surface and a downwardly-facing rear surface, a lid overlying at least a portion of the front surface of the chip, the lid having a top surface facing upwardly away from the chip and unit connections exposed at the top surface of the lid. At least some of the unit connections are electrically connected to the chip. The packaged microelectronic device also includes a package structure including structure defining package terminals, at least some of the package terminals being electrically connected to the chip. The package structure, the unit or both define a downwardly-facing bottom surface of the package, the terminals being exposed at the bottom surface.

Abstract: A capped chip is provided in which a cap member has a bottom surface facing a front surface of the chip and a top surface opposite the front surface. A plurality of through holes is desirably provided in the cap member which extend from the bottom surface to the top surface. A plurality of metallic interconnects electrically connected to the chip are provided which project upwardly from the front surface of the chip at least partially through the through holes. Desirably, the metallic interconnects include stud bumps.

Abstract: A packaged microelectronic device is provided which includes: (a) a unit having a chip with an upwardly-facing front surface and a downwardly-facing rear surface, a lid overlying at least a portion of the front surface of the chip, the lid having a top surface facing upwardly away from the chip and unit connections exposed at the top surface of the lid. At least some of the unit connections are electrically connected to the chip. The packaged microelectronic device also includes a package structure including structure defining package terminals, at least some of the package terminals being electrically connected to the chip. The package structure, the unit or both define a downwardly-facing bottom surface of the package, the terminals being exposed at the bottom surface.

Abstract: Provided are connection structures for a microelectronic device and methods for forming the structure. A substrate is included having opposing surfaces and a plurality of holes extending through the surfaces. Also included is a plurality of electrically conductive posts. Each post extends from a base to a tip located within a corresponding hole of the substrate. An additional substrate may be provided such that the base of each post is located on a surface thereof. Additional electrically conductive posts may be provided having tips in corresponding holes of the additional substrate. Optionally, a dielectric material may be placed between the substrate and the posts.

Abstract: Capped chips and methods of forming a capped chip are provided in which electrical interconnects are made by conductive elements which extend from bond pads of a chip at least partially through a plurality of through holes of a cap. The electrical interconnects may be solid, so as to form seals extending across the through holes. In some cases, stud bumps extend from the bond pads, forming parts of the electrical interconnects. In some cases, a fusible conductive medium forms a part of the electrical interconnects.

Abstract: A microelectronic package is provided that includes a microelectronic device and a cover. The device and the cover are typically substantially immobilized relative to each other. The cover typically has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion while the device has a higher effective stiffness. The package may be formed in wafer-level processes.

Abstract: An elongated strip of a sheetlike substrate bearing microelectronic elements such as semiconductor chips is advanced in a downstream direction through one or more folding stations where successive portions of the substrate are folded so as to form a strip including a plurality of fold packages, each including confronting top and bottom runs and a fold region with one or more of the runs bearing one or more microelectronic elements. The strip incorporating the plural fold packages can be wound on a reel or otherwise handled, stored and shipped to a subsequent manufacturing operation, where individual fold packages can be severed from the strip.

Abstract: A microelectronic element is mounted to a substrate using solder elements disposed at least partially within vias of the substrate. The vias have tapering walls. During reflow of the solder, the microelectronic element may move toward the substrate. Such movement may be impelled, for example, by interfacial tension between the solder and the tapering via wall. This movement reduces the height of the completed assembly.

Abstract: A capped chip is provided which includes a chip and a cap member, the chip having a front surface and a plurality of bond pads exposed at the front surface, the cap member having a bottom surface facing the front surface of the chip and having a top surface opposite the front surface. A plurality of through holes extend from the bottom surface of the cap member to the top surface. The capped chip assembly further includes a plurality of metallic interconnects extending from the bond pads at least partially through the through holes, the metallic interconnects including stud bumps joined to the bond pads, the stud bumps contacting and engaging at least one of (i) the top surface of the cap member surrounding the through holes and (ii) inner surfaces of the through holes.

Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a chip having a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface having an active region and a plurality of contacts exposed at the front surface outside of the active region. The device further includes a lid overlying the front surface. The lid has edges bounding the lid, at least one of the edges including one or more outer portions and one or more recesses extending laterally inwardly from the outer portions, with the contacts being aligned with the recesses and exposed through them.

