Abstract: A semiconductor package including a plurality of stacked semiconductor die, and methods of forming the semiconductor package, are disclosed. In order to ease wirebonding requirements on the controller die, the controller die may be mounted directly to the substrate in a flip chip arrangement requiring no wire bonds or footprint outside of the controller die. Thereafter, a spacer layer may be affixed to the substrate around the controller die to provide a level surface on which to mount one or more flash memory die. The spacer layer may be provided in a variety of different configurations.

Abstract: A peripheral card includes a circuit board, various circuit elements on the circuit board, a set of user terminals, a set of test terminals, and an enclosure that covers a portion of the circuit board and the circuit elements. The enclosure does not cover the user terminals and test terminals. After the peripheral card is tested, the test terminals are covered with a conformal contact coating in order to prevent access to the test terminals.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a redistribution layer, and methods of forming same, are disclosed. After fabrication of semiconductor die on a wafer, a tape assembly is applied onto a surface of the wafer, in contact with the surfaces of each semiconductor die on the wafer. The tape assembly includes a backgrind tape as a base layer, and a film assembly adhered to the backgrind tape. The film assembly in turn includes an adhesive film on which is deposited a thin layer of conductive material. The redistribution layer pattern is traced into the tape assembly, using for example a laser. Thereafter, the unheated portions of the tape assembly may be removed, leaving the heated redistribution layer pattern on each semiconductor die.

Abstract: A method of under-filling semiconductor die in a die stack and a semiconductor device formed thereby are disclosed. Once the semiconductor die are formed, they may be stacked and interconnected. The interconnection may leave a small space between semiconductor die in the die stack. This space is advantageously completely filled using a vapor deposition process where a coating is deposited as a vapor which flows over all surfaces of the die stack, including into the spaces between the die in the stack. The vapor then deposits on the surfaces between and around the die and forms a film which completely fills the spaces between the die in the die stack. The material used in the vapor deposition under-fill process may for example be a member of the parylene family of polymers, and in embodiments, may be parylene-N.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit packages having an LED molded into the package, and the integrated circuit package formed thereby. An integrated circuit including one or more semiconductor die, passive components and an LED may be assembled on a panel. The one or more semiconductor die, passive components and LED may all then be encapsulated in a molding compound, and the integrated circuits then singularized to form individual integrated circuit packages. The integrated circuits are cut from the panel so that a portion of the lens of the LED is severed during the singularization process, and an end of the lens remaining within the package lies flush with an edge of the package to emit light outside of the package.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor package with smooth edges, and a semiconductor package formed thereby is disclosed. In embodiments, after encapsulation, the semiconductor packages may be at least partially singulated from the panel by making one or more cuts through the panel to define one or more edges of the semiconductor package. The one or more edges may be smoothed by applying a laminate to the edges. The edges receiving the laminate may include any edge between a top and bottom surface of the package.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a leadframe-based semiconductor package, and a semiconductor package formed thereby, are disclosed. In embodiments, a semiconductor die having die bond pads along two adjacent edges may be electrically coupled to four sides of a four-sided leadframe. Embodiments relate to lead and no-lead type leadframe.

Abstract: A printed circuit board is disclosed having coextensive electrical connectors and contact pad areas. Areas of the contact pads where the traces and/or vias are located may be etched away to ensure electrical isolation between the traces, vias and contact pads.

Abstract: A strengthened semiconductor die substrate and package are disclosed. The substrate may include contact fingers formed with nonlinear edges. Providing a nonlinear contour to the contact finger edges reduces the mechanical stress exerted on the semiconductor die which would otherwise occur with straight edges to the contact fingers. The substrate may additionally or alternatively include plating traces extending at an angle from the contact fingers. Extending at an angle, at least the ends of the plating traces at the edge of the substrate are covered beneath a lid in which the semiconductor package is encased. Thus, when in use with a host device, contact between the ends of the plating traces beneath the lid and contact pins of the host device is avoided.

Abstract: A leadframe design for forming leadframe-based semiconductor packages having curvilinear shapes is disclosed. The leadframes may each include one or more curvilinear slots corresponding to curvilinear edges in the finished and singulated semiconductor package. After encapsulation, the integrated circuit packages on the panel may be singulated by cutting the integrated circuits from the leadframe panel into a plurality of individual integrated circuit packages. The slots in the leadframe advantageously allow each leadframe to be singulated using a saw blade making only straight cuts.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of forming same are disclosed having multiple die redistribution layer. After fabrication of semiconductor die on a wafer and prior to singulation from the wafer, adjacent semiconductor die are paired together and a redistribution layer may be formed across the die pair. The redistribution layer may be used to redistribute at least a portion of the bond pads from the first die in the pair to a second die in the pair. One die in each pair will be a working die and the other die in each pair will be a dummy die. The function of the integrated circuit beneath the redistribution layer on the dummy die is at least partially sacrificed.

