Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging semiconductor devices. Disclosed are multi-die packaging apparatuses and techniques, especially useful for integrated circuit dice involving insulative substrates, such as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), where grounding of a base layer is not reasonably practical. Disclosed is a means for effectively grounding all layers of an integrated circuit device regardless of whether the device makes direct contact with a die-attach paddle.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging semiconductor devices. The apparatus includes a substrate strip component of a leadless three-dimensional stackable semiconductor package having mounting contacts on, for example, four peripheral edges. The substrate strip may either be fabricated for mounting a single electrical component (e.g., an integrated circuit die) or a plurality of substrate strips may be laid out in an X-Y matrix pattern which may later be singulated into individual package strip for leadless packages. Three-dimensional stacking is achieved by a bonding area on an uppermost portion of the sidewall. The sidewall of the strip is high enough to enclose an encapsulant covering a later mounted integrated circuit die and associated bonding wires.

Abstract: A method of packaging an integrated circuit die including forming a mask window having a first aperture with a first set of alignment edges and forming an alignment feature on an uppermost surface of the integrated circuit die where the alignment feature has a second set of alignment edges. The alignment feature is inserted into the first aperture. The integrated circuit die is mechanically biased until the first and second set of alignment edges are in physical contact with one another and the alignment feature is secured into the mask window, thus forming an integrated circuit die assembly.

Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly comprises an integrated circuit die, and a routable metal layer comprising metal traces linking a plurality of wire bond pads to a plurality of external connection pads such that the metal traces are routable under the die area. An electrically nonconductive adhesive layer couples the integrated circuit die to the routable metal layer, and a plurality of wire bonds link circuitry on the integrated circuit die to the wire bond pads in the routable metal layer. An overfill material encapsulates at least the integrated circuit die and the plurality of wire bonds, and a plurality of solder balls are formed on the plurality of external connection pads.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for packaging semiconductor devices are disclosed. The apparatus is applicable to many types of contemporary packaging schemes that utilize a sacrificial metal base strip. Tunnels formed through an encapsulation area surrounding the device and associated bond wires are filled with a metallic conductor by, for example, electroplating, and extend bottom contact pads to an uppermost portion of the encapsulated area. The sacrificial metal base strip serves as a plating bus and is etch-removed after plating. The filled tunnels allow components to be stacked in a three-dimensional configuration.

Abstract: An electrical package for an integrated circuit die which comprises a die-attach paddle for mounting the integrated circuit die. The die-attach paddle has at least one down-set area located on a periphery of the die-attach paddle. The down-set area has an upper surface and a lower surface, with the upper surface configured to electrically couple a first end of a first electrically conductive lead wire. A second end of the first electrically conductive lead wire is bonded to the integrated circuit die. The upper surface is further configured to electrically couple a first end of a second electrically conductive lead wire and a second end of the second electrically conductive lead wire is bonded to a lead finger of the electrical package.

Abstract: An electrical package for an integrated circuit die which comprises a die-attach paddle for mounting the integrated circuit die. The die-attach paddle has at least one down-set area located on a periphery of the die-attach paddle. The down-set area has an upper surface and a lower surface, with the upper surface configured to electrically couple a first end of a first electrically conductive lead wire. A second end of the first electrically conductive lead wire is bonded to the integrated circuit die. The upper surface is further configured to electrically couple a first end of a second electrically conductive lead wire and a second end of the second electrically conductive lead wire is bonded to a lead finger of the electrical package.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging semiconductor devices. The apparatus is a three-dimensional electronic package comprising one or more electronic components, a plurality of electrical contact pads, and a plurality of electrically conductive three-dimensional plugs formed through an encapsulant. Specific ones of the plurality of electrical contact pads are electrically coupled to the one or more electronic components on an uppermost surface of the plurality of electrical contact pads. The encapsulant is formed over and covers the one or more electronic devices. The plurality of three-dimensional plugs have a first end extending from at least the uppermost portion of one or more of the plurality of electrical contact pads and a second end extending substantially to an uppermost surface of the encapsulant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for incorporating discrete passive components into an integrated circuit package. A first surface of a substrate is coated with a material to mechanically protect the first surface. A first metal layer and then an insulating layer are formed on a second surface of the substrate. Selected areas are removed from the insulating and a second metal layer is formed over the insulating layer and the exposed metal layer. Selected areas of the second metal layer are removed to form a plurality of structures, including at least one of a wirebonding pad, a solder-bonding pad, a device interconnect circuit, or an attach pad to which an electronic component may be attached. An electronic component may be attached to at least one of the structures. The resulting integrated circuit die may be incorporated into an electronic package.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging semiconductor devices. The apparatus is a three-dimensional electronic package comprising one or more electronic components, a plurality of electrical contact pads, and a plurality of electrically conductive three-dimensional plugs formed through an encapsulant. Specific ones of the plurality of electrical contact pads are electrically coupled to the one or more electronic components on an uppermost surface of the plurality of electrical contact pads. The encapsulant is formed over and covers the one or more electronic devices. The plurality of three-dimensional plugs have a first end extending from at least the uppermost portion of one or more of the plurality of electrical contact pads and a second end extending substantially to an uppermost surface of the encapsulant.

