Abstract:
Vertical shielding and interconnect structures for system-in-a-package modules, where the vertical shielding and interconnect structures are readily manufactured and are space efficient.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/138,951, filed Mar. 26, 2015 and 62/166,006, filed May 24, 2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The number of types of electronic devices that are commercially available has increased tremendously the past few years and the rate of introduction of new devices shows no signs of abating. Devices, such as tablet, laptop, netbook, desktop, and all-in-one computers, cell, smart, and media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, and others, have become ubiquitous. 
         [0003]    The functionality of these devices has likewise greatly increased. This in turn has led to increased complexity inside of these electronic devices. At the same time, the dimensions of these devices have become smaller. For example, smaller and thinner devices are becoming more popular. 
         [0004]    This increasing functionality and decreasing size have necessitated the use of space-efficient circuit techniques. As one example, system-in-a-package modules and other similar structures may be used to increase an electronic device&#39;s functionality while reducing space consumed in the device. 
         [0005]    These system-in-a-package modules may include electronic devices or components placed on a board and then sealed and encapsulated in a plastic or other material. But in some circumstances, it may be desirable to shield electronic devices in one circuit from electronic devices in another circuit in the same system-in-a-package module. This may consume a great deal of space, thereby making the system-in-a-package module less space-efficient. 
         [0006]    Thus, what is needed are vertical shielding and interconnect structures for system-in-a-package modules, where the vertical shielding and interconnect structures are readily manufactured and are space efficient. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide vertical shielding and interconnect structures for system-in-a-package (SIP) modules, where the vertical shielding and interconnect structures are readily manufactured and are space efficient. 
         [0008]    An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a SIP module where two or more circuits in the module are shielded from each other by vertical shields. These vertical shields may be formed by closely spaced columns of conductive material. These columns may be grounded. These conductive columns may form a Faraday cage to isolate circuits from each other. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical shields may be formed of walls of conductive materials. These walls may be grounded. 
         [0009]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical columns may be formed by stacking drops of solder. The solder droplets may be formed using solder jets or other techniques. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical columns may be formed by sintering, for example by layering a copper-tin material such that a column is built up. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical columns may be formed by printing, such as by using an ink-jet type printer, a 3-D printer, aerosol jet printer, or other type of printer. 
         [0010]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical walls may be formed by stacking layers of solder. The solder layers may be formed using solder jets or other techniques. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical walls may be formed by sintering, for example by layering a copper-tin material such that a wall is built up. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical walls may be formed by printing, such as by using an ink-jet type printer, a 3-D printer, aerosol jet printer, or other type of printer. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical walls may be formed by stitching a wire bond such that it makes contact with a substrate of the SIP module in several locations. 
         [0011]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the vertical walls and columns may be formed using an adhesive paste or other material. The walls and columns may be formed using printing, stenciling, or other appropriate technique. These walls or columns may be formed of metal, such as aluminum, copper, steel, or other conductive material and fixed to a surface of a substrate of the SIP module. 
         [0012]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, after electronic circuits are placed on a substrate and these walls and columns are formed on the substrate, an overmold or other material may be formed covering the electronic circuits, walls, and columns. A top portion of the overmold above the walls and columns may be removed by chemical or laser etching, or other process, thereby exposing tops of the walls and columns. A top shield layer may be applied to the top surface of the overmold such that electrical contact is made between the top shield and the walls and columns. The top shield layer may be formed by printing, such as by ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, plating, sputtering, vapor deposition (chemical or physical), or other technique. 
         [0013]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the walls and columns may be formed on a first substrate. The first substrate may be flipped over and used as a cap or cover for a SIP module. 
         [0014]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, these same techniques that may be used to form walls and columns may be used to form vertical interconnect structures. These vertical interconnect structures may be used to stack electronic circuits or components in order to save space or reduce trace length on a printed circuit board, or both. For example, a first electronic circuit or component may be attached to a surface of a substrate. Vertical interconnect structures may be built up on each side the first electronic circuit or component. A second electronic circuit or component may be electrically connected and attached to the vertical interconnect structures. In this way, the second electronic circuit or component may be stacked above the first electronic circuit or component. In this configuration, the first electronic circuit or component may be between the second electronic circuit or component and a substrate. In these and other embodiments of the present invention these electronic circuits or components may be stacked in various ways. 
