Method of forming a stack of packaged memory dice
A stacked assembly of integrated circuit semiconductor devices includes a stack of integrated circuit semiconductor devices supported by a printed circuit board (PCB). One or more multiconductor insulating assemblies provide an interface between terminals of the integrated circuit semiconductor devices and external circuitry.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/092,348, filed Mar. 29, 2005, pending, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/634,073, filed Aug. 4, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,884,654, issued Apr. 26, 2005, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/154,549, filed May 24, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,767, issued Dec. 2, 2003, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/923,481, filed Aug. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,275, issued Oct. 15, 2002, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/641,574, filed Aug. 18, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,221, issued Dec. 11, 2001, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/036,662, filed Mar. 9, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,474, issued Mar. 27, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to packaged integrated circuit devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an interconnected stack of packaged memory devices and the method of forming a stack of interconnected packaged memory devices.
2. Background of Related Art
High performance, low cost, increased miniaturization of components, and greater packaging density of integrated circuit semiconductor devices (ICs) have long been the goals of the computer industry. Greater integrated circuit semiconductor device package density for a given level of component and internal conductor density is primarily limited by the space available for die mounting and packaging. For lead frame mounted dice, this limitation is, to a great extent, a result of lead frame design.
In a conventional lead frame design, the lead frame includes a plurality of leads having their ends terminating adjacent a side or edge of an integrated circuit semiconductor device supported by the die paddle portion of the lead frame. Electrical connections are made by means of wire bonds extending between the leads of the lead frame and the bond pads located on the active surface of the integrated circuit semiconductor device. Subsequent to the wire bonding operation, portions of the leads of the lead frame and the integrated circuit semiconductor device are encapsulated in suitable plastic material to form a packaged semiconductor device. The leads and lead frame are then trimmed and formed to the desired configuration after the packaging of the semiconductor device in the encapsulant material.
In a Leads-Over-Chip (LOC) type lead frame configuration for an integrated circuit semiconductor (IC) device, the leads of the lead frame extend over the active surface of the semiconductor device being insulated therefrom by tape which is adhesively bonded to the semiconductor device and the leads of the lead frame. Electrical connections are made between the leads of the lead frame and bond pads on the active surface of the semiconductor device by way of wire bonds extending therebetween. After wire bonding, the leads of the LOC lead frame and the semiconductor device are encapsulated in suitable plastic to encapsulate the semiconductor device and portions of the leads. Subsequently, the leads are trimmed and formed to the desired configuration to complete the packaged semiconductor device.
With ever-increasing demands for miniaturization and higher operating speeds, multichip module systems (MCMs) have become increasingly attractive in a variety of applications. Generally, MCMs may be designed to include more than one type of semiconductor device within a single package, or may include multiples of the same type of semiconductor device, such as the single-in-line memory module (SIMM) or dual-in-line memory module (DIMM).
MCMs typically comprise a planar printed circuit board (PCB) or other semiconductor carrier substrate to which a plurality of semiconductor devices is attached. Laminated substrates, such as FR-4 boards, are included in the term PCB as used herein, as are ceramic and silicon substrates, although the latter constructions are at this time less common as MCM carrier substrates. The semiconductor devices are typically wire bonded, TAB-connected or flip-chip bonded (by an array of solder or other conductive bumps or conductive epoxies) to the PCB. An MCM configuration typically allows semiconductor devices to be bonded to one side only of the carrier substrate. Moreover, for semiconductor devices that are wire bonded to the PCB, the bond wires extend from the top surface of each semiconductor device mounted on one side of the PCB by its back side to the plane of the PCB surface on the back side, requiring longer wires to be used to connect the semiconductor devices to the PCB traces than if the active surface of the semiconductor device were closer to the PCB surface. This often leads to undesirable parasitic electrical characteristics. Also, mounting the semiconductor devices on a substrate to be subsequently mounted on the PCB uses valuable area of the PCB which may be used for other purposes. Additionally, the plurality of wires used to connect the semiconductor devices to the substrate of the MCM affects the speed at which the MCM responds when connected to the PCB.
