Abstract: A method of packaging a pressure sensing die includes providing a lead frame with lead fingers and attaching the pressure sensing die to the lead fingers such that bond pads of the die are electrically coupled to the lead fingers and a void is formed between the die and the lead fingers. A gel material is dispensed via an underside of the lead frame into the void such that the gel material substantially fills the void. The gel material is then cured and the die and the lead frame are encapsulated with a mold compound. The finished package does not include a metal lid.

Abstract: A semiconductor sensor die is packaged with a footed lid that has side walls and a top portion with a central hole. Gel material is dispensed into a cavity formed by the side walls such that it covers the die prior to attaching the lid top portion.

Abstract: A method of packaging a pressure sensor die includes providing a lead frame having a die pad and lead fingers that surround the die pad. A tape is attached to a first side of the lead frame. A pressure sensor die is attached to the die pad on a second side of the lead frame and bond pads of the die are connected to the lead fingers. An encapsulant is dispensed onto the second side of the lead frame and covers the lead fingers and the electrical connections thereto. A gel is dispensed onto a top surface of the die and covers the die bond pads and the electrical connections thereto. A lid is attached to the lead frame and covers the die and the gel, and sides of the lid penetrate the encapsulant.

Abstract: A method of packaging a pressure sensor die that does not use pre-molded lead frames. Instead a lead frame array is attached to a tape and a non-conductive material is deposited on the lead frames. The non-conductive material is cured and the tape is removed. Pressure sensor dies then are attached to respective die pads of the lead frames and electrically connected to lead frame leads with bond wires. A gel is dispensed onto a top surface of the pressure sensor dies and then a lid is attached to each of the lead frames to cover the pressure sensor dies. The lead frames are singulated to form individual pressure sensor packages.

Abstract: A method of packaging a pressure sensing die includes providing a lead frame with lead fingers and attaching the pressure sensing die to the lead fingers such that bond pads of the die are electrically coupled to the lead fingers and a void is formed between the die and the lead fingers. A gel material is dispensed via an underside of the lead frame into the void such that the gel material substantially fills the void. The gel material is then cured and the die and the lead frame are encapsulated with a mold compound. The finished package does not include a metal lid.

Abstract: A wire capable of conducting electrical current has a polymer core and a coating layer surrounding the core. The coating layer, which may be, for example, gold or copper, conducts electrical current and the core provides strength so that the wire is able to withstand bending and breakage. Among other things, the polymer core wire is useful for connecting an integrated circuit to a lead frame or substrate.

Abstract: A method of attaching a solder ball to a bonding pad includes disposing flux on the bonding pad, attaching a conductive metal ring to the pad using the flux, and placing the solder ball in the ring. A reflow operation is performed that secures the ring to the pad and melts the solder ball into and around the ring. A solder joint is formed between solder ball and the pad, with the ring secured within the ball. Use of the ring allows for higher stand-off height to be achieved with similar solder ball size, without having to use bigger ball size as in the conventional method, which causes solder ball bridging. With higher stand-off height, better board level reliability performance can be obtained.

Abstract: A semiconductor die has a polyimide layer disposed on its top surface. At the corners of the die top, the polyimide layer is roughened or patterned, but not enough such that the die top is exposed. The patterned corners enhance adhesion of a mold compound later disposed on the die top by allowing for enhanced hydrogen bonding between the polyimide layer and the mold compound.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor package including providing a substrate having a through hole formed therein. A tape is attached to a surface of the substrate such that the through hole is covered by the tape. An integrated circuit (IC) die is attached to the tape. The IC die is electrically connected to the substrate via a plurality of electrical connections. The IC die and the electrical connections are encapsulated and the tape is removed from the substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer for dicing includes providing a semiconductor wafer including a substrate and a plurality of upper layers on the substrate that form a formation of die areas. The formation is arranged so that adjacent die areas are separated by a path for a dicing tool. Within each path, a pair of spaced apart lines is fabricated. Each line defines a dicing edge of a respective path and has at least one trench extending between a top surface of the wafer and the substrate. Each trench is filled with a stress absorbing material for reducing die tool induced stress on the die areas during dicing.

Abstract: A method of attaching a solder ball to a bonding pad includes disposing flux on the bonding pad, attaching a conductive metal ring to the pad using the flux, and placing the solder ball in the ring. A reflow operation is performed that secures the ring to the pad and melts the solder ball into and around the ring. A solder joint is formed between solder ball and the pad, with the ring secured within the ball. Use of the ring allows for higher stand-off height to be achieved with similar solder ball size, without having to use bigger ball size as in the conventional method, which causes solder ball bridging. With higher stand-off height, better board level reliability performance can be obtained.

