Abstract:
The present invention provides a system and method that mounts integrated circuit devices onto substrates and a system and method for employing such mounted devices for stacked modules. The contact pads of a packaged integrated circuit device are substantially exposed. A solder paste that includes higher temperature solder paste alloy is applied to a substrate or to the integrated circuit device to be mounted. The integrated circuit device is positioned to contact the contacts of the substrate. Heat is applied to create high temperature joints between the contacts of the substrate and the integrated circuit device resulting in a device-substrate assembly with high temperature joints. The formed joints are less subject to re-melting in subsequent processing steps. The method may be employed in devising stacked module constructions such as those disclosed herein as preferred embodiments in accordance with the invention. Typically, the created joints are low in profile.
Abstract:
The present invention stacks integrated circuits (ICs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. In another aspect, the invention provides a lower capacitance memory expansion addressing system and method and preferably with the CSP stacked modules 10 provided herewith. In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, a form standard 34 provides a 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 32. In a preferred embodiment, the form standard 34 will be devised of heat transference material such as copper to improve thermal performance. In an alternative embodiment, the form standard 34 may include a heat spreader portion 192 with mounting feet 198. In a preferred embodiment of the memory addressing system, a high speed switching system selects a data line associated with each level of a stacked module 10 to reduce the loading effect upon data signals in memory access.
Abstract:
The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. The CSPs employed in stacked modules devised in accordance with the present invention are connected with flex circuitry. That flex circuitry may exhibit one or more conductive layers with preferred embodiments having two conductive layers. A form standard is disposed along the lower planar surface and extends laterally beyond the package of one or more CSPs in a stacked module. The form standard provides a 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. In a preferred embodiment, the form standard will be comprised of heat conductive material such as copper, for example.
Abstract:
With the use of stacked modules, a system and method for point to point addressing of multiple integrated memory circuits is provided. A single memory expansion board is populated with stacked modules of integrated circuits. In a preferred embodiment, a four DIMM socket memory access bus that does not employ stacking is replaced with a single DIMM socket bus that supports stacking up to four high on a single DIMM. Although the present invention is preferably employed to advantage using stacked modules comprised from multiple CSPs, it may be employed with modules comprised from any number and type of integrated circuits including any type of packaging, whether CSP or leaded. The stacked modules make use of flexible substrates, low-profile contacts and form standarads for folding substrates.
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:
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.