Abstract: A vertically mountable semiconductor device including at least one bond pad disposed on an edge thereof. The bond pad includes a conductive bump disposed thereon. The semiconductor device may also include a protective overcoat layer. The present invention also includes a method of fabricating the semiconductor device, including forming disconnected notches in a semiconductor wafer, redirecting circuit traces into each of the notches, and singulating the semiconductor wafer along the notches to form bond pads on the edges of the resultant semiconductor devices. A method of attaching the semiconductor device to a carrier substrate includes orienting the semiconductor device such that the bond pad is aligned with a corresponding terminal of the carrier substrate and establishing an electrical connection between the bond pad and the terminal.

Abstract: A vertically mountable semiconductor device including at least one bond pad disposed on an edge thereof. The bond pad includes a conductive bump disposed thereon. The semiconductor device may also include a protective overcoat layer. The present invention also includes a method of fabricating the semiconductor device, including forming disconnected notches in a semiconductor wafer, redirecting circuit traces into each of the notches, and singulating the semiconductor wafer along the notches to form bond pads on the edges of the resultant semiconductor devices. A method of attaching the semiconductor device to a carrier substrate includes orienting the semiconductor device such that the bond pad is aligned with a corresponding terminal of the carrier substrate and establishing an electrical connection between the bond pad and the terminal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including bond pads disposed proximate an edge thereof, and an overcoat layer. The overcoat layer defines notches around each of the bond pads. The overcoat layer may be formed from a photoimageable material such as a photoimageable epoxy. The invention also includes an alignment device that secures the semiconductor device perpendicularly upon a carrier substrate. The alignment device includes intermediate conductive elements which correspond to the bond pads of the semiconductor device. Upon insertion of the semiconductor device into the alignment device, the notches facilitate alignment of the bond pads with their corresponding intermediate conductive elements. The intermediate conductive elements establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A vertically mountable semiconductor device including a plurality of bond pads disposed proximate to a single edge thereof. The bond pads are bumped with an electrically conductive material. The semiconductor device may also include a support member. Alternatively, the semiconductor device may be laminated to one or more adjacent semiconductor devices. The present invention also includes a method of attaching the semiconductor device to a carrier substrate. Preferably, solder paste is applied to terminals on the carrier substrate. The semiconductor device is oriented vertically over the carrier substrate, such that the bumped bond pads align with their corresponding terminals. The bumps are placed into contact with the solder paste. The bumps and solder paste are then fused to form a joint between each of the bond pads and its respective terminal, establishing an electrically conductive connection therebetween and imparting structural stability to the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including at least one contact pad disposed on an edge thereof. The semiconductor device may also include a protective overcoat layer. The present invention also includes a method of fabricating the semiconductor device, including forming disconnected notches in a semiconductor wafer, redirecting circuit traces into each of the notches, and singulating the semiconductor wafer along the notches to form bond pads on the edges of the resultant semiconductor devices. A method of attaching the semiconductor device to a carrier substrate includes orienting the semiconductor device nonparallel to a carrier substrate and establishing at least one electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for connecting integrated circuits placed on opposite sides of a circuit board through utilization of conduction elements embedded in the circuit board and extending from one surface of the board to the other. Conductive traces extend along the surface of the circuit board from the conduction elements to the integrated circuits. The conductive traces may be formed from multiple conductive layers.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for a very low profile ball grid array package. A substrate is provided with an aperture. A thin sheet material is secured to the substrate, covering the aperture, so as to form a cavity. A semiconductor die is mounted in the formed cavity on the thin sheet material. The semiconductor die is encapsulated with the thin sheet material supporting it during encapsulation. The use of the thin sheet material to form the cavity is a cost effective way to construct a ball grid array package having a very low profile.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrical contact for a semiconductor device comprises the steps of providing a semiconductor wafer section having a major surface with a plurality of conductive pads thereon and electrically coupling each pad with an elongated electrical interconnect. Next, each electrical interconnect is encased in a dielectric and the dielectric is sectioned to expose a portion of each interconnect. An inventive structure which can be formed by the inventive method is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a semiconductor assembly and, specifically, interconnecting a semiconductor die to a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate includes a first surface and a second surface with at least one opening therethrough. The die includes an active surface and a back surface, wherein the die is attached facedown to the first surface of the carrier substrate with conductive bumps therebetween. In addition, a plurality of bond wires is attached through the at least one opening in the carrier substrate between the active surface of the die and the second surface of the carrier substrate. With this arrangement, both the conductive bumps and the bond wires share in the electrical interconnection between the die and the carrier substrate, thereby allowing more space for bond pads to interconnect with bond wires and/or allowing for smaller die sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a semiconductor assembly and, specifically, interconnecting a semiconductor die to a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate includes a first surface and a second surface with at least one opening therethrough. The die includes an active surface and a back surface, wherein the die is attached facedown to the first surface of the carrier substrate with conductive bumps therebetween. In addition, a plurality of bond wires is attached through the at least one opening in the carrier substrate between the active surface of the die and the second surface of the carrier substrate. With this arrangement, both the conductive bumps and the bond wires share in the electrical interconnection between the die and the carrier substrate, thereby allowing more space for bond pads to interconnect with bond wires and/or allowing for smaller die sizes.