Abstract: A portable memory card formed from a multi-die assembly, and methods of fabricating same, are disclosed. One such multi-die assembly includes an LGA SiP semiconductor package and a leadframe-based SMT package both affixed to a PCB. The multi-die assembly thus formed may be encased within a standard lid to form a completed portable memory card, such as a standard SD™ card. Test pads on the LGA SiP package, used for testing operation of the package after it is fabricated, may also be used for physically and electrically coupling the LGA SiP package to the PCB.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor package including a single-sided substrate are disclosed. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a substrate may include a conductive layer on a top surface of the substrate, i.e., on the same side of the substrate as where the die are mounted. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a substrate may include a conductive layer on a bottom of the substrate, i.e., on the opposite side of the substrate as where the die are mounted.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a redistribution layer, and methods of forming same, are disclosed. After fabrication of semiconductor die on a wafer, a tape assembly is applied onto a surface of the wafer, in contact with the surfaces of each semiconductor die on the wafer. The tape assembly includes a backgrind tape as a base layer, and a film assembly adhered to the backgrind tape. The film assembly in turn includes an adhesive film on which is deposited a thin layer of conductive material. The redistribution layer pattern is traced into the tape assembly, using for example a laser. Thereafter, the unheated portions of the tape assembly may be removed, leaving the heated redistribution layer pattern on each semiconductor die.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a redistribution layer, and methods of forming same, are disclosed. After fabrication of semiconductor die on a wafer, a tape assembly is applied onto a surface of the wafer, in contact with the surfaces of each semiconductor die on the wafer. The tape assembly includes a backgrind tape as a base layer, and a film assembly adhered to the backgrind tape. The film assembly in turn includes an adhesive film on which is deposited a thin layer of conductive material. The redistribution layer pattern is traced into the tape assembly, using for example a laser. Thereafter, the unheated portions of the tape assembly may be removed, leaving the heated redistribution layer pattern on each semiconductor die.

Abstract: A printed circuit board is disclosed having coextensive electrical connectors and contact pad areas. Areas of the contact pads where the traces and/or vias are located may be etched away to ensure electrical isolation between the traces, vias and contact pads.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor card. A semiconductor package having a damaged controller die is reclaimed. The reclaim process includes severing the electrical connections between the controller die and the semiconductor package substrate without exposing the passive component. In one embodiment, the cutting tool comprises a saw blade. An electrically insulating material is deposited over the exposed bond wires to complete the reclaim process. The reclaimed package and a new controller die are affixed to a second substrate to electrically couple the memory die of the reclaimed package with the new controller die—forming a new package. The new package is encapsulated to form a new memory card.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor package, and a semiconductor package formed thereby, are disclosed. The semiconductor package may include one or more semiconductor die having die attach pads along a single side. The leadframe may include a plurality of elongated electrical leads, extending from a first side of the leadframe, beneath the die, and terminating at a second side of the leadframe adjacent to the bond pads along the single edge of the die. The leadframe may further include a dielectric spacer layer on the elongated leads. Spacing the semiconductor die from the elongated leads using the spacer layer reduces the parasitic capacitance and/or inductance of the semiconductor package formed thereby.

Abstract: A semiconductor package is disclosed including a plurality semiconductor die mounted on stacked and bonded layers of substrate, for example polyimide tape used in tape automated bonding processes. The tape may have a plurality of repeating patterns of traces and contact pads formed thereon. The traces each include aligned interconnect pads on the respective top and bottom surfaces of the substrate for bonding the traces of one pattern to the traces of another pattern after the patterns have been singulated from the substrate, aligned and stacked. Semiconductor die such as flash memory and a controller die are mounted on the traces of the respective patterns on the substrate. In order for the controller die to uniquely address a specific flash memory die in the stack, a group of traces on each substrate supporting the memory die are used as address pins and punched in a unique layout relative to the layout of the traces other substrates.

Abstract: An electronic component is disclosed including a plurality of stacked semiconductor packages. A first such embodiment includes an internal connector for electrically coupling the stacked semiconductor packages. A second such embodiment includes an external connector for electrically coupling the stacked semiconductor packages.