Stacked paired die package and method of making the same

This invention relates to stacked paired die packages, and more particularly to a stacked paired die package with dies stacked back to back.

Semiconductor wafer manufacturing is a lengthy process. Once the functional design has been configured into a product, it requires a redesigned of the product if additional functionality needs to be added. For example, going from a 256 MB chip to a 512 MB chip may require changes to both the semiconductor fabrication processes and the chip design. Similarly, going from a 32-bit to a 64-bit processor may require similar changes involving both fabrication processes and chip design. The conventional method of improving functionality and performance is utilizing the substrate for connectivity, attaching multiple components to the same substrate. A variety of multi-component and/or stacked die designs are known to those skilled in the art.

A semiconductor die package design incorporating at least a pair of functional semiconductor dies. The input/output pads locations on one of the dies (the daughter die) are located so as to be the near mirror image of the original die (mother die). The package architecture includes two dies back-to-back or stacked dies back-to-back, therefore a plurality of input/output interconnections can be formed. The package increases density and performance by twofold or more compared to a regular package containing only one die with the same footprint. At least one additional pin can be dedicated as the chip select pin for the daughter die or multiple dies. The other pins can be shared with the mother die.

These and other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and appended claims and drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a semiconductor device, such as a memory device (mother die), with a particular pad distribution.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the same semiconductor device or memory device as shown in FIG. 1 with the exception that the pads are redistributed to different locations to produce a daughter die having pads positioned in the near mirror image of the mother die.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a wafer containing a plurality of mother dies.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a wafer containing a plurality of daughter dies.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a package containing two dies, mother and daughter dies, attached to a lead frame with wire bond interconnections.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of is a top view of the package of FIG. 5 wherein the mother die has a designated chip select pin with all other pins being shared by the mother and daughter die.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the bottom view of a package containing two dies with the daughter die having a separate chip select pin with all other pins being shared.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a finished package containing two dies after encapsulation, trim and form.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a package containing four dies, two mother dies and two daughter dies, attached to a lead frame with wire bond interconnections.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a top view of the package shown in FIG. 9 containing the four dies wherein two mother dies share all pins except chip select pins.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the bottom view of the package containing four dies, wherein the daughter dies have their own designated select pins with all other pins being shared.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a finished package containing four dies after the encapsulation, trim and form.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a sectional view with portions broken away illustrating the bond pad connection in a mother die to a metallization layer of the underlying circuitry.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a sectional view with portions broken away illustrating a daughter die with the bond pad connected to a redistribution trace that is connected to a metallization layer of the underlying circuitry that is identical to the mother die.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of an enlarged view with portions broken away of to stacked dies showing wire bond connections to the same electrically conductive lead of a lead frame.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first semiconductor device such as a mother die 100 according to the present invention. The mother die 100 includes a top face 102 which may include a passivation layer 104 and a plurality of exposed bond pads 106 which are numbered 1 - 56 in illustration of FIG. 1 . The mother die 100 includes an a first side edge 108 and an opposite second side edge 110 . A third side edge 112 extends between the first side edge 108 and the second side edge 110 . A fourth side edge 114 is positioned opposite the third side edge 112 and extends between the first side edge 108 and a second side edge 110 . A first series 116 of the bond pads 106 , numbered 1 - 28 , are positioned near the first side edge 108 of the mother die 100 . A second series 118 of the bond pads 106 , numbered 29 - 56 , are positioned near the second side edge 110 of the mother die 100 . The mother die 100 includes a complex circuitry including at least a first circuit (not shown). At least one of the first series 116 bond pads, and preferably all of the bond pads, are connected to the first circuit.

FIG. 2 illustrates a daughter die 120 including a top surface 122 which may have a passivation layer 124 with a plurality of exposed bond pads 126 . The daughter die 120 includes a first side edge 128 and an opposite second side edge 130 . A third side edge 132 extends between the first side edge 128 and the second side edge 130 . A fourth side edge 134 is opposite the third side edge 132 and extends between the first side edge 128 and the second side edge 130 . A first series 136 , numbered 1 - 28 , of bond pads 120 is positioned near the second side edge 130 of the daughter die 120 . A second series 128 , numbered 29 - 56 , of the bond pads 126 are positioned near the first side edge 128 of the daughter die 120 . As such, and the first series 136 and the second series 138 of bond pads of the daughter die are positioned at locations that are the near mirror image of the first series 116 and the second series 118 of the mother die 100 . The term near mirror image as used herein means that the bond pads 126 of the daughter die 120 are the exact mirror image of the bond pads 106 of the mother die 100 or that substantially all of the bond pads 126 of the daughter die 120 are positioned in substantially the mirror image of the bond pads 106 of the mother die 100 . For example, the bond pads of the daughter die 120 in FIG. 2 have the same bond pads 126 , in the first series 136 located all on the opposite (second) side edge 130 of the die 120 compared to the bond pads 106 of the first series 116 that are located near the first side edge 108 of the mother die 100 . Further more, the term near mirror image includes the relocation of a few bond pads 126 for example pads numbered 1 and 28 , as well the spacing between bond pads may be slightly different or varied. The daughter die 120 includes a complex circuitry including at least a first circuit that is identical to the first circuit of the mother die 100 . In a preferred embodiment the complete circuitry of the mother die 100 and the daughter die 120 are identical with the exception that the bond pads 126 of the daughter die 120 are redistributed to locations that are the near mirror image of the bond pads 106 of the mother die 100 .

