IP Library Granted Patent US 9,111,870
Granted Patent B2
US 9,111,870 · App. 14/056,844 · Granted Aug 18, 2015

Microelectronic packages containing stacked microelectronic devices and methods for the fabrication thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,111,870
App. No.
14/056,844
Granted
Aug 18, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Microelectronic packages and methods for fabricating microelectronic packages are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes encapsulating a device stack within a molded panel having a frontside and a backside. The device stack contains an upper semiconductor die and an interconnect buffer layer, which is formed over the upper semiconductor die and which is covered by the frontside of the molded panel. Material is removed from the frontside the molded panel to expose the interconnect buffer layer therethrough. One or more frontside redistribution layers are produced over the frontside of the molded panel and electrically coupled to the upper semiconductor die through the interconnect buffer layer. The molded panel is then singulated to yield a microelectronic package including a molded package body containing the device stack.

Claims (55)

1. A method for fabricating a microelectronic package, comprising:

encapsulating a device stack within a molded panel having a frontside and a backside, the device stack comprising:

an upper semiconductor die;

an interconnect buffer layer formed over the upper semiconductor die and covered by the frontside of the molded panel; and

an inner molded body surrounding the upper semiconductor die and underlying the interconnect buffer layer;

removing material from the frontside the molded panel to expose the interconnect buffer layer therethrough;

producing one or more frontside redistribution layers over the frontside of the molded panel and electrically coupled to the upper semiconductor die through the interconnect buffer layer; and

singulating the molded panel to yield a microelectronic package including a molded package body containing the device stack and surrounding the inner molded body and the interconnect buffer layer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device stack further comprises a lower semiconductor die positioned in a back-to-back relationship with the upper semiconductor die.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the device stack further comprises a die attach layer bonding the backside of the upper semiconductor die to the backside of the lower semiconductor die.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the upper semiconductor die is electrically coupled to the lower semiconductor die through the die attach layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

encapsulating the upper semiconductor die within an initial molded panel;

forming the interconnect buffer layer over the initial molded panel;

singulating the initial molded panel to yield an upper package layer including the inner molded body, the upper semiconductor die surrounded by the inner molded body, and the interconnect buffer layer overlying the inner molded body and the upper semiconductor die; and

positioning the upper package layer over at least one lower microelectronic device to produce the device stack.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising planarizing the backside of the initial molded panel to reveal the backside of the upper semiconductor die therethrough prior to forming the interconnect buffer layer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the upper semiconductor die comprises a frontside on which a plurality of bond pads is located, and wherein the interconnect buffer layer comprises:

a dielectric film formed over the frontside of the semiconductor die; and

a plurality of contacts extending through the dielectric film and in ohmic contact with the plurality of bond pads.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of contacts comprises a plurality of plated pillars.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein removing material from the frontside the molded panel comprises planarizing the frontside of the molded panel to remove a predetermined thickness from the molded panel and impart the molded panel with a substantially planar frontside surface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a predetermined thickness is also removed form the interconnect buffer layer during planarization of the frontside of the molded panel.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the device stack further comprises a lower microelectronic device, and wherein the method further comprises producing one or more backside redistribution layers over the backside of the molded panel and electrically coupled to the lower microelectronic device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

forming at least one through package via through the molded panel after encapsulating the device stack therein; and

producing a backside contact array over the backside redistribution layers prior to singulation of the molded panel;

wherein the upper semiconductor die is electrically coupled to at least one of the lower microelectronic device and the backside contact array through the frontside redistribution layers, the through package via, and the backside redistributions layers.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the inner molded body is produced prior to the outer molded body during an initial panelization and singulation process utilized to initially encapsulate the upper semiconductor die.

14. A method for fabricating a microelectronic package, comprising:

bonding an upper package layer to a lower microelectronic device to produce a device stack, the upper package layer comprising:

an inner molded body;

at least one upper microelectronic device surrounded by the inner molded body; and

an interconnect buffer layer formed over the inner molded body and over the at least one upper microelectronic device;

encapsulating the device stack within a molded panel having a frontside and a backside through which the lower microelectronic device is exposed;

planarizing the frontside of the molded panel to reveal the interconnect buffer layer therethrough;

producing one or more frontside redistribution layers over the frontside of the molded panel and electrically coupled to the at least one upper microelectronic device through the interconnect buffer layer; and

singulating the molded panel to yield a microelectronic package including an outer molded package body containing the device stack and formed around the inner molded body and the interconnect buffer layer.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one upper microelectronic device comprises:

a first upper microelectronic device encapsulated within the inner molded body; and

a second upper microelectronic device encapsulated within the inner molded body adjacent the first upper microelectronic device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the upper package layer further comprises a buried interconnect layer formed over the inner molded body opposite the interconnect buffer layer, the first and second upper microelectronic devices electrically coupled through the buried interconnect buffer layer.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein first and second upper microelectronic device comprise first and second semiconductor die, respectively, and wherein the buried interconnect buffer layer electrically couples an electrically-conductive feature on the backside of the first semiconductor die to an electrically-conductive feature on the backside of the second semiconductor die.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the inner molded body is produced utilizing a first overmolding process, wherein the molded panel is produced utilizing a second overmolding process performed subsequent to the first overmolding process, and wherein the inner molded body comprises a singulated piece of a molded panel produced pursuant to the first overmolding process.

19. A microelectronic package, comprising:

a device stack, comprising:

a lower microelectronic device;

a first upper microelectronic device positioned over the lower microelectronic device;

an inner molded body surrounding the first upper microelectronic device;

an interconnect buffer layer disposed over the first upper microelectronic device and the inner molded body;

an outer molded body in which the device stack is embedded, the outer molded body formed around the inner molded body and the interconnect buffer layer;

one or more frontside redistribution layers disposed over a frontside of the outer molded body and electrically coupled to the first upper microelectronic device through the interconnect buffer layer;

one or more backside redistribution layers disposed over a backside of the outer molded body and electrically coupled to the lower microelectronic device; and

at least one contact array electrically coupled to the lower microelectronic device through the backside redistribution layers and to the upper microelectronic device through the frontside redistribution layers and the interconnect buffer layer.

20. The microelectronic package of claim 19 wherein the device stack further comprises a second upper microelectronic device embedded within the inner molded body adjacent the first microelectronic device.

Assignments (22)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040925 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V. F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 052917/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040928 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 052915/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050744/0097 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040632 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Sep 21, 2017
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 044209/0047 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 8, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 040632/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 040928/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V., F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 040925/0001 →
SUPPLEMENT TO THE SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 039138/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FILING AND REMOVE APPL. NO. 14085520 REPLACE IT WITH 14086520 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037515 FRAME: 0390. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Mar 1, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037926/0642 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 14/085,520 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037515 FRAME: 0420. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037879/0581 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT OF INCORRECT NUMBER 14085520 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037458 FRAME: 0420. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTON OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037785/0568 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT OF INCORRECT PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14085520 ,PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037458 FRAME: 0399. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037785/0454 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT OF INCORRECT APPL. NO. 14/085,520 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037515 FRAME: 0390. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037792/0227 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037458 FRAME 0420. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Jan 14, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037515/0420 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037458 FRAME 0399. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Jan 14, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037515/0390 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 7, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FOUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037458/0420 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 7, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FOUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037458/0399 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0790 →
SUPPLEMENT TO IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032445/0689 →
SUPPLEMENT TO IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032445/0577 →
SUPPLEMENT TO IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032445/0493 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2013
From: VINCENT, MICHAEL B.
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 031429/0206 →