Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080268574 | HERMETIC SEAL AND RELIABLE BONDING STRUCTURES FOR 3D APPLICATIONS - A sealed microelectronic structure which provides mechanical stress endurance and includes at least two chips being electrically connected to a semiconductor structure at a plurality of locations. Each chip includes a continuous bonding material along it's perimeter and at least one support column connected to each of the chips positioned within the perimeter of each chip. Each support column extends outwardly such that when the at least two chips are positioned over one another the support columns are in mating relation to each other. A seal between the at least two chips results from the overlapping relation of the chip to one another such that the bonding material and support columns are in mating relation to each other. Thus, the seal is formed when the at least two chips are mated together, and results in a bonded chip structure. | 10-30-2008 |
20080284037 | Apparatus and Methods for Constructing Semiconductor Chip Packages with Silicon Space Transformer Carriers - Apparatus and methods are provided for high density packaging of semiconductor chips using silicon space transformer chip level package structures, which allow high density chip interconnection and/or integration of multiple chips or chip stacks high I/O interconnection and heterogeneous chip or function integration. | 11-20-2008 |
20080290525 | SILICON-ON-INSULATOR STRUCTURES FOR THROUGH VIA IN SILICON CARRIERS - A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure is provided for forming through vias in a silicon wafer carrier structure without backside lithography. The SOI structure includes the silicon wafer carrier structure bonded to a silicon substrate structure with a layer of buried oxide and a layer of nitride lo separating these silicon structures. Vias are formed in the silicon carrier structure and through the oxide layer to the nitride layer and the walls of the via are passivated. The vias are filled with a filler material of either polysilicon or a conductive material. The substrate structure is then etched back to the nitride layer and the nitride layer is etched back to the filler material. Where the filler material is polysilicon, the polysilicon is etched away forming an open via to the top surface of the carrier wafer structure. The via is then backfilled with conductive material. | 11-27-2008 |
20090032951 | Small Area, Robust Silicon Via Structure and Process - A semiconductor structure includes: at least one silicon surface wherein the surface can be a substrate, wafer or other device. The structure further includes at least one electronic circuit formed on each side of the at least one surface; and at least one conductive high aspect ratio through silicon via running through the at least one surface. Each through silicon via is fabricated from at least one etch step and includes: at least one thermal oxide dielectric for coating at least some of a sidewall of the through silicon via for a later etch stop in fabrication of the through silicon via. | 02-05-2009 |
20090039472 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR CREATING RELIABLE DEEP VIA CONNECTIONS IN A SILICON CARRIER - A process and structure for enabling the creation of reliable electrical through-via connections in a semiconductor substrate and a process for filling vias. Problems associated with under etch, over etch and flaring of deep Si RIE etched through-vias are mitigated, thereby vastly improving the integrity of the insulation and metallization layers used to convert the through-vias into highly conductive pathways across the Si wafer thickness. By using an insulating collar structure in the substrate in one case and by filling the via in accordance with the invention in another case, whole wafer yield of electrically conductive through vias is greatly enhanced. | 02-12-2009 |
20090120679 | CONDUCTIVE THROUGH VIA STRUCTURE AND PROCESS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE CARRIERS - Conductive through vias are formed in electronic devices and electronic device carrier, such as, a silicon chip carrier. An annulus cavity is etched into the silicon carrier from the top side of the carrier and the cavity is filled with insulating material to form an isolation collar around a silicon core region. An insulating layer with at least one wiring level, having a portion in contact with the silicon core region, is formed on the top side of the carrier. Silicon is removed from the back side of the carrier sufficient to expose the distal portion of the isolation collar. The core region is etched out to expose the portion of the wiring level in contact with the silicon core region to form an empty via. The via is filled with conductive material in contact with the exposed portion of the wiring level to form a conductive through via to the wiring level. A solder bump formed, for example, from low melt C4 solder, is formed on the conductive via exposed on the carrier back side. The process acts to make the conductive via fill step independent of the via isolation step. | 05-14-2009 |
