LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER LAYER FOR ENCAPSULATION AND IMPROVED HERMITICITY OF CIRCUITIZED SUBSTRATES
A substrate and method for making same for use in electronic packages having a core layer of copper-invar-copper (CIC) with a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) placed upon both sides of the CIC. A layer of etched copper foil is placed on the outer surface of each PTFE layer. A layer of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) is placed on both layers of etched copper foil. An external layer of etched copper foil is placed on the external surface of the LCP layers.
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The present invention relates to manufacturing and preparation of circuit boards and, more specifically, to a structure wherein liquid crystal polymer (LCP) is utilized as a layer in a substrate and as a near hermetically sealing encapsulation layer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe needs of the semiconductor marketplace continue to drive density into semiconductor packages. The high end of this market appears to be standard Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), structured ASICs, and Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). These devices continue to need increasing signal, power, and ground die pads. A corresponding decrease in pad pitch is required to maintain reasonable die sizes. The combination of these two needs is pushing complex semiconductor packaging designs.
Traditionally, greater wiring densities are achieved by reducing the dimensions of vias, lines, and spaces, increasing the number of wiring layers, and utilizing blind and buried vias. However, each of these approaches possesses inherent limitations, for example those related to drilling and plating of high aspect ratio vias, reduced conductance of narrow circuit lines, and increased cost of fabrication related to additional wiring layers. One method of extending wiring density beyond the limits imposed by these approaches is a strategy that allows for metal-to-metal z-axis interconnection of sub-composites during lamination to form a composite structure.
Conductive joints can be formed during lamination using an electrically conductive adhesive. As a result, one is able to fabricate structures with vertically terminated vias of arbitrary depth. Replacement of conventional plated through holes with vertically-terminated vias opens up additional wiring channels on layers above and below the terminated vias and eliminates via stubs which cause reflective signal loss. More and more substrate designs require signal paths that can handle frequencies on the order of multi-gigahertz.
The challenges for organic substrates in meeting these electrical requirements include using high-speed, low-loss materials, manufacturing precise structures, and making a reliable finished product. In addition, many high-speed chip packages have mechanical and environmental requirements such as light weight and low moisture absorption. One material that meets all of these requirements is a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) dielectric that has a unique combination of features and performance. Due to its design flexibility, lighter weight and especially hermeticity, LCP-based Z-interconnect has potential to be a favorable alternative to low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrates. In addition, the lower dielectric constant of LCPs can reduce crosstalk and noise coupling compared to LTCC substrates.
Electronic substrates require hermetic or near hermetic seals to reduce loss and to protect circuits in harsh environments. Any water that is absorbed by substrates increases the signal loss in that substrate, especially at GHz frequencies. Also, any circuit in an environment with much water or dust or dirt, should be sealed from these outside debris in order to continue functioning.
Currently, most hermetic seals are using machined metal enclosures. Using LCPs to seal a substrate results in orders of magnitude lighter weight and less expense than metal enclosures. In addition, LCP material can be part of the processing of the electronics, rather than an additional assembly step. This reduces the cost and complexity of assembly even further.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ARTU.S. Pat. No. 7,114,312, by Coppeta, et al granted Oct. 3, 2006 for LOW TEMPERATURE METHODS FOR HERMETICALLY SEALING RESERVOIR DEVICES discloses a method for hermetically sealing an opening in a reservoir of a containment device. The method comprises applying a polymeric material to an opening in a reservoir of a containment device, the reservoir comprising reservoir contents (such as a drug or a sensor) to be hermetically isolated within the reservoir, the applied polymeric material closing off the opening and forming a temporary seal; and adhering a hermetic sealing material onto the polymeric material to hermetically seal the opening. The reservoir can be a micro-reservoir. The containment device can comprise an array of two or more of reservoirs, and the method comprises hermetically sealing each of the two or more reservoirs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,982,480 by Shi granted Jan. 3, 2006 for NEAR HERMETIC PACKAGING OF GALLIUM ARSENIDE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR discloses a near-hermetic microwave semiconductor device suitable for wideband high frequency applications including Phased Array Antenna systems. A PWB is a substrate; a GaAs Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) is disposed on the substrate; a silicon carbide sealant is disposed on the MMIC; and a Backside Interconnect with solder attachment connects the substrate to the silicon carbide-coated MMIC. A conformal coating is disposed on the sealant, and a cover is disposed on the conformally-coated MMIC.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the present invention, there is provided a method and structure of hermetically or near hermetically sealing a plurality of card structures. Optionally, a substrate for use in a printed circuit board has a liquid crystal polymer buildup layer.
