Abstract: A mounting for a package containing a semiconductor chip is disclosed, along with methods of making such a mounting. The mounting includes a substrate having a mounting surface with conductive traces thereon, and an aperture extending through the substrate. The package includes a base, such as a leadframe or a laminate sheet, and input/output terminals. A chip is on a first side of the base and is electrically connected (directly or indirectly) to the input/output terminals. A cap, which may be a molded encapsulant, is provided on the first side of the base over the chip. The package is mounted on the substrate so that the cap is in the aperture, and a peripheral portion of the first side of the base is over the mounting surface so as to support the package in the aperture and allow the input/output terminals of the package to be juxtaposed with to the circuit patterns of the mounting surface. Because the cap is within the aperture, a height of the package above the mounting surface is minimized.

Abstract: A plurality of integrated circuit chip (IC chip) packages are fabricated simultaneously from a single insulating substrate having sections. In each section, an IC chip is attached. Bonding pads on the IC chip are electrically connected to first metallizations on a substrate first surface. The first metallizations, IC chip including bonding pads and first substrate surface are then encapsulated. Interconnection balls or pads are formed at substrate bonding locations on a substrate second surface, the interconnection pads or balls being electrically connected to corresponding first metallizations. The substrate and encapsulant are then cut along the periphery of each section to form the plurality of IC chip packages.

Abstract: A mounting for a package containing a semiconductor chip is disclosed, along with methods of making such a mounting. The mounting includes a substrate having a mounting surface with conductive traces thereon, and an aperture extending through the substrate. The package includes a base, such as a leadframe or a laminate sheet, and input/output terminals. A chip is on a first side of the base and is electrically connected (directly or indirectly) to the input/output terminals. A cap, which may be a molded encapsulant, is provided on the first side of the base over the chip. The package is mounted on the substrate so that the cap is in the aperture, and a peripheral portion of the first side of the base is over the mounting surface so as to support the package in the aperture and allow the input/output terminals of the package to be juxtaposed with to the circuit patterns of the mounting surface. Because the cap is within the aperture, a height of the package above the mounting surface is minimized.

Abstract: A sealed ceramic package for a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a ceramic substrate has a set of cavities each having an opening at a substrate top surface. A semiconductor die is disposed within each cavity, and is electrically connected through the substrate to input/output terminals of the substrate. The substrate has a metal film on the top surface thereof around the opening of the respective the cavities. A metal lid panel, covering the cavity openings, is soldered to the metal film by reflowing a layer of solder disposed over a lid panel bottom surface, thereby sealing the die in each cavity. Subsequently, individual packages are singulated from the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A mounting for a package containing a semiconductor chip is disclosed, along with methods of making such a mounting. The mounting includes a substrate having a mounting surface with conductive traces thereon, and an aperture extending through the substrate. The package includes a base, such as a leadframe or a laminate sheet, and input/output terminals. A chip is on a first side of the base and is electrically connected (directly or indirectly) to the input/output terminals. A cap, which may be a molded encapsulant, is provided on the first side of the base over the chip. The package is mounted on the substrate so that the cap is in the aperture, and a peripheral portion of the first side of the base is over the mounting surface so as to support the package in the aperture and allow the input/output terminals of the package to be juxtaposed with to the circuit patterns of the mounting surface. Because the cap is within the aperture, a height of the package above the mounting surface is minimized.

Abstract: A novel semiconductor package comprises a rigid dielectric, e.g., ceramic, substrate having first and second portions joined to one another at respective margins thereof to form an angle, e.g., a right angle, between the portions. Each of the portions has electrically conductive paths connected to one another through the angle. A semiconductor device, e.g., a die, is mounted to the first portion and electrically connected to the conductive paths thereof. An array of electrically conductive lands, balls, or pins are mounted on the second portion for connecting the package to a printed circuit board. In a high-power embodiment, the device is mounted directly on a threaded stud projecting from the first portion to enable intimate thermal coupling of the device to a heat sink. In another embodiment, a connector projects from the first portion to optically couple an optical device directly to an end of a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Semiconductor chip packages having molded plastic substrates and recessed I/O terminals are disclosed, along with methods of making such packages. In an exemplary embodiment, the molded plastic substrate includes a metal interconnect pattern and a plurality of indentations in a surface thereof. Each indentation may include at least one projection. The indentation and any projections therein are covered by a metal lining. A metal contact, which serves as an I/O terminal, is placed in each of the indentations and is fused to the metal lining thereof. A chip is mounted on the substrate and is electrically connected to the metal contacts by the interconnect pattern. The package further includes a lid or hardened encapsulant over the chip.

Abstract: A vacuum sealed package for a semiconductor chip, such as a micro-electromechanical (MEM) chip, is disclosed, along with a method of making such a package. In an exemplary embodiment, the package includes a ceramic substrate and a lid that together define a cavity wherein the chip is mounted. The substrate includes a conductive (e.g., metal) interconnect pattern that extends, at least in part, vertically through the substrate. I/O terminals are provided on an external surface of the substrate. A vent hole, at least partially lined with a metal coating, extends through the substrate into the cavity. A metal plug seals the vent hole. The vent hole is sealed by placing the package in a vacuum chamber, evacuating the chamber, and heating the chamber so as to cause a metal preform on the substrate to flow into the vent hole and form the plug.