20090140404 | HERMETIC SEAL AND RELIABLE BONDING STRUCTURES FOR 3D APPLICATIONS - A sealed microelectronic structure which provides mechanical stress endurance and includes at least two chips being electrically connected to a semiconductor structure at a plurality of locations. Each chip includes a continuous bonding material along it's perimeter and at least one support column connected to each of the chips positioned within the perimeter of each chip. Each support column extends outwardly such that when the at least two chips are positioned over one another the support columns are in mating relation to each other. A seal between the at least two chips results from the overlapping relation of the chip to one another such that the bonding material and support columns are in mating relation to each other. Thus, the seal is formed when the at least two chips are mated together, and results in a bonded chip structure. | 06-04-2009 |
20090280643 | OPTIMAL TUNGSTEN THROUGH WAFER VIA AND PROCESS OF FABRICATING SAME - A method of optimally filling a through via within a through wafer via structure with a conductive metal such as, for example, W is provided. The inventive method includes providing a structure including a substrate having at least one aperture at least partially formed through the substrate. The at least one aperture of the structure has an aspect ratio of at least 20:1 or greater. Next, a refractory metal-containing liner such as, for example, Ti/TiN, is formed on bare sidewalls of the substrate within the at least one aperture. A conductive metal seed layer is then formed on the refractory metal-containing liner. In the invention, the conductive metal seed layer formed is enriched with silicon and has a grain size of about 5 nm or less. Next, a conductive metal nucleation layer is formed on the conductive metal seed layer. The conductive metal nucleation layer is also enriched with silicon and has a grain size of about 20 nm or greater. Next, a conductive metal is formed on the conductive metal nucleation layer. After performing the above processing steps, a backside planarization process is performed to convert the at least one aperture into at least one through via that is now optimally filled with a conductive metal. | 11-12-2009 |
20090311828 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONSTRUCTING SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP PACKAGES WITH SILICON SPACE TRANSFORMER CARRIERS - Apparatus and methods are provided for high density packaging of semiconductor chips using silicon space transformer chip level package structures, which allow high density chip interconnection and/or integration of multiple chips or chip stacks high I/O interconnection and heterogeneous chip or function integration. | 12-17-2009 |
20090311849 | METHODS OF SEPARATING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CHIPS FABRICATED ON A WAFER - Improved methods of separating integrated circuit chips fabricated on a single wafer are provided. In an embodiment, a method of separating integrated circuit chips fabricated on a wafer comprises: attaching a support to a back surface of the wafer; dicing the wafer to form individual integrated circuit chips attached to the support; attaching a carrier comprising a releasable adhesive material to a front surface of the wafer opposite from the back surface; separating the support from the back surface of the wafer; subjecting the carrier to an effective amount of heat, radiation, or both to reduce the adhesiveness of the adhesive material to allow for removal of at least one of the integrated circuit chips from the carrier; and picking up and moving at least one of the integrated circuit chips using a tool configured to handle the integrated circuit chips. | 12-17-2009 |
20090315188 | SILICON-ON-INSULATOR STRUCTURES FOR THROUGH VIA IN SILICON CARRIERS - A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure is provided for forming through vias in a silicon wafer carrier structure without backside lithography. The SOI structure includes the silicon wafer carrier structure bonded to a silicon substrate structure with a layer of buried oxide and a layer of nitride separating these silicon structures. Vias are formed in the silicon carrier structure and through the oxide layer to the nitride layer and the walls of the via are passivated. The vias are filled with a filler material of either polysilicon or a conductive material. The substrate structure is then etched back to the nitride layer and the nitride layer is etched back to the filler material. Where the filler material is polysilicon, the polysilicon is etched away forming an open via to the top surface of the carrier wafer structure. The via is then backfilled with conductive material. | 12-24-2009 |