FIGS. 13-14 illustrate the redistribution of the bond pads 126 of the daughter die 120 in comparison to the mother die 100 . FIG. 13 is a sectional view with portions broken away of the mother die 100 including a top metallization layer 160 which is connected to a bond pad 106 near the first side edge 108 of the mother die 100 . In comparison, FIG. 14 is a sectional view with portions broken away of the daughter die 120 with a top metallization layer 160 positioned near the first side edge 128 of the daughter die and which is electrically connected to a redistribution layer 162 near one end thereof and electrically connected to a bond pad 126 (near a second end of the redistribution layer 126 ) positioned near the second side edge 130 of the daughter die 120 . Thus, the bond pad 126 is laterally spaced a distance from the top metallization layer 160 . Additional layers may be interposed between the redistribution layer 162 and the top metallization layer 160 and between the redistribution layer 162 and the bond pad 126 .

FIG. 3 illustrates a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of mother dies 100 formed thereon with a complex circuitry including at least a first circuit. FIG. 4 illustrates a daughter die having a plurality of daughter dies having a complex circuitry including at least a first circuit that is identical to the first circuit of the mother die. In a preferred embodiment all of the circuitry of the daughter dies is identical to the circuitry of the mother die with the exception that the bond pads 126 are redistributed to a positions that are the near mirror image of the bond pads on the mother die as will be appreciated from comparing FIGS. 1 and 2. The circuitry of the mother die 100 and the daughter die 120 are identically manufactured. However, the bond pad 106 is connected to a top circuitry 160 in the mother die 100 , and as previously stated the daughter die 120 manufacturing includes an additional step of providing a redistribution layer 162 having one end connected to a top metallization layer 160 and the other end to a bond pad 126 positioned a distance laterally spaced from the top metallization layer 160 .

FIG. 5 illustrates a package according to the present invention including a mother die 100 having a top surface 102 with bond pads 106 (not shown) and a wire 146 connection to a electrically conductive lead 150 of a lead frame 144 . The lead frame 144 may include a flexible or rigid substrate, and may be made from any suitable material including for example but not limited to, a polyimide, plastic, resin, fiberglass board, ceramic and/or composite. The lead frame 144 may include a first series of leads 164 located near a first side edge 166 of the lead frame 144 , and a second series of leads 168 located near a second side edge 170 positioned opposite from the first side edge 166 of the lead frame 144 . The lead frame also contains a die pad 144 ′ in the center thereof. Alternatively, leads 150 may be provided along only one side of the lead frame 144 , or along multiple sides thereof. The bottom face 119 of the mother die 100 may be connected (secured) to a top face 143 ′ of the die pad 144 ′ by any variety of means including an adhesive. Similarly, a daughter die 120 having a top face 122 with bond pads 126 (not shown) thereon is mounted (secured) to the die pad 144 ′. The bottom face 139 of the daughter die 120 may be connected to or attached to the bottom face 145 ′ of the die pad 144 ′ by any of a variety of means including an adhesive. The mother die 100 and the daughter die 120 are positioned so that the first side edge 108 of the mother die 100 is adjacent the second side edge 130 of the daughter die 120 . Consequently, the first series 116 of bond pads 106 of the mother die 100 are adjacent the first series 136 of bond pads 126 of the daughter die 120 . The bond pad on the mother die 100 that is connected to the first circuitry is electrically connected to a first lead 150 of the lead frame 144 and the bond pad of the daughter die 120 that is connected to the first circuitry of the daughter die is electrically connected to the same first lead 150 of the lead frame 144 . Although bond wires are provided to electrically connect a bond pad on the mother die 100 or daughter die 120 to a lead 150 of the lead frame 144 , the invention includes any means of electrically connecting a bond pad 106 or 126 to the lead 150 . For example, but not limited to, the invention may include a die 100 or 120 in a flip chip form including a bond pad 106 or 126 connected to a solder bump which in turn is connected to an electrically conductive trace that is connected to the electrical lead 150 of the lead frame 144 .

