Abstract: An integrated circuit package apparatus includes a packaging substrate, an integrated circuit coupled to an upper side of the packaging substrate, an array of contacts coupled to an underside of the packaging substrate for electrically coupling the integrated circuit to a circuit board, and a lid coupled to the upper side of the packaging substrate. In one form, the lid includes a central portion lying on a first plane, corner areas lying on a second plane, and arcuate wall portions disposed between and interconnecting the corner areas and the central portion. Other forms of the lid are provided.

Abstract: To minimize the warpage of an organic substrate that supports at least one electrical hardware component (e.g., a system-in-package module), a bottom surface of a lid is attached to a top surface of the electrical hardware component. The lid includes a leg that extends from the bottom surface of the lid towards a top surface of the substrate. A portion of the leg closest to the substrate may move relative to the substrate. As the lid warps, the lid does not also cause distortion of the substrate. The leg may be a flange that extends at least a portion of the width or at least a portion of the length of the lid, may be a post located at the perimeter of the lid, or may be any other portion extending from above the electrical component towards the substrate.

Abstract: In one implementation, a system in package assembly process includes attaching a cladding to a substrate to keep the substrate flat while components are soldered onto the substrate. The cladding may include a supporting member and a clamping member, and the substrate may be received between the clamping member and the supporting member. The clamping member may have a plurality of openings formed therein, and the components may be positioned on the substrate within at least one of the plurality of openings. A predetermined pressure may be applied to the clamping member and/or supporting to keep the substrate flat.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first electronic device mounted on a first substrate and a second electronic device mounted on a second substrate. The second substrate may be configured to be removably connected to the first electronic device. The second electronic device may be mounted on either planar surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly and method of assembly in which underfill is placed between a chip and substrate to support the chip. A trench is formed in the upper layer of the printed circuit board to limit the flow of the underfill and in particular to limit the underfill from contact with adjacent components so that the underfill does not interfere with adjacent components on the printed circuit board assembly.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package apparatus comprises a packaging substrate, an integrated circuit coupled to an upper side of the packaging substrate, an array of contacts coupled to an underside of the packaging substrate for electrically coupling the integrated circuit to a circuit board, and a lid coupled to the upper side of the packaging substrate. In one form, the lid includes a central portion lying on a first plane, corner areas lying on a second plane, and arcuate wall portions disposed between and interconnecting the corner areas and the central portion. Other forms of the lid are provided.

Abstract: To minimize the warpage of an organic substrate that supports at least one electrical hardware component (e.g., a system-in-package module), a bottom surface of a lid is attached to a top surface of the electrical hardware component. The lid includes a leg that extends from the bottom surface of the lid towards a top surface of the substrate. A portion of the leg closest to the substrate may move relative to the substrate. As the lid warps, the lid does not also cause distortion of the substrate. The leg may be a flange that extends at least a portion of the width or at least a portion of the length of the lid, may be a post located at the perimeter of the lid, or may be any other portion extending from above the electrical component towards the substrate.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly and method of assembly in which underfill is placed between a chip and substrate to support the chip. A trench is formed in the upper layer of the printed circuit board to limit the flow of the underfill and in particular to limit the underfill from contact with adjacent components so that the underfill does not interfere with adjacent components on the printed circuit board assembly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accessing a high speed signal routed on a conductive trace on an internal layer of a printed circuit board (PCB) using high density interconnect (HDI technology) are provided. The conductive trace may be coupled to a microvia (?Via) having a conductive dome disposed above the outer layer pad of the ?Via. In-circuit test (ICT) fixtures or high speed test probes may interface with the conductive dome to test the high speed signal with decreased reflection loss and other parasitic effects when compared to conventional test points utilizing plated through-hole (PTH) technology.

Abstract: A technique for attaching components to PCBs involves providing a lead-free component and a PCB. The lead-free component has a package and lead-free component contacts, and the PCB has PCB contacts. The technique further involves disposing (e.g., printing) solder paste between the lead-free component contacts of the lead-free component and the PCB contacts of the PCB. The solder paste includes lead (Pb), a second metal (e.g., tin (Sn) and a third metal (e.g., Bismusth (Bi)). The technique further involves applying heat to melt the solder paste and form solder joints between the package of the lead-free component and the PCB contacts of the PCB. Such a technique is capable of concurrently mounting lead-free components as well as lead-based components to a PCB under lead-based assembly conditions (e.g., a temperature environment which does not exceed 230 degrees Celsius).