20100013073 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONSTRUCTING SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP PACKAGES WITH SILICON SPACE TRANSFORMER CARRIERS - Apparatus and methods are provided for high density packaging of semiconductor chips using silicon space transformer chip level package structures, which allow high density chip interconnection and/or integration of multiple chips or chip stacks high I/O interconnection and heterogeneous chip or function integration. | 01-21-2010 |
20100178766 | HIGH-YIELD METHOD OF EXPOSING AND CONTACTING THROUGH-SILICON VIAS - An assembly including a main wafer having a body with a front side and a back side, and a handler wafer, is obtained. The main wafer has a plurality of blind electrical vias terminating above the back side. The blind electrical vias have conductive cores with surrounding insulator adjacent side and end regions of the cores. The handler wafer is secured to the front side of the body of the main wafer. An additional step includes exposing the blind electrical vias on the back side. The blind electrical vias are exposed to various heights across the back side. Another step involves applying a first chemical mechanical polish process to the back side, to open any of the surrounding insulator adjacent the end regions of the cores remaining after the exposing step, and to co-planarize the via conductive cores, the surrounding insulator adjacent the side regions of the cores, and the body of the main wafer. Further steps include etching the back side to produce a uniform standoff height of each of the vias across the back side; depositing a dielectric across the back side; and applying a second chemical mechanical polish process to the back side, to open the dielectric only adjacent the conductive cores of the vias. | 07-15-2010 |
20100255262 | BONDING OF SUBSTRATES INCLUDING METAL-DIELECTRIC PATTERNS WITH METAL RAISED ABOVE DIELECTRIC - Bonding of substrates including metal-dielectric patterns on a surface with the metal raised above the dielectric is disclosed. One method includes providing a first substrate having a metal-dielectric pattern on a surface thereof; providing a second substrate having a metal-dielectric pattern on a surface thereof; performing a process resulting in the metal being raised above the dielectric; cleaning the metal; and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate. A related structure is also disclosed. The bonding of raised metal provides a strong bonding medium, and good electrical and thermal connections enabling creation of three dimensional integrated structures with enhanced functionality. | 10-07-2010 |
20100261335 | PROCESS FOR WET SINGULATION USING A DICING MOAT STRUCTURE - A method includes receiving at least one wafer having a front side and a backside, where the front side has a plurality of integrated circuit chips thereon. The backside of the wafer is thinned, a pattern of material is removed from the backside of the wafer to form a plurality of dicing trenches. Each of the dicing trenches are positioned opposite a location on the front side of the wafer that corresponds to edges of each of the plurality of chips. The dicing trenches are filled with a filler material and a dicing support is attached to a front side of the wafer. The filler material is removed from the dicing trenches, and a force is applied to the dicing support to separate each of the plurality of chips on the wafer from each other along the dicing trenches. | 10-14-2010 |
20110095428 | SMALL AREA, ROBUST SILICON VIA STRUCTURE AND PROCESS - A semiconductor structure includes: at least one silicon surface wherein the surface can be a substrate, wafer or other device. The structure further includes at least one electronic circuit formed on each side of the at least one surface; and at least one conductive high aspect ratio through silicon via running through the at least one surface. Each through silicon via is fabricated from at least one etch step and includes: at least one thermal oxide dielectric for coating at least some of a sidewall of the through silicon via for a later etch stop in fabrication of the through silicon via. | 04-28-2011 |
20110290402 | Handler Attachment for Integrated Circuit Fabrication - A method for attaching a handler to a wafer, the wafer comprising an integrated circuit (IC), includes forming a layer of an adhesive on the wafer, the adhesive comprising a polyimide-based polymer configured to withstand processing at a temperature of over about 280° C.; and adhering a handler to the wafer using the layer of adhesive. A system for attaching a handler to a wafer, the wafer comprising IC, includes a layer of an adhesive located on the wafer, the adhesive comprising a polyimide-based polymer configured to withstand processing at a temperature of over about 280° C.; and a handler adhered to the wafer using the layer of adhesive. | 12-01-2011 |
