System and method for using film deposition techniques to provide an antenna within an integrated circuit package

Abstract

An integrated circuit package comprises a cavity for housing an integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna provided as part of the package that is located substantially outside the cavity. The antenna may be located on the floor of the IC package that lies in the region outside of the IC cavity. Alternatively, the antenna may be located on the upper or lower surface of the lid sealing the IC package. The antenna may be placed in the floor or on a surface of the IC lid by forming depressions in the floor or lid surface and depositing conductive material in the depressions. The conductive material deposition may be by sputtering, evaporation, or other known physical or chemical deposition method. Antennas formed in the upper surface of an IC lid may be coupled to a pin of the IC package so that the antenna may be electrically coupled to a transceiver component on the IC within the package. Antennas formed in the lower surface of an IC lid or the floor of the IC package may be coupled by a conductive pin to a component pad of the IC within the package. To reduce electromagnetic noise that may be induced by the radio frequency signals emitted or received by an antenna, a grounding plane may be provided as part of the IC package. The grounding plane may be coupled to an electrical ground reference point through an IC package pin or the IC within the package.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to antennas used with integrated circuits and, more particularly, to antennas coupled to integrated circuits within an integrated circuit package. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Wireless communication devices are becoming increasingly ubiquitous as more peripheral devices are interfaced with voice communication devices and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The demand for wireless communication with peripheral devices has led to the development of the Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 communication standards. As these communication standards are accepted and incorporated within the integrated circuits used to implement computer peripherals, the need for antennas that radiate and receive communications at radio frequencies (RF), especially those in the 2.4 to 5 GHz range, will increase. [0003] One way to meet this need is to provide antennas as additional components in the computer peripherals and other wireless communicatio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] In order to reduce the likelihood of the induction of RF noise in the components of the IC die, a grounding plane may be incorporated in the various embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiments in which an antenna is deposited in a portion of the interior region of an IC package that lies outside the IC die cavity, the grounding plane may be deposited on the floor of the package interior outside the cavity. Preferably, the grounding plane is comprised of a good conductive material such as gold or a nickel / gold composite. An insulating layer may be deposited over the grounding plane and then etched for the deposition of the conductive traces used to form the antenna provided the etching does not expose the grounding plane. The insulating layer preferably leaves a grounding pad exposed so the grounding plane may be connected by wire bonding the grounding pad to the signal ground for the IC die.

[0016] The provision of a grounding plane between the antenna and the IC die helps reduce RF interference caused by electromagnetic radiation emitted or received at the antenna. Thus, an antenna may be provided in the interior of a ceramic or molded IC package with reduced likelihood of RF interference disturbing the operation of the IC. Likewise, an antenna may be provided adjacent to the exterior of the ceramic or molded IC package without causing substantial RF interference with the operation of the IC within the package.

[0019] In order to reduce the likelihood of the induction of RF noise in the components of the IC die, a grounding plane may be incorporated in the various embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiments in which an antenna is deposited in a portion of the interior region of an IC package that lies outside the IC die cavity, the grounding plane may be deposited on the floor of the package interior outside the cavity. Preferably, the grounding plane is comprised of a good conductive material such as gold or a nickel / gold composite. An insulating layer may be deposited over the grounding plane and then etched for the deposition of the conductive traces used to form the antenna. The insulating layer preferably leaves a grounding pad exposed so the grounding plane may be connected by wire bonding the grounding pad to the signal ground for the IC die.

[0021] The provision of a grounding plane between the antenna and the IC die helps reduce RF interference caused by electromagnetic radiation emitted or received at the antenna. Thus, an antenna trace may be placed in the interior of a ceramic or molded IC package with reduced likelihood of RF interference disturbing the operation of the IC. Likewise, an antenna trace may be placed adjacent the exterior of a ceramic or molded IC package without causing substantial RF interference with the operation of the IC within the package.

[0023] It is an object of the present invention to reduce the likelihood of RF interference with the operation of the IC housed in the package that may be caused by electromagnetic radiation emitted or received by an antenna mounted within the package or adjacent its exterior.

Problems solved by technology

However, the incorporation of antennas on PCBs is an extravagant use of the space on PCBs already squeezed by requirements for small device footprints.

Such alignment may be problematic.

Furthermore, the area of a substrate on which an antenna is placed may be insufficient to provide an antenna of the best physical parameters and geometry.

Also, the vertical stacking of substrates may make the dissipation of heat generated by the integrated circuit difficult.

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