A first aspect of the invention is directed to adding a build-up layer on top and/or bottom of any substrate to improve hermeticity of the substrate.
A second aspect of the invention is directed to adding a soldermask-like layer on top and/or bottom of a substrate to improve the hermeticity thereof.
A third aspect of the invention is directed to adding a soldermask-like layer on top and/or bottom of an all-LCP substrate, creating a near-hermetic substrate.
A fourth aspect of the invention is directed to adding a custom-carved LCP sheet on top and/or bottom of any substrate, creating a near-hermetic substrate.
A fifth aspect of the invention is directed to adding a custom-carved LCP sheet on top and/or bottom of an all-LCP substrate, creating a hermetic substrate.
A sixth aspect of the invention is directed to adding a custom-carved copper-clad LCP lid on top and/or bottom of any substrate, creating a near-hermetic, electromagnetic interference (EMI)-shielded substrate.
A seventh aspect of the invention is directed to adding a custom-carved, copper-clad LCP lid on top and/or bottom of an all-LCP substrate, creating a hermetic, EMI-shielded substrate.
An eighth aspect of the invention is directed to using an external LCP layer as a core that is produced with high temperature melting and/or low temperature melting LCP.
A ninth aspect of the invention is directed to using an external LCP layer as core that is produced with embedded resistors.
A tenth aspect of the invention is directed to using an external LCP layer that can be electrically conductive containing an adhesive filled core.
An eleventh aspect of the invention is directed to an external LCP layer that can be a nanoparticle and/or a micro-particle filled core.
A twelfth aspect of the invention is directed to an external LCP layer that can be simultaneously used for through hole and/or micro via filling.
Another aspect of the invention is that the external LCP layer can be larger than the substrate to allow for a flexible panel edge.
Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) materials have a number of electrical properties compatible with transmission of signals at multi-GHz frequencies, including low moisture absorption and low electrical loss. These properties make LCP a good material for encapsulating electronic substrates and greatly improving the substrates' hermeticity.
This invention describes designs/structures and a manufacturing process of LCP external layers on a substrate where an external LCP material layer encapsulates and improves hermeticity of the electronic substrate or module. External LCP layers can be a part of a package or can be a protecting solder mask layer.
In order to seal the substrate, LCP can have shapes cut in the material, or cavities made within the material; or drilled LCP can be used. In addition, for best shielding, a solid copper plane with vias stitched along the edge is designed into the substrate and LCP cap assembly.
These and other features and advantages of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements among the drawings. In other words, for the sake of clarity and brevity, like elements and components of each embodiment bear the same designations throughout the description.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTIn the invention, a method and structure are provided for a substrate for use in electronic packages in which a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) is used to create a near hermetic package.
Referring now to the drawings and, for the present, to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Alternatively, LCP layers 30 and 30′ can be laminated with copper layer 40 and 35 prior to a final lamination step, with the structure shown in
An additional alternative is to have the circuitized LCP layer larger than the sub-composite core member 10 as shown in the
Now referring to
It is also possible to bond multiple sub-composites (
Another option is to use larger top and/or bottom LCP sub-composites than the internal sub-composites. Conversely, any internal sub-composites, if made with pure LCP, can be larger and extend outside of the perimeter of external layers.
