Abstract:
The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve board surface area. In a two-high CSP stack or module (10) devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of CSPs (12, 14) is stacked, with one CSP (12) above the other (14). The two CSPs are connected with a pair of flexible circuit structures (30, 32). Each of the pair of flexible circuit structures (30, 32) is partially wrapped about a respective opposite lateral edge (20, 22) of the lower CSP (14) of the module (10). The flex circuit pair (30, 32) connects the upper and lower CSPs (12, 14) and provides a thermal and electrical path connection path between the module (10) and an application environment such as a printed wiring board (PWB). The present invention may be employed to advantage in numerous configurations and combinations of CSPs in modules provided for high-density memories or high capacity computing.
Abstract:
The present invention stacks integrated circuits into modules that conserve board surface area. In a two-high stack or module devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of integrated circuits is stacked, with one integrated circuit above the other. The two integrated circuits are connected with a pair of flexible circuit structures. Each of the pair of flexible circuit structures is partially wrapped about a respective opposite lateral edge of the lower integrated circuit of the module. The flex circuit pair connects the upper and lower integrated circuits and provides a thermal and electrical path connection path between the module and an application environment such as a printed wiring board (PWB). The present invention may be employed to advantage in numerous configurations and combinations of integrated circuits in modules provided for high-density memories or high capacity computing.
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:
The present invention stacks integrated circuits into modules that conserve board surface area. In a two-high stack or module devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of integrated circuits is stacked, with one integrated circuit above the other. The two integrated circuits are connected with a pair of flexible circuit structures. Each of the pair of flexible circuit structures is partially wrapped about a respective opposite lateral edge of the lower integrated circuit of the module. The flex circuit pair connects the upper and lower integrated circuits and provides a thermal and electrical path connection path between the module and an application environment such as a printed wiring board (PWB). The present invention may be employed to advantage in numerous configurations and combinations of integrated circuits in modules provided for high-density memories or high capacity computing.
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:
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:
A circuit module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) (12) having a first side (22), a second side (24), and a bottom perimeter edge (42). The PCB exhibits a first thickness along the bottom perimeter edge. The first side includes a recessed area (70) and, in that recessed area, the PCB has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. A plurality of integrated circuits (ICs) are fixed to the PCB in the recessed area. A plurality of module contacts (30) are connected to the ICs and are disposed along at least one of the first and second sides and are configured to provide electrical connection between the circuit module and an edge connector.
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 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.