Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120187953 | CIRCUIT FOR DETECTING STRUCTURAL DEFECTS IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CHIP, METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE AND DESIGN STRUCTURES - Detection circuits, methods of use and manufacture and design structures are provided herein. The structure includes at least one signal line traversing one or more metal layers of an integrated circuit. Circuitry is coupled to the at least one signal line, which is structured to receive a signal with a known signal from the at least one signal line or a signal from a different potential and, based on which signal is received, determine whether there is a structural defect in the integrated circuit. | 07-26-2012 |
20130099391 | CHAMFERED CORNER CRACKSTOP FOR AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CHIP - A corner crackstop is formed in each of the four corners of an integrated circuit (IC) chip, in which the corner crackstop differs structurally from a portion of the crackstop disposed along the sides of the IC chip. Each corner crackstop includes a plurality of layers, formed on a top surface of a silicon layer of the IC chip, within a perimeter boundary region that comprises a triangular area, in which a right angle is disposed on a bisector of the corner, equilateral sides of the triangle are parallel to sides of the IC chip, and the right angle is proximate to the corner relative to a hypotenuse of the triangle. The plurality of layers of the corner crackstop include crackstop elements, each comprising a metal cap centered over a via bar, in which the plurality of layers of the corner crackstop is chamfered to deflect crack ingress forces by each corner crackstop. | 04-25-2013 |
20130270558 | SEMICONDUCTOR TEST AND MONITORING STRUCTURE TO DETECT BOUNDARIES OF SAFE EFFECTIVE MODULUS - A method of testing an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a related test structure are disclosed. A test structure includes a monitor chain proximate to at least one solder bump pad, the monitor chain including at least one metal via stack, each metal via stack extending from a lower metal layer in the IC chip to an upper metal layer in the IC chip, such that the monitor chain forms a continuous circuit proximate to the at least one solder bump pad, and where each metal via stack is positioned substantially under the solder bump. A method for testing to detect boundaries of safe effective modulus includes performing a stress test on an IC chip containing the test structure joined to a semiconductor package. | 10-17-2013 |
20130285251 | ELONGATED VIA STRUCTURES - An integrated circuit structure comprises a plurality of insulator layers (connected to each other) that form a laminated structure. Further included are via openings within each of the insulator layers, and conductive via material within the via openings. The conductive via material within corresponding via openings of adjacent insulator layers are electrically connected to form continuous electrical via paths through the insulator layers between the top surface and the bottom surface of the laminated structure. Within each of the continuous electrical via paths, the via openings are positioned relative to each other to form a diagonal structural path of the conductive via material through the laminated structure. The corresponding via openings of the adjacent insulator layers partially overlap each other. The diagonal structural paths are non-perpendicular to the top surface and the bottom surface. | 10-31-2013 |
20130292817 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING STRESS INDUCED FAILURES IN INTERLEVEL DIELECTRIC LAYERS OF SOLDER BUMP INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - A structure and method for monitoring interlevel dielectric stress damage. The structure includes a monitor solder bump and normal solder bumps; a set of stacked interlevel dielectric layers between the substrate and the monitor solder bump and the normal solder bumps, one or more ultra-low K dielectric layers comprising an ultra-low K material having a dielectric constant of 2.4 or less; a monitor structure in a region directly under the monitor solder bump in the ultra-low K dielectric layers and wherein the conductor density in at least one ultra-low K dielectric layer in the region directly under the monitor solder bumps is less than a specified minimum density and the conductor density in corresponding regions of the ultra-low K dielectric layers directly under normal solder bumps is greater than the specified minimum density. | 11-07-2013 |
20140021622 | OPTIMIZATION METALLIZATION FOR PREVENTION OF DIELECTRIC CRACKING UNDER CONTROLLED COLLAPSE CHIP CONNECTIONS - A method of reducing white bump formation and dielectric cracking under controlled collapse chip connections (C4s). The method comprises fabricating a substrate having a plurality of metallization layers, one or more of the layers is of low k dielectric material. The substrate includes a plurality of attachment pads for the C4s. The fabricating comprises selectively forming at least a portion of the substrate with metal fill having a higher Young's modulus of elasticity than any of the one or more layers of low k dielectric material in portions of the substrate located beneath at least some of the attachment pads. | 01-23-2014 |
20140033148 | ELASTIC MODULUS MAPPING OF A CHIP CARRIER IN A FLIP CHIP PACKAGE - A computer-implemented method provides an elastic modulus map of a chip carrier of a flip chip package. Design data including dielectric and conductive design elements of each of vertically aligned sub-areas of each of the layers of the chip carrier are modeled as springs to provide the elastic modulus map. Determining the elastic modulus of the sub-areas of the chip carrier identifies probable mechanical failure sites during chip-join and cools down of the flip chip package. Modifying a footprint of solder bumps to the chip carrier reduces stresses applied to the identified probable mechanical failure sites. Modifying the chip carrier design to reduce a stiffness of sub-areas associated with identified probable mechanical failure sites also reduces stresses from chip-join and cool-down. | 01-30-2014 |
20140210059 | ORGANIC MODULE EMI SHIELDING STRUCTURES AND METHODS - Apparatus and methods for an electronic package incorporating shielding against emissions of electromagnetic interference (EMI). According to an integrated circuit structure, a substrate is on a printed circuit board. An integrated circuit chip is on the substrate. The integrated circuit chip is electrically connected to the substrate. An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding unit is on the integrated circuit chip and the substrate. The EMI shielding unit comprises a lid covering the integrated circuit chip and portions of the substrate outside the integrated circuit chip. A fill material can be deposited within a cavity formed between the lid and the substrate. The fill material comprises an EMI absorbing material. A periphery of the lid comprises a side skirt, the side skirt circumscribing the integrated circuit chip and the substrate. EMI absorbing material is on the printed circuit board, and a portion of the side skirt is embedded in the EMI absorbing material. | 07-31-2014 |
20150033554 | ORGANIC MODULE EMI SHIELDING STRUCTURES AND METHODS - Apparatus and methods for an electronic package incorporating shielding against emissions of electromagnetic interference (EMI). According to an integrated circuit structure, a substrate is on a printed circuit board. An integrated circuit chip is on the substrate. The integrated circuit chip is electrically connected to the substrate. An EMI shielding unit is on the integrated circuit chip and the substrate. The EMI shielding unit comprises a lid covering the integrated circuit chip and portions of the substrate outside the integrated circuit chip. A fill material can be deposited within a cavity formed between the lid and the substrate. The fill material comprises an EMI absorbing material. A periphery of the lid comprises a side skirt, the side skirt circumscribing the integrated circuit chip and the substrate. EMI absorbing material is on the printed circuit board, and a portion of the side skirt is embedded in the EMI absorbing material. | 02-05-2015 |
20150044787 | SEMICONDUCTOR TEST AND MONITORING STRUCTURE TO DETECT BOUNDARIES OF SAFE EFFECTIVE MODULUS - A method of testing an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a related test structure are disclosed. A test structure includes a monitor chain proximate to at least one solder bump pad, the monitor chain including at least one metal via stack, each metal via stack extending from a lower metal layer in the IC chip to an upper metal layer in the IC chip, such that the monitor chain forms a continuous circuit proximate to the at least one solder bump pad, and where each metal via stack is positioned substantially under the solder bump. A method for testing to detect boundaries of safe effective modulus includes performing a stress test on an IC chip containing the test structure joined to a semiconductor package. | 02-12-2015 |