Abstract: A technique of monitoring strain on a printed circuit board assembly involves the use of a strain detector mounted on a printed circuit board. The strain detector is formed of a non-ductile material. The strain detector has a narrowed portion forming a weak link that has a characteristic of breaking when a critical strain limit is exceeded. The method of monitoring can include visual or electrical inspection. The electrical inspection can include having a strain monitoring device. The strain monitoring device has a timer connected to at least one strain detector and a memory for storing results connected to the timer. The capacitance of at least one of the strain detectors is sampled and any change in capacitance is recorded to the memory. In one embodiment, a time stamp occurs in the memory based on when an electrical property changes across at least one of the strain detectors.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printed circuit board having a set of layers and a set of barrels embedded within the set of layers. The apparatus further includes an electrical component having a component body and a set of pins which extends from the component body. The apparatus further includes a set of sleeves. Each sleeve defines a substantially conical shape. The set of sleeves provides electrical and thermal conductivity between the set of pins of the electrical component and the set of barrels of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accessing a high speed signal routed on a conductive trace on an internal layer of a printed circuit board (PCB) using high density interconnect (HDI technology) are provided. The conductive trace may be coupled to a microvia (?Via) having a conductive dome disposed above the outer layer pad of the ?Via. In-circuit test (ICT) fixtures or high speed test probes may interface with the conductive dome to test the high speed signal with decreased reflection loss and other parasitic effects when compared to conventional test points utilizing plated through-hole (PTH) technology.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly and method of assembly in which underfill is placed between a chip and substrate to support the chip. A trench is formed in the upper layer of the printed circuit board to limit the flow of the underfill and in particular to limit the underfill from contact with adjacent components so that the underfill does not interfere with adjacent components on the printed circuit board assembly.

Abstract: A device, apparatus and printed circuit board assembly for removably coupling an electrical component with a PCB are described, which provides adequate electromechanical capability, is relatively insensitive to related heating, component removability, replacability and reworkability while minimizing wear and the possibility of resizing and damage. The device includes a sleeve for coupling with a component pin, which encloses the pin and further couples to a conductive barrel interconnecting multiple PCB layers. The sleeve conforms upon insertion within the barrel to its contour. A flange at an end of the sleeve deters over-insertion. The coupling so formed can be gas-tight.

Abstract: A technique of monitoring strain on a printed circuit board assembly involves the use of a strain detector mounted on a printed circuit board. The strain detector is formed of a non-ductile material. The strain detector has a narrowed portion forming a weak link that has a characteristic of breaking when a critical strain limit is exceeded. The method of monitoring can include visual or electrical inspection. The electrical inspection can include having a strain monitoring device. The strain monitoring device has a timer connected to at least one strain detector and a memory for storing results connected to the timer. The capacitance of at least one of the strain detectors is sampled and any change in capacitance is recorded to the memory. In one embodiment, a time stamp occurs in the memory based on when an electrical property changes across at least one of the strain detectors.

Abstract: A device, apparatus and printed circuit board assembly for removably coupling an electrical component with a PCB are described, which provides adequate electromechanical capability, is relatively insensitive to related heating, component removability, replacability and reworkability while minimizing wear and the possibility of resizing and damage. The device includes a sleeve for coupling with a component pin, which encloses the pin and further couples to a conductive barrel interconnecting multiple PCB layers. The sleeve conforms upon insertion within the barrel to its contour. A flange at an end of the sleeve deters over-insertion. The coupling so formed can be gas-tight.

Abstract: A heat sink has a flexure member attached to a base of the heat sink and located between the base and an associated circuit board component. As the heat sink attaches to a circuit board carrying the circuit board component, the flexure member conforms to the surface of the circuit board component, thereby thermally contacting the circuit board component. The flexure member absorbs local tolerance differences on the circuit board component to provide a relatively uniform stress across the surface of the circuit board component. The flexure member further limits the amount of stress generated by the heat sink on the circuit board component. When used in conjunction with a heat sink spanning several circuit board components, the flexure member absorbs global tolerance differences among the circuit board components, thereby providing relatively uniform stresses to all of the circuit board components and limiting the amount of stress experienced by any one circuit board component.

Abstract: The heat sink of the present invention includes a device portion, a bend portion, and a support portion that thermally couples the circuit board component to a support member, thereby allowing for heat transfer from the circuit board component to the support member. The bend portion of the heat sink allows for displacement of the device portion relative to the support portion to limit the amount of stress generated by the heat sink on the circuit board component. The geometry of the heat sink further allows placement of the heat sink within the relatively narrow space conventionally formed between the circuit board and the support member.