IP Library Granted Patent US 8,637,779
Granted Patent B2
US 8,637,779 · App. 13/151,145 · Granted Jan 28, 2014

Electronic component including micro balls

Inventors: Suresh Upadhyayula (San Jose, CA); Naveen Kini (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,637,779
App. No.
13/151,145
Granted
Jan 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system of micro balls is disclosed for coupling an electronic component to a printed circuit board. The micro balls have a small diameter, and each contact pad may include an array of two or more micro balls. An example of a micro ball may include a polymer core, surrounded by a copper layer, which is in turn surrounded by a layer of solder.

Claims (28)

1. An electronic component, comprising:

a substrate including one or more contact pads; and

a plurality of balls of composite material, arranged in a non-linear grouping on one contact pad of the one or more contact pads, for physically and electrically coupling the electronic component to a printed circuit board, the plurality of balls remaining separate from each other on the one contact pad after reflow.

2. The electronic component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balls of composite material each comprises a core formed of a polymer.

3. The electronic component of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of balls of composite material each comprises a copper layer formed around the polymer core.

4. The electronic component of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of balls of composite material each comprises a layer of solder around the copper layer.

5. The electronic component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balls of composite material comprises two balls of composite material.

6. The electronic component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balls of composite material comprises three balls of composite material.

7. The electronic component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balls of composite material comprises four balls of composite material.

8. The electronic component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balls of composite material comprises five balls of composite material.

9. The electronic component of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component is flash memory semiconductor package.

10. The electronic component of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component is a BGA package.

11. A ball grid array package, comprising:

a substrate including one or more contact pads; and

a plurality of micro balls arranged in a non-linear grouping on one contact pad of the one or more contact pads for physically and electrically coupling the ball grid array package to a printed circuit board, wherein the micro balls are separate from each other before and after reflow.

12. The ball grid array package of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of micro balls each has a diameter between 0.05 and 0.25 mm.

13. The ball grid array package of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of micro balls each has a diameter between 0.05 and 0.15 mm.

14. The ball grid array package of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of micro balls each comprises a polymer core solder ball.

15. The ball grid array package of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of micro balls comprises two to five balls of composite material.

16. An electronic system, comprising:

a printed circuit board; and

a ball grid array package, including:

a substrate including one or more contact pads; and

a plurality of reflowed micro balls arranged in a non-linear grouping on one contact pad of the one or more contact pads physically and electrically coupling the ball grid array package to a printed circuit board.

17. The electronic system of claim 16 , the plurality of micro balls each having a diameter between 0.05 and 0.25 mm before coupling to the printed circuit board.

18. The electronic system of claim 16 , the plurality of micro balls each having a diameter of 0.1 mm before coupling to the printed circuit board.

19. The electronic system of claim 16 , the plurality of micro balls each having a diameter of 0.02 mm after a coupling to the printed circuit board.

20. The electronic system of claim 16 , three or more micro balls of the plurality of micro balls defining a plane, the printed circuit board coupled to the plane defined by the three or more micro balls.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071050/0001 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071382/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069796/0423 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 25, 2016
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 038807/0850 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2011
From: UPADHYAYULA, SURESH; KINI, NAVEEN
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 026373/0482 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120305305A1 · Dec 6, 2012