         [0015]    These stacked electronic circuits may be formed of capacitors, resistors, inductors, transformers, or other active or passive components. In one method of manufacturing capacitors may be placed on a layer of high-temperature tacky tape. These capacitors may be placed using a pick-and-place machine or other appropriate machine or method. Sintered regions may be formed on contacts of the capacitors. This may be done using screen-printing, ink jet, or 3-D printing, aerosol jet printing, stenciling or other type of printing or manufacturing process. One or more additional capacitors may be placed on the sintered capacitors using a pick-and-place machine or other appropriate machine or method. The stacked capacitor structure may then be heated to reflow temperatures such that the sintered regions join the stacked capacitors together. The completed stacked capacitor structure may then be removed from the tacky tape, again by using a pick-and-place machine or other machine or method. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, instead of sintering, soldered regions may be formed on contacts of the capacitors, again using screen-printing, ink jet, or 3-D printing, aerosol jet printing, stenciling or other type of printing or manufacturing process. 
         [0016]    This method may be useful where a stack of capacitors may be formed and moved as a module. In other embodiments of the present invention, these stacked capacitor structures may be formed on a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. In one example, regions of solder or sinter may be formed on a printed circuit board. These regions may be formed of tin-silver-copper (SAC) solder, other soldering or sintering material, or other material. This may be done using screen-printing, ink jet, or 3-D printing, aerosol jet printing, stenciling or other type of printing or manufacturing process. Capacitors may be placed using a pick-and-place machine or other appropriate machine or method onto the printed circuit board. One or more additional capacitors may be dipped in solder paste or other solder or sintering material to form solder paste regions on its contacts. The additional capacitors may be placed on the capacitors that are on the printed circuit board. A reflow step may be used to solder the capacitors together. In these various methods and stacked capacitor structures, vertical interconnect structures may be used to connect stacked capacitors together. 
         [0017]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, SIP modules may include vertical interconnect structures that may extend from to a top surface of a module overmold. These SIP modules may then be attached to each other and the vertical interconnect structures may form interconnect between the modules for power or signals, or both. More specifically, vertical interconnect structures may be placed on a top or other surface of a substrate, device, component, circuit, or other portion of a SIP module. Electronic devices or components may be placed on the substrate as well. An overmold may cover the vertical interconnect structures and the electronic devices or components. A top of the overmold may be ground down such that the top of the interconnect structures are exposed. A top side of a second SIP module, a flexible circuit board, or other structure, may be mated with the top of the SIP module. Vertical interconnect structures in the SIP module may form electrical pathways with corresponding vertical interconnect structures in the second SIP module. Conductive paste may be used to connect the vertical interconnect structures together between the two SIP modules. One or more carriers may be used to simplify the handling of multiple vertical interconnect structures. These carriers may be removed during the grinding process on the top surface of the SIP module. 
         [0018]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, various electrical and mechanical components may be shielded in various ways. For example, a number of components may be soldered or otherwise attached to a board or other substrate. An insulative coating may be formed over the components. A shield may be formed over the insulative coating. An edge of the insulative coating may be partially overlapping a contact on the board, it may be adjacent to the contact, or it may be near the contact such that the shield is electrically connected to the contact. In various embodiments of the present invention, the insulative coating may be a conformal coating, a mold, plastic, film, or other insulating material. The insulative coating may be formed by spraying, printing, such as by ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, vapor deposition (chemical or physical), it may be a conformal film with a metal backing, or it may be another type of coating. In various embodiments of the present invention, the insulative coating may be a phase change material that is applied, heated such that it melts, and covered with the metal shield. The shield may be conductive and may be formed by printing, such as by ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, by using plating, sputtering, vapor deposition, or other technique. 
         [0019]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, during its formation, the shield may overflow the contact and form undesired electrical connections. Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention may employ a vertical block or dam. The dam may either be conductive or it may be nonconductive. When nonconductive, it may be coated or plated with a conductive material. The dam may prevent overflow of the shield metal beyond the contact and dam during shield formation. The dam may be formed by depositing a ring of conductive or non-conductive material, or it may be placed as a structural component. The dam may be formed in the same or similar manner as the vertical columns or walls shown herein. The dam may then form an electrical connection from the shield, through the dam (if the dam is conductive) or its coating or plating (if the dam is non-conductive) to the pad or contact on the supporting board or substrate. 
         [0020]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, one or more electrical or mechanical components may be individually shielded. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a device having one or more electrical components attached on a top side of a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. An adhesive layer may be formed over the components and at least a portion of a top surface of the printed circuit board, again by various techniques such as ink-jet-type printing, 3-D printing, aerosol jet printing, or other type of printing, plating, sputtering, vapor deposition, or other technique. A shield may be formed over the components and the adhesive layer by plating, sputtering, vapor deposition, ink-jet-type printing, 3-D printing, aerosol jet printing, or other type of printing or technique, for example by using a cap. This shield may be grounded using side plating or vias. In other embodiments of the present invention, these shields may be spot or laser welded to contacts on a top surface of a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. 
