Abstract:
A circuit module comprises a rigid, preferably thermally conductive, substrate 14, a flexible circuit 12 wrapped around an edge of the substrate, a plurality of chip scale packages (CSPs) attached to the flexible circuit and expansion board contacts 20 formed on the flexible circuit adjacent to the edge. The CSPs may be standard memory modules and are connected to the contacts 20 by means of conductive traces in the flexible circuit 16. The contacts 20 are arranged so that the circuit module may be plugged at its edge into a standard circuit board expansion slot in e.g. a computer. The substrate may assist in heat dissipation from the attached CSPs.
Abstract:
The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. In a two-high CSP stack or module devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two CSPs are stacked, with one CSP disposed above the other. The two CSPs are connected with flex circuitry. A form standard is disposed between the flex circuitry and a CSP in the stack. The form standard can take many configurations and may be used where flex circuits are used to connect CSPs to one another in stacked modules having two or more constituent CSPs. For example, in stacked modules that include four CSPs, three form standards are employed in preferred embodiments, although fewer may be used. The form standard provides a thermally conductive physical form that allows many of the varying package sizes found in the broad family of CSP packages to be used to advantage while employing a standard connective flex circuitry design.
Abstract:
Integrated circuits (ICs) are stacked into modules that conserve PCB or other board surface area. The modules provide for lower capacitance memory signaling systems and methods for connecting stacked CSPs in a serial cascade arrangement. In one preferred embodiment, on-die terminations are used selectively to terminate a cascaded series of conductive paths. In another preferred embodiment, a form standard provides a physical form that allows many of the varying package sizes found in a broad family of CSP packages to be used to advantage while employing a standard connective flex circuitry design.
Abstract:
A system and method for combining at least two semiconductor die (12, 12FC, 14, 14FC) using multi-layer flex circuitry is provided. A first semiconductor die (12, 12FC) is attached and preferably electrically connected to a first layer of the flex circuitry (20) while a second semiconductor die (14, 14FC) is set, at least in part, into a window (FW) that extends into the flex circuitry (20) to expose a layer of the flex to which the second die (14, 14FC) is attached. When the second semiconductor die (14, 14FC) is a flip-chip device, it is connected through its contacts to the layer of flex exposed in the window and when it is a die with its contact side oriented away from the flex circuitry (20), it is preferably electrically connected with wire bonds to another conductive layer of the flex circuitry (20).
Abstract:
Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry (ICs) disposed along one or both of major sides. Contacts are distributed along the flexible circuitry to provide connection between the module and an application environment. The populated flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid substrate preferably devised from thermally-conductive materials and one or more thermal spreaders are disposed in thermal contact with at least some of the constituent integrated circuitry of the module. Optionally, as an additional thermal management feature, the module may include a high thermal conductivity thermal sink or area that is disposed proximal to higher thermal energy IC devices. In preferred embodiments, extensions from the substrate body or substrate core encourage reduced thermal variations amongst the ICs of the module while providing an enlarged surface for shedding thermal energy from the module.
Abstract:
Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry disposed along one or both of its major sides. Contacts distributed along the flexible circuitry provide connection between the module and an application environment. The circuit-populated flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid substrate preferably devised from thermally conductive materials and includes a high thermal conductivity core or area that is disposed proximal to higher thermal energy devices such as an AMB when the flex circuit is brought about the substrate. Other variations include thermally-conductive clips that grasp respective ICs on opposite sides of the module to further shunt heat from the ICs. Preferred extensions from the substrate body or substrate core encourage reduced thermal variations amongst the integrated circuits of the module.
Abstract:
Flexible circuitry is populated on one or both sides with integrated circuits (ICs) each of which ICs has an IC profile (height). A substantially flat, windowed fixture with a fixture profile less than the IC profiles of the ICs is applied over an IC-populated side of the flexible circuitry causing at least a part of the ICs to emerge from respective fixture windows. Material is removed simultaneously from that portion of the ICs that emerge from the windows to result in lower-profile ICs which, in a preferred embodiment exhibit profiles substantially coincident with the fixture profile established by the upper surface of the fixture. The method is used to advantage in devising circuit modules by disposing the flexible circuitry about a rigid substrate to form the circuit module with a low profile. Some embodiments use substrates that are windowed or have inset areas into which the lower profile CSPs may be set to reach profile requirements.
Abstract:
Flexible circuitry (12) is populated with integrated circuits (18), (ICs) disposed along one or both of its major sides. Contacts (20) distributed along the flexible circuitry provide connection to the ICs. Preferably, the flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid, thermally-conductive substrate (14) thus placing the integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate with one or two layers of integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate. In alternative, but also preferred embodiments, the ICs on the side of the flexible circuit closest to the substrate are disposed, at least partially, in what are windows, pockets, or cutaway areas in the substrate. Other embodiments may only populate one side of the flexible circuit or may remove substrate material to reduce module profile. In preferred embodiments, the contacts distributed along the flexible circuitry are configured for insertion into an edge connector socket such as those found in general purpose and server computers. Preferred substrates are comprised of thermally conductive material. Extensions from the substrate in preferred embodiments can be expected to reduce thermal module loading and encourage reduced thermal variations amongst the integrated circuits of the module during operation.
Abstract:
A circuit module is provided in which two secondary substrates or cards or the rigid portions of a rigid flex assembly are populated with integrated circuits (ICs). The secondary substrates are connected with flexible circuitry. One side of the flexible circuitry exhibits contacts adapted for connection to an edge connector. The flexible circuitry is wrapped about an edge of a preferably metallic substrate to dispose one of the two secondary substrates on a first side of the substrate and the other of the secondary substrates on the second side of the substrate.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, a high density circuit module is provided having a support frame supporting a flexible circuit. A main integrated circuit and one or more supporting integrated circuit are mounted to the flexible circuit. Electrical connections between the main integrated circuit and the one or more integrated circuits are made on the flexible circuit. In other embodiments, a main integrated circuit such as, for example, a network processor, is mounted to a flexible circuit. Supporting integrated circuits, such as, for example, memory devices used by the network processor, are mounted on side portions of the flexible circuit. The side portions are folded to place the supporting integrated circuits higher than the main integrated circuit. Such placement may direct cooling airflow over the main integrated circuit's heat sink.