IP Library Granted Patent US 11,289,441
Granted Patent B2
US 11,289,441 · App. 16/597,224 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Systems and processes for increasing semiconductor device reliability

Inventors: Sung Chul Joo (Cary, NC); Jack Powell (Wake Forest, NC); Donald Farrell (Raleigh, NC); Bradley Millon (Durham, NC)
Assignee: WOLFSPEED, INC.
H01L24/37H01L23/562H01L23/66H01L24/35H01L24/40H01L24/84H01P3/003H01P11/003H01L2223/6627H01L2224/37012H01L2224/40157H01L2924/19033H01L2924/35121
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,289,441
App. No.
16/597,224
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system configured to increase a reliability of electrical connections in a device. The system including a lead configured to electrically connect a pad of at least one support structure to a pad of at least one electrical component. The lead includes an upper portion that includes a lower surface arranged on a lower surface thereof. The lower surface of the upper portion is arranged vertically above a first upper surface of a first pad connection portion; and the lower surface of the upper portion is arranged vertically above a second upper surface of the second pad connection portion. A process configured to increase a reliability of electrical connections in a device is also disclosed.

Claims (42)

1. A system configured to increase a reliability of electrical connections in a device, the system comprising:

a lead configured to electrically connect a pad of at least one support structure to a pad of at least one electrical component;

the lead includes a first pad connection portion that includes a first upper surface;

the first pad connection portion configured to connect the lead to the pad of the at least one support structure;

the lead includes a second pad connection portion that includes a second upper surface;

the second pad connection portion configured to connect the lead to the pad of the at least one electrical component;

the lead includes an upper portion that includes a lower surface arranged on a lower surface thereof; and

the upper portion being arranged between the first pad connection portion and the second pad connection portion,

wherein the lower surface of the upper portion is arranged vertically above the first upper surface of the first pad connection portion; and

wherein the lower surface of the upper portion is arranged vertically above the second upper surface of the second pad connection portion.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion comprises a curved convex construction.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein:

the lead is configured to reduce stress in a first lead-solder interface arranged between the first pad connection portion of the lead and the pad of the at least one support structure; and

the lead is configured to reduce stress in a second lead-solder interface arranged between the second pad connection portion of the lead and the pad of the at least one electrical component.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein:

the lead includes a first connection portion that connects between the first pad connection portion and the upper portion; and

the lead includes a second connection portion that connects between the second pad connection portion and the upper portion,

wherein portions of the first connection portion are arranged vertically above the first upper surface of the first pad connection portion; and

wherein portions of the second connection portion are arranged vertically above the second upper surface of the second pad connection portion.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein

the lead includes a first connection portion that connects between the first pad connection portion and the upper portion; and

the lead includes a second connection portion that connects between the second pad connection portion and the upper portion,

wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion each comprise a concave construction.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein:

the lead includes a first end portion and a second end portion;

the first end portion forming a terminating end of the lead and the second end portion forming another terminating end of the lead; and

a curved distance from the first end portion to the second end portion along the lead is greater than a linear distance from the first end portion to the second end portion.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein a vertical height of an upper surface of the upper portion is 2 to 20 times greater than a vertical height of the first pad connection portion.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the lead is configured to have a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of prior art leads.

9. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

the at least one support structure; and

an element configured to alleviate signaling degradation through the lead,

wherein the element comprises a metallic construction; and

wherein the element is arranged in one of the following: on the at least one support structure or within the at least one support structure.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein:

the at least one support structure comprises a zone that includes a limited number of additional features; and

the element is arranged in the zone.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein:

the at least one support structure comprises a Co-Planar Wave Guide (CPWG) printed circuit board (PCB) having vias; and

the zone that includes the element does not include the vias.

12. The system according to claim 11 further comprising the at least one electrical component,

wherein the electrical component comprises an RF (Radio Frequency) component.

Assignments (9)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Mar 26, 2026
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075280/0919 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0588 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 64185/0755 Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 072989/0001 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0113 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0381 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0467 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 064185/0755 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: CREE, INC.
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 059085/0667 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2020
From: JOO, SUNG CHUL; POWELL, JACK; FARRELL, DONALD; MILLON, BRADLEY
To: CREE, INC.
Reel/Frame 053023/0797 →