Encapsulated semiconductor components and methods of fabrication

Abstract

A semiconductor component includes a thinned semiconductor die having protective polymer layers on up to six surfaces. The component also includes contact bumps on the die embedded in a circuit side polymer layer, and terminal contacts on the contact bumps in a dense area array. A method for fabricating the component includes the steps of providing a substrate containing multiple dice, forming trenches on the substrate proximate to peripheral edges of the dice, and depositing a polymer material into the trenches. In addition, the method includes the steps of planarizing the back side of the substrate to contact the polymer filled trenches, and cutting through the polymer trenches to singulate the components from the substrate. Prior to the singulating step the components can be tested and burned-in while they remain on the substrate.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to semiconductor manufacture and packaging. More particularly, this invention relates to encapsulated semiconductor components, to methods for fabricating the components, and to systems incorporating the components. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In semiconductor manufacture, different types of components have been developed recently, that are smaller and have a higher input / output capability than conventional plastic or ceramic packages. For example, one type of semiconductor component is referred to as a chip scale package (CSP) because it has an outline, or “footprint”, that is about the same as the outline of the die contained in the package. [0003] Typically, a chip scale package includes a dense area array of solder bumps, such as a standardized grid array as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,329 to Farnworth et al. The solder bumps permit the package to be flip chip mounted to a substrate, such as a package sub...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The circuit side polymer layer is then formed on the bumps and in the trenches, and both the circuit side polymer layer and the bumps can be planarized. The circuit side polymer layer can be formed using a nozzle deposition process, a transfer molding process, an injection molding process, a screen printing process, a stenciling process, a spin resist process, a dry film process, a stereo lithographic process, or any other suitable deposition process. The circuit side polymer layer protects the dice during the fabrication process, and also protects the dice in the completed components. Following formation of the circuit side polymer layer, the substrate is thinned from the back side, such that the polymer filled trenches are exposed. The thinning step can be performed by mechanically planarizing the substrate or by etching the substrate.

[0012] Next, the back side polymer layer is formed on the thinned back side of the substrate and can also be planarized. The back side polymer layer can be formed as described above for the circuit side polymer layer. The back side polymer layer protects the dice during the fabrication process, and also protects the dice in the completed components.

[0013] Next, the terminal contacts are formed on the contact bumps using a suitable deposition or bonding process. Finally, grooves are formed through the polymer filled trenches to singulate the completed components from one another. The grooves have a width that is less than the width of the polymer filled trenches, such that the edge polymer layers which comprise portions of the polymer filled trenches, remain on the four edges of the dice. The singulated component is encapsulated on six sides (i.e., circuit side, back side, four edges) by the circuit side polymer layer, the back side polymer layer and by edge polymer layers on the four edges. Prior to the singulation step, the components can be tested and burned-in while they remain on the substrate. In addition, the components are electrically isolated on the substrate, which is a particular advantage for burn-in testing.

[0014] A second embodiment component includes conductive vias in the thinned substrate, which electrically connect the die contacts to terminal contacts formed on the back side polymer layer. The terminal contacts can comprise conductive bumps or balls, or alternately planar pads configured as an edge connector. In addition, the conductive vias can be used to electrically connect terminal contacts on both sides of the component for stacking multiple components, and for facilitating testing of the components.

Problems solved by technology

In this regard, semiconductor dice include relatively fragile semiconductor substrates that are susceptible to cracking and chipping.

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