International Business Machines Corporation

Michael F McAllister

Gerhard H Ruehle

Stephan R Richter

Klaus K Kempter

Charles F Pells

Madhavan Swaminathan

James A McDonald

John G Torok

Gordon J Robbins

Harald Pross

Keshav B Prasad

Gerhard Schoor

Wolfgang A Scholz

Eric D Perfecto

Wiren Dale Becker

Chandrika Prasad

George E White

Edmund Juris Sprogis

Michael Jay Shapiro

Tae Hong Kim

Alfred Mack

Gregory Martine Wilkins

Evan G Colgan

William Louis Brodsky

Laertis Economikos

Edward Joseph Seminaro

Thomas Anthony Wassick

Mukta S Farooq

Lawrence V Gregor

Alan Daniel Stigliani

A MCM system board uses a stiffener arrangement to enhance mechanical, thermo and electrical properties by incorporating an LGA compression connector in a computer system. The present designs of large scale computing systems (LSCS) in IBM use a MCM that is attached to a system board and held together by a stiffening frame. Due to the nature of the manufacturing of the system board, there can be significant gaps formed in the mounting area of the MCM between the board and the stiffener. A method is described that not only fills the void, it also, in addition promotes thermo conduction of excess heat away from the MCM and at the same time promotes enhanced electrical properties of the LGA connections of the MCM to the system board.

Gel package structural enhancement of compression system board connections

A capacitor in a semiconductor substrate employs a conductive through-substrate via (TSV) as an inner electrode and a columnar doped semiconductor region as an outer electrode. The capacitor provides a large decoupling capacitance in a small area, and does not impact circuit density or a Si3D structural design. Additional conductive TSV's can be provided in the semiconductor substrate to provide electrical connection for power supplies and signal transmission therethrough. The capacitor has a lower inductance than a conventional array of capacitors having comparable capacitance, thereby enabling reduction of high frequency noise in the power supply system of stacked semiconductor chips.

Integrated decoupling capacitor employing conductive through-substrate vias

A method is described by which an electrical path is created between layers on a printed circuit board (PCB) without the use of plated through holes (PTH). Through the use of a liquid solder or conductive epoxy injection fixture, a conductive path is created in pre-drilled holes forming an electrical connection between internal PCB metal layers and surface mounted components without the creation of parasitic stubs on the signal nets.

Method of forming solid vias in a printed circuit board

Method for structural enhancement of compression system board connections

A Land Grid Array structure is enhanced with a flex film interposer that not only provides a Land Grid Array (LGA) electrical connection between a Multi-Chip Module (MCM) and the next level of integration such as a system board, but also provides a reliable means to implement desired Engineering Change (EC) capability as well as a means for decoupling power to ground structure to minimize switching activity effects on the System. The invention as described can be implemented for EC repair, for Capacitive Decoupling or both, using a removable and restorable engineering change plug.

Land grid array structures and methods for engineering change

Method for using gel package structure enhancing thermal dissipation between compressed printed circuit board and heat sink mechanical stiffener

Apparatus and methods are provided for constructing electronic package structures using LGA (land grid array) module-to-board connectors that are designed to provide higher count I/O interconnections by expanding LGA area, but without having to increase chip module footprint or reduce the pitch of area array I/O contacts of an LGA interposer or circuit board beyond practical limits.

Electronic package structures using land grid array interposers for module-to-board interconnection

A Land Grid Array structure is enhanced with a flex film interposer that not only provides a Land Grid Array (LGA) electrical connection between a Multi-Chip Module (MCM) and the next level of integration such as a system board, but also provides a reliable means to implement desired Engineering Change (EC) capability as well as a means for decoupling power to ground structure to minimize switching activity effects on the System. The invention as described can be implemented for EC repair, for Capacitive Decoupling or both.

Land grid array structure

A method and apparatus of interconnecting with a system board is presented. A system board having a metal stiffener mounted thereon is provided with an opening in the stiffener to provide access to an area of interest on the system board. A probe test assembly is positioned a the opening and secured to the stiffener when testing is desired to provide access to the pins of the device under test (e.g., a Multi Chip Module (MCM) on the system board). Alternatively, a system enhancement device, such as an MCM or Single Chip Module (SCM) having additional Central Processing Units (CPU's) or other features, may be installed on the system board at the opening in the stiffener to enhance the function of the system board. Another alternate includes an interface assembly positioned at the opening in the stiffener. A cover is positioned at the opening and secured to the stiffener at all other times.

Method and apparatus of interconnecting with a system board

Method of interconnecting with a system board

A method and apparatus of interconnecting with a system board is presented. A system board having a metal stiffener mounted thereon is provided with an opening in the stiffener to provide access to an area of interest on the system board. A probe test assembly is positioned at the opening and secured to the stiffener when testing is desired to provide access to the pins of the device under test (e.g., a Multi Chip Module (MCM) on the system board). Alternatively, a system enhancement device, such as a MCM or Single Chip Module (SCM) having additional Central Processing Units (CPU's) or other features, may be installed on the system board at the opening in the stiffener to enhance the function of the system board. Another alternate includes an interface assembly positioned at the opening in the stiffener. A cover is positioned at the opening and secured to the stiffener at all other times.

Method and apparatus for enhancing a system board

A counterbalancing arrangement for use with a compressive land grid array connector system provides a counterbalancing load element at a side of a system circuit board opposite a back side holding an integrated circuit chip substrate via the connector system. In a first aspect, the counterbalancing load element is a probe template and spacer element providing measurement across to the integrated circuiting. In another aspect, the counterbalancing load element is a mirror image integrated circuit land grid array connector system.

Application and test methodology for use with compression land grid array connectors

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New Milford, CT, United States of America

Michael F McAllister