Micron Technology Incorporated

Aptina Imaging Corporation

James M Derderian

Jaspreet Singh Gandhi

Bret K Street

Sameer S Vadhavkar

Jian Li

Xiao Li

Eric T Mueller

David R Hembree

Steven K Groothuis

Nathan R Draney

Andrew M Bayless

Frank L Hall

Michel Koopmans

Jeremy E Minnich

Wayne H Huang

William Jeffery Reeder

Brandon P Wirz

Methods of reflowing electrically conductive elements on a wafer may involve directing a laser beam toward a region of a surface of a wafer supported on a film of a film frame to reflow at least one electrically conductive element on the surface of the wafer. In some embodiments, the wafer may be detached from a carrier substrate and be secured to the film frame before laser reflow. Apparatus for performing the methods, and methods of repairing previously reflowed conductive elements on a wafer are also disclosed.

Systems for thermally treating conductive elements on semiconductor and wafer structures

Method for packaging a semiconductor die assemblies. In one embodiment, a method is directed to packaging a semiconductor die assembly having a first die and a plurality of second dies arranged in a stack over the first die, wherein the first die has a peripheral region extending laterally outward from the stack of second dies. The method can comprise coupling a thermal transfer structure to the peripheral region of the first die and flowing an underfill material between the second dies. The underfill material is flowed after coupling the thermal transfer structure to the peripheral region of the first die such that the thermal transfer structure limits lateral flow of the underfill material.

Methods of manufacturing stacked semiconductor die assemblies with high efficiency thermal paths

Apparatuses and methods for providing thermal pathways from a substrate to a thermal bonding pad. The thermal pathways may be metal extensions of the thermal bonding pad that are disposed in channels formed in a backside passivation layer underneath the thermal bonding pad, and may be in direct contact with an underlying substrate. The thermal pathways may provide improved thermal dissipation from the substrate.

Bonding pads with thermal pathways

Methods and apparatuses for reflowing conductive elements of semiconductor devices

A semiconductor device assembly having a semiconductor device attached to a substrate with a foil layer on a surface of the substrate. A layer of adhesive connects the substrate to a first surface of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device assembly enables processing on the second surface of the semiconductor device. An energy pulse may be applied to the foil layer causing an exothermic reaction to the foil layer that releases the substrate from the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device assembly may include a release layer positioned between the foil layer and the layer of adhesive that connects the substrate to the semiconductor device. The heat generated by the exothermic reaction breaks down the release layer to release the substrate from the semiconductor device. The energy pulse may be an electric charge, a heat pulse, or may be applied from a laser.

Carrier removal by use of multilayer foil

Semiconductor device assemblies with heat transfer structures formed from semiconductor materials are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device assembly can include a thermal transfer structure formed from a semiconductor substrate. The thermal transfer structure includes an inner region, an outer region projecting from the inner region, and a cavity defined in the outer region by the inner and outer regions. The semiconductor device assembly further includes a stack of first semiconductor dies in the cavity, and a second semiconductor die attached to the outer region of the thermal transfer structure and enclosing the stack of first semiconductor dies within the cavity.

Semiconductor device assembly with heat transfer structure formed from semiconductor material

A method for processing semiconductor dice comprises removing material from a surface of a semiconductor wafer to create a pocket surrounded by a sidewall at a lateral periphery of the semiconductor wafer, forming a film on a bottom of the pocket and securing semiconductor dice to the film in mutually spaced locations. A dielectric molding material is placed in the pocket over and between the semiconductor dice, material is removed from another surface of the semiconductor wafer to expose the film, bond pads of the semiconductor dice are exposed, redistribution layers in electrical communication with the bond pads of associated semiconductor dice are formed, and the redistribution layers and associated semiconductor dice are singulated along spaces between the semiconductor dice.

Methods for processing semiconductor dice and fabricating assemblies incorporating same

Apparatus for testing semiconductor devices comprising die stacks, the apparatus comprising a substrate having an array of pockets in a surface thereof arranged to correspond to conductive elements protruding from a semiconductor device to be tested. The pockets include conductive contacts with traces extending to conductive pads, which may be configured as test pads, jumper pads, edge connects or contact pads. The substrate may comprise a semiconductor wafer or wafer segment and, if the latter, multiple segments may be received in recesses in a fixture. Testing may be effected using a probe card, a bond head carrying conductive pins, or through conductors carried by the fixture.

Growing community of inventors

Boise, ID, United States of America

James M Derderian