Intel Corporation

Joni G Hansen

Carl L Deppisch

Debendra Mallik

Fay Hua

Thomas John Fitzgerald

Youzhi E Xu

Ashok K Seth

Joan K Vrtis

Neil R Sugai

Jeff Wienrich

A composite of two or more thermal interface materials ('TIMs') is placed between a die and a heat spreader to improve cooling of the die in an integrated circuit package. The two or more TIMs vary in heat-dissipation capability depending upon the locations of die hot spots. In an embodiment, a more thermally conductive material may be positioned over one or more die hot spots, and a less thermally conductive material may be positioned abutting and/or surrounding the more thermally conductive material. The two or more TIMs may comprise a solder and a polymer. The composite TIM may be preformed as one unit or as a plurality of units. Methods of fabrication, as well as application of the package to an electronic assembly and to an electronic system, are also described.

Electronic assemblies with hot spot cooling and methods relating thereto

Electronic assembly with hot spot cooling

A coated heat spreader for a die includes a body and a coating on a surface of the body, wherein the outermost coating is an organic surface protectant. An IC package includes a die thermally coupled to a heat spreader coated with an organic surface protectant. A PCB assembly including a die thermally coupled to a heat spreader coated with an organic surface protectant, where the die is part of an IC package or is directly attached to the PCB. A method of making a coated heat spreader includes coating the organic surface protectant onto a surface of the heat spreader.

Method of a coating heat spreader

Apparatus and methods are provided to enable circuit configuration of a substrate by the setting of settable bits associated with those circuits. An electrically conductive material is deposited onto selected settable bits which closes the desired circuit between the settable bits. In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, a carrier substrate is provided that comprises settable bits which are used to control a microelectronic package's electrical characteristics. In one embodiment, the settable bits are in the form of sets of spaced-apart bit pads which form an open circuit between a logic circuit and electrical ground (Vss). The open circuit is closed with the application of electrically conductive material that bridges the set of spaced-apart bit pads. The settable bits, therefore, do not require the addition of high profile components such as 0-ohm resisters to form the electrical bridging function between the bit pads of a settable bit. The settable bits provide a highly configurable control interface that allows the setting of one or more electrical characteristics. The settable bits are easily and quickly configurable and do not require complex customized machinery for implementation. Further, they do not significantly add to the cost of development or manufacture of the carrier substrate.

Configurable microelectronic package using electrically conductive material

Coated heat spreaders

Methods for soldering a ball grid array (BGA) integrated circuit package to a printed circuit board. One method includes the steps of applying a solder flux to the conductive surface pads of a printed circuit board and capturing a plurality of solder balls with a separate fixture. The fixture is then placed onto the printed circuit board and the solder balls are released onto the conductive surface pads. The fixture is removed and an integrated circuit package is placed onto the solder balls. Solder flux may be applied to the bottom of the package to adhere the package to the balls. The solder balls are then reflowed to attach the package to the board. The flux provides a bonding agent which maintains the position of the solder balls and package while the solder is being reflowed. Another method includes the step of placing a fixture adjacent to the integrated circuit package so that a plurality of openings in the fixture are aligned with surface pads located on the bottom surface of the package. Solder balls are then placed into the fixture holes, adjacent to the surface pads of the package. The solder is then reflowed and the fixture is removed so that the package and solder balls can be subsequently soldered to a printed circuit board.

Fixture for handling and attaching conductive spheres to a substrate

Method for attaching and handling conductive spheres to a substrate

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Joni G Hansen