In many instances, PCBs (such as those used in computers) have fixed size requirements, thereby making space on the PCB scarce. Therefore, a need exists for a high density, minimal volume configuration, and high response rate series of interconnected semiconductor devices for use in conjunction with a PCB.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn integrated circuit semiconductor device stack includes a stack of packaged integrated circuit semiconductor devices (ICs) supported by a board or other support surface. One or more multiconductor insulating assemblies provide an interface between terminals of the ICs and external circuitry. One embodiment of the multiconductor insulating assembly includes tape (such as Kapton™ tape) on which conductors are applied. One surface of the tape is preferably adhesive so as to stick to the ICs. When properly aligned, the conductors make contact with the terminals of the ICs and with a multiconductor port. There may be multiple layers of conductors where different terminals of individual ICs aligned in a stack are to receive different signals. Another embodiment of the multiconductor insulating assembly includes an epoxy onto which conductors are applied. In yet another embodiment, multiconductor insulating assembly tape is sandwiched between ICs. Contact pads on the tape are aligned with bonding pads on the ICs. In yet another embodiment of the multiconductor insulating assembly, multiple conductors are extruded and cut to form the desired multiconductor assembly which is subsequently adhesively bonded to the ICs with the conductors in contact with the bonding pads on the ICs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSWhile the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming that which is regarded as the present invention, the advantages of this invention can be more readily ascertained from the following description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
Individual integrated circuit semiconductor devices 14A and 14B may be adhered to each other through adhesive 22A. Accordingly, individual integrated circuit semiconductor devices 14B and 14C may be adhered to each other through adhesive 22B. Similarly, integrated circuit semiconductor devices 14C and 14D may be adhered to each other through adhesive 22C while integrated circuit semiconductor device 14D may be adhered to board 18 through adhesive 22D. Adhesives 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D (referred to collectively as adhesives 22) may be an adhesively coated tape or a suitable type liquid adhesive. If desired, adhesive 22D may differ from adhesives 22A, 22B, and 22C. Structural members (not shown) other than adhesive may be used to position the ICs 14 with respect to each other, if desired.
ICs 14 include terminals 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D (collectively referred to as terminals 30) and terminals 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D (collectively referred to as terminals 32) to interface with external electrical components. Terminals 30 and 32 are illustrated as cropped lead fingers, but could have a variety of other desired shapes. Multiconductor ports 36 and 38, described below, are supported by board 18.
Referring to
To facilitate the interface between ICs 14 and external electrical components, multiconductor insulating assemblies are connected between terminals 30 and multiconductor port 36 and between terminals 32 and multiconductor port 38. The multiconductor insulating assemblies include multiconductors, as well as insulating material therebetween to separate conductors. The insulating material may provide a pliable, flexible, yet supportive structure to the conductors. The insulating material may be any of various materials including, but not limited to, tape and epoxy. The tape may be a polyamide resin in the form of a film (such as is marketed by duPont under the name Kapton™). The tape may also be a well-known type of heat sensitive shrink type tape. The conductive materials may be any of a variety of materials including copper wire, electrically conductive epoxy, such as EPO-TEK H37-MP silver filled epoxy, sold by Epoxy Technology, Inc., Billerica, Mass. 01821-3972, or the like.
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Tape backing 52 preferably includes a suitable adhesive thereon so as to adhere to the side of ICs 14, individually 14A-14D. For example, as shown in
For example,
Multiconductor insulating assembly tape 44 (
Multiconductor insulating assembly tape 42 may be cut after conductor 50-11, or it may just be applied to an adjacent assembly (similar to assembly 10) or wrapped around the back of IC device stack assembly 10 and applied to terminals 32A-32D.
In most situations, it is not desirable that every terminal on each IC device 14 receive exactly the same electrical signal. Accordingly, it is desirable that some terminals on IC devices 14A-14D receive different signals. Merely as an example, for each of the individual ICs 14A-14D, terminals 30A-11, 30B-11, 30C-11, and 30D-11 could be used as enabling terminals.
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Merely as one example, as illustrated in
As another example, as shown in
In some cases, more than one enable terminal would be required. Enablement could be controlled by addressing signals (e.g., the 2 or 3 most significant bits). Further, more than merely enable terminals could be different from each individual integrated circuit semiconductor device, such as IC 14A, as compared to another individual integrated circuit semiconductor device, such as IC 14B. In such an example, various possible multiconductor insulating assemblies may be used including those illustrated in
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LOC, TAB, and flip-chip arrangements may be used in connection with the various embodiments of the present invention.
As used herein, the term “connect” and related words are used in an operational sense, and are not necessarily limited to a direct connection. For example, terminals 30 are connected to multiconductor port 36, but indirectly through a conductor of a multiconductor insulating assembly tape or epoxy.
