Method for manufacturing a semiconductor package

Abstract

A semiconductor package and a manufacturing method prevent electrical shorts that otherwise result from bonding wires contacting the edge of a semiconductor chip. An insulating region at the edge of a semiconductor chip prevents the shorts. One method for forming the insulating region leaves a polyimide layer on the scribe area of a wafer and cuts through the polyimide layer. To avoid chipping, the cutting uses a fine grit blade and a slow cutting rate. An alternative process removes the polyimide from the scribe area and forms the insulating region on the edge of the semiconductor chip. A potting method can deposit the insulating region on a semiconductor chip after cutting a wafer and after attaching a separated chip to a substrate. Alternatively, plotting or printing can apply insulating material on the wafer. A cutting process then cuts through the insulating material and the wafer and leaves insulating regions on each separated chip. A groove can be formed in the scribe area and then filled with insulating material before cutting along the groove. As a result, the insulating material from inside the groove extends onto the sides of the separated semiconductor chips. If the groove is formed before backside grinding of the wafer, the insulating region can cover the side of a chip. The insulating material is typically an epoxy type resin that can be cut without chipping.