         [0021]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention a shield may be formed using conductive particles. Specifically, a molding around one or more components may include conductive particles. The conductive particles may be driven to migrate near a top surface of the molding, thereby forming a shield. In various embodiments of the present invention, these conductive particles may be driven or encouraged to migrate using gravity, magnetism, buoyancy, or other appropriate technique. In still other embodiments of the present invention, a layer of molding having an attached conductive film may be used. In still other embodiments of the present invention, a film that has an insulating layer and a conductive layer may be used. 
         [0022]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, instead of attaching components to a top surface of a printed circuit board, one or more components may be located inside a board type structure. This embedded substrate may then be shielded using a top and bottom shield. The top and bottom shields may be connected together by vias that are space apart from each other to form a Faraday cage. These vias may be connected together by one or more rings on one or more layers in the embedded substrate. In other embodiments of the present invention, a top and bottom shields may be connected by edge plating. The top and bottom shields and side plating may be formed by plating, sputtering, vapor deposition printing, such as by ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, or other technique. 
         [0023]    It should be noted that while the interconnect structures described above are well-suited to forming system-in-a-package modules, in other embodiments of the present invention, other types of electronic devices may be formed using these techniques. Embodiments of the present invention may be used at different levels in the manufacturing of a SIP module. For example, a SIP module may be formed of one or more other sub-modules, and these embodiments of the present invention may be used in one or more of these sub-modules. The SIP module itself may be formed by employing one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0024]    In various embodiments of the present invention, contacts, interconnect paths, and other conductive portions of SIP modules may be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, ink jet, 3-D printing, aerosol jet printing, or other type of printing or manufacturing process. The conductive portions may be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, aluminum, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They may be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions may be formed using injection or other molding, ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions, such as the various overmolded portions, may be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), plastic, epoxy, resin, or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. The printed circuit board or other appropriate substrates used may be formed of FR-4, BT or other material. Printed circuit boards may be replaced by other substrates, such as flexible circuit boards, in many embodiments of the present invention, while flexible circuit boards may be replaced by printed circuit boards in these and other embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the present invention may provide SIP modules that may be located in various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, wearable computing devices, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. 
         [0026]    Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of an electronic device including a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates a step in the manufacturing of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates a stacked electrical component structure consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates a stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 9-11  illustrate a method of manufacturing a stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0036]      FIGS. 12-15  illustrate a method of manufacturing a stacked capacitor structure on a printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  illustrates another stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  illustrates another stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  illustrates another stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIGS. 19-22  illustrates a method of manufacturing a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 23  illustrates another SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 24  illustrates another SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 25  illustrates another SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention 
           [0044]      FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate portions of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 28  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIGS. 29-31  illustrate a method of forming a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 32  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 33  illustrates a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to a top surface of a printed circuit board; and 
           [0049]      FIGS. 34 and 35  illustrate portions of electronic systems according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0050]      FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of an electronic device including a system-in-a-package module according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
         [0051]    This figure includes a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate  110  having a number of electronic circuits, sub-modules, components, or other electrical or mechanical devices  150  on a top surface. An overmold  120  may be formed over one or more other electrical or mechanical components (not shown.) These components may be encapsulated in a plastic, epoxy, resin, or other type of overmold  120 . 