20110290406 | Laser Ablation for Integrated Circuit Fabrication - A method for releasing a handler from a wafer, the wafer comprising an integrated circuit (IC) includes attaching the handler to the wafer using an adhesive comprising a polymer; performing edge processing to remove an excess portion of the adhesive from an edge of the handler and wafer; ablating the adhesive through the handler using a laser, wherein a wavelength of the laser is selected based on the transparency of the handler material; and separating the handler from the wafer. A system for releasing a handler from a wafer, the wafer comprising an IC includes a handler attached to a wafer using an adhesive comprising a polymer; an edge processing module, the edge processing module configured to remove an excess portion of the adhesive from the edge of the handler and wafer; and a laser, the laser configured to ablate the adhesive through the handler. | 12-01-2011 |
20110290413 | Laser Ablation of Adhesive for Integrated Circuit Fabrication - A method for releasing a handler from a wafer, the wafer comprising an integrated circuit (IC), includes attaching the handler to the wafer using an adhesive comprising a thermoset polymer, the handler comprising a material that is transparent in a wavelength range of about 193 nanometers (nm) to about 400 nm; ablating the adhesive through the handler using a laser, wherein a wavelength of the laser is selected based on the transparency of the handler material; and separating the handler from the wafer. | 12-01-2011 |
20120086100 | CMOS STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - CMOS structures with a replacement substrate and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. The method includes forming a device on a temporary substrate. The method further includes removing the temporary substrate. The method further includes bonding a permanent electrically insulative substrate to the device with a bonding structure. | 04-12-2012 |
20120181648 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONSTRUCTING SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP PACKAGES WITH SILICON SPACE TRANSFORMER CARRIERS - Apparatus and methods are provided for high density packaging of semiconductor chips using silicon space transformer chip level package structures, which allow high density chip interconnection and/or integration of multiple chips or chip stacks high I/O interconnection and heterogeneous chip or function integration. | 07-19-2012 |
20120193790 | ELECTROSTATIC CHUCKING OF AN INSULATOR HANDLE SUBSTRATE - A back of a dielectric transparent handle substrate is coated with a blanket conductive film or a mesh of conductive wires. A semiconductor substrate is attached to the transparent handle substrate employing an adhesive layer. The semiconductor substrate is thinned in the bonded structure to form a stack of the transparent handle substrate and the semiconductor interposer. The thinned bonded structure may be loaded into a processing chamber and electrostatically chucked employing the blanket conductive film or the mesh of conductive wires. The semiconductor interposer may be bonded to a semiconductor chip or a packaging substrate employing C4 bonding or intermetallic alloy bonding. Illumination of ultraviolet radiation to the adhesive layer is enabled, for example, by removal of the blanket conductive film or through the mesh so that the transparent handle substrate may be detached. The semiconductor interposer may then be bonded to a packaging substrate or a semiconductor chip. | 08-02-2012 |
20120234902 | MULTISTACK SOLDER WAFER FILLING - A plurality of through-substrate holes is formed in each of at least one substrate. Each through-substrate hole extends from a top surface of the at least one substrate to the bottom surface of the at least one substrate. The at least one substrate is held by a stationary chuck or a rotating chuck. Vacuum suction is provided to a set of through-substrate holes among the plurality of through-substrate holes through a vacuum manifold attached to the bottom surface of the at least one substrate. An injection mold solder head located above the top surface of the at least one substrate injects a solder material into the set of through-substrate holes to form a plurality of through-substrate solders that extend from the top surface to the bottom surface of the at least one substrate. The vacuum suction prevents formation of air bubbles or incomplete filling in the plurality of through-substrate holes. | 09-20-2012 |
20120326309 | OPTIMIZED ANNULAR COPPER TSV - The present disclosure provides a thermo-mechanically reliable copper TSV and a technique to form such TSV during BEOL processing. The TSV constitutes an annular trench which extends through the semiconductor substrate. The substrate defines the inner and outer sidewalls of the trench, which sidewalls are separated by a distance within the range of 5 to 10 microns. A conductive path comprising copper or a copper alloy extends within said trench from an upper surface of said first dielectric layer through said substrate. The substrate thickness can be 60 microns or less. A dielectric layer having interconnect metallization conductively connected to the conductive path is formed directly over said annular trench. | 12-27-2012 |