Abstract: A method of packaging an integrated circuit die including forming a mask window having a first aperture with a first set of alignment edges and forming an alignment feature on an uppermost surface of the integrated circuit die where the alignment feature has a second set of alignment edges. The alignment feature is inserted into the first aperture. The integrated circuit die is mechanically biased until the first and second set of alignment edges are in physical contact with one another and the alignment feature is secured into the mask window, thus forming an integrated circuit die assembly.

Abstract: An electronic multi-component package is assembled by placing multiple electronic components within multiple openings of a package substrate, then depositing and curing adhesive filler in gaps between the components and the inner peripheries of the openings. Circuit features, including conductive interconnects, are formed by thin-film photolithography over both front and back surfaces of the package substrate. Preformed conductive vias through the package substrate provide electrical connection between circuit features on opposite substrate surfaces. Additional electronic components may be attached to conductive lands on at least one side of the package. The circuit features also include contact pads for external package connections, such as in a ball-grid-array or equivalent structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for producing three-dimensional integrated circuit packages. In one embodiment, an electronics package with at least two dice are stacked one atop another is disclosed. A top die is of smaller size compared with a bottom die such that after a die attach operation, wire-bond pads of the bottom die will be exposed for a subsequent wire bonding operation. The bottom die contains contact pads on the front side that couple with one or more passive components fabricated on the back side of the top die to complete the circuit. In another exemplary embodiment, a method to form one or more three-dimensional passive components in a stacked-die package is disclosed wherein partial inductor elements are fabricated on the front side of the bottom die and the back side of the top die. The top and bottom elements are coupled together completing the passive component.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging semiconductor devices. The apparatus includes a substrate strip component of a leadless three-dimensional stackable semiconductor package having mounting contacts on, for example, four peripheral edges. The substrate strip may either be fabricated for mounting a single electrical component (e.g., an integrated circuit die) or a plurality of substrate strips may be laid out in an X-Y matrix pattern which may later be singulated into individual package strip for leadless packages. Three-dimensional stacking is achieved by a bonding area on an uppermost portion of the sidewall. The sidewall of the strip is high enough to enclose an encapsulant covering a later mounted integrated circuit die and associated bonding wires.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging semiconductor devices. Disclosed are multi-die packaging apparatuses and techniques, especially useful for integrated circuit dice involving insulative substrates, such as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), where grounding of a base layer is not reasonably practical. Disclosed is a means for effectively grounding all layers of an integrated circuit device regardless of whether the device makes direct contact with a die-attach paddle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for incorporating discrete passive components into an integrated circuit package. A metal layer is formed over a surface of a substrate. A layer of photosensitive material is then formed over the metal layer. Using standard photolithographic processing, a pattern is formed with the photosensitive material to expose at least one region of the metal layer. The remaining photosensitive material protects the underlying metal during metal etching. The substrate is then subjected to a metal etching process to remove the metal that is not protected by the photosensitive material. The remaining photosensitive material is then removed from each remaining area of the metal layer. The discrete passive components can then be attached to the formed metal lands.

Abstract: An electrical package for an integrated circuit die which comprises a die-attach paddle for mounting the integrated circuit die. The die-attach paddle has at least one down-set area located on a periphery of the die-attach paddle. The down-set area has an upper surface and a lower surface, with the upper surface configured to electrically couple a first end of a first electrically conductive lead wire. A second end of the first electrically conductive lead wire is bonded to the integrated circuit die. The upper surface is further configured to electrically couple a first end of a second electrically conductive lead wire and a second end of the second electrically conductive lead wire is bonded to a lead finger of the electrical package.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging semiconductor devices. The apparatus is a three-dimensional electronic package comprising one or more electronic components, a plurality of electrical contact pads, and a plurality of electrically conductive three-dimensional plugs formed through an encapsulant. Specific ones of the plurality of electrical contact pads are electrically coupled to the one or more electronic components on an uppermost surface of the plurality of electrical contact pads. The encapsulant is formed over and covers the one or more electronic devices. The plurality of three-dimensional plugs have a first end extending from at least the uppermost portion of one or more of the plurality of electrical contact pads and a second end extending substantially to an uppermost surface of the encapsulant.

Abstract: A device for electrically interconnecting one or more semiconductor devices to provide for flexibility in wiring and preventing long or shorted leads and methods for fabricating and using same. The device has a substrate with a plurality of substantially concentric electrically-conductive paths, each of the plurality of electrically-conductive paths being electrically isolated from each other and formed on a first surface of the substrate. At least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive paths is arranged concentrically so as to substantially span a width of the first surface of the substrate. A plurality of bonding pads is electrically coupled to each of the electrically-conductive paths. The plurality of bonding pads is coupled to one of the electrically-conductive paths and is electrically isolated from bonding pads located on any other electrically-conductive path. The entire interconnect device may be mounted in a standard leadframe product.

Abstract: A device for electrically interconnecting one or more semiconductor devices to provide for flexibility in wiring and preventing long or shorted leads and methods for fabricating and using same. The device has a substrate with a plurality of substantially concentric electrically-conductive paths, each of the plurality of electrically-conductive paths being electrically isolated from each other and formed on a first surface of the substrate. At least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive paths is arranged concentrically so as to substantially span a width of the first surface of the substrate. A plurality of bonding pads is electrically coupled to each of the electrically-conductive paths. The plurality of bonding pads is coupled to one of the electrically-conductive paths and is electrically isolated from bonding pads located on any other electrically-conductive path. The entire interconnect device may be mounted in a standard leadframe product.