Joining multiple sub-composites as in
An electrically conductive adhesives/paste (ECA) is used for through hole fill applications to fabricate Z-axis interconnections in the structures. Conductive joints are formed during composite lamination using the ECA process, and Z-axis interconnections are achieved using joining cores, that is, cores with no signal planes, but incorporating a thermoplastic or uncured thermoset dielectric material for the purpose of dielectric to dielectric joining, and ECA-filled vias for the purpose of metal-to-metal joining with adjacent signal cores. Approximately 5,000 to 200,000 through holes in the joining cores can be formed by laser or mechanical drilling and are filled with an optimized ECA. The adhesive-filled joining cores are then laminated with circuitized sub-composites to produce a composite structure. High temperature and pressure lamination is used to cure the adhesive in the composite structure and provide Z-interconnection among the circuitized sub-composites. The cores can be structured to contain a variety of arrangements of signal, voltage, and ground planes and in addition, the signal, voltage, and ground features can reside in the same plane.
Integral to the methodology described in this process is the use of core building blocks that can be laminated in such a manner that electrical interconnection between adjacent cores is achieved. As an example, the z-interconnection methodology was used to fabricate a package and two basic building blocks are used in this case study example. The first building block is a 2S/1P core 80 as shown in
The second building block in this case study is a 0S/1P core 90, as shown in
In another example, an 11 metal layer structure 120 as shown in
The top and bottom 2S/1P cores can be larger, as shown in
Although all structures using Z-interconnects utilize electrically conductive adhesives, it also possible to use plated through hole (PTH) and/or a micro via and/or a buried via for electrical connections. All electrical connections, including Z-interconnect, PTH, micro via, and/or buried vias can be used in the above structures.
In another embodiment, LCP can be used as an LCP composite. It can be an LCP based nanocomposite and/or microcomposite. LCP nanocomposites can contain nano particles, nano tubes, and/or nano layers.
Since other modifications and changes to the liquid crystal polymer buildup layer and hermeticity effected as such will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the description above for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.
Claims
1. A substrate for use in electronic packages comprising:
- a) a layer of copper-invar-copper (CIC) having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- b) a first layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) disposed on said upper surface of said CIC layer;
- c) a second layer of PTFE disposed on said lower surface of said CIC layer;
- d) a top layer of etched copper foil having etched spaces disposed on said upper surface of said first PTFE layer;
- e) a bottom layer of etched copper foil having etched spaces disposed on said lower surface of said second PTFE layer;
- f) a first layer of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) having an upper surface and a lower surface disposed on said top layer of etched copper foil;
- g) a second layer of LCP having an upper surface and a lower surface disposed on said bottom layer of etched copper foil;
- h) a top external layer of etched copper foil disposed on said upper surface of said first and said second LCP layers; and
- i) bottom external layers of etched copper foil disposed on said lower surface of said first LCP layer and said second LCP layer, respectively.
2. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 1, wherein all said layers are laminated.
3. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 1, wherein a portion of said first LCP layer and said second LCP layer is disposed in said etched spaces of said top and said bottom copper foil layers, respectively.
4. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 1, wherein said first and said second layers of LCP comprise aromatic polyester polymers.
5. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 3, wherein said first and said second layers of LCP comprise aromatic polyester polymers.
6. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said first and said second layers of LCP are greater than the dimensions of said CIC layer and than said first and said second layers of PTFE.
7. A substrate for use in electronic packages comprising:
- a) a base layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- b) a first layer of PTFE disposed on said upper surface thereof;
- c) a second layer of PTFE disposed on said lower surface thereof;
- d) a top layer of etched copper foil having etched spaces disposed on said upper surface of said first PTFE layer;
- e) a bottom layer of etched copper foil having etched spaces disposed on said lower surface of said second PTFE layer;
- f) a first layer of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) having an upper surface and a lower surface disposed on said top layer of etched copper foil;
- g) a second layer of LCP having an upper surface and a lower surface disposed on said bottom layer of etched copper foil;
- h) a top external layer of etched copper foil disposed on said upper surface of said first layer of LCP; and
- i) a bottom external layer of etched copper foil disposed on said lower surface of said first layer LCP.
8. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 7, wherein all said layers are laminated.
9. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 7, wherein a portion of said first and said second LCP layer is disposed in said etched spaces of said top and said bottom copper foil layers, respectively.
10. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 7, wherein the dimensions of said first and said second layers of LCP are greater than the dimensions of said base layer and said first and said second layers of PTFE.
11. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 7, wherein said first layer and said second layer of LCP comprise aromatic polyester polymers.
12. The substrate for use in electronic packages based on claim 9, wherein said first layer and said second layer of LCP comprise aromatic polyester polymers.
13. A method of forming a near hermetically sealed substrate, the steps comprising:
- a) providing a CIC layer;
- b) disposing a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer on an upper surface of said CIC layer;
- c) disposing a second PTFE layer on a lower surface of said CIC layer;
- d) disposing a top copper foil layer on said first PTFE layer;
- e) disposing a bottom copper foil layer on said second PTFE layer;
- f) laminating all of said layers together;
- g) etching said top copper foil layer to create at least a first cavity;
- h) etching said bottom copper foil layer to create at least a second cavity;
- i) disposing a first layer of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) on said top layer of etched copper foil;
- j) disposing a second layer of LCP on said bottom layer of etched copper foil;
- k) disposing an external upper copper foil layer on said first LCP layer;
- l) disposing an external lower copper foil layer on said second LCP layer;
- m) laminating all of said layers together;
- n) etching said external upper layer of copper foil; and
- o) etching said external lower layer of copper foil.
14. The method of forming a near hermetically sealed substrate based on claim 13, wherein a portion of said first LCP layer and said second LCP layer is disposed in said cavities of said top and said bottom copper foil layers, respectively.
15. The method of forming a near hermetically sealed substrate based on claim 13, wherein said first layer and said second layer of LCP comprise aromatic polyester polymers.
16. The method of forming a near hermetically sealed substrate based on claim 14, wherein said first and said second layers of LCP comprise aromatic polyester polymers.
17. A method for forming a near hermetically sealed substrate, the steps comprising:
- a) providing a base polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer;
- b) disposing a first PTFE layer on the upper surface of said PTFE layer;
- c) disposing a second PTFE layer on the lower surface of said PTFE layer;
- d) disposing a top copper foil layer on said first PTFE layer;
- e) disposing a bottom copper foil layer on said second PTFE layer;
- f) laminating all of said layers together;
- g) etching said top copper foil layer to create at least a first cavity;
- h) etching said bottom copper foil layer to create at least a second cavity;
- i) disposing a first layer of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) on said top etched copper foil layer;
- j) disposing a second layer of LCP on said bottom etched copper foil layer;
- k) disposing an external upper copper foil layer on said first LCP layer;
- l) disposing an external lower copper foil layer on said second LCP layer;
- m) laminating all of said layers together;
- n) etching said external top copper foil layer; and
- o) etching said external bottom copper foil layer.
18. The method for forming a near hermetically sealed substrate based on claim 17, wherein a portion of said first LCP layer and said second LCP layer is disposed in said cavities of said top and said bottom copper foil layers, respectively.
19. The method for forming a near hermetically sealed substrate based on claim 17, wherein said first layer of LCP and said second layer of LCP comprise aromatic polyester polymers.
20. The method for forming a near hermetically sealed substrate based on claim 18, wherein said first layer of LCP and said second layer of LCP comprise aromatic polyester polymers.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 22, 2012
Applicant: ENDICOTT INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (Endicott, NY)
Inventors: Rabindra Das (Vestal, NY), Michael Rowlands (Naperville, IL)
Application Number: 12/884,392
International Classification: G02F 1/1333 (20060101); B32B 38/10 (20060101);