IP Library Granted Patent US 8,378,485
Granted Patent B2
US 8,378,485 · App. 12/501,686 · Granted Feb 19, 2013

Solder interconnect by addition of copper

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,378,485
App. No.
12/501,686
Granted
Feb 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of forming an electronic device provides an electronic device substrate having a solder bump pad located thereover. A nickel-containing layer is located over the solder bump pad. A copper-containing layer is formed on the nickel-containing layer prior to subjecting the electronic device to a reflow process.

Claims (47)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an electronic device substrate having a bump pad located thereover, said bump pad including top and side surfaces;

an elemental nickel layer located over said top and side surfaces of said bump pad such that said bump pad is located between portions of said elemental nickel layer that are located over said side surfaces;

a solder bump on said elemental nickel layer, wherein said solder bump is composed of an alloy of silver, tin and copper, said copper having a concentration in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 4 wt %; and

an intermetallic compound layer between said elemental nickel layer and said solder bump, wherein intermetallic compound layer includes:

a first intermetallic compound sublayer adjacent to said solder bump, said first intermetallic compound sublayer composed of an alloy of nickel, copper and tin, and

a second intermetallic compound sublayer adjacent to said first intermetallic compound sublayer and said elemental nickel layer, said second intermetallic compound sublayer composed of an alloy of nickel and tin.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said electronic device substrate is an integrated circuit die.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said electronic device substrate is a device package substrate.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein said electronic device includes an integrated circuit substrate connected to said device package substrate by said solder bump.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said intermetallic compound layer has a thickness in a range of about 0.5 μm to about 2 μm.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device substrate is a first substrate and said device further comprises a second electronic device substrate, wherein said first and second substrates are coupled together by said solder bump.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said intermetallic layer is located over a portion less than an entirety of said top surface.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said intermetallic compound layer has a total mass that is about 0.1% to about 10% of a total mass of said solder bump.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said copper of said solder bump is uniformly distributed throughout said solder bump.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said alloy of nickel, copper and tin of said first intermetallic compound sublayer includes atomic ratios of about five atoms of said tin to about six atoms of said nickel plus said copper, and, more of said copper atoms than of said nickel atoms.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein said alloy of nickel, copper and tin of said first intermetallic compound sublayer includes a concentration of said copper in a range of about 55 wt % to about 65 wt %.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the alloy of silver, tin and copper of said solder bumper includes said tin and said silver in a weight ratio of about 96:3.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

an electronic device substrate having a bump pad located thereover, said bump pad including top and side surfaces;

a elemental nickel layer located over said top and side surfaces of said bump pad such that said bump pad is located between portions of said elemental nickel layer that are located over said side surfaces;

a solder bump located over said elemental nickel layer, wherein said solder bump is composed of an alloy of silver, tin and copper, and

an intermetallic compound layer located between and in contact with said elemental nickel layer and said solder bump, wherein said intermetallic compound layer includes:

a first intermetallic compound sublayer adjacent to said solder bump, said first intermetallic compound sublayer composed of an alloy of nickel, copper and tin, and

a second intermetallic compound sublayer adjacent to said first intermetallic compound sublayer and said nickel-containing layer, said second intermetallic compound sublayer composed of an alloy of nickel and tin.

14. An electronic device comprising:

an electronic device substrate having a bump pad located thereover, said bump pad including top and side surfaces;

a nickel-containing layer located over said top and side surfaces of said bump pad such that said bump pad is located between portions of said nickel-containing layer that are located over said side surfaces;

a solder bump located over said nickel-containing layer, wherein said solder bump is composed of an alloy of silver, tin and copper, said copper having a concentration in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 4 wt %, and

an intermetallic compound layer located between and in contact with said nickel-containing layer and said solder bump, wherein said intermetallic compound layer includes:

a first intermetallic compound sublayer adjacent to said solder bump, said first intermetallic compound sublayer composed of an alloy of nickel, copper and tin, and

a second intermetallic compound sublayer adjacent to said first intermetallic compound sublayer and said nickel-containing layer, said second intermetallic compound sublayer composed of an alloy of nickel and tin.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein said intermetallic layer is located on and forms an interface with said nickel-containing layer.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

an electronic device substrate having a bump pad located thereover, said bump pad including side surfaces and a planar top surface comprising Al or Cu;

a nickel-containing layer located on and forming an interface with said top and side surfaces of said bump pad;

a solder bump located over said nickel-containing layer, wherein said solder bump is composed of an alloy of silver, tin and copper; and

an intermetallic compound layer located between and in contact with said nickel-containing layer and said solder bump, wherein said intermetallic compound layer includes:

a first intermetallic compound sublayer adjacent to said solder bump, said first intermetallic compound sublayer composed of an alloy of nickel, copper and tin, and

a second intermetallic compound sublayer adjacent to said first intermetallic compound sublayer and said nickel-containing layer, said second intermetallic compound sublayer composed of an alloy of nickel and tin.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein said intermetallic compound layer layer is located on and forms an interface with said nickel-containing layer.

18. The device of claim 16 , wherein said electronic device substrate is an integrated circuit die.

19. The device of claim 16 , wherein said electronic device substrate is a device package substrate.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein said electronic device includes an integrated circuit substrate connected to said package substrate by said solder bump.

21. The device of claim 16 , wherein said intermetallic compound layer has a thickness in a range of about 0.5 μm to about 2 μm.

22. The device of claim 16 , wherein said electronic device substrate is a first substrate and said electronic device further comprises a second electronic device substrate, wherein said first and second electronic device substrates are coupled together by said solder bump.

23. The device of claim 16 , wherein said first intermetallic compound layer is located over a portion less than an entirety of said top surface.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: HILCO PATENT ACQUISITION 56, LLC; BELL SEMICONDUCTOR, LLC; BELL NORTHERN RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 059723/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2018
From: HILCO PATENT ACQUISITION 56, LLC; BELL SEMICONDUCTOR, LLC; BELL NORTHERN RESEARCH, LLC
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045216/0020 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2017
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.; BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BELL SEMICONDUCTOR, LLC
Reel/Frame 044886/0766 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 041710/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037808/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (RELEASES RF 032856-0031) Recorded Feb 2, 2016
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LSI CORPORATION; AGERE SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 037684/0039 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2015
From: AGERE SYSTEMS LLC
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 035365/0634 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 8, 2014
From: LSI CORPORATION; AGERE SYSTEMS LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032856/0031 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2009
From: BACHMAN, MARK A.; OSENBACH, JOHN W.; DESAI, KISHOR V.
To: LSI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022946/0176 →