Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing are provided that include forming an electrically conductive bump on a substrate and forming at least one passivation layer on the bump to reduce solder joint failures.

Abstract: Protection of a solder ball joint is disclosed in which the solder ball joint is located below the surface level of the encapsulating buffer layer. The buffering layer is etched to expose one or more electrode posts, each of which may be made up of a single column or multiple columns. A top layer resulting either from a top conductive cap or a plating layer around the electrode posts also lies below the buffer layer. When the solder ball is placed onto the posts, the solder/ball joint is protected in a position below the surface of the buffer layer, while still maintaining an electrical connection between the various solder balls and their associated or capping/plating material, electrode posts, wiring layers, and circuit layers. Therefore, the entire ball joint is protected from direct stress.

Abstract: A package structure includes a substrate; a die over and flip bonded on the substrate; a heat sink over the die; and one or more spacer separating the heat sink from the substrate.

Abstract: An enhanced wafer level chip scale packaging (WLCSP) copper electrode post is described having one or more pins that protrude from the top of the electrode post. When the solder ball is soldered onto the post, the pins are encapsulated within the solder material. The pins not only add shear strength to the soldered joint between the solder ball and the electrode post but also create a more reliable electrical connection due to the increased surface area between the electrode post/pin combination and the solder ball. Moreover, creating an irregularly shaped solder joint retards the propagation of cracks that may form in the intermetal compounds (IMC) layer formed at the solder joint.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor package provides a ball grid array, BGA, formed on a package substrate. The apices of the solder balls of the BGA are all at the same height, even if the package substrate is non-planar. Different solder ball pad sizes are used and tailored to compensate for non-planarity of the package substrate that may result from thermal warpage. Larger size solder ball pads are formed at relatively-high locations on the package substrate. An equal amount of solder is formed on each of the solder ball pads to produce solder balls having different heights and coplanar apices.

Abstract: A bump pattern design for flip chip semiconductor packages includes a pattern of contact pads formed on a package substrate. Each contact pad is adapted to receive a corresponding solder bump from a semiconductor chip attached thereto. The pattern includes a central portion and a peripheral portion with a transition portion therebetween. The transition portion has a lower pattern density than the central portion and peripheral portions. In the peripheral portion is at least one outer portion having a pattern density less than the average pattern density of the central portion. The outer portions of reduced pattern density may be the corner sections in a rectangular bump pattern and may further include channels that are void of contact pads. The peripheral portion may include an average pitch between most of the rows and columns, but also an increased pitch between some adjacent rows and columns.

Abstract: A matrix form semiconductor package substrate that has an electrode situated in-between a plurality of IC package substrates for providing electrical communication to conductive pads on the substrate is provided. The matrix form semiconductor package substrate includes a plurality of IC package substrates that are integrally formed on a strip in a matrix pattern that has a boundary between each two of the plurality of IC package substrates. Each of the plurality of IC package substrates has a multiplicity of conductive pad traces and an electrode, or a plating bar, formed in a serpentine configuration along the boundary for providing electrical communication to the multiplicity of conductive pads.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor package is provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor chip having a plurality of exposed conductive layers thereon is provided. A first substrate having a first surface and a second surface is provided, the first surface having a plurality of exposed via plugs thereunder. The semiconductor chip is bonded to the first substrate, wherein the plurality of exposed conductor layers are aligned and in contact with the surfaces of the exposed via plugs. A portion of the second surface of the first substrate is then removed to expose the opposite ends of the plurality of via plugs. A plurality of UBM layers is formed on the surfaces of the opposite ends of the plurality of via plugs. A plurality of solder bumps is formed and mounted on the UBM layers. A second substrate having a first surface and a second surface is provided, the solder bumps being mounted to the first surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: A system-in-package (SiP) package is provided. In one embodiment, the SiP package comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the substrate having a set of bond wire studs on bond pads formed on the second surface thereof; a first semiconductor chip having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface of the first semiconductor chip is mounted to the second surface of the substrate by means of solder bumps; an underfill material disposed between the first semiconductor chip and the substrate, encapsulating the solder bumps; a second semiconductor chip having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface of the second semiconductor chip is mounted to the second surface of the first semiconductor chip; and a set of bond wires electrically coupled from the second semiconductor chip to the set of bond wire studs on the substrate.

Abstract: A pad structure includes a first metal-containing layer formed over a substrate. A first passivation layer is formed over the first metal-containing layer. The first passivation layer has a first opening partially exposing the first metal-containing layer. A pad layer is formed over the first passivation layer, covering the first opening. The pad layer includes a probing region configured to be contacted by a probe and a bonding region configured to have a wired bonded to it. The probing region contacts the first metal-containing layer through the first opening, and the bonding region overlies a portion of the first passivation layer.

