Abstract: A process is described for semiconductor device integration at chip level or wafer level, in which vertical connections are formed through a substrate. A metallized feature is formed in the top surface of a substrate, and a handling plate is attached to the substrate. The substrate is then thinned at the bottom surface thereof to expose the bottom of the feature, to form a conducting through-via. The substrate may comprise a chip having a device (e.g. DRAM) fabricated therein. The process therefore permits vertical integration with a second chip (e.g. a PE chip). The plate may be a wafer attached to the substrate using a vertical stud/via interconnection. The substrate and plate may each have devices fabricated therein, so that the process provides vertical wafer-level integration of the devices.

Abstract: A process is described for semiconductor device integration at chip level or wafer level, in which vertical connections are formed through a substrate. A metallized feature is formed in the top surface of a substrate, and a handling plate is attached to the substrate. The substrate is then thinned at the bottom surface thereof to expose the bottom of the feature, to form a conducting through-via. The substrate may comprise a chip having a device (e.g. DRAM) fabricated therein. The process therefore permits vertical integration with a second chip (e.g. a PE chip). The plate may be a wafer attached to the substrate using a vertical stud/via interconnection. The substrate and plate may each have devices fabricated therein, so that the process provides vertical wafer-level integration of the devices.

Abstract: A process is described for integrating an optoelectronic chip and a driver chip on a substrate, in which a waveguide is built into the substrate and the chips are joined to the substrate using a stud/via alignment technique. The waveguide structure includes a reflector and a channel for transmitting light emitted by the optoelectronic chip. A stud formed on the substrate is aligned to a via formed in a layer on the chip, aligning the chip so that the light reaches the reflector and enters the waveguide. A driver chip may be mounted on the substrate in close proximity to the optoelectronic chip.

Abstract: In a very dense integrated circuit package, including a carrier having a topography of projections with sloping sides for supporting individual semiconductor circuit chips with a conversely matching bottom surface topography to permit self-aligned positioning of the chip on the carrier, a method for compensating for variations in chip thickness by controlling the width of recesses in bottom surface topography so that alignment on the carrier projections will elevate thinner chips so that the device side of the chips are co-planar.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure including fine-pitch connections between chips is fabricated using stud/via matching structures. The stud and via are aligned and connected, thereby permitting fine-pitch chip placement and electrical interconnections. A chip support is then attached to the device. A temporary chip alignment structure includes a transparent plate exposed to ablating radiation; the plate is then detached and removed. This method permits interconnection of multiple chips (generally with different sizes, architectures and functions) at close proximity and with very high wiring density. The device may include passive components located on separate chips, so that the device includes chips with and without active devices.

Abstract: A device for creating at least one aligned marking on opposite sides of a semiconductor wafer including a front side and a back side. A wafer receiving support unit including at least a first wafer receiving slot in a first side wall thereof receives a wafer inserted therein. A template positions at least one aligned marking on each of the front side of the semiconductor wafer and on the backside of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure including fine-pitch connections between chips is fabricated using stud/via matching structures. A stud is provided on the front surface of the chip, and a layer with interconnection wiring is formed on a transparent plate. The wiring layer includes a conducting pad on a surface thereof opposite the plate. A second layer is formed on top of the wiring layer, with a via formed therein to expose the conducting pad. The stud and via are then aligned and connected; the front surface of the chip thus contacts the second layer and the stud makes electrical contact with the conducting pad. A chip support is then attached to the device. An interface between the wiring layer and the plate is exposed to ablating radiation; the plate is then detached and removed. This method permits interconnection of multiple chips (generally with different sizes, architectures and functions) at close proximity and with very high wiring density.

Abstract: A technique for fabricating precision aligned macros (PAMs) with reduced risk of electrostatic discharge damage and thermal damage. An electrical and thermal contact is provided through the back of the individual chips to a supporting silicon substrate. A conductive seed layer for electroplating is formed on a support substrate. A dielectric (preferably, a thermid) layer is formed on the seed layer. Vias are formed in the thermid layer and metal contacts are formed in the vias. The front faces of two or more chips are bonded onto the top surface of an alignment substrate, and the chips are aligned to the alignment substrate. The back faces of the chips are bonded to the metal contacts and thermid layer with heat and pressure. The alignment substrate is removed. The front faces of the chips are planarized. Finally, interconnect wiring is formed over the chips and thermid layer.

Abstract: A technique for fabricating precision aligned macros (PAMs) with reduced risk of electrostatic discharge damage and thermal damage. An electrical and thermal contact is provided through the back of the individual chips to a supporting silicon substrate. A conductive seed layer for electroplating is formed on a support substrate. A dielectric (preferably, a thermid) layer is formed on the seed layer. Vias are formed in the thermid layer and metal contacts are formed in the vias. The front faces of two or more chips are bonded onto the top surface of an alignment substrate, and the chips are aligned to the alignment substrate. The back faces of the chips are bonded to the metal contacts and thermid layer with heat and pressure. The alignment substrate is removed. The front faces of the chips are planarized. Finally, interconnect wiring is formed over the chips and thermid layer.

