Abstract: A method and apparatus electrically coupling input/output bond pads that are disposed proximate to one another on a microelectronic device. The apparatus includes a microelectronic device having at least two conductive input/output bond pads electrically coupled to an integrated circuit of the microelectronic device and first and second conductive stud balls bonded to first and second input/output pads, respectively, and a third conductive stud ball bonded to the first and second conductive stud balls. A wire bonding tool in “stud ball” mode is utilized to bond the conductive stud balls.

Abstract: The present invention allows non-wafer form devices to be tested on a standard automatic wafer-probe tester or other automated test or measurement device commonly employed in semiconductor or allied industries (e.g., flat panel display, data storage, or the like) processes. The present invention accomplishes this by providing a low-profile carrier for temporarily mounting a non-wafer form device. The low-profile carrier holds the non-wafer form device (e.g., an integrated circuit chip, a thin film head structure, one or more molded array packages, etc.) magnetically into recesses which are machined or otherwise formed in the low-profile carrier.

Abstract: A redistribution metallization scheme combines solder bumps and wire bond pads in addition to existing bond pads to enhance the connectivity of a semiconductor device, especially in flip-chip applications. The fabrication method includes forming the additional bond pads during the redistribution deposition step. The metals used in the redistribution layer provide a solderable surface for solder bumping and a bondable surface for wire bonding.

Abstract: A redistribution metallization scheme combines solder bumps and wire bond pads in addition to existing bond pads to enhance the connectivity of a semiconductor device, especially in flip-chip applications. The fabrication method includes forming the additional bond pads during the redistribution deposition step. The metals used in the redistribution layer provide a solderable surface for solder bumping and a bondable surface for wire bonding.

Abstract: A redistribution metallization scheme combines solder bumps and wire bond pads in addition to existing bond pads to enhance the connectivity of a semiconductor device, especially in flip-chip applications. The fabrication method includes forming the additional bond pads during the redistribution deposition step. The metals used in the redistribution layer provide a solderable surface for solder bumping and a bondable surface for wire bonding.

Abstract: An IC chip package for an image sensitive, integrated circuit semiconductor die incorporates all the components typically found in an imaging module of an electronic camera. The IC chip package consists of a plastic substrate base for holding an image sensor die and a separate, plastic upper cover for encapsulating the image sensor die and holding a filter glass, an optical lens, and providing an aperture for the optical lens. The upper cover has a lower shelf for holding the optical lens in alignment with the aperture opening over the image sensor die, and has an upper shelf for holding the filter glass over the optical lens. The lens is attached to the lower shelf using UV cure adhesive, and its focal distance to the image sensor die is determined by first electrically activating the image sensor die, adjusting the lens position to identify the optimal focus sharpness, and then applying UV light to activate the UV cure adhesive and hold the lens in focus.

Abstract: A redistribution metallization scheme combines solder bumps and wire bond pads in addition to existing bond pads to enhance the connectivity of a semiconductor device, especially in flip-chip applications. The fabrication method includes forming the additional bond pads during the redistribution deposition step. The metals used in the redistribution layer provide a solderable surface for solder bumping and a bondable surface for wire bonding.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit at the wafer level. The integrated circuit package occupies a minimum amount of space on an end-use printed circuit board. A pre-fabricated interposer substrate, made of metal circuitry and a dielectric base, has a plurality of metallized openings which are aligned with metallized wirebond pads on the top surface of a silicon wafer. Solder, or conductive adhesive, is deposited through the metallized openings to form the electrical connection between the circuitry on the interposer layer and the circuitry on the wafer. Solder balls are then placed on the metal pad openings on the interposer substrate and are reflowed to form a wafer-level BGA structure. The wafer-level BGA structure is then cut into individual BGA chip packages.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package that is formed at the wafer level. The integrated circuit package occupies a minimum amount of space on an end-use printed circuit board. A pre-fabricated interposer substrate, made of metal circuitry and a dielectric base, has a plurality of metallized openings which are aligned with metallized wirebond pads on the top surface of a silicon wafer. Solder, or conductive adhesive, is deposited through the metallized openings to form the electrical connection between the circuitry on the interposer layer and the circuitry on the wafer. Solder balls are then placed on the metal pad openings on the interposer substrate and are reflowed to form a wafer-level BGA structure. The wafer-level BGA structure is then cut into individual BGA chip packages.