Abstract: A new method is provided for the interface between a stress relieve interface layer of polyimide and a thereover created layer of mold compound. The invention provides for creating a pattern in the stress relieve layer of polyimide before the layer of mold compound is formed over the stress relieve layer of polyimide.

Abstract: Solder bump structures for semiconductor device packaging is provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a substrate having a bond pad and a first passivation layer formed thereabove, the first passivation layer having an opening therein exposing a portion of the bond pad. A metal pad layer is formed on a portion of the bond pad, wherein the metal pad layer contacts the bond pad. A second passivation layer is formed above the metal pad layer, the second passivation layer having an opening therein exposing a portion of the metal pad layer. A patterned and etched polyimide layer is formed on a portion of the metal pad layer and a portion of the second passivation layer. A conductive layer is formed above a portion of the etched polyimide layer and a portion of the metal pad layer, wherein the conductive layer contacts the metal pad layer. A conductive bump structure is connected to the conductive layer.

Abstract: An improved via arrangement for a bonding pad structure is disclosed comprising an array of vias surrounded by a line via. The line via provides a barrier to cracks in the dielectric layer encompassing the via array. Although cracks are able to spread relatively unhindered between the vias of the via array, they are blocked by the line via and thus can not spread to neighboring regions of the chip or wafer. The line via can be provided in a variety of shapes and dimensions, to suit a desired application. Additionally, due to its substantially uninterrupted length, the line via provides added strength to the bond pad.

Abstract: A heat spreader and package structure utilizing the same. The heat spreader is embedded in an encapsulant of a package and above a chip therein, wherein the package has a substrate, having a molding gate, and the chip has a center and a corner which is the farthest from the molding gate. The spreader includes a base with a hollow portion therethrough, a plurality of support leads, protruding from the base, on the inner edge, and a cap plate, having a hole at least directly above a region between the center and the corner of the chip, fixed by the support leads to be above the hollow portion, the cap plate.

Abstract: A pad structure includes a first metal-containing layer formed over a substrate. A first passivation layer is formed over the first metal-containing layer. The first passivation layer has a first opening partially exposing the first metal-containing layer. A pad layer is formed over the first passivation layer, covering the first opening. The pad layer includes a probing region configured to be contacted by a probe and a bonding region configured to have a wired bonded to it. The probing region contacts the first metal-containing layer through the first opening, and the bonding region overlies a portion of the first passivation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor package provides a ball grid array, BGA, formed on a package substrate. The apices of the solder balls of the BGA are all at the same height, even if the package substrate is non-planar. Different solder ball pad sizes are used and tailored to compensate for non-planarity of the package substrate that may result from thermal warpage. Larger size solder ball pads are formed at relatively-high locations on the package substrate. An equal amount of solder is formed on each of the solder ball pads to produce solder balls having different heights.

Abstract: A bump pattern design for flip chip semiconductor packages includes a pattern of contact pads formed on a package substrate. Each contact pad is adapted to receive a corresponding solder bump from a semiconductor chip attached thereto. The pattern includes a central portion and a peripheral portion with a transition portion therebetween. The transition portion has a lower pattern density than the central portion and peripheral portions. In the peripheral portion is at least one outer portion having a pattern density less than the average pattern density of the central portion. The outer portions of reduced pattern density may be the corner sections in a rectangular bump pattern and may further include channels that are void of contact pads. The peripheral portion may include an average pitch between most of the rows and columns, but also an increased pitch between some adjacent rows and columns.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor package is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate having at least one bump pad formed thereon. A solder mask layer is provided above the bump pad, the solder mask layer having at least one opening formed therein exposing a portion of the bump pad. A layer of solder wettable material is formed on the exposed surface of the bump pad and the sidewalls and substantially on the comers of the solder mask layer. A solder material is deposited above the layer of solder wettable material and portions of the solder mask layer and the solder material is reflown to create a solder bump.

Abstract: A heat sink is presented for dissipating heat from an integrated circuit (IC). The heat sink is made of a heat conductive material having a generally planar shape and adapted to receive an IC chip on a bottom surface and adapted to be in thermal connection with the IC chip. The heat sink has a plurality of fins extending from and above a top surface of the heat sink and a plurality of slots providing fluid communication between the top surface and the bottom surface. The plurality of slots allow for air circulation below the heat sink and around the IC and other proximate components to increase heat dissipation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing are provided that include forming an electrically conductive bump on a substrate and forming at least one passivation layer on the bump to reduce solder joint failures.