Optimization of routing layers and board space requirements for a ball grid array package

1. A ball grid array package comprising:

a substrate material having a first side configured to receive a semiconductor chip and a second side having a plurality of conductive pads arranged in an array of rows and columns, wherein at least one edge of said array is not fully populated with pads;

wherein a first edge of said array includes a repeating pattern of a first conductive pad, a space, and a second conductive pad, positioned in series; and

wherein a row or column of said array parallel and adjacent to said first edge is substantially fully populated with conductive pads.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein said at least one edge includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having a number of S spaces therebetween, wherein

S =INT(( E− 5)/3),

where:

E= a number of conductive pads in said at least one edge, if fully populated; and

INT is an INTEGER function, rounded down.

3. The package of claim 1 , wherein said at least one edge includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having a number of S spaces therebetween, wherein a ratio of said plurality of serially aligned conductive pads to said number of S spaces is at least two to one (2:1).

4. The package of claim 1 , wherein said at least one edge includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having a space therebetween, wherein said space allows for at least one additional routing channel than when said at least one edge is fully populated.

5. The package of claim 4 , wherein said space allows for two additional routing channels than when said at least one edge is fully populated.

6. The package of claim 1 , wherein said at least one edge of said first array includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having spaces therebetween created by missing pads,

wherein said first array is coupled to a corresponding second array on a circuit board when the package is mounted to the circuit board, said second array having a corresponding at least one edge that includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having corresponding spaces therebetween created by missing pads;

wherein said corresponding spaces in said at least one edge of said second array create additional routing channels for signals from conductive pads within said second array to be routed external to said second array through said at least one edge of said second array.

7. The package of claim 6 , wherein a higher proportion of said conductive pads within said second array are accessible by routing channels on a common layer with said conductive pads within said second array than when said at least one edge of said second array is fully populated with pads.

8. The package of claim 6 , wherein said second array has a higher ratio of conductive pads that are externally routable on a single layer of said circuit board to conductive pads of the second array that are not externally routable on the single layer than when said at least one edge of said second array is fully populated with pads.

9. The package of claim 6 , wherein an edge of said second array comprises a first conductive pad and a second conductive pad separated by a space due to a missing conductive pad, wherein said space in said edge of said second array enables seven conductive routing channels to be routed between the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad from conductive pads within said second array external to said second array.

10. An integrated circuit package comprising:

a substrate material having a first side configured to receive a semiconductor chip and a second side having a plurality of conductive pads arranged in an array of rows and columns, wherein an edge of said array is not fully populated with pads;

wherein said edge includes a repeating pattern of a first conductive pad, a space, and a second conductive pad, positioned in series; and

wherein a row or column of said array parallel and adjacent to said edge is substantially fully populated with conductive pads.

11. The package of claim 10 , wherein said edge includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having a number of S spaces therebetween, wherein

S =INT(( E −5)/3),

where:

E=a number of conductive pads in said edge, if fully populated; and

INT is an INTEGER function, rounded down.

12. The package of claim 10 , wherein said edge includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having a number of S spaces therebetween, wherein a ratio of said plurality of serially aligned conductive pads to said number of S spaces is at least two to one (2:1).

13. The package of claim 10 , wherein said edge includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having a space therebetween, wherein said space allows for at least one additional routing channel than when said edge is fully populated.

14. The package of claim 13 , wherein said space allows for two additional routing channels than when said edge is fully populated.

15. The package of claim 10 , wherein said first array is coupled to a corresponding second array on a circuit board when the package is mounted to the circuit board, said second array having a corresponding edge that includes a plurality of serially aligned conductive pads having corresponding spaces therebetween created by missing pads;

wherein said corresponding spaces in said edge of said second array create additional routing channels for signals from conductive pads within said second array to be routed external to said second array through said edge of said second array.

16. The package of claim 15 , wherein a higher proportion of said conductive pads within said second array are accessible by routing channels on a common layer with said conductive pads within said second array than when said edge of said second array is fully populated with pads.

17. The package of claim 15 , wherein said second array has a higher ratio of conductive pads that are externally routable on a single layer of said circuit board to conductive pads of the second array that are not externally routable on the single layer than when said edge of said second array is fully populated with pads.

18. The package of claim 15 , wherein said edge of said second array comprises a first conductive pad and a second conductive pad separated by a space due to a missing conductive pad, wherein said space in said edge of said second array enables seven conductive routing channels to be routed between the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad from conductive pads within said second array external to said second array.