20130105981 | FLATTENED SUBSTRATE SURFACE FOR SUBSTRATE BONDING | 05-02-2013 |
20130221479 | CMOS STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - CMOS structures with a replacement substrate and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. The method includes forming a device on a temporary substrate. The method further includes removing the temporary substrate. The method further includes bonding a permanent electrically insulative substrate to the device with a bonding structure. | 08-29-2013 |
20130244420 | OPTIMIZED ANNULAR COPPER TSV - The present disclosure provides a thermo-mechanically reliable copper TSV and a technique to form such TSV during BEOL processing. The TSV constitutes an annular trench which extends through the semiconductor substrate. The substrate defines the inner and outer sidewalls of the trench, which sidewalls are separated by a distance within the range of 5 to 10 microns. A conductive path comprising copper or a copper alloy extends within said trench from an upper surface of said first dielectric layer through said substrate. The substrate thickness can be 60 microns or less. A dielectric layer having interconnect metallization conductively connected to the conductive path is formed directly over said annular trench. | 09-19-2013 |
20130307139 | BONDING OF SUBSTRATES INCLUDING METAL-DIELECTRIC PATTERNS WITH METAL RAISED ABOVE DIELECTRIC AND STRUCTURES SO FORMED - Bonding of substrates including metal-dielectric patterns on a surface with the metal raised above the dielectric, as well as related structures, are disclosed. One method includes providing a first substrate having a metal-dielectric pattern on a surface thereof; providing a second substrate having a metal-dielectric pattern on a surface thereof; performing a process resulting in the metal being raised above the dielectric; cleaning the metal; and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate. A related structure is also disclosed. The bonding of raised metal provides a strong bonding medium, and good electrical and thermal connections enabling creation of three dimensional integrated structures with enhanced functionality. | 11-21-2013 |
20140071628 | CHIP STACK STRUCTURES THAT IMPLEMENT TWO-PHASE COOLING WITH RADIAL FLOW - A package structure to implement two-phase cooling includes a chip stack disposed on a substrate, and a package lid that encloses the chip stack. The chip stack includes a plurality of conjoined chips, a central inlet manifold formed through a central region of the chip stack, and a peripheral outlet manifold. The central input manifold includes inlet nozzles to feed liquid coolant into flow cavities formed between adjacent conjoined chips. The peripheral outlet manifold outputs heated liquid and vapor from the flow cavities. The package lid includes a central coolant supply inlet aligned to the central inlet manifold, and a peripheral liquid-vapor outlet to output heated liquid and vapor that exits from the peripheral outlet manifold. Guiding walls may be included in the flow cavities to guide a flow of liquid and vapor, and the guiding walls can be arranged to form radial flow channels that are feed by different inlet nozzles of the central inlet manifold. | 03-13-2014 |
20140097543 | BONDING OF SUBSTRATES INCLUDING METAL-DIELECTRIC PATTERNS WITH METAL RAISED ABOVE DIELECTRIC AND STRUCTURES SO FORMED - Bonding of substrates including metal-dielectric patterns on a surface with the metal raised above the dielectric, as well as related structures, are disclosed. One structure includes: a first substrate having a metal-dielectric pattern on a surface thereof, the metal-dielectric pattern including: a metal having a concave upper surface; and a dielectric having a substantially uniform upper surface, wherein the metal on the first substrate is raised above the dielectric on the first substrate; and a second substrate bonded with the first substrate, the second substrate including: a dielectric; and a metal positioned substantially below the dielectric of the second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded only at the metal from the first substrate and the metal from the second substrate. | 04-10-2014 |
20140209908 | FLATTENED SUBSTRATE SURFACE FOR SUBSTRATE BONDING - Methods for bonding substrate surfaces, bonded substrate assemblies, and design structures for a bonded substrate assembly. Device structures of a product chip are formed using a first surface of a device substrate. A wiring layer of an interconnect structure for the device structures is formed on the product chip. The wiring layer is planarized. A temporary handle wafer is removably bonded to the planarized wiring layer. In response to removably bonding the temporary handle wafer to the planarized first wiring layer, a second surface of the device substrate, which is opposite to the first surface, is bonded to a final handle substrate. The temporary handle wafer is then removed from the assembly. | 07-31-2014 |