Patent ID: 7303941
Filing Date: 2007-12-04
Classification: H01L,H05K,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing an area array package comprising: coupling a grid array of primary electrical contacts to a coupling surface of a substrate within a central portion defined by the substrate, the grid array of primary electrical contacts configured to carry at least data signals between the area array package and a circuit board; forming the primary electrical contacts of the grid array as a plurality of primary solder balls, each primary solder ball of the grid array defining a first diameter; coupling a series of secondary electrical contacts to the coupling surface of the substrate within a peripheral area defined by the coupling surface, the series of secondary electrical contacts configured to carry power signals between the area array package and the circuit board, the series of secondary electrical contacts separate from the grid array; and forming the series of secondary electrical contacts as a plurality of secondary solder balls, each secondary solder ball of the series defining a second diameter, the second diameter defined by each of the secondary solder balls being greater than the first diameter defined by each of the primary solder balls; wherein coupling the series of secondary electrical contacts comprises coupling the series of secondary electrical contacts to the coupling surface of the substrate, the coupling surface configured to oppose a mounting surface of the circuit board, the substrate having at least one power plane, at least one ground plane, at least one plated through hole in communication with the at least one power plane, and at least one plated through hole in communication with the ground plane; the substrate having a contact pad in electrical communication with the at least one plated through hole in communication with the at least one power plane and electrically coupled with a secondary solder ball of the series of secondary electrical contacts; the substrate having a contact pad in electrical communication with the at least one plated through hole in communication with the at least one ground plane and electrically coupled with a secondary solder ball of the series of secondary electrical contacts; the secondary solder ball, contact pad, and the at least one plated through hole in communication with the at least one power plane configured to carry power to the at least one power plane through the coupling surface; and the secondary solder ball, contact pad, and the at least one plated through hole in communication with the at least one ground plane configured to carry power from the at least one ground plane through the coupling surface; further comprising: forming the substrate having a length that is greater than 45 mm and having a width that is greater than 45 mm: coupling the grid array of primary electrical contacts to the coupling surface of the substrate comprises coupling the grid array of primary electrical contacts to the coupling surface of the substrate in an array pattern of 50 columns having 50 primary electrical contacts per column within the central portion defined by the substrate, the grid array of primary electrical contacts configured to carry data signals between the area array package and a circuit board; and coupling the series of secondary electrical contacts to the coupling surface of the substrate comprises coupling the series of secondary electrical contacts to the coupling surface of the substrate within the peripheral area defined by the coupling surface, the series of secondary electrical contacts configured to carry power signals between the area array package and the circuit board, the series of secondary electrical contacts being separate from the grid array of primary electrical contacts and a sum of the primary electrical contacts and the secondary electrical contacts being greater than 2500 electrical contacts.