As will be appreciated from FIG. 6, one of the bond pads 106 of the mother die 100 may be connected to a first select pin lead 150 ′ that is exposed by the top surface 143 of the lead frame 144 . No other bond pad is connected to the first select pin lead 150 ′. The remaining bond pads 106 on the mother die 100 are each individually connected to a respective shared lead 150 that will also be shared by one of bond pads on the daughter die 120 .

As will be appreciated from FIG. 7, one of the bond pads 126 of the daughter die 120 may be connected to a second select pin lead 150 ″ that is exposed by the bottom surface 145 of the lead frame 144 . The second select pin lead 150 ″ will not be connected to or shared by any other bond pad. Each one of remaining bond pads 126 will each individually be connected to one of the other shared leads 150 and will be shared by a bond pad 106 on the mother die 100 .

FIG. 8 is a side view of a package according to the present invention showing the mother die 100 having a bottom face 119 connected to a die pad 144 ′ and a daughter die 120 having a bottom face 139 connected to the die pad 144 ′ so that the mother die 100 and the daughter die 120 are positioned back-to-back. At least one bond pad 106 (not shown) of the mother die 100 has a wire 146 bonded to a first shared lead 150 of the lead frame 144 , and one bond pad 126 (not shown) of the daughter die 120 has a wire 148 connected to the same first shared lead 150 . Preferably each one of the shared leads 150 has a wire bonded thereto and to a bond pad 106 on the mother die 100 , and a wire bond to the same lead 150 and to a bond pad 126 of the daughter die 120 , with only a single wire bond from a bond pad 106 connected to the first select pin 150 ′ and a single wire bond from a bond pad 126 to the second select pin 150 ″. The packaging of the daughter die 120 together with the original mother die 100 improves the memory density and processor functionality by a factor of twofold (or more) without changing the design and package hierarchy. The leads 164 and 168 are a series of leads after trim and form.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which a first mother die 100 and a second mother die 100 ′ are stacked on top of each other and secured to a top face 143 ′ of the die pad 144 ′, and a first daughter die 120 and a second daughter die 120 ′ are stacked on top of each other and connected to a bottom face 145 ′ of the die pad 144 ′. A first spacer 154 may be provided between the first mother die 100 and the second mother die 100 ′ wherein the top surface 102 of the first mother die 100 is connected to spacer 154 and the bottom face 119 is connected to the lead frame 144 , and the bottom face 119 ′ of the second mother die 100 ′ is connected to the spacer 154 . Likewise, a second the spacer 156 may be interposed between the first daughter die 120 and the second daughter die 120 ′. The bottom face 139 of the first daughter die 120 may be connected to the lead frame 144 and the top face 122 connected to the second spacer 156 . The bottom face 139 ′ of the second daughter die 120 ′ may be connected to the second spacer 156 . In this embodiment four wires 146 ′, 146 , 158 ′ and 158 , one wire each from the second mother die 100 ′, first mother die 100 , second daughter die 120 ′, and first daughter die 120 respectively are all connected to the same shared lead 150 of the lead frame 144 .

FIG. 10 is a top view of the same package illustrated in FIG. 9 from which it will be appreciated that the lead frame 144 includes a first select pin 150 ′ to which a single wire 146 ′ from a bond pad 106 (best seen in FIG. 15) of the first mother die 100 is connected, and a second select pin 150 ″ to which a single wire 146 ′ is connected to a bond pad 106 ′ of the second mother die 100 ′. Except for the select pin leads 150 ′, 150 ″, 150 ″′, 150 ″″, the remaining shared leads 150 each have a wire 146 from a bond pad on the first mother die 100 and a wire 146 ′ from a bond pad on the second mother die 100 ′ connected thereto.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the same package illustrated in FIG. 9 from which it will be appreciated that the lead frame 144 includes a third select pin 150 ″′ to which a wire 158 is bonded at one end and bonded to a bond pad 126 (that shown) of the first daughter die 120 at the other end, and a fourth select pin 150 ″″ to which a wire is bonded thereto at one end and bonded to a bond pad 126 ′ of the second daughter die 120 ′ at the other end. Except for the select pin leads 150 ′, 150 ″, 150 ″′, 150 ″″ the remaining shared leads 150 each have a wire 158 from a bond pad on the first daughter die 120 and a wire 158 ′ from a bond pad on the second daughter die 120 ′. FIG. 12 is a side view of the four die package according to the present invention with an encapsulation layer 152 there over.