Abstract: Electrically conductive barriers for integrated circuits and integrated circuits and methods including the electrically conductive barriers. The integrated circuits include a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor device supported by a device portion of the substrate, and a plurality of bond pads supported by a bond pad portion of the substrate. The integrated circuits also include an electrically conductive barrier that projects away from an intermediate portion of the substrate and is configured to decrease capacitive coupling between the device portion and the bond pad portion. The methods can include methods of manufacturing an integrated circuit. These methods include forming a semiconductor device, forming a plurality of bond pads, forming a plurality of electrically conductive regions, and forming an electrically conductive barrier. The methods also can include methods of operating an integrated circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a packaged semiconductor device that includes a package substrate that in turn includes an embedded die configured to process a radio frequency (RF) signal; a printed circuit board (PCB) attached to a front side of the package substrate, where the PCB includes a cavity; and an antenna enabling element attached to the front side of the package substrate within the cavity, the antenna enabling element configured to convey the RF signal through the cavity.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide for the formation of circuit waveguide interfaces during a wafer-scale die packaging (WSDP) process. Specifically, during the packaging process singulated die are arranged on a wafer-like panel and covered with molding compound that will provide the bodies of the packages. A circuit waveguide interface is formed in the molding compound and subsequent metallization layers. This circuit waveguide interface can include an array of first conductors arranged in the molding compound, and a reflector interface and excitation element formed during metallization.

Abstract: Electrically conductive barriers for integrated circuits and integrated circuits and methods including the electrically conductive barriers. The integrated circuits include a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor device supported by a device portion of the substrate, and a plurality of bond pads supported by a bond pad portion of the substrate. The integrated circuits also include an electrically conductive barrier that projects away from an intermediate portion of the substrate and is configured to decrease capacitive coupling between the device portion and the bond pad portion. The methods can include methods of manufacturing an integrated circuit. These methods include forming a semiconductor device, forming a plurality of bond pads, forming a plurality of electrically conductive regions, and forming an electrically conductive barrier. The methods also can include methods of operating an integrated circuit.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide for the formation of circuit waveguide interfaces during a wafer-scale die packaging (WSDP) process. Specifically, during the packaging process singulated die are arranged on a wafer-like panel and covered with molding compound that will provide the bodies of the packages. A circuit waveguide interface is formed in the molding compound and subsequent metallization layers. This circuit waveguide interface can include an array of first conductors arranged in the molding compound, and a reflector interface and excitation element formed during metallization.

Abstract: An electronic device module as described herein includes an electronic device package having device contacts. The electronic device package is fixed within encapsulating material, along with an electrically conductive ground layer. The ground layer has a device opening in which the electronic device package resides, and the ground layer also has an antenna opening spaced apart from the device opening. The device contacts and one side of the ground layer correspond to a first surface, and a patch antenna element overlies the first surface. The antenna element is coupled to the electronic device package, and a projection of the patch antenna element onto the first surface resides within the antenna opening. Also provided are methods for manufacturing such an electronic device module.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method facilitates heat dissipation from a die assembly. The method includes removing material from a first side of a die of the die assembly to create a set of recesses in the first side of the die, and depositing a metal-containing layer over the first side of the die to form a heat spreader that contains a set of contours that fill the set of recesses. An embodiment of a die assembly fabricated using the method includes an assembly substrate and a die with a set of recesses formed in a first side of the die. The die assembly also includes an encapsulant formed on the assembly substrate that is absent at least over the set of recesses, and a heat spreader affixed to the first side of the die that includes a set of contours that fill the set of recesses in the die.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package (100) includes a heat spreader (503) formed by depositing a first thin film layer (301) of a first metal on a top surface (150) of a die (110) and to exposed portions of a top surface of an encapsulant (208), depositing a second thin film layer (402) of a second metal on a top surface of the first thin film layer, and depositing a third layer (503) of a third metal on a top surface of the second thin film layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package (100) includes a heat spreader (503) formed by depositing a first thin film layer (301) of a first metal on a top surface (150) of a die (110) and to exposed portions of a top surface of an encapsulant (208), depositing a second thin film layer (402) of a second metal on a top surface of the first thin film layer, and depositing a third layer (503) of a third metal on a top surface of the second thin film layer.

Abstract: A mechanism to electrically evaluate signals within an encapsulated semiconductor device package without the need for redesigning the package substrate is provided. Test bond pads are provided on a top surface of a semiconductor device die being placed within the semiconductor device package. One or more wire bonds having an elevated loop height are formed on the test bond pads. After encapsulating the semiconductor device package, the package encapsulant is subject to a backgrind process to expose a portion of the test connection wire bonds. Only an amount of the package encapsulant sufficient to expose each test connection wire bond is removed, so that the remaining encapsulant will continue to have the same effect on the package as would be present in a production device. Test probes can then be applied to the exposed test connection wire bonds.

