Method for fabricating semiconductor component having conductors and bonding pads with wire bondable surfaces and selected thickness
A method for fabricating a semiconductor component includes the step of providing a semiconductor die having a die contact and at least one integrated circuit in electrical communication with the die contact. The method also includes the steps of forming a first polymer layer on the die, forming a conductor on the polymer layer in electrical communication with the die contact, and forming a wire bonding pad on the conductor. The method also includes the steps of forming a metal layer on the wire bonding pad configured to form the wire bonding pad with a selected thickness, forming a non-oxidizing metal layer on the metal layer, and then wire bonding a wire to the wire bonding pad.
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/924,010, filed Nov. 07, 2006, U.S. Pat. No. 7,132,750, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/183,705, filed Jun. 25, 2002, U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,544.
This application is related to Ser. No. 10/617,936, filed Jul. 10, 2003, U.S. Pat. No. 6,887,787.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to semiconductor manufacture and packaging. More particularly, this invention relates to improved semiconductor components having conductors with wire bondable metallization layers, to methods for fabricating the components, and to electronic assemblies incorporating the components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRedistribution circuits are widely used in fabricating semiconductor components such as packages, dice, wafers, interconnects and interposers. Typically, redistribution circuits are used to provide specific electrical paths on a semiconductor component. For example, a semiconductor package can include a single die having bond pads in electrical communication with the integrated circuits contained on the die. Redistribution circuits can be formed on the circuit side of the die to provide electrical paths between the bond pads and terminal contacts for the package.
A typical redistribution circuit includes an insulating polymer layer on the die, and a pattern of redistribution conductors on the insulating layer. Typically, the insulating layer comprises a low dielectric constant polymer material, such as polyimide, benzocyclobutene (BCB) or polybenzoxazole (PBO). The redistribution conductors typically comprise a highly conductive metal such as Al or Cu.
One problem occurs if the redistribution conductors must be wire bonded to contacts on a mating component such as another package, a module substrate or a printed circuit board. Although the redistribution conductors can comprise a wire bondable metal, it is difficult to form reliable wire bonds to the redistribution conductors. In general, wire bonds are affected by the power, duration and force used to form the wire bonds. If insufficient power, duration or force is used, the wire bonds do not bond to the redistribution conductors (i.e., “no stick”). The inventor has theorized that this may be due to the resiliency and energy dissipating characteristics of the underlying polymer insulating layer. However, if too much power, duration or force is used to compensate for the affects of the polymer layer, the redistribution conductors and the polymer layer can be damaged (i.e., “cratering”). The process window for wire bonding to the redistribution conductors is thus very small or non-existent.
The present invention is directed to improved components having redistribution conductors with a wire bondable layer formed thereon. This invention also relates to methods for fabricating the components, and to systems incorporating the components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, an improved semiconductor component, a wafer level method for fabricating the component, and electronic assemblies incorporating the component, are provided.
The component includes a semiconductor die having die contacts, such as bond pads, in electrical communication with integrated circuits thereon. The component also includes a low k polymer layer on the circuit side of the die, and a pattern of conductors and bonding pads on the polymer layer in electrical communication with the die contacts. The conductors are configured to redistribute or fan out the die contacts to the pattern of the bonding pads. The conductors and the bonding pads comprise metal stacks including conductive layers, barrier/adhesion layers, and non-oxidizing layers. The barrier/adhesion layers and the non-oxidizing layers protect the conductors and the bonding pads, and allow wire bonding to the component without damage to the conductors or the bonding pads. In addition, the bonding pads can optionally include terminal contacts such as stud bumps configured for flip chip bonding, or alternately double bump wire bonding to the component.
The component can be used to fabricate any electronic assembly that requires wire bonding to a mating substrate such as a module substrate, a package substrate or a printed circuit board.
The method for fabricating the component includes the step of providing multiple dice on a common substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The method also includes the steps of forming the polymer layer on the substrate, forming the conductors and the bonding pads on the polymer layer, and forming the barrier/adhesion layers and the non-oxidizing layers on the conductors and bonding pads. In the illustrative embodiment the conductors, the barrier/adhesion layers and the non-oxidizing layers are formed using electroless deposition. The method also includes a singulating step in which the components are singulated from the substrate.
An alternate embodiment component comprises an interposer configured to electrically connect semiconductor components to one another, or to supporting substrates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As used herein, the term “semiconductor component” refers to an electronic element that includes a semiconductor die. Exemplary semiconductor components include bare dice, such as bumped die and flip chip devices. Other exemplary semiconductor components include semiconductor packages, such as chip scale packages, BGA devices, BOC packages, COB packages, stacked packages and lead on chip (LOC) packages. Semiconductor component also refers to an electronic element, such as an interposer, configured to make electrical connections with a semiconductor die or a semiconductor package.