Having thus described in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
Claims
1. An integrated circuit semiconductor device assembly, comprising:
- a board;
- a multiconductor port supported by the board;
- a stack including a plurality of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices supported by the board, each of the plurality of integrated circuit semiconductor devices including, in turn, a plurality of terminals on a surface thereof; and
- a plurality of multiconductor insulating assemblies including multiple conductive sections and flexible insulating material, the conductive sections providing conductive paths between a portion of the terminals of the integrated circuit semiconductor devices and the multiconductor port.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each multi-conductor insulating assembly includes tape.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the tape is from a spool.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each multi-conductor insulating assembly includes epoxy material.
5. The assembly claim 1, wherein an adjacent bare integrated circuit semiconductor device of the plurality of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices of the stack is adhesively secured to another adjacent integrated circuit semiconductor device.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each multi-conductor insulating assembly is positioned between two bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices of the plurality of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein there are a first number of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices in the plurality of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices, each bare integrated circuit semiconductor device including a first number of the terminals, and wherein each multi-conductor insulating assembly includes a first number of groups of conductive sections, each group of the first number of groups of conductive sections including a first number of conductive sections therein.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein there are a first number of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices of the plurality of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices, each integrated circuit semiconductor device including a first number of the terminals, and wherein each multi-conductor insulating assembly includes a first number of conductive sections therein.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one conductive path of a multiple conductive section of the multiple conductive sections contacts the same terminal of each bare integrated circuit semiconductor device of the plurality of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices.
10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a plurality of conductive paths of a multiple conductive section of the multiple conductive sections contact the same terminal of each bare integrated circuit semiconductor device of the plurality of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices so that corresponding terminals from different individual bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices of the plurality of bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices are connected to each other.
11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the multi-conductor port includes a plurality of connectors for connection to the conductive paths of the multiple conductive sections of each multi-conductor insulating assembly.
12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the terminals are formed from tape automated bonding (TAB) tape.
13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the board is a printed circuit board.
14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the bare integrated circuit semiconductor devices include flip chip integrated circuit semiconductor devices including solder bumps thereon.
15. An integrated circuit semiconductor device assembly, comprising:
- a board;
- a multiconductor port supported by the board;
- a stack including a plurality of packaged integrated circuit semiconductor devices supported by the board, each of the plurality of integrated circuit semiconductor devices including, in turn, a plurality of terminals located on opposing sides thereof; and
- a multiconductor insulating assembly surrounding at least two adjacent sides of the stack of a plurality of integrated circuit packages, the multiconductor insulating assembly including multiple conductive sections and flexible insulating material, the conductive sections providing conductive paths between a portion of the terminals of the integrated circuit semiconductor devices and the multiconductor port.
16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the contact pads of the first and second multi-conductor insulating assemblies of the plurality of multi-conductor insulating assemblies are connected to a multi-conductor port supported by the support surface.
17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the multi-conductor insulating assemblies include tape.
18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein each multi-conductor insulating assembly of the plurality of the multi-conductor insulating assemblies include epoxy.
19. A method of forming a stack of integrated circuit semiconductor devices comprising:
- providing a multi-port connector having a port;
- providing a board;
- adhering a first integrated circuit semiconductor device having a plurality of terminals thereon to the board;
- adhering a second integrated circuit semiconductor device having a plurality of terminals thereon to the first integrated circuit semiconductor device; and
- connecting a multiconductor flexible insulating assembly between at least one terminal of a first type on the first integrated circuit semiconductor device to at least one terminal of the same type terminal of the second integrated circuit semiconductor device and a terminal of the port of the multiconductor port connector.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the multi-conductor insulating assembly includes tape.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the multi-conductor insulating assembly is includes epoxy.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein the multi-conductor insulating assembly is extruded.
23. The method of claim 19, wherein the multi-conductor insulating assembly is an extrusion.
24. The method of claim 19, wherein the extrusion is cut to form the multi-conductor insulating assembly.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one conductor is exposed during the cutting of the extrusion to form the multi-conductor insulating assembly.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein at least two conductors are exposed during the cutting of the extrusion to form the multi-conductor insulating assembly.
27. The method of claim 19, wherein the multi-conductor insulating assembly includes a plurality of conductors separated by insulating material.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 6, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 9, 2006
Inventors: Jerrold King (Morgan Hill, CA), Jerry Brooks (Caldwell, ID)
Application Number: 11/482,667
International Classification: H01L 21/00 (20060101);