Abstract: A via in a printed circuit board is composed of a patterned metal layer that extends through a hole in dielectric laminate material that has been covered with catalytic adhesive material on both faces of the dielectric laminate material. The layer of catalytic adhesive coats a portion of the dielectric laminate material around the hole. The patterned metal layer is placed over the catalytic adhesive material on both faces of the dielectric laminate material and within the hole.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a laminate substrate. The laminate substrate includes catalytic material that resists metal plating except where a surface of the catalytic material is ablated. Metal traces are formed within in trace channels within the laminate substrate. The channels extend below the surface of the catalytic material.

Abstract: Wafer level packaging includes a first layer of a catalytic adhesive on a wafer surface. The catalytic adhesive includes catalytic particles that will reduce electroless copper (Cu) from Cu++ to Cu. Metal traces are formed in trace channels within the first layer of catalytic adhesive. The trace channels extend below a surface of the first layer of the catalytic material. The trace metals traces are also in contact with integrated circuit pads on the surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A via in a printed circuit board is composed of a patterned metal layer that extends through a hole in dielectric laminate material. A layer of catalytic adhesive coats walls within the hole. The patterned metal layer is placed over the catalytic adhesive within the hole.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a laminate substrate. The laminate substrate includes catalytic core material that resists metal plating except where a surface of the catalytic material is ablated. Metal traces are formed within in trace channels within the laminate substrate. The channels extend below the surface of the catalytic material.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a laminate substrate. The laminate substrate includes catalytic material that resists metal plating except where a surface of the catalytic material is ablated. Metal traces are formed within in trace channels within the laminate substrate. The channels extend below the surface of the catalytic material.

Abstract: A via in a printed circuit board is composed of a patterned metal layer that extends through a hole in dielectric laminate material that has been covered with catalytic adhesive material on both faces of the dielectric laminate material. The layer of catalytic adhesive coats a portion of the dielectric laminate material around the hole. The patterned metal layer is placed over the catalytic adhesive material on both faces of the dielectric laminate material and within the hole.

Abstract: A compliant layer is provided over a face of an undiced semiconductor wafer to form a portion of said compliant layer over each of a plurality of semiconductor chips integral with one another in the undiced wafer, each semiconductor chip having a plurality of contacts at its face. The compliant layer has a bottom surface adjacent the chip face, a top surface facing away from the bottom surface, and a sloping surface between the top and bottom surfaces. Bond ribbons of electrically conductive material are formed each extending from a contact of a respective semiconductor chip, along the sloping surface and the top surface of a portion of the compliant layer to a terminal supported by the top surface of the compliant layer. The packages are then separated from one another by dicing the wafer at semiconductor chip boundaries.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip package is fabricated including providing a compliant layer over a contact bearing face of a semiconductor chip, with a bottom surface of the compliant layer adjacent that chip face, a top surface facing away from the bottom surface, and at least one sloping surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. Bond ribbons can be formed atop the compliant layer, each bond ribbon electrically coupling one of the contacts with an associated conductive terminal at the top surface of the compliant layer. A bond ribbon can include a strip extending along the sloping surface. The strip may have a substantially constant thickness in a direction away from the sloping surface.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor chip package is provided in which a compliant layer is provided over a contact bearing face of a semiconductor chip. The compliant layer can have a bottom surface adjacent to the chip face, a top surface facing away from the bottom surface, and at least one sloping surface between the top and bottom surfaces. The compliant layer can be disposed remote in a lateral direction along the contact bearing face from at least one contact adjacent to the sloping surface. Bond ribbons can be formed atop the compliant layer, wherein each bond ribbon electrically connects one of the contacts to an associated conductive terminal at the top surface of the compliant layer. The compliant layer can provide stress relief to the bond ribbons, such as during handling and affixing the assembly to an external substrate.