         [0052]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, it may be desirable to isolate some components from other components in the module. This may be done using one or more columns (which may also be referred to as posts) or walls. These columns or walls, shown here as columns  130  and walls  140 , may be formed of aluminum, steel, copper, or other conductive material. These columns or walls may be formed by stamping, forging, metallic injection molding (MIM), machining, micro-machining, or other manufacturing technique. In still other embodiments of the present invention, these columns or walls may be formed of a conductive adhesive. These conductive adhesive columns or walls may be formed using printing, stenciling, or other appropriate technique. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, columns  130  and walls  140  may be formed in other ways and from other materials. These columns or walls may extend from the surface of substrate  110  to a top of overmold  120  to form electromagnetically isolated areas  122  and  124 . Examples are shown in the following figures. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, vertical shield structure  210  may be formed on a top surface of substrate  110 . Vertical shield structure  210  may be a column, such as a column  130 , or a wall, such as wall  140  in  FIG. 1 . Vertical shield structure  210  may be formed as a column by stacking drops (which may instead be referred to as balls) of solder. Vertical shield structure  210  may be formed as a wall by stacking lines of solder. The solder drops or solder lines may be formed by a solder jet. Other vertical shield structure shapes, such as curved segments, may be formed by stacking curved segments or other shapes of solder. Vertical shield structure  210  may be formed before or after a number of electronic circuits or components (not shown) are attached to the top surface of substrate  110 . The electronic circuits or components and vertical shield structure  210  may be overmolded with an overmold layer (not shown). Shallow trenches (not shown) may be cut in the overmold above vertical shield structure  210 . This may allow a shield (not shown) formed along a top surface of the overmold to form an electrical connection with vertical shield structure  210 . An example is shown in the following figure. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, one or more electronic circuits or components (not shown) may be placed on a top surface of printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate  110 . Vertical shield structure  210  may be formed, again from stacking drops, lines, curves, or other shapes of solder or sinter. Overmold  120  may cover the electronic circuits or components. Shallow trenches  320  may be cut in a top surface of overmold  120 , thereby exposing a top of vertical shield structure  210 . Trenches  320  may be formed by laser or chemical etching or other process. Shield  330  may be formed over the top surface overmold  120 . Shield  330  may be conductive and may be formed by printing, such as by ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, by using plating, sputtering, vapor deposition (chemical or physical), or other technique. Shield  330  may electrically connect to vertical shield structure  210 . Vertical shield structure  210  may further electrically connect to a ground plane or trace of substrate  110 , thereby providing a degree of electromagnetic isolation between two or more circuits in the SIP module. While this example is shown with vertical shield structure  210 , in these and other embodiments of the present invention, this processing may be done with SIP modules using the other vertical shield structures shown herein or provided for by embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, wire bond for 10 may be stitched along the top surface of substrate  110  to form a vertical shield structure, such as wall  140  in  FIG. 1 . Wire bond  410  may have bottom loop portions  430  that may electrically contact ground pads or traces on substrate  110 . Wire bond  410  may further include top loop portions  420 . Top loop portions  420  may be exposed in a shallow trench in an overmold region and connected to a shield (not shown) in a manner consistent with the example shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, vertical shield structures  510  may be formed on a top surface of substrate  110 . Vertical shield structure  510  may be used to form columns or walls such as column  130  and walls  140  in  FIG. 1 . Vertical shield structures  510  may be formed by sintering. Successive, lines, squares, circles, or other patterned areas may be successively built up with sintered layers to form vertical shield structure  510 . Vertical shield structure  510  may be formed as a column by stacking drops of sinter or sintering material. Vertical shield structure  510  may be formed as a wall by stacking lines of sinter or sintering material. Other vertical shield structure shapes, such as curved segments, may be formed by stacking curved segments or other shapes of sinter or sintering material. As before, one or more electronic circuits or components may be placed on a top surface of the substrate  110  either before or after the sintering process takes place. An overmold (not shown) may be formed over the vertical shield structures  510  and electronic circuits or components, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Shallow trenches may be formed in a top surface of the overmold, again as shown in  FIG. 3 . A shield may be applied over the top surface of the overmold, again as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0057]    In these and the other embodiments of the present invention, the sinter or sintering material may be copper-tin, or other tin based or other type of sinter or sintering material. The sintering process used may be a transient liquid-phase sintering or other type of sintering. 
         [0058]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, these sintered vertical structures may be employed in different ways. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
         [0059]      FIG. 6  illustrates a step in the manufacturing of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, vertical shield structure  610  may be formed on a top surface of substrate  110 . Substrate  110  may then be flipped over and used as a cover over substrate  620 . Vertical shield structures may be dipped in solder paste before being attached to substrate  620 . One or more electronic circuits or components (not shown) may be attached to a top surface of substrate  640 . Some of these various electronic circuits or components may be shielded from each other by vertical shield structures  610 . 
         [0060]    These soldered or sintered vertical structures may be utilized to save space in a SIP module. An example is shown in the following figure. 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  illustrates a stacked electrical component structure consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a first electronic component  730  may be electrically connected to contact  720  on a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate (not shown). Vertical interconnect structures  740  may be formed on contacts  710  on the substrate. Vertical interconnect structures  740  may be formed in the same or similar manner as the vertical shield structures herein. For example, vertical interconnect structures  740  may be formed by stacking solder or sinter in balls, lines, or other configuration as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 5  above. Vertical interconnect structures may also be formed as vertical interconnect structures  1920  in  FIG. 19 , or as walls or posts  2850  in  FIG. 28 . A second electronic component  750  may include contacts  752 , which may be electrically connected to vertical interconnect structures  740 . In this way, first electrical component  730  may be directly below second electrical component  750  and between second electrical component  750  and the substrate. This may save space by utilizing an area under second electrical component  750  that would otherwise be unused. First electronic component  730  and second electronic component  750  may be capacitors, resistors, inductors, transformers, or other types of components or a mix of types of components. 
