Chip-scale semiconductor die packaging method

1. A method of packaging one or more semiconductor dies, the method comprising:

providing a first die having a circuit surface and a connecting surface;

providing a chip-scale frame having an inside surface and an outside surface, the chip-scale frame having a well region having an opening in the inside surface;

coupling the first die to a wall of the well region using a first coupling mechanism for electrical and mechanical coupling;

providing a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

coupling the inside surface of the chip-scale frame with the top surface of the substrate by a second coupling mechanism, wherein a gap is provided between the circuit surface of the first die and the top surface of the substrate;

coupling a heat sink to the outside surface of the chip-scale frame using a third coupling mechanism;

attaching a second die in a flip-chip configuration to the substrate, wherein the second die is coupled to the first die for electrical communication via connectors embedded in the substrate and via connectors embedded in the chip-scale frame; and

coupling the second die to the heat sink.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first die comprises indium phosphide (InP) or gallium arsenide (GaAs), and the second die comprises silicon germanium (SiGe).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first die is made of a first material and the second die is made of a second material different from the first material, and wherein the first die is more brittle than the second die.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a relief on the top surface adjacent to the well.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises high temperature co-fired ceramic (HTCC) and the chip-scale frame comprises HTCC or a ceramic material or bismaleimide triazine (BT) or an organic laminate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the attaching of the second die to the substrate occurs prior to the coupling of the heat sink to the outside surface of the chip-scale frame.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of attaching the second die to the substrate comprises attaching the second die to the substrate using controlled collapse chip connectors (C4), the substrate comprises ball grid array connectors on the bottom surface, and an adhesive for the third coupling mechanism is electrically conductive.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises wire bonds between the circuit surface and the wall, and the first coupling mechanism comprises an adhesive between the connecting surface and the wall.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second coupling mechanism comprises solder joints.

10. A method of packaging one or more semiconductor dies, the method comprising:

providing a first die having a circuit surface and a connecting surface;

providing a chip-scale frame having an inside surface and an outside surface, the chip-scale frame having a well region having an opening in the inside surface;

coupling the first die to a wall of the well region using a first coupling mechanism for electrical and mechanical coupling;

providing a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

coupling the inside surface of the chip-scale frame with the top surface of the substrate by a second coupling mechanism, wherein a gap is provided between the circuit surface of the first die and the top surface of the substrate;

coupling a heat sink to the outside surface of the chip-scale frame using a third coupling mechanism;

providing a second die having a second circuit surface and a second connecting surface, the second circuit surface comprising one or more integrated circuits;

coupling contacts on the second circuit surface to contacts on the top surface of the substrate for electrical communication; and

coupling the second connecting surface to the heat sink for at least thermal conduction, the second die disposed between the heat sink and the substrate,

wherein the first die and the chip-scale frame are disposed laterally adjacent to the second die, the first die is disposed between the chip-scale frame and the substrate, the chip-scale frame is disposed between the heat sink and the substrate, the circuit surface faces toward the substrate, the connecting surface faces toward the heat sink, contacts on the circuit surface are coupled to contacts on the wall using wire bonds, and the connecting surface is attached to the wall using an adhesive,

wherein the second coupling mechanism comprises solder joints for electrical communication, the third coupling mechanism comprises an adhesive that is at least thermally conductive, and a circuit on the second die is coupled to a circuit on the first die for electrical communication via connectors embedded in the substrate and via connectors embedded in the chip-scale frame.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first die is made of a first material and the second die is made of a second material different from the first material, and wherein the first die is more brittle than the second die.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the substrate comprises a relief on the top surface adjacent to the well.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the substrate comprises high temperature co-fired ceramic (HTCC) and the chip-scale frame comprises HTCC or a ceramic material or bismaleimide triazine (BT) or an organic laminate.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises wire bonds between the circuit surface and the wall, and the first coupling mechanism comprises an adhesive between the connecting surface and the wall.