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Each die 12 includes a circuit side 16 and a back side 18. Each die 12 also includes a pattern of die contacts 20 formed on the circuit side 16 thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, the die contacts 20 are the bond pads for the die 12. The die contacts 20 can be formed in any conventional pattern such as a center pattern, an edge pattern or a grid pattern. In addition, the die contacts 20 can comprise a conventional metal such as Al, Au, Cu, Ni or alloys of these metals.
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In addition, the polymer layer 30 can be initially blanket deposited to a desired thickness using a suitable deposition process such as spin on, positive displacement through a nozzle, screen printing and stenciling. Systems are commercially available for performing each of these processes in the context of semiconductor packaging. For example, material dispensing systems are manufactured by Asymtek of Carlsbad, Calif., and by Camalot of Cookson, UK.
Following deposition, the polymer layer 30 can be cured. Depending on the polymer, curing can be performed by placing the substrate 14 in an oven at a required temperature (e.g., 90° to 165° C.) for a required time (e.g., 30 to 60 minutes). Following curing of the polymer layer 30, the polymer layer 30 and the bumps 22 can be planarized to a same planar surface. Following planarization, a representative thickness T of the polymer layer 30 and height H of the metal bumps 22 can be from 20 μm to 100 μm.
The planarization step can be performed using a mechanical planarization apparatus, such as a grinder. One suitable mechanical planarization apparatus is manufactured by Okamoto, and is designated a model no. VG502. The planarization step can also be performed using a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) apparatus. A suitable CMP apparatus is commercially available from a manufacturer such as Westech, SEZ, Plasma Polishing Systems, or TRUSI. The planarization step can also be performed using an etch back process, such as a wet etch process, a dry etch process or a plasma etching process.
In addition to providing an end point for the polymer layer 30, the metal bumps 22 protect the die contacts 20 from corrosion, increase the surface areas of the die contacts 20, and improve the reliability of subsequent electrical connections with the die contacts 20. As another alternative, the metal bumps 22 can be omitted and the polymer layer 30 can comprise a photoimageable material, such as a low k resist. In this case, exposure and development of the polymer layer 30 forms openings aligned with the die contacts 20. In addition, a planarization step is not required.
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The conductors 32 and the bonding pads 34 preferably comprise a highly conductive metal layer such as copper (Cu). In addition, the conductors 32 and the bonding pads 34 can be formed using the same process and materials, or alternately can be formed separately. For example, copper can be electrolessly plated on the polymer layer 30 in a required pattern and with desired dimensions using techniques that are known in the art. To perform the electroless plating, the polymer layer 30 can be initially cleaned and the substrate 14 dipped in an aqueous bath containing a catalyst configured to form a copper seed layer. Catalyst systems are commercially available from Lea Ronal of Freeport, N.Y. under the trademark “UMT CATALYST SYSTEM”.
Following formation of the copper seed layer, a resist layer can be formed on the copper seed layer, and patterned to define the conductors 32 in electrical contact with the metal bumps 22 and the bonding pads 34 in the required pattern. Suitable resists, such as electro deposited resists, are available from Shipley Corporation of Newton, Mass. Next, the substrate 14 can be dipped in an electroless or an electrolytic copper plating solution, such that copper is applied to areas of the seed layer not covered by the resist. One suitable plating solution can include “RONADEP” manufactured by Lea Ronal and DI water. The copper can be electrolessly plated to form the conductors 32 and the bonding pads 34 with a thickness of from about 1 μm to 4 μm.
Following electroless copper plating, the resist can be stripped by plasma etching or other suitable process. In addition, the exposed copper seed layer can be removed by etching, such that just the conductors 32 and the bonding pads 34 remain in the required pattern.
The outlined process for forming the conductors 32 and the bonding pads 34 by electroless plating is merely exemplary, and other processes known in the art can be employed to form the conductors 32 and the bonding pads 34 of copper or other metals, such as Al, Cr, Ti, Ni, W, Au, Ag, Ta, Mb. Other suitable deposition processes include CVD, PECVD, PVD, sputtering and evaporation.
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In the illustrative embodiment, the barrier/adhesion layer 36 comprises electrolessly deposited nickel. Other suitable metals for the barrier/adhesion layer 36 include V, Cr, CrCu and Cu. A representative thickness for the barrier/adhesion layer 36 can be from 100 Å to 5 μm. The barrier/adhesion layer 36 can be electrolessly or electrolytically deposited on the conductors 32 by dipping the substrate 14 in an zincate activation solution, and then in a nickel containing solution substantially as previously described for bumps 22. Alternately the barrier/adhesion layer 36 can be formed by blanket deposition such as sputtering, followed by etching to define the pattern.