         [0062]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, electronic components may be stacked directly on top of each other in various ways. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
         [0063]      FIG. 8  illustrates a stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stacked capacitor structure may include capacitor  810 , capacitor  820 , and capacitor  830 . Capacitor  810  may include contacts  812  and  814 . Contacts  812  and  814  may be connected to contacts on a printed circuit board or other substrate (not shown). Similarly, contacts  832  and  834  of capacitor  830  may be connected to contacts on a printed circuit board or other substrate. Contact  822  of capacitor  820  may be connected to contact  814  of capacitor  810 . Similarly, contact  824  of capacitor  820  may be connected to contact  832  of capacitor  830 . 
         [0064]    In various embodiments of the present invention, these capacitors may be connected to each other and to contacts on a printed circuit board in various ways. For example, one or more of the capacitor contacts may be connected by soldering. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, one or more of these contacts may be sintered. For example, contact  822  of capacitor  820  may be sintered to contact  814  of capacitor  810 , and contact  824  of capacitor  820  may be sintered to contact  832  of capacitor  830 . Similarly, contacts on capacitors  810  and  830  may be sintered to corresponding contacts on the printed circuit board. This sintering may provide a stacked capacitor structure that may remain intact during subsequent high-temperature processing steps. Examples of methods of manufacturing stacked capacitors are shown in the following figures. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 9-11  illustrate a method of manufacturing a stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 9 , capacitors  810  and  830  may be placed on a layer of high-temperature tacky tape  910 . These capacitors may be placed using a pick-and-place machine or other appropriate machine or method. In  FIG. 10 , sintered region  1014  may be formed on contact  814  of capacitor  810 . This may be done using screen-printing, ink jet, or 3-D printing, aerosol jet printing, stenciling or other type of printing or manufacturing process. Similarly, sintered region  1032  may be formed on contact  832  of capacitor  830 . In these and other embodiments of the present invention, regions  1014  and  1032  may be soldered regions, again formed using screen-printing, ink jet, or 3-D printing, aerosol-jet printing, stenciling or other type of printing or manufacturing process. In  FIG. 11 , capacitor  820  may be placed on capacitors  814  and  832  such that contact  822  of capacitor  820  connects to contact  814  of capacitor  810  and contact  824  of capacitor  820  connects to contact  832  of capacitor  830 . Capacitor  820  may be placed on capacitors  810  and  830  using a pick-and-place machine or other appropriate machine or method. The stacked capacitor structure may then be heated to reflow temperatures such that the sintered regions  1014  and  1032  join the stacked capacitors together. The completed stacked capacitor structure may then be removed from the tacky tape  910 , again by using a pick-and-place machine or other machine or method. 
         [0066]    This method may be useful where a stack of capacitors may be formed and moved as a module. In other embodiments of the present invention, these stacked capacitor structures may be formed on a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. An example is shown in the following figure. 
         [0067]      FIGS. 12-15  illustrate a method of manufacturing a stacked capacitor structure on a printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 12 , regions of solder or sinter may be formed on printed circuit board  1210 . For example, regions  1212 ,  1214 ,  1232 , and  1234  may be formed of tin-silver-copper (SAC) solder or other solder or sinter material. This may be done using screen-printing, ink jet, or 3-D printing, aerosol jet printing, stenciling or other type of printing or manufacturing process. In  FIG. 13 , capacitors  810  and  830  may be placed using a pick-and-place machine or other appropriate machine or method onto printed circuit board  1210 . Contacts  812  and  814  of capacitor  810  may be aligned with regions  1212  and  1214 , while contacts  832  and  834  of capacitor  830  may be aligned with regions  1232  and  1234 . In  FIG. 14 , capacitor  820  may be dipped in solder paste or other solder of sinter material to form solder paste regions  1022  on contact  822  and region  1024  on contact  824 . In  FIG. 15 , capacitor  820  may be placed on capacitors  814  and  832  such that contact  822  of capacitor  820  connects to contact  814  of capacitor  810  and contact  824  of capacitor  820  connects to contact  832  of capacitor  830 . Capacitor  820  may be placed using a pick-and-place machine or other appropriate machine or method. A reflow step may be used to solder capacitors  810  and  830  to printed circuit board  1210  and capacitor  820  to capacitors  810  and  830 . 