Abstract: A high density vertical surface mount package and thermal carrier therefore including a heat sink.

Abstract: Channels are formed that pass through an active surface of a semiconductor substrate to provide isolation between adjacent active surface regions defining individual die locations. Bond pads on the substrate are bumped with intermediate conductive elements, after which a material used to encapsulate the active surface is applied, filling the channels and covering exposed peripheral edges of the active surface integrated circuitry. The encapsulant is then planarized to expose the ends of the bumps. External conductive elements such as solder balls are then formed on the exposed bump ends. The semiconductor wafer is diced in alignment with the channels to singulate the semiconductor devices, the encapsulant in the channels keeping the edges of the integrated circuitry substantially hermetically sealed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package and method of fabricating same. The package includes a lead frame having a die paddle and a plurality of lead fingers. A first semiconductor die exhibiting a first size is adhered to the die paddle and is electrically coupled with one or more of the plurality of lead fingers. A second semiconductor die exhibiting a second size, different from the first size, is also adhered to the die paddle and is electrically coupled with one or more of the plurality of lead fingers. The first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die each exhibit circuitry which is substantially identical in function. In one embodiment the first semiconductor die may be adhered to a first side of the die paddle while the second semiconductor die is adhered to an opposing side of the die paddle.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with a metal stiffening layer between the die and a multilayer structure comprising at least two insulating layers each having at least one conductor thereon. A top insulating layer of the multilayer structure contains a ball grid array. The metal layer is used as an electrical ground plane to simplify the routing pattern of conductive traces on the insulating material. The metal layer may also be used to dissipate heat from the die. The conductors of the multilayer structure provide additional versatility in wiring the die to the ball grid array.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for connecting integrated circuits placed on opposite sides of a circuit board through utilization of conduction elements embedded in the circuit board and extending from one surface of the board to the other. Conductive traces extend along the surface of the circuit board from the conduction elements to the integrated circuits. The conductive traces may be formed from multiple conductive layers.

Abstract: A socket that secures bare and minimally packaged semiconductor devices substantially perpendicularly relative to a carrier substrate. The socket includes intermediate conductive elements and a member which moves the intermediate conductive elements between an insertion position and a biased position. After placement of the intermediate conductive elements into an insertion position, a semiconductor device may be inserted into a receptacle of the socket with minimal insertion force. Movement of the member to a biased position facilitates biasing of the intermediate conductive elements against a bond pad of the semiconductor device. The intermediate conductive elements establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate. A first embodiment of the socket includes a member which moves transversely relative to the remainder of the socket. In a second embodiment of the socket, the member moves vertically relative to the socket body.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing heat sinks or heat spreaders for stacked semiconductor devices. Alignment apparatus may be included for the alignment of the stacked semiconductor devices. An enclosure may be used as the heat sink or heat spreader.

Abstract: Channels are formed that pass through an active surface of a semiconductor substrate to provide isolation between adjacent active surface regions defining individual die locations. Bond pads on the substrate are bumped with intermediate conductive elements, after which a material used to encapsulate the active surface is applied, filling the channels and covering exposed peripheral edges of the active surface integrated circuitry. The encapsulant is then planarized to expose the ends of the bumps. External conductive elements such as solder balls are then formed on the exposed bump ends. The semiconductor wafer is diced in alignment with the channels to singulate the semiconductor devices, the encapsulant in the channels keeping the edges of the integrated circuitry substantially hermetically sealed.

Abstract: An apparatus package for high-temperature thermal applications for ball grid array semiconductor devices and a method of packaging ball grid array semiconductor devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a semiconductor assembly and, specifically, interconnecting a semiconductor die to a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate includes a first surface and a second surface with at least one opening therethrough. The die includes an active surface and a back surface, wherein the die is attached facedown to the first surface of the carrier substrate with conductive bumps therebetween. In addition, a plurality of bond wires is attached through the at least one opening in the carrier substrate between the active surface of the die and the second surface of the carrier substrate. With this arrangement, both the conductive bumps and the bond wires share in the electrical interconnection between the die and the carrier substrate, thereby allowing more space for bond pads to interconnect with bond wires and/or allowing for smaller die sizes.