Abstract: A method for forming reinforced interconnects or bumps on a substrate includes first forming a support structure on the substrate. A substantially filled capsule is then formed around the support structure to form an interconnect. The interconnect can reach a height of up to 300 microns.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer for dicing includes providing a semiconductor wafer including a substrate and a plurality of upper layers on the substrate that form a formation of die areas. The formation is arranged so that adjacent die areas are separated by a path for a dicing tool within each path, a pair of spaced apart lines is fabricated. Each line defines a dicing edge of a respective path and has at least one trench extending between a top surface of the wafer and the substrate. Each trench is filled with a stress absorbing material for reducing die tool induced stress on the die areas during dicing.

Abstract: A bond pad (12, 14) for a semiconductor device (10) is generally L-shaped and includes a first portion (20, 24) for receiving a bond wire, and a second portion (22, 26) extending substantially perpendicularly from the first portion (20, 24). The bond pad (12) may include a third portion (16, 18) adjacent to the first portion (20). The third portion (16, 18) may be an embedded power pad (16) or an embedded ground pad (18).

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor package (50 and 52) includes providing a substrate (14) having a die pad and bond pads on a first surface (20) and conductive pads (66, 68 and 74) on a second surface (22). An integrated circuit (IC) die (38) is attached to the die pad and the first surface (20) of the substrate (14) is attached to a lead frame (26). The substrate (14) is electrically connected to the lead frame (26), and the IC die (38) is electrically connected to the substrate (14) and the lead frame (26). The IC die (14), the electrical connections (40, 42 and 44), a portion of the substrate (14) and a portion of the lead frame (26) are encapsulated with a mold compound (46), forming a stackable package (48). The conductive pads (66, 68 and 74) on the second surface (22) of the substrate (14) are not encapsulated by the mold compound (46).

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor package (32) includes etching a conductive sheet (10) to form a first interconnection system (12). An integrated circuit (IC) die (22) is placed on and electrically connected to the first interconnection system (12). Next, a molding operation is performed to encapsulate the IC die (22), the electrical connections (24, 26) and at least a portion of the first interconnection system (12). A portion (20) of the conductive sheet (10) is then removed to expose a surface (30) of the first interconnection system (12). A second interconnection system (34) then is formed over the exposed surface (30) of the first interconnection system (12).

Abstract: An improved method of bonding an insulated wire (14) that has one end connected to a first bond pad (16) to a second bond pad (18) includes moving a tip of a capillary (20) holding the bond wire (14) over the surface of the second bond pad (18) such that the bond wire (14) is rubbed between the capillary tip (20) and the second bond pad (18), which tears the bond wire insulation so that at least a portion of a metal core of the wire (14) contacts the second bond pad (18). The wire (14) is then bonded to the second pad (18) using thermocompression bonding. The tip of the capillary (20) is roughened to enhance the tearing of the bond wire insulation.

Abstract: A method of making a reinforced semiconductor package includes forming a semiconductor interconnect tablet (24). Formation of the tablet includes providing a plurality of conductive metal tabs (10), positioning a first end (12) of the tabs (10) in a first section of a mold chase (14), positioning a second section of the mold chase (16) over a second end (18) of the tabs (10), such that the tabs (10) are anchored between the first and second sections (14, 16) of the mold chase, loading the first and second sections (14, 16) of the mold chase into a molding system (20) and performing a molding operation such that a plastic mold compound (22) is formed around the metal tabs (10) and an interconnect tablet (24) is formed. Then the first and second sections (14, 16) of the mold chase are removed from the molding system (20) and the interconnect tablet (24) is removed from the first and second sections (14, 16) of the mold chase.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is packaged using a package substrate that has a bottom side with a regular array of connection points and a top side with the integrated circuit on it. Vias in the package substrate provide electrical connection between the top and bottom sides. The vias have a via capture pad to which a wire may be wire bonded so that the wires from the IC to the substrate top side directly contact the vias at their capture pads without the need for traces from a top side bond pad to a via. The via capture pad is shaped to include at least one sharp edge to improve the ability of a wirebonder with pattern recognition software to locate the capture pad and place the wire.

Abstract: An integrated circuit die (10) has a copper contact (16, 18), which, upon exposure to the ambient air, forms a native copper oxide. An organic material is applied to the copper contact which reacts with the native copper oxide to form an organic coating (12, 14) on the copper contact in order to prevent further copper oxidation. In this manner, further processing at higher temperatures, such as those greater than 100 degrees Celsius, is not inhibited by excessive copper oxidation. For example, due to the organic coating, the high temperature of the wire bond process does not result in excessive oxidation which would prevent reliable wire bonding. Thus, the formation of the organic coating allows for a reliable and thermal resistance wire bond (32, 34). Alternatively, the organic coating can be formed over exposed copper at any time during the formation of the integrated circuit die to prevent or limit the formation of copper oxidation.