         [0068]    These and other methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention may be used to form these various stacked capacitor structures shown here as well as other stacked capacitor structures in other configurations. For example, the vertical interconnect structures shown above in  FIG. 7  and the other above figures may be used to form stacked capacitor structures. For example, one or more capacitors, such as capacitor  820 , may be stacked above other capacitors, such as capacitors  810  and  830  through vertical interconnect structures such as vertical interconnect structures  740 . These and similar techniques may be applied to the other stacked capacitors structures shown here and provided by embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0069]    These and the other examples shown below may be well-suited to forming stacked capacitor structures. In other embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the capacitors may be replaced by another component such as a resistor, inductor, transformer, or other type of active or passive component. Also, while 3 or 4 capacitors are shown in each example, in other embodiments of the present invention, other numbers of capacitors may be used and various numbers of capacitors may be stacked on various numbers of capacitors in various configurations. 
         [0070]      FIG. 16  illustrates another stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. This stacked capacitor structure may include capacitor  1610 , capacitor  1620 , and capacitor  1630 . Contacts  1614  and  1612  of capacitor  1610  and contacts  1634  and  1632  of the capacitor  1630  may be connected to contacts on a surface of a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate (not shown). Capacitor  1620  may include contact  1624  and  1622 . Contact  1624  of capacitor  1620  may be connected to contact  1614  of capacitor  1610  and contact  1634  of capacitor  1630 . Similarly, contact  1622  of capacitor  1620  may be connected to contact  1612  of capacitor  1610  and contact  1632  of capacitor  1630 . Again, in these and other embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the capacitors shown may be replaced by another component, such as a resistor, inductor, transformer, or other type of component. Also, one or more of these connections may be sintered. This sintering may provide a stacked capacitor structure that may remain intact during subsequent high-temperature processing steps. 
         [0071]      FIG. 17  illustrates another stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. This stacked capacitor structure may include capacitor  1710 , capacitor  1720 , capacitor  1730 , and capacitor  1740 . Contacts  1722  and  1724  of capacitor  1720  and contacts  1732  and  1734  of capacitor  1730  may be connected to contacts on a surface of a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate (not shown.) Contact  1712  of capacitor  1710  may connect to contact  1722  of capacitor  1720 . Similarly, contact  1714  of capacitor  1710  may connect to contact  1732  of capacitor  1730 . Contact  1744  of capacitor  1740  may connect to contact  17   34  of capacitor  1730 . Contact  1742  of capacitor  1740  may connect to contact  1724  of capacitor  1720 . Again, in these and other embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the capacitors shown may be replaced by another type of component, such as a resistor, electric, transformer, or other type of component. Also, one or more of these connections may be sintered. This sintering may provide a stacked capacitor structure that may remain intact during subsequent high-temperature processing steps. 
         [0072]      FIG. 18  illustrates another stacked capacitor structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, capacitor  1820  may be placed on top of capacitor  1810 . Contact  1822  of capacitor  1820  may be connected to capacitor  1812  of capacitor  1810 , while contact  1824  of capacitor  1820  may be connected to capacitor  1814  of capacitor  1810 . 
         [0073]      FIGS. 19-22  illustrates a method of manufacturing a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 19 , a number of electronic circuits or components  1910  may be connected to printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate  110 . Electronic circuits or components  1910  may be connected to printed circuit board  110  using solder, sintering, or other appropriate step. Vertical interconnect structures  1920  may be soldered or sintered or otherwise attached to a top surface of printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate  110 . Vertical interconnect structures  1920  may be electrically connected to traces or planes of printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate  110 . Vertical interconnect structures  1910  may be stamped metal, such as stainless steel, joined by carriers  1922 . Carriers  1922  may aid in the manipulation of vertical interconnect structures  1920 . In these and other embodiments of the present invention, columns  130  and walls  140  may be included in this structure as well and may be formed as the columns  130  and walls  140  shown above. 
         [0074]    In  FIG. 20 , an overmold  2010  may cover the one or more electronic circuits or components  1910  and interconnect structures  1920 , including carriers  1922 . This overmold  2010 , as with the other overmold regions in embodiments of the present invention shown here and in other embodiments of the present invention, may be formed of plastic, resin, epoxy, or other material. 
         [0075]    In  FIG. 21 , a top portion of overmold  2010  may be removed. This removal may be done by grinding, etching, or other process. Carriers  1922  may be removed during this step. This may leave tops  1923  of vertical interconnect structures  1922  exposed at a top surface of overmold  2010 . The tops  1923  of vertical interconnect structures  1920  may be covered with a conductive paste or other appropriate material. 