Abstract: A method of making a microelectronic assembly includes providing a microelectronic element having a front face and contact pads accessible at the front face, providing a dispensing tool containing a molten metal and having a discharge port for dispensing the molten metal, and aligning the discharge port of the dispensing tool with one of the contact pads of the microelectronic element. A mass of the molten metal is dispensed through the discharge port and onto the one of the contact pads of the microelectronic element; and ultrasonic waves are applied to the mass of molten metal during the dispensing step for facilitating wetting of the mass of molten metal with the one of the contact pads of the microelectronic element.

Abstract: A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic device, a unitary ceramic substrate, and a plurality of terminals. The microelectronic device has a front surface and a plurality of electrical contacts thereon. The substrate has first and second opposing surfaces. A window extends from a first opening on the first surface along a side wall to a second opening on the second surface. A conductive region may be provided on the side wall and/or the second substrate surface. The substrate is located between the device and the terminals such that the first surface of the substrate faces the front surface of the device and the first opening is aligned with at least one contact on the front device surface. Also provided are methods for producing microelectronic packages and wafer-scale assemblies.

Abstract: A packaged microelectronic device having a first and second electrically interconnected microelectronic elements and a method for its manufacture. Conductive posts extend from one major surface of the first microelectronic element. The first microelectronic element is electrically interconnected to the second microelectronic element via the conductive posts. The first microelectronic element preferably has an interposer element from which the conductive posts extend. The second microelectronic element is interconnected to the interposer element via contacts on the second microelectronic element via the conductive posts. The so interconnected microelectronic elements have coordinated functionality, such as a programmable logic device wherein one microelectronic element is a field programmable gate array and the other microelectronic element is a memory device.

Abstract: An electronic camera module incorporates a sensor unit (20) having a semiconductor chip (22) such as a CCD imager and a cover (34) overlying the front surface of the chip. An optical unit (50) includes one or more optical elements such as lenses (58). The optical unit has engagement features (64) which abut alignment features on the sensor unit as, for example, portions (44) of the cover outer surface (38), so as to maintain a precise relationship between the optical unit and sensor unit.

Abstract: A method of forming and applying a solder mass comprised of depositing solder paste containing a carrier and a solder onto a first substrate, not wettable by said solder; reflowing the solder paste on the first substrate to cause the solder to coalesce into a solder mass; and transferring the solder mass from the first substrate to a second substrate.

Abstract: A microelectronic package may include front and rear covers overlying the front and rear surfaces of a microelectronic element such as an infrared sensor and spaces between the microelectronic element and the covers to provide thermal isolation. A sensing unit including a microelectronic package may include a reflector spaced from the front cover to provide an analyte space, and the microelectronic element may include an emitter and a detector so that radiation directed from the emitter will be reflected by the sensor to the detector, and such radiation will be affected by the properties of the analyte in the analyte space. Such a unit provides a compact, economical chemical sensor. Other packages include elements such as valves for passing fluids into and out of the spaces within the package itself.

Abstract: A remote device such as a control value (4) is powered and controlled by optical energy, supplied by an intensity-modulated light source (8) and optical fiber (10). After conversion into electrical form, the light is detected at (12) and applied to a piezoelectric transformer (14). The output of the transformer powers and control an actuator (16) of the control value.

Abstract: Provided are connection structures for a microelectronic device and methods for forming the structure. A substrate is included having opposing surfaces and a plurality of holes extending through the surfaces. Also included is a plurality of electrically conductive posts. Each post extends from a base to a tip located within a corresponding hole of the substrate. An additional substrate may be provided such that the base of each post is located on a surface thereof. Additional electrically conductive posts may be provided having tips in corresponding holes of the additional substrate. Optionally, a dielectric material may be placed between the substrate and the posts.

Abstract: A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having faces and contacts, and a flexible substrate spaced from and overlying a first face of the microelectronic element, the flexible substrate having conductive pads facing away from the first face of the microelectronic element. The package includes a plurality of spheres attached to the conductive pads of the flexible substrate and projecting away from the first face of the microelectronic element, each sphere having a contact surface remote from the conductive pads, the contact surfaces of the spheres including a contact metal devoid of solder. The package also includes a plurality of support elements disposed between the microelectronic element and the substrate for supporting the flexible substrate over the microelectronic element, the spheres being offset from the support elements.

Abstract: An electronic camera module incorporates a sensor unit (20) having a semiconductor chip (22) such as a CCD imager and a cover (34) overlying the front surface of the chip. An optical unit (50) includes one or more optical elements such as lenses (58). The optical unit has engagement features (64) which abut alignment features on the sensor unit as, for example, portions (44) of the cover outer surface (38), so as to maintain a precise relationship between the optical unit and sensor unit.