International Business Machines Corporation

Gordon A Kelley, Jr

Claude Louis Bertin

Howard L Kalter

Paul A Farrar

Wayne John Howell

Erik L Hedberg

Christopher P Miller

Willem B Van Der Hoeven

Francis Roger White

Kenneth E Beilstein, Jr

John Edward Barth, Jr

William Paul Hovis

Dale E Pontius

Scott C Lewis

Daniel J Nickel

Charles E Drake

Richard W Noth

James A Yankosky

Kurt Hinrichsmeyer

Werner Straehle

Steven Platt

Howard K Kalter

An integrated memory cube structure and method of fabrication wherein stacked semiconductor memory chips are integrated by a controlling logic chip such that a more powerful memory architecture is defined with the functional appearance of a single, higher level memory chip. A memory/logic cube is formed having N memory chips and at least one logic chip, with each memory chip of the cube having M memory devices. The controlling logic chip coordinates external communication with the N memory chips such that a single memory chip architecture with N.times.M memory devices appears at the cube's I/O pins. A corresponding fabrication technique includes an approach for facilitating metallization patterning on the side surface of the memory subunit.

Integrated memory cube, structure and fabrication

Integrated memory cube structure

A fabrication method and resultant electronic module that facilitates relief of thermally induced stress within the module. The fabrication method includes providing a plurality of integrated circuit chips having grooves in substantially planar main surfaces thereof. The chips are stacked and bonded to each other using an expandable material and a flowable adhesive to form an electronic module. The bonding is such that movement of individual IC chips within the module, in a direction perpendicular to their planar surfaces, is restricted. Upon thermal expansion of the module, the expandable material and the individual chips expand at different rates. However, the expandable material flows into the grooves, relieving thermally induced stress.

Method and apparatus for a stress relieved electronic module

An integrated multichip memory module structure and method of fabrication wherein stacked semiconductor memory chips are integrated by a controlling logic chip such that a more powerful memory architecture is defined with the appearance of a single, higher level memory chip. A memory subunit is formed having N memory chips with each memory chip of the subunit having M memory devices. The controlling logic chip coordinates external communication with the N memory chips such that a single memory chip architecture with N.times.M memory devices appears at the module's I/O pins. A preformed electrical interface layer is employed at one end of the memory subunit to electrically interconnect the controlling logic chip with the memory chips comprising the subunit. The controlling logic chip has smaller dimensions than the dimensions of the memory chips comprising the subunit. A lead frame, having an inner opening extending therethrough, is secured to the electrical interface layer and the controlling logic chip is secured to the electrical interface layer so as to reside within the lead frame, thereby producing a dense multichip integrated circuit package. Corresponding fabrication techniques include an approach for facilitating metallization patterning on the side surface of the memory subunit.

Integrated multichip memory module structure

Multichip integrated circuit packages and systems of multichip packages having reduced interconnecting lead lengths are disclosed. The multichip package includes a multiplicity of semiconductor chip layers laminated together in a unitized module. A first metallization pattern is connected to the integrated circuit chips on at least one side surface of the unitized module. In addition, at least one end surface of the module contains a second metallization pattern which is configured to facilitate connection of the package to an external signal source, such as another multichip package. The system includes at least two such packages which are electrically coupled via either metallization patterns provided on the end surface of the packagers. If required, a plurality of multichip packages can be directly coupled into the system in an analogous manner. Further specific details of the multichip package and the system of multichip packages are set forth herein.

Multichip integrated circuit packages and systems

A structure and method is disclosed for cooling a semiconductor computer chip module. The semiconductor computer chip module is made up of a plurality of semiconductor chips bonded together In one aspect of the present invention every other chip is staggered such that recesses are formed between protruding edges of every other chip along two opposite faces of the chip module. The opposite faces with the staggered chips are capped and sealed so that coolant channels are formed between the recesses and the sealing caps. In another aspect, one face of the chip module is bonded by a plurality of connectors to a base. The base and chip module with connectors form a chamber. The chamber is sealed and an opening is made in the base to circulate coolant into and around the connectors of the base and up along the coolant channels which are in fluid communication with the base. Thermal vias are provided between selected connectors and the chip module to conduct heat from the chips of the module to the connectors.

Thermally enhanced semiconductor chip package

A fabrication method and resultant three-dimensional multichip package having a densely stacked array of semiconductor chips interconnected at least partially by means of a plurality of metallized trenches are disclosed. The fabrication method includes providing an integrated circuit chip having high aspect ratio metallized trenches therein extending from a first surface to a second surface thereof. An etch stop layer is provided proximate the termination position of the metallized trenches with the semiconductor substrate. Next the integrated circuit device is affixed to a carrier such that the surface of the supporting substrate is exposed and substrate is thinned from the integrated circuit device until exposing at least some of the plurality of metallized trenches therein. Electrical contact can thus be made to the active layer of the integrated circuit chip via the exposed metallized trenches. Specific details of the fabrication method and the resultant multichip package are set forth.

Three dimensional multichip package methods of fabrication

Three-dimensional multichip packages and methods of fabrication

Low power addressing systems are provided which include a given number of memory segments, each having word and bit/sense lines, a given number of decoders coupled to the given number of memory segments for selecting one word line in each of the memory segments, a first plurality of transmission gate systems, each having first and second transmission gates, with each of the gates being coupled to a different one of the decoders, a second decoder having the first plurality of outputs, each of the outputs being coupled to a respective one of the transmission gate systems, first control circuits for selectively activating the first and second gates in each of the first plurality of transmission gate systems, a second given number of decoders coupled to the given number of memory segments for selecting one bit/sense line in each of the memory segments, a second plurality of transmission gate systems, each having first and second transmission gates, with each of the gates of the second plurality of transmission gate systems being coupled to a different one of the second given number of decoders, and second control circuits for selectively activating the first and second gates of each of the second plurality of transmission gate systems.

Low power addressing systems

A semiconductor package utilizing a carrier with substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces having a recess in the bottom surface and a slot in the top surface communicating with the recess in the bottom surface and provided with electrical conductors on its top surface is provided with an integrated semiconductor chip having a major surface and contact pads on the major surface in the recess of the carrier, with said contact pads positioned in the region of said slot so that the contact pads can be connected by lead wires passing through said slot, to the conductors on the top side of the carrier. The active surface of the chip containing the contact pads is encapsulated but the back surface of the chip and carrier is left exposed to improve the thermal characteristics of the chip while maintaining a low package profile.

Integrated semiconductor chip package

Growing community of inventors

Essex Junction, VT, United States of America

Gordon A Kelley, Jr