         [0076]    In  FIG. 22 , a second substrate  1210  and its vertical interconnect structures  2220  may be attached in an inverted manner along a top side the structure including substrate  110  and its vertical interconnect structures  1920 . Vertical interconnect structures  1920  may be electrically connected to vertical interconnect structures  2220 . Vertical interconnect structures  2220  may be electrically connected to traces or planes of second substrate  2210 . In these and other embodiments of the present invention, instead of a second substrate  2210 , a flexible circuit board may be attached to a top of substrate structure  110   
         [0077]    In various embodiments of the present invention, various modifications to the above structure may be made. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
         [0078]      FIG. 23  illustrates another SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, interconnect traces  2310  and  2320  may be formed and placed along sides of components  2330  and  2340 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 24  illustrates another SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a second substrate  2410  and a third substrate  2420  may be attached over substrate  110 . Vertical interconnect structures  1920  may electrically connect to vertical interconnect structures  2412  and  2422 . Again, these vertical interconnect structures may electrically connect to traces or pads on the respective substrates. 
         [0080]    While in the above examples, vertical interconnect structures are shown as extending from a top surface of a substrate to a top surface of an overmold, and other embodiments of the present invention, these vertical interconnect structures may extend from one or more electronic circuits or components or other structures in or associated with their respective SIP modules. 
         [0081]      FIG. 25  illustrates another SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a bottom side of substrate  2210  may be used to connect to one or more electronic circuits or components  2510 . An overmold  2520  may be shielded by shield  2530 . Shield  2530  may be replaced by a cover in various embodiments of the present invention, and overmold  2520  may be omitted. 
         [0082]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, various electrical and mechanical components may be shielded in various ways. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
         [0083]      FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate portions of SIP modules according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 26 , a number of components  2610  may be soldered or otherwise attached to a board or other substrate  2620 . An insulative coating  2630  may be formed over components  2610 . A metal shield  2640  may be formed over insulative coating  2630 . An edge of coating  2630  may be partially overlapping a contact  2624  on board  2620 , it may be adjacent to contact  2624 , or it may be near contact  2624  such that metal shield  2640  is electrically connected to contact  2624 . In various embodiments of the present invention, insulative coating  2630  may be a conformal coating, a mold, plastic, film, or other insulating material. The insulative coating  2630  may be formed by spraying, ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, vapor deposition (chemical or physical), it may be a conformal film with a metal backing, or it may be another type of coating. In various embodiments of the present invention, insulative coating  2630  may be a phase change material that is applied, heated such that it melts, and covered with metal shield  2640 . Metal shield  2640  may be formed using plating, sputtering, ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, vapor deposition (as with the other shields herein, it may be chemical or physical vapor deposition), or other technique. 
         [0084]    In this embodiment, during its formation, metalized shield  2640  may overflow contact  2624  and form undesired electrical connections. Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention may employ a vertical block or dam  2710 , as shown in  FIG. 27 . Dam  2710  may either be conductive or it may be nonconductive and coated with a conductive material. Dam  2710  may prevent overflow of shield metal  2640  beyond contact  2624  during shield formation. Dam  2710  may be formed by depositing a ring of conductive or non-conductive material, or it may be placed as a structural component. Dam  2710  may be formed in a same or similar manner as the columns  130  and walls  140  above. Dam  2710  may then form an electrical connection from shield  2640 , through dam  2710  (if dam  2710  is conductive) or its coating or plating (if dam  2710  is non-conductive) to the pad or ground contact  2624  on the supporting board or substrate  2620 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 28  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a number of electrical or mechanical components  2810  may be attached through contacts  2812  to board  2820 . A molding  2830  may be formed around components  2810 . A shield having top and bottom portions  2840  and  2842  may be formed by printing, such as by ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, plating, sputtering, vapor deposition, or other appropriate technique. These shields  2840  and  2842  may also be formed using a cap, as in the above examples. Shields  2840  and  2842 , and the other shields shown herein, may be made using a molding material formed as a sheet laminated to a copper or other type of conductive layer. This may be used to form a conductive cap or shields  2840  and  2842  around molding  2830 . In other embodiments of the present invention, molding  2830  may be omitted in favor of using the sheet of molding material over components  2810 . One or more walls or columns  2850  may be formed between shield  2840  and one or more ground contacts on board  2820  or between shield  2840  and another structure. An opening  2822  in board  2820  may be provided to facilitate a flow of mold between a top and bottom surface of board  2820  during manufacturing. 
