Abstract: Arrangements for plating a single surface of a thin foil are described. In one aspect, a metal foil is wrapped tightly at least partially around a plating solution drum. The drum is partially immersed in a plating solution such that the waterline of the metal plating solution is below a break point where the metallic foil strip begins to unwind from the plating solution drum. With this arrangement, one side of the metallic foil strip is exposed to the metal plating solution, while the opposing back side of the metallic foil strip does not come in substantial contact with the metal plating solution. In this manner, the exposed side of the foil is plated while the back surface of the foil is not plated. The drum may be rotated to convey the foil through the plating solution.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for enabling the efficient fabrication of small form factor power converters and also the small form factor power converter devices.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to methods and arrangements for using a thin foil to form electrical interconnects in an integrated circuit package. In one embodiment, a foil carrier structure is formed by ultrasonically bonding portions of a conductive foil to a metallic carrier. The bonded portions define panels in the foil carrier structure. In some embodiments, the foil carrier structure is cut to form multiple isolated panels that are sealed along their peripheries. Each isolated panel may be approximately the size of a conventional leadframe strip or panel. As a result, existing packaging equipment may be used to add dice, bonding wires and molding material to the panel. The ultrasonic welding helps prevent unwanted substances from penetrating the foil carrier structure during such processing steps. After the carrier portion of the molded foil carrier structure is removed, the structure is singulated into integrated circuit packages.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to methods and arrangements for using a thin foil to form electrical interconnects in an integrated circuit package. One embodiment of the present invention involves attaching multiple dice to a foil carrier structure. The foil carrier structure is made of a thin foil that is bonded to a carrier. The dice and at least a portion of the metallic foil is then encapsulated with a molding material. The carrier is removed, leaving behind a molded foil structure. The exposed foil is patterned and etched using photolithographic techniques to define multiple device areas in the foil. Each device area includes multiple conductive lines. Afterwards, portions of the conductive lines are covered with a dielectric material and other portions are left exposed to define multiple bond pads in the device area. The molded foil structure can be singulated to form multiple integrated circuit packages.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to methods and arrangements for using a thin foil to form electrical interconnects in an integrated circuit package. One embodiment of the present invention involves attaching multiple dice to a foil carrier structure. The foil carrier structure is made of a thin foil that is bonded to a carrier. The dice and at least a portion of the metallic foil is then encapsulated with a molding material. The carrier is removed, leaving behind a molded foil structure. The exposed foil is patterned and etched using photolithographic techniques to define multiple device areas in the foil. Each device area includes multiple conductive lines. Afterwards, portions of the conductive lines are covered with a dielectric material and other portions are left exposed to define multiple bond pads in the device area. The molded foil structure can be singulated to form multiple integrated circuit packages.

Abstract: A microarray package includes a leadframe having an array of contact posts, a die carried by the lead frame, and a plurality of bonding wires that electrically connect the die to the lead frame. An encapsulant is included that encapsulates the die, the bonding wire and the leadframe while leaving the distal ends of the contact posts exposed and substantially co-planar with a bottom surface of the microarray package. A plurality of pedestal members is plated to the distal end of a respective contact pad. A distal surface of each pedestal member protrudes outwardly beyond the bottom surface of the microarray package in the range of about 15 ?m to about 35 ?m.

Abstract: A microarray package includes a leadframe having an array of contact posts, a die carried by the lead frame, and a plurality of bonding wires that electrically connect the die to the lead frame. An encapsulant is included that encapsulates the die, the bonding wire and the leadframe while leaving the distal ends of the contact posts exposed and substantially co-planar with a bottom surface of the microarray package. A plurality of pedestal members is plated to the distal end of a respective contact pad. A distal surface of each pedestal member protrudes outwardly beyond the bottom surface of the microarray package in the range of about 15 ?m to about 35 ?m.

Abstract: An improved arrangement and process for packaging integrated circuits are described. More particularly, a universal lamination tool is described that functions to secure an adhesive film to a lead frame. The lamination tool of the present invention uses compressed gas to press the lead frame against the adhesive film. In this manner, the lamination tool itself does not physically press on the lead frame thereby substantially reducing the likelihood of damage to the bonding wires or other delicate components during this stage of the encapsulation process. Moreover, such a lamination tool is not package specific making it applicable for a wide variety of package configurations and lead frame sizes.

Abstract: A microarray package includes a leadframe having an array of contact posts, a die carried by the lead frame, and a plurality of bonding wires that electrically connect the die to the lead frame. An encapsulant is included that encapsulates the die, the bonding wire and the leadframe while leaving the distal ends of the contact posts exposed and substantially co-planar with a bottom surface of the microarray package. A plurality of pedestal members is plated to the distal end of a respective contact pad. A distal surface of each pedestal member protrudes outwardly beyond the bottom surface of the microarray package in the range of about 15 ?m to about 35 ?m.

