Abstract:
Surface-mount, solder-down sockets are described which permit electronic components such as semiconductor packages to be releasably mounted to a circuit board. Generally, the socket includes resilient contact structures extending from a top surface of a support substrate, and solder-ball (or other suitable) contact structures disposed on a bottom surface of the support substrate. Composite interconnection elements are described for use as the resilient contact structures disposed atop the support substrate. In use, the support substrate is soldered down onto the circuit board, the contact structures on the bottom surface of the support substrate contacting corresponding contact areas on the circuit board. In any suitable manner, selected ones of the resilient contact structures atop the support substrate are connected, via the support substrate, to corresponding ones of the contact structures on the bottom surface of the support substrate.
Abstract:
Microelectronic contact structures are fabricated by separately forming, then joining together, various components thereof. Each contact structure has three components: a “post” component, a “beam” component, and a “tip” component. The resulting contact structure, mounted to an electronic component, is useful for making an electrical connection with another electronic component. The post component can be fabricated on a sacrificial substrate, joined to the electronic component and its sacrificial substrate removed. Alternatively, the post component can be formed on the electronic component. The beam and tip components can each be fabricated on a sacrificial substrate. The beam component is joined to the post component and its sacrificial substrate is removed, and the tip component is joined to the beam component and its sacrificial substrate is removed.
Abstract:
A forming tool with one or more embossing tooth, and preferably, a plurality of such embossing teeth, arranged on a substantially planar substrate, is disclosed. Each embossing tooth is configured for forming a sacrificial layer to provide a contoured surface for forming a microelectronic spring structure. Each embossing tooth has a protruding area corresponding to a base of a microelectronic spring, and a sloped portion corresponding to a beam contour of a microelectronic spring. Numerous methods for making a forming tool are also disclosed. The methods include a material removal method, a molding method, a repetitive-stamping method, tang-bending methods, and segment-assembly methods.
Abstract:
An electronics module is assembled by demountably attaching integrated circuits to a module substrate. The module is then tested at a particular operating speed. If the module fails to operate correctly at the tested speed, the integrated circuit or circuits that caused the failure are removed and replaced with new integrated circuits, and the module is retested. Once it is determined that the module operates correctly at the tested speed, the module may be rated to operate at the tested speed and sold, or the module may be tested at a higher speed.
Abstract:
An unsingulated semiconductor wafer is provided. Electrical interconnect elements are formed on the unsingulated wafer such that the interconnect elements are electrically connected to terminals of the semiconductor dice composing the wafer. At least a portion of the interconnect elements extend beyond the boundaries of the dice into the scribe streets separating the individual dice. Thereafter, the wafer is singulated into individual dice.
Abstract:
An interconnect assembly and methods for making and using the assembly. An exemplary embodiment of an aspect of the invention includes a contact element which includes a base portion adapted to be adhered to a substrate and a beam portion connected to and extending from the base portion. The beam portion is designed to have a geometry which substantially optimizes stress across the beam portion when deflected (e.g. it is triangular in shape) and is adapted to be freestanding. An exemplary embodiment of another aspect of the invention involves a method for forming a contact element. This method includes forming a base portion to adhere to a substrate of an electrical assembly and forming a beam portion connected to the base portion. The beam portion extends from the base portion and is designed to have a geometry which substantially evenly distributes stress across the beam portion when deflected and is adapted to be freestanding. It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments of the invention, a plurality of contact elements are used together to create an interconnect assembly. Various other assemblies and methods are also described below in conjunction with the following figures.
Abstract:
An interconnection element of a spring (body) including a first resilient element with a first contact region and a second contact region and a first securing region and a second resilient element, with a third contact region and a second securing region. The second resilient element is coupled to the first resilient element through respective securing regions and positioned such that upon sufficient displacement of the first contact region toward the second resilient element, the second contact region will contact the third contact region. The interconnection, in one aspect, is of a size suitable for directly contacting a semiconductor device. A large substrate with a plurality of such interconnection elements can be used as a wafer-level contactor. The interconnection element, in another aspect, is of a size suitable for contacting a packaged semiconductor device, such as in an LGA package.
Abstract:
A main power source supplies current through path impedance to a power terminal of an integrated circuit device under test (DUT). The DUT's demand for current at the power input terminal temporarily increases following edges of a clock signal applied to the DUT during a test as transistors within the IC switch in response to the clock signal edges. To limit variation (noise) in voltage at the power input terminal, an auxiliary power supply supplies an additional current pulse to the power input terminal to meet the increased demand during each cycle of the clock signal. The magnitude of the current pulse is a function of a predicted increase in current demand during that clock cycle, and of the magnitude of an adaption signal controlled by a feedback circuit provided to limit variation in voltage developed at the DUT's power input terminal.
Abstract:
Resilient contact structures are mounted directly to bond pads on semiconductor dies, prior to the dies being singulated (separated) from a semiconductor wafer. This enables the semiconductor dies to be exercised (e.g., tested and/or burned-in) by connecting to the semiconductor dies with a circuit board or the like having a plurality of terminals disposed on a surface thereof. Subsequently, the semiconductor dies may be singulated from the semiconductor wafer, whereupon the same resilient contact structures can be used to effect interconnections between the semiconductor dies and other electronic components (such as wiring substrates, semiconductor packages, etc.). Using the all-metallic composite interconnection elements of the present invention as the resilient contact structures, burn-in can be performed at temperatures of at least 150° C., and can be comprised in less than 60 minutes.
Abstract:
Temporary connections to spring contact elements extending from an electronic component such as a semiconductor device are made by urging the electronic component, consequently the ends of the spring contact elements, vertically against terminals of an interconnection substrate, or by horizontally urging terminals of an interconnection substrate against end portions of the spring contact elements. A variety of terminal configurations are disclosed.