Abstract: A wafer-level method for mass production of surface-mounting, chip-size (“CS”) ball grid array (“BGA”), land grid array (“LGA”), and lead-less chip carrier (“LCC”) semiconductor packages includes the wire-bond or flip-chip attachment of ceramic substrates to the active surface of corresponding chips while they are still integral to a semiconductor wafer, thereby reducing manufacturing costs of the packages relative to that of individually packaged chips. The substrates have a thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) closely matching that of the underlying chip.

Abstract: A package for an integrated circuit is described, as are methods of making the package. The package includes a substrate having a generally planar first surface on which a metal die pad is formed. An integrated circuit die is attached to the metal die pad. An adhesive head surrounds the integrated circuit die and covers the exposed periphery of the metal die pad. A generally planar lid is in a press-fitted interconnection with the bead. An adhesive material covers conductive structures on the die, such as bonding pads, to prevent corrosion. Optionally, the package has vertical peripheral sides. The methods of making the package include methods for making packages individually, or making a plurality of packages simultaneously. Where a plurality of packages are made simultaneously, integrated circuit die are placed on each of a plurality of physically-joined package substrates on a generally planar sheet of substrate material. An adhesive bead is applied around each die.

Abstract: A plurality of integrated circuit chip (IC chip) packages are fabricated simultaneously from a single insulating substrate having sections. In each section, an IC chip is attached. Bonding pads on the IC chip are electrically connected to first metallizations on a substrate first surface. The first metallizations, IC chip including bonding pads and first substrate surface are then encapsulated. Interconnection balls or pads are formed at substrate bonding locations on a substrate second surface, the interconnection pads or balls being electrically connected to corresponding first metallizations. The substrate and encapsulant are then cut along the periphery of each section to form the plurality of IC chip packages.

Abstract: A package for an integrated circuit is described, as are methods of making the package. The package includes a substrate having a generally planar first surface on which a metal die pad is formed. An integrated circuit die is attached to the metal die pad. An adhesive head surrounds the integrated circuit die and covers the exposed periphery of the metal die pad. A generally planar lid is in a press-fitted interconnection with the bead. An adhesive material covers conductive structures on the die, such as bonding pads, to prevent corrosion. Optionally, the package has vertical peripheral sides. The methods of making the package include methods for making packages individually, or making a plurality of packages simultaneously. Where a plurality of packages are made simultaneously, integrated circuit die are placed on each of a plurality of physically-joined package substrates on a generally planar sheet of substrate material. An adhesive bead is applied around each die.

Abstract: A package for an integrated circuit is described, as is a method of making the package. The package is comprised of a substrate having a substantially planar first surface on which an integrated circuit die is placed. An imperforate adhesive bead on the first surface of the substrate surrounds the die. A lid transparent to electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light is spaced above the integrated circuit, in a press-fitted interconnection with the bead. Epoxy is a preferred material for the bead. The lid is a single-piece of flat material, such as plastic, ceramic, or glass, which can have a diagonal edge.

Abstract: A plurality of integrated circuit chip (IC chip) packages are fabricated simultaneously from a single insulating substrate having sections. In each section, an IC chip is attached. Bonding pads on the IC chip are electrically connected to first metallizations on a substrate first surface. The first metallizations, IC chip including bonding pads and first substrate surface are then encapsulated. Interconnection balls or pads are formed at substrate bonding locations on a substrate second surface, the interconnection pads or balls being electrically connected to corresponding first metallizations. The substrate and encapsulant are then cut along the periphery of each section to form the plurality of IC chip packages.

Abstract: A package for an integrated circuit is described, as is a method of making the package. An exemplary method of making a package for an integrated circuit die includes a first step of providing an insulating substrate having a substantially planar first surface. A conductive path extends through the substrate. Step two of the method places an integrated circuit die, such as an EEPROM or a CCD or SAW integrated circuit die, on the first surface of the substrate. Step three electrically connects the integrated circuit die to the conductive path. Step three applies an imperforate bead of a viscous adhesive material on the first surface of the substrate around the die. The bead extends to a height above the first surface of the substrate greater than the height of the integrated circuit die. Step four provides a lid having a first surface.

Abstract: An improved interconnection ball joint for a ball grid array integrated circuit package includes a substrate base having a first surface to which an integrated circuit die is affixed, and an opposite second surface. A metallized via extends through the substrate. The via has a central hole which extends through the substrate. The hole is plugged with a flexible nonconductive material, such as epoxy solder mask material. A metallic interconnection ball land is on the second surface of the substrate, integral with the metallized via and adjacent to the hole and the plug of nonconductive material. A solder interconnection ball is formed on the land, opposite the via and the plug of nonconductive material. A metal-to-metal annular bond is formed at the joint between the interconnection ball and the land around the plug of nonconductive material in the center of the via.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying flux to a series of metallization contacts or plated contact pad a substrate exposed by an apertured solder mask, employs a compressible transfer pad. A central flux pick-up area is formed on the transfer pad bottom surface. The bottom surface may be spherical and may include a cylindrical post onto which a predetermined amount of flux is transferred, such as by dipping the pick-up area into a reservoir of semi-liquid paste flux. The transfer pad is then positioned over and compressed on the solder mask such that the picked up flux on the flux pick-up area of the transfer pad is pressure forced by compression of the transfer pad through apertures in the solder mask directly and successively into all the series of depressions formed on the substrate until all the depressions are substantially filled with flux.