Abstract: A diual-die integrated circuit package having two integrated circuit chips “flip chip” attached to each other and with one of the chips being aligned at a specified angle in relation to the other chip to allow access to bonding pads on the surface of each chip for wirebonding connection into the chip package. In a first embodiment, the two chips are rectangular in shape and are aligned at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other, thus allowing the end portions of the bottom chip to be accessible for connection into the chip package. Other embodiments maintain the chips at angles of less than 90 degrees, such that corner portions of each chip are accessible for connection into the chip package. The invention allows two identically constructed chips to be used for doubling or even greater multiplication of the functionality or memory of the IC package, while still using the same package footprint as for a single chip.

Abstract: A redistribution metallization scheme combines solder bumps and wire bond pads in addition to existing bond pads to enhance the connectivity of a semiconductor device, especially in flip-chip applications. The fabrication method includes forming the additional bond pads during the redistribution deposition step. The metals used in the redistribution layer provide a solderable surface for solder bumping and a bondable surface for wire bonding.

Abstract: A wafer level packaging method which produces a stacked dual/multiple die integrated circuit package. In the method, the wafer with the smaller sized dice of two wafers is processed through a metal redistribution process and then solder balls are attached. The wafer is then sawed into individual die size ball-grid array packages. On the wafer with the larger sized dice, a die attached adhesive material is deposited on the front of each die site location that is intended for the attachment of one of the die-sized BGA packages. The back side of the BGA die package is placed onto the adhesive material and is cured. A wirebonding operation connects the signals from the die-size BGA package to the circuits of the bottom die. A coating material, such as epoxy, is disposed on the wafer to cover the wirebond leads and the assembly is then cured. Then, the stacked-die wafer is singulated into individual stacked-die IC packages.

Abstract: An IC chip package for an image sensitive, integrated circuit semiconductor die incorporates all the components typically found in an imaging module of an electronic camera. The IC chip package consists of a plastic substrate base for holding an image sensor die and a separate, plastic upper cover for encapsulating the image sensor die and holding a filter glass, an optical lens, and providing an aperture for the optical lens. The upper cover has a lower shelf for holding the optical lens in alignment with the aperture opening over the image sensor die, and has an upper shelf for holding the filter glass over the optical lens. The lens is attached to the lower shelf using UV cure adhesive, and its focal distance to the image sensor die is determined by first electrically activating the image sensor die, adjusting the lens position to identify the optimal focus sharpness, and then applying UV light to activate the UV cure adhesive and hold the lens in focus.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit package at the wafer level. The integrated circuit package occupies a minimum amount of space on an end-use printed circuit board. Solder bumps, or conductive adhesive, is deposited on the metallized wirebond pads on the top surface of a silicon wafer. An underfill-flux material is deposited over the wafer and the solder bumps. A pre-fabricated interposer substrate, made of metal circuitry and a dielectric base, has a plurality of metallized through-holes which are aligned with the solder bumps. The wafer/interposer assembly is reflowed, or cured, to form the electrical connection between the circuitry on the interposer layer and the circuitry on the wafer. Solder balls are then placed on the metal pad openings on the interposer substrate and are reflowed to form a wafer-level BGA structure. The wafer-level BGA structure is then cut into individual BGA chip packages.

Abstract: A dual-die integrated circuit package having two integrated circuit chips “flip chip” attached to each other and with one of the chips being aligned at a specified angle in relation to the other chip to allow access to bonding pads on the surface of each chip for wirebonding connection into the chip package. In a first embodiment, the two chips are rectangular in shape and are aligned at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other, thus allowing the end portions of the bottom chip to be accessible for connection into the chip package. Other embodiments maintain the chips at angles of less than 90 degrees, such that corner portions of each chip are accessible for connection into the chip package. The invention allows two identically constructed chips to be used for doubling or even greater multiplication of the functionality or memory of the IC package, while still using the same package footprint as for a single chip.