Abstract: An electronic device can include an interconnect level including a bonding pad region. An insulating layer can overlie the interconnect level and include an opening over the bonding pad region. In one embodiment, a conductive stud can lie within the opening and can be substantially encapsulated. In another embodiment, the electronic device can include a barrier layer lying along a side and a bottom of the opening and a conductive stud lying within the opening. The conductive stud can substantially fill the opening. A majority of the conductive stud can lie within the opening. In still another embodiment, a process for forming an electronic device can include forming a conductive stud within the opening wherein from a top view, the conductive stud lies substantially completely within the opening. The process can also include forming a second barrier layer overlying the conductive stud.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for forming a device comprising a conductive substrate, a micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) structure, and a plurality of bond pads. The conductive substrate has a first side and a second side, the second side opposite the first side. The MEMS structure is formed over the first side of the conductive substrate. The plurality of bond pads are formed over the first side of the conductive substrate and electrically coupled to the first side of the conductive substrate. The conductive substrate and plurality of bond pads function to provide electrostatic shielding to the MEMS structure.

Abstract: An electronic device module as described herein includes an electronic device package having device contacts. The electronic device package is fixed within encapsulating material, along with an electrically conductive ground layer. The ground layer has a device opening in which the electronic device package resides, and the ground layer also has an antenna opening spaced apart from the device opening. The device contacts and one side of the ground layer correspond to a first surface, and a patch antenna element overlies the first surface. The antenna element is coupled to the electronic device package, and a projection of the patch antenna element onto the first surface resides within the antenna opening. Also provided are methods for manufacturing such an electronic device module.

Abstract: An electronic device module as described herein includes an electronic device package having device contacts. The electronic device module can be manufactured by providing an electrically conductive ground plane having a device opening for an electronic device package, and having an antenna ground section. The manufacturing method continues by embedding the ground plane and the electronic device package in encapsulating material such that device contacts of the electronic device package and a first side of the ground plane reside at a device mounting surface. Thereafter, an antenna circuit structure is formed overlying the device mounting surface. The antenna circuit structure includes an antenna signal element that cooperates with the antenna ground section to form an integrated antenna for the electronic device module.

Abstract: A shielding structure is provided for shielding a signal path extending between a first layer and a second layer in an electronic device at a transition region with a transition that extends in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The shielding structure includes a shielding structure portion, which includes a first shielding via in proximity to a first area of the signal path at the transition; a second shielding via in proximity to a second area of the signal path at the transition; and an area metallization electrically coupled to the first shielding via.

Abstract: A device comprises a conductive substrate, a micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) structure, and a plurality of bond pads. The conductive substrate has a first side and a second side, the second side opposite the first side. The MEMS structure is formed over the first side of the conductive substrate. The plurality of bond pads are formed over the first side of the conductive substrate and electrically coupled to the first side of the conductive substrate. The conductive substrate and plurality of bond pads function to provide electrostatic shielding to the MEMS structure.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for forming a device comprising a conductive substrate, a micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) structure, and a plurality of bond pads. The conductive substrate has a first side and a second side, the second side opposite the first side. The MEMS structure is formed over the first side of the conductive substrate. The plurality of bond pads are formed over the first side of the conductive substrate and electrically coupled to the first side of the conductive substrate. The conductive substrate and plurality of bond pads function to provide electrostatic shielding to the MEMS structure.

Abstract: A method of packaging an electronic device includes providing a patterned dielectric layer with an area sized to receive a first die, and another area sized to receive a second die, placing the first and second dies within the first and second areas, encapsulating the dies with an encapsulating material that has a different composition from the dielectric layer, forming a first signal line between the dies, forming a second signal line to the first die, and forming an additional signal line to the first die. The dielectric layer is disposed between the first signal line and the encapsulating material, the electronic device transmits a signal in an approximate range of 1 GHz to 100 GHz along the second signal line, and a signal that does not exceed approximately 900 MHz along the additional signal line.

Abstract: An embodiment of a calibration standard includes a substrate, a set of conductive structures fabricated on the substrate, and a conductive end structure fabricated on the substrate. The set of conductive structures include an inner conductive structure, a first outer conductive structure positioned to one side of the inner conductive structure, and a second outer conductive structure positioned to an opposite side of the inner conductive structure. The inner and outer conductive structures are aligned in parallel with each other along offset principal axes of the inner and outer conductive structures. The conductive end structure is electrically connected between an end of the first outer conductive structure and an end of the second outer conductive structure, and the conductive end structure is spatially separated from an end of the inner conductive structure at the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A microelectronic assembly and a method for forming a microelectronic assembly are provided. A semiconductor substrate is provided. The semiconductor substrate has first and second opposing sides and first and second portions. A tuning depression is formed on the second opposing side and the second portion of the semiconductor substrate. A radio frequency conductor is formed on the first opposing side of the first semiconductor substrate. The radio frequency conductor has a first end on the first portion of the first semiconductor substrate and a second end on the second portion of the first semiconductor substrate. A microelectronic die having an integrated circuit formed therein is attached to the first opposing side and the first portion of the semiconductor substrate such that the integrated circuit is electrically connected to the first end of the radio frequency conductor.