Abstract: An assembly consisting of three dimensional stacked SOI chips, and a method of forming such integrated circuit assembly, each of the SOI chips including a handler making mechanical contact to a first metallization pattern making electrical contact to a semiconductor device. The metalized pattern, in turn, contacts a second metallization pattern positioned on an opposite surface of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: In a very dense integrated circuit package, including a carrier having a topography of projections with sloping sides for supporting individual semiconductor circuit chips with a conversely matching bottom surface topography to permit self-aligned positioning of the chip on the carrier, a method for compensating for variations in chip thickness by controlling the width of recesses in bottom surface topography so that alignment on the carrier projections will elevate thinner chips so that the device side of the chips are co-planar.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package having a carrier and semiconductor circuit chips are disclosed. The carrier has a topography of mesas projected from its surface. Each of the semiconductor circuit chips has a device side surface and an opposite bottom surface, which has a topography of a recess conversely matching a respective one of the mesas of the carrier for self-alignment positioning on the carrier. To offset the variation in the thickness of the semiconductor circuit chips, the width of the recess in each semiconductor circuit chip is controlled so that the alignment of the recess on its respective mesa elevates the bottom surface of the semiconductor circuit chip. Therefore, the device side surfaces of the semi conductor circuit chips are placed in the same plane.

Abstract: A device for creating at least one aligned marking on opposite sides of a semiconductor wafer including a front side and a back side. A wafer receiving support unit including at least a first wafer receiving slot in a first side wall thereof receives a wafer inserted therein. A template positions at least one aligned marking on each of the front side of the semiconductor wafer and on the backside of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method is described for fabricating a module having a chip attached to a carrier substrate, wherein a guide substrate transparent to ablation radiation is used. A removable layer is provided on a surface of the guide substrate. A first alignment guide is formed on the removable layer, and a second alignment guide is formed on a front surface of the chip. The chip is aligned to the guide substrate by contacting the second alignment guide to the first alignment guide; the chip is then attached to the guide substrate. The carrier substrate is attached to the chip at the back surface of the chip. The interface between the removable layer and the guide substrate is then ablated using radiation (typically laser radiation) transmitted through the guide substrate, thereby detaching the guide substrate. Thin films with metal interconnections may then be provided on the front surface of the chip.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit package or arrangement includes providing a carrier having a surface topography of projections or recesses for supporting individual semiconductor circuit chips having conversely matching bottom surface topographies to permit self-aligned positioning of the chip on the carrier. Chips are provided such that top faces of neighboring chips lie substantially in planes separated by a distance of greater than 0.0 .mu.m. The carrier is arranged and dimensioned such that the neighboring chips are separated by a gap G or spacing in a range of 1 .mu.m<G.ltoreq.100 .mu.m. A metallic interconnect is provided over the top faces and the gap. Preferably, the interconnect has a gradual slope over the gap.

Abstract: Process for making an integrated circuit module and product thereof including a carrier supporting a plurality of precisely aligned semiconductor circuit chips having uniform thicknesses.

Abstract: Process for making an integrated circuit module and product thereof including a carrier supporting a plurality of precisely aligned semiconductor circuit chips having uniform thicknesses.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package or arrangement includes a carrier having a surface topography of projections or recesses for supporting individual semiconductor circuit chips having conversely matching bottom surface topographies to permit self-aligned positioning of the chips on the carrier. Top faces of neighboring chips lie substantially in planes separated by a distance of greater than 0.0 .mu.m. The neighboring chips are separated by a gap G or spacing in a range of approximately 1 .mu.m<G.ltoreq.approximately 100 .mu.m. A metallic interconnect is disposed over the top faces and the gap. Preferably, the interconnect has a gradual slope over the gap.

Abstract: Large area chip functionality is tested at an intermediate level in the manufacturing process. A process sequence is implemented in which a layer of insulator material is deposited over the chip. This layer is then processed to selectively open areas over existing vias which are to be used for chip level testing. The other vias remain covered with insulator. A sacrificial metal level is then deposited on the insulator layer and patterned to create adequately large test pad areas connected to exposed vias. This metal layer and the insulator layer covering the other buried vias are removed after testing to re-establish the full via set. As an extension to this basic test process, test circuits can be formed around or beside the chip to be tested in the kerf areas separating the chip from other chips on the semiconductor wafer. Connections to the test circuits is with a sacrificial metal layer over an insulator layer. The sacrificial metal layer and insulator layer are removed after testing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit configuration including a carrier having recesses for supporting individual semiconductor die units. The semiconductor die units and the carrier recesses have lithographically defined dimensions so as to enable precise alignment and a high level of integration.