Abstract: A compliant semiconductor chip package assembly includes a semiconductor chip having a plurality of chip contacts, and a compliant layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and sloping peripheral edges, whereby the bottom surface of the compliant layer overlies a surface of the semiconductor chip. The assembly also includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces connected to the chip contacts of the semiconductor chip, the traces extending along the sloping edges to the top surface of the compliant layer. The assembly may include conductive terminals overlying the semiconductor chip, with the compliant layer supporting the conductive terminals over the semiconductor chip. The conductive traces have first ends electrically connected with the contacts of the semiconductor chip and second ends electrically connected with the conductive terminals. The conductive terminals are movable relative to the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A compliant semiconductor chip package assembly includes a semiconductor chip having a plurality of chip contacts, and a compliant layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and sloping peripheral edges, whereby the bottom surface of the compliant layer overlies a surface of the semiconductor chip. The assembly also includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces connected to the chip contacts of the semiconductor chip, the traces extending along the sloping edges to the top surface of the compliant layer. The assembly may include conductive terminals overlying the semiconductor chip, with the compliant layer supporting the conductive terminals over the semiconductor chip. The conductive traces have first ends electrically connected with the contacts of the semiconductor chip and second ends electrically connected with the conductive terminals. The conductive terminals are movable relative to the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A compliant semiconductor chip package assembly includes a a semiconductor chip having a plurality of chip contacts, and a compliant layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and sloping peripheral edges, whereby the bottom surface of the compliant layer overlies a surface of the semiconductor chip. The assembly also includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces connected to the chip contacts of the semiconductor chip, the traces extending along the sloping edges to the top surface of the compliant layer. The assembly may include conductive terminals overlying the semiconductor chip, with the compliant layer supporting the conductive terminals over the semiconductor chip. The conductive traces have first ends electrically connected with the contacts of the semiconductor chip and second ends electrically connected with the conductive terminals. The conductive terminals are movable relative to the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor chip package is provided in which a compliant layer is provided over a contact bearing face of a semiconductor chip. The compliant layer can have a bottom surface adjacent to the chip face, a top surface facing away from the bottom surface, and at least one sloping surface between the top and bottom surfaces. The compliant layer can be disposed remote in a lateral direction along the contact bearing face from at least one contact adjacent to the sloping surface. Bond ribbons can be formed atop the compliant layer, wherein each bond ribbon electrically connects one of the contacts to an associated conductive terminal at the top surface of the compliant layer. The compliant layer can provide stress relief to the bond ribbons, such as during handling and affixing the assembly to an external substrate.

Abstract: A self-cleaning socket for contacting terminals on a microelectronic device wherein the first end of compliant tubular contactors rotate and wipe against terminals urged downwardly against the first end of the contactors. A rotational wipe of a contactor against a mating terminal breaks through any surface contamination layers on the terminal, thereby producing good electrical contact therebetween. Rotation of the first end of a contactor is caused by a downward deflection of a collar supported by two or more helical legs along a midsection of the contactor. Deflection of the collar distorts the resilient helical legs, each of which exerts a force on the collar which add up to produce a torsional force on the collar, thereby providing a rotational wipe in response to a downward urging of a terminal against the contactor. A void along the axis of the tubular contactor provides a reservoir to hold debris dislodged from the terminal and to keep the debris from interfering with operation of the contactor.

Abstract: A microelectronic assembly includes a microelectronic element such as a semiconductor chip or wafer having a first surface and contacts accessible at the first surface, a compliant layer overlying the first surface of the microelectronic element, and conductive protrusions overlying the compliant layer and projecting away from the first surface of the microelectronic element, wherein the conductive protrusions are electrically interconnected with the contacts of the microelectronic element. The conductive protrusions are movable relative to said microelectronic element.

Abstract: A microelectronic assembly includes a microelectronic element such as a semiconductor chip or wafer having a first surface and contacts accessible at the first surface, a compliant layer overlying the first surface of the microelectronic element, and conductive protrusions overlying the compliant layer and projecting away from the first surface of the microelectronic element, wherein the conductive protrusions are electrically interconnected with the contacts of the microelectronic element. The conductive protrusions are movable relative to said microelectronic element.

Abstract: A compliant semiconductor chip package assembly includes a a semiconductor chip having a plurality of chip contacts, and a compliant layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and sloping peripheral edges, whereby the bottom surface of the compliant layer overlies a surface of the semiconductor chip. The assembly also includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces connected to the chip contacts of the semiconductor chip, the traces extending along the sloping edges to the top surface of the compliant layer. The assembly may include conductive terminals overlying the semiconductor chip, with the compliant layer supporting the conductive terminals over the semiconductor chip. The conductive traces have first ends electrically connected with the contacts of the semiconductor chip and second ends electrically connected with the conductive terminals. The conductive terminals are movable relative to the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A connection component for making connections to a microelectronic element is made by providing leads on a surface of a polymeric layer and etching the polymeric layer to partially detach the leads from the polymeric layer, leaving a portion of each lead releasably connected to the polymeric layer by a small polymeric connecting element which can be broken or peeled away from the lead. Leads in a connecting element may be covered by an insulating jacket applied by a coating process, and the insulating jacket may in turn be covered by a conductive layer so that each lead becomes a miniature coaxial cable. This arrangement provides immunity to interference and facilitates operation at high speeds.

Abstract: A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having contacts accessible at a surface thereof, a layer overlying the microelectronic element, the layer having a first surface and a sloping peripheral edge extending away from the first surface of the layer, and conductive terminals overlying the microelectronic element, wherein the layer supports the conductive terminals over the microelectronic element. The package also includes conductive traces having first ends electrically connected with the contacts of the microelectronic element and second ends electrically connected with the conductive terminals, with at least one of the conductive traces having a section that is in contact with and extends along the sloping peripheral edge of the layer, and a compliant material disposed between the conductive terminals and the microelectronic element so that the conductive terminals are movable relative to the microelectronic element.