Abstract: A variety of improved arrangements and processes for packaging integrated circuits are described. More particularly, methods of encapsulating dice in lead frame based IC packages are described that facilitate covering some portions of the bottom surface of the lead frame while leaving other portions of the bottom surface of the lead frame exposed. In some embodiments, a method of encapsulating integrated circuits mounted on a lead frame panel is described. The lead frame panel includes a plurality of leads having associated contacts and supports. A shim having a plurality of cavities is positioned under the lead frame such that the cavities are adjacent to the supports and not adjacent to the contacts. During the encapsulation process, encapsulant material flows under the supports such that the bottom surfaces of the supports are electrically insulated by the encapsulant while the bottom surfaces of the contacts remain exposed.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to methods and arrangements for using a thin foil to form electrical interconnects in an integrated circuit package. In one embodiment, a foil carrier structure is formed by ultrasonically bonding portions of a conductive foil to a metallic carrier. The bonded portions define panels in the foil carrier structure. In some embodiments, the foil carrier structure is cut to form multiple isolated panels that are sealed along their peripheries. Each isolated panel may be approximately the size of a conventional leadframe strip or panel. As a result, existing packaging equipment may be used to add dice, bonding wires and molding material to the panel. The ultrasonic welding helps prevent unwanted substances from penetrating the foil carrier structure during such processing steps. After the carrier portion of the molded foil carrier structure is removed, the structure is singulated into integrated circuit packages.

Abstract: A variety of improved arrangements and processes for packaging integrated circuits are described. More particularly, methods of encapsulating dice in lead frame based IC packages are described that facilitate covering some portions of the bottom surface of the lead frame while leaving other portions of the bottom surface of the lead frame exposed. In some embodiments, a method of encapsulating integrated circuits mounted on a lead frame panel is described. The lead frame panel includes a plurality of leads having associated contacts and supports. A shim having a plurality of cavities is positioned under the lead frame such that the cavities are adjacent to the supports and not adjacent to the contacts. During the encapsulation process, encapsulant material flows under the supports such that the bottom surfaces of the supports are electrically insulated by the encapsulant while the bottom surfaces of the contacts remain exposed.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, the invention pertains to substrates for use in semiconductor manufacturing. A peripheral ledge or similar structure can be provided in a die attach pad, so as to retain adhesive that may flow from the die support surface when the die is attached to the die attach pad. In this manner, adhesive is prevented from flowing off the die attach pad, where it can create unwanted conductive areas on the outer surface of an IC package. The accompanying reduction in area of the die support surface, and retention of adhesive from any downbond areas, also prevents delamination of the adhesive.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a lead frame. Generally, a first surface of a lead frame base tape is placed on a first surface of the lead frame. A second surface of the lead frame base tape is placed on a first surface of a porous block. A vacuum is placed on a second surface of the porous block. A device for processing lead frames comprises a porous block with a first side and a second side, and a vacuum system connected to the first side of the porous block. The device may also include devices for attaching chips to the lead frame and wire bonding the chips to the lead frame.

Abstract: A lead-frame based substrate panel for use in semiconductor packaging is described. The substrate panel includes a lead-frame panel having at least one array of device areas. Each device area has a plurality of contacts. The lead-frame panel is filled with a dielectric material to form a relatively rigid substrate panel that can be used for packaging integrated circuits. The top surface of the dielectric material is typically substantially coplanar with the top surface of the lead-frame panel, and the bottom surface of the dielectric material is typically substantially coplanar with the bottom surface of the lead-frame panel.

Abstract: A panel assembly of packaged integrated circuit devices including a conductive substrate panel having an array of device areas and a plurality of locking passageways. The locking passageways are positioned about an inactive buffer area which surrounds the periphery of the array of device areas. The panel assembly also includes a molded cap that is molded over the topside of the panel to encapsulate the array of device areas and the inactive buffer area. The molded cap includes conforming locking stem portions that extend into each of the locking passageways in a manner locking the molded cap to the substrate panel such that during singulation of the device areas, the molded cap will not separate from the substrate panel at the inactive buffer area. In another aspect of the invention, a method for producing the panel assembly having the locking passageways is described.

Abstract: A leadless leadframe semiconductor package having a plurality of contacts, which have contact surfaces on the bottom surface of the package. At least some of the contacts have integrally formed stems that extend outward to the peripheral surface of the package. These stems have heights and widths less than the heights and widths of their corresponding contacts. A molded cap encapsulates at least a portion of the die, the stems and the contacts. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a leadless leadframe panel assembly having a conductive substrate panel that has at least one array of device areas, each array of device areas having a plurality of tie bars and a plurality of contacts. The contacts also have integrally formed stems that extend towards and connect to one of the tie bars. The stems have widths and heights that are less than the widths and heights of their corresponding contacts.

Abstract: A flip chip semiconductor package with an integral heat sink is disclosed as well as a technique for creating individual heat sinks by applying a conductive layer to the back surface of a wafer containing integrated circuitry before singulation. According to one aspect of the invention, an adhesive layer is applied to the back surface of a semiconductor wafer. A layer of conductive material such as copper is then attached to the back surface of the wafer using the previously applied adhesive. The wafer is then singulated to create individual semiconductor packages with superior heat transfer properties.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating leadless packages are described that provide good solder joint reliability. In most respects, the packages are fabricated in a manner similar to current lead frame based leadless packaging techniques. However, at some point in the process, the contacts are provided with undercut regions that are left exposed during solder plating so that the solder plating also covers the exposed side and undercut segments of the contacts. When the resultant devices are soldered to an appropriate substrate (after singulation), each resulting solder joint includes a fillet that adheres very well to the undercut portion of contact. This provides a high quality solder joint that can be visually inspected from the side of the package.

Abstract: A semiconductor package is provided with an internal package formed in the cavity of the external leadless leadframe package (LLP). The internal package is a leadless leadframe package and provides a substrate for mounting one or more die and passive devices to form the external LLP. By arranging the die and passive components on the internal package, higher chip density and a smaller form factor may be achieved.