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In the illustrative embodiment the non-oxidizing layer 38 completely covers the conductors 32 and the bonding pads 34. Alternately, the non-oxidizing layer 38 can cover just the bonding pads 34. The non-oxidizing layer 38 seals and protects the conductors 32 and the bonding pads 34 from corrosion and oxidation. In addition, the non-oxidizing layer provides a wire bondable surface for wire bonding to the bonding pads 34. The non-oxidizing layer 38 can be deposited on the barrier/adhesion layer 36 using an electroless deposition process. For example, gold can be electrolessly deposited using a gold containing solution, such as gold potassium cyanide KAu(CN). A representative thickness Tn of the non-oxidizing layer 38 can be from 0.5 μm to 1.5 μm.
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The terminal contacts 70A can comprise a metal such as Cu, Al or Au. In addition, the terminal contacts 70A can be used to flip chip bond the component 10A to a mating component such as a module substrate, package substrate or printed circuit board. The terminal contacts 70A can also be configured in other patterns, and used to wire bond the component 10A to a supporting substrate substantially as previously described. However, in this case double bonds are formed by the terminal contacts 70A and the wire bonds to the terminal contacts 70A.
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Thus the invention provides improved semiconductor components, a wafer level method for fabricating the components, and electronic assemblies incorporating the components. While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A method for fabricating a semiconductor component comprising:
- providing a semiconductor die comprising a die contact and at least one integrated circuit in electrical communication with the die contact;
- forming a first polymer layer on the die;
- forming a conductor on the polymer layer in electrical communication with the die contact;
- forming a wire bonding pad on the conductor;
- forming a metal layer on the wire bonding pad configured to form the wire bonding pad with a selected thickness;
- forming a non-oxidizing metal layer on the first metal layer; and
- wire bonding a wire to the wire bonding pad.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a second polymer layer on the conductor and the wire bonding pad having an opening aligned with the wire bonding pad.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming the metal layer step and the forming the non-oxidizing metal layer step comprise electroless deposition.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming the metal layer step forms the conductor with the selected thickness.
5. A method for fabricating a semiconductor component comprising:
- providing a semiconductor die including a circuit side, a plurality of integrated circuits, and at least one die contact on the circuit side in electrical communication with at least one integrated circuit;
- forming a first polymer layer on the circuit side;
- forming a conductor on the first polymer layer in electrical communication with the die contact having a wire bonding pad;
- forming a metal layer on the wire bonding pad configured to adjust a thickness of the wire bonding pad;
- forming a non-oxidizing layer on the metal layer to provide a wire bondable surface; and
- wire bonding to the wire bonding pad.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising forming a second polymer layer on the conductor and the wire bonding pad having an opening aligned with the wire bonding pad.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the thickness of the wire bonding pad is selected to achieve an electrical characteristic for the wire bonding pad.
8. The method of claim 5 further comprising forming the metal layer on the conductor.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the thickness of the metal layer is selected to achieve a second electrical characteristic for the conductor.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the non-oxidizing layers comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of Au, Pt and Pd.
11. The method of claim 5 wherein the metal layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, V, Cr, CrCu and Cu.
12. The method of claim 5 wherein the forming the metal layer step comprises electroless deposition.
13. The method of claim 5 wherein the forming the conductor step comprises forming a seed layer and then electrolessly depositing a second metal layer on the seed layer.
14. A method for fabricating a semiconductor component comprising:
- providing a semiconductor die including a circuit side, a plurality of integrated circuits, and at least one die contact on the circuit side in electrical communication with at least one integrated circuit;
- forming a first polymer layer on the circuit side;
- forming a conductor on the first polymer layer in electrical communication with the die contact having a wire bonding pad;
- forming a metal layer on the conductor and on the wire bonding pad configured to adjust a thickness and an electrical characteristic of the conductor and the wire bonding pad;
- forming a second polymer layer on the conductor and the wire bonding pad having an opening aligned with the wire bonding pad
- forming a non-oxidizing layer on the metal layer to provide a wire bondable surface; and
- wire bonding to the wire bonding pad.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer comprise a low k material.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the non-oxidizing layer seals edges of the wire bonding pad.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein the non-oxidizing layer seals edges of the conductor.
18. The method of claim 14 further comprising forming a metal bump on the die contact, and the forming the conductor step forms the conductor in electrical communication with the bump.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein the metal layer comprises electrolessly deposited nickel.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein the non-oxidizing layer comprises an electrolessly deposited noble metal.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 2, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2007
Inventor: Warren Farnworth (Nampa, ID)
Application Number: 11/591,750
International Classification: H01L 21/44 (20060101);