Window via capacitors
A method of forming a window via capacitor comprises a first step of providing a plurality of interleaved dielectric layers and paired electrode layers to create a multilayered arrangement characterized by top and bottom surfaces and a plurality pf side surfaces. First and second transition layer electrode portions are provided on a top surface of the multilayered arrangement on top of which a cover layer formed to define openings, or windows, therein is provided. The cover layer may be provided before device firing or may be printed on after firing using polymer or glass. Peripheral terminations are subsequently formed on the device periphery to connect selected electrode layers to respective transition layer electrode portions. Via terminations are formed in the cover layer openings, on top of which solder balls may be applied. Some of the terminations may be formed in accordance with various plating techniques as disclosed.
1. A multilayer electronic device, comprising:
a plurality of dielectric layers;
a plurality of electrode layers interleaved with selected of said plurality of dielectric layers to form a multilayered arrangement, said multilayered arrangement defined by first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces, wherein each said electrode layer extends to at least one side surface of said multilayered arrangement;
at least one respective first and second transition layer electrode portion provided on the first surface of said multilayered arrangement;
a cover layer provided over said at least one respective first and second transition layer electrode portions, said cover layer formed to define a plurality of openings therethrough for exposing a portion of said at least one respective first and second transition layer electrode portions, wherein said cover layer comprises one of polymer and glass;
at least one first peripheral termination formed along selected side surfaces of said multilayered arrangement and electrically connecting selected of said electrode layers and said at least one first transition layer electrode portion; and
at least one second peripheral termination formed along selected side surfaces of said multilayered arrangement and electrically connecting selected of said electrode layers and said at least one second transition layer electrode portion.
2. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein:
said plurality of electrode layers and said at least one respective first and second transition layer electrode portions respectively include a plurality of electrode tabs extending to selected side surfaces of said multilayered arrangement;
wherein said at least one first peripheral termination electrically connects selected electrode tabs from the at least one first transition layer electrode portion and selected of the electrode layers; and
wherein said at least one second peripheral termination electrically connects selected electrode tabs from the at least one second transition layer electrode portion and selected of the electrode layers.
3. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of via terminations formed in the openings defined by said cover layer.
4. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 3 , wherein selected of said via terminations are directly connected to electrode tabs of said at least one respective first and second transition layer electrode portions.
5. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein said at least one respective first and second transition layer electrode portions are generally U-shaped or rectangular-shaped.
6. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein multiple of said plurality of dielectric layers are provided on the second surface of said multilayered arrangement.
7. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of via terminations formed in the openings defined by said cover layer.
8. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of solder balls connected to selected of the plurality of via terminations.
9. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 7 , wherein said plurality of via terminations comprise a first layer of metallic material, a second layer of resistor-polymeric material, and a third layer of metallic material.
10. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 7 , wherein said plurality of via terminations comprise multiple layers of different metallic materials, wherein selected of said multiple layers are formed by electroless plating.
11. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 5 , wherein selected of said plurality of via terminations, said at least one first peripheral termination and said at least one second peripheral termination are directly plated to exposed electrode portions.
12. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein selected of said electrode layers and said at least one respective first and second transition layer electrode portions comprise ruthenium oxide such that the multilayer electronic device is characterized by a predetermined amount of equivalent series resistance.
13. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein said at least one first and second peripheral terminations extend along a substantially entire dimension of a respective selected side surface of the multilayer electronic device and wrap around to at least one side surface adjacent to said respective selected side surface.
14. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one additional respective first and second transition layer electrode portion provided on the second surface of said multilayered arrangement; and
an additional cover layer provided over said at least one additional respective first and second transition layer electrode portion, said additional cover layer formed to define a plurality of openings therethrough for exposing a portion of said at least one additional respective first and second transition layer electrode portions;
wherein said at least one first peripheral termination electrically connects selected of said electrode layers, said at least one first transition layer electrode portion provided on the first surface of said multilayered arrangement, and said at least one additional first transition layer electrode portion provided on the second surface of said multilayered arrangement; and
wherein said at least one second peripheral termination electrically connects selected of said electrode layers, said at least one second transition layer electrode portion provided on the first surface of said multilayered arrangement, and said at least one additional second transition layer electrode portion provided on the second surface of said multilayered arrangement.
15. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of via terminations formed in the openings defined by said cover layer and in the openings defined by said additional cover layer.
16. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of solder balls connected to selected of the plurality of via terminations.
17. A multilayer electronic device as in claim 14 , wherein said cover layer and said additional cover layer comprise one of polymer and glass.