         [0086]    As before, columns or walls  2850  may be formed in a same or similar manner as columns  130  and walls  140  of  FIG. 1 , or they may be formed of aluminum, steel, copper, or other conductive material. In still other embodiments of the present invention, these columns or walls  2850  may be formed of a conductive adhesive. These columns or walls  2850  may be formed using ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, stenciling, or other appropriate technique. The conductive adhesive columns or walls  2850  may be formed by stacking sinter or solder in drops, curves, lines, or other shapes as shown above in  FIGS. 2-3 and 5 . The remaining portions of this structure may be formed in various ways. An example is shown in the following figures. 
         [0087]      FIGS. 29-31  illustrate a method of forming a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 29 , a wall or column  2850  may be formed on a top surface of board  2820 . In this example, columns or walls  2850  may be formed of aluminum, steel, copper, or other conductive material. In still other embodiments of the present invention, these columns or walls  2850  may be formed of a conductive adhesive. These conductive adhesive columns of walls  2850  may be formed using printing, stenciling, or other appropriate technique. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, columns or walls  2850  may be formed using ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, stenciling, or other appropriate technique. 
         [0088]    In  FIG. 30 , a number of components, such as components  2810  and  2814 , may be attached to board  2820  via contacts  2812 . 
         [0089]    In  FIG. 31 , an opening  2822  may be formed in board  2820 . Molding  2830  may be used to encapsulate components  2810  and  2814 . Opening  2822  may facilitate the flow of molding compound between a top to bottom side of board  2820 . Following this, a shield may be formed around the molding  2830  to generate the structure shown in  FIG. 28 . 
         [0090]    In still other embodiments of the present invention, one or more electrical or mechanical components may be individually shielded. An example is shown in the following figure. 
         [0091]      FIG. 32  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to embodiments of the present invention. In this figure, a number of components  3210  having contacts  3212  may be attached to a surface of board  3220 . An adhesive layer  3240  may be formed over the components  3210  and a least a portion of top surface of board  3220 . This adhesive layer  3240  may act as an insulator. A shield  3250  may be formed over a top of adhesive layer  3240 . Shield layer  3250  may be formed by plating, sputtering, ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, vapor deposition, or other technique. Shield  3250  may be attached to ground contacts connected to traces  3222  in board  3220 . This attachment may be formed using spot or laser welding or other appropriate technique. Adhesive layer  3240  and shield  3250  may be made using a molding material formed as a sheet laminated to a copper or other type of conductive layer. Adhesive layer  3240  may be formed using ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing. 
         [0092]    In still other embodiments of the present invention, a molding compound, such as an epoxy, plastic, resin, may include a number of conductive particles. These conductive particles may be forced or encouraged to migrate in a manner that forms a shield. An example is shown in the following figure. 
         [0093]      FIG. 33  illustrates a portion of a SIP module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a number of components  3310  having contacts  3312  may be attached to a top side of board  3320 . Components  3310  may be encapsulated in mold  3330 . A number of walls or columns  3350  may also be included. Walls or columns  3350  may be formed as the walls  140  or columns  130  in the above examples, such as in  FIGS. 2-5 . 
         [0094]    Molding  3330  may include a number of conductive particles  3340 . During the curing of the molding compound used to form mold  3320 , conductive particles  3340  may be encouraged to migrate to a top molding  3330  to form a shield. Specifically, particles  3340  may be encouraged to locate themselves such that they form electrical connections between columns  3350  in order to shield components  3310 . This migration may be encouraged using gravity. For example, the module may be cured in upside-down position such that the heavier metal particles  3340  settle to the bottom. In other embodiments of the present invention, magnetic attraction may be used to attract the conductive particles  3340  into a desired position. In still other embodiments the present invention, particles  3340  may be filled with air or other gas, or a vacuum, and buoyancy may be relied upon to position the particles  3340  appropriately. These techniques and conductive particles  3340  may be used to form shields in the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein and in other embodiments of the present invention, such as shield  330  in  FIG. 3  and shield  2840  in  FIG. 28 . 
         [0095]    In these and other embodiments of the present invention, a mold or a shield, or both, may be formed in different ways. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mold compound sheet having a conductive film attached to a top side may be used. In another embodiment the present invention, a film having and insulative side and a conductive side may be used to form a shield. In other embodiments of the present invention, shields may be made using a molding material formed as a sheet laminated to a copper or other type of conductive layer. This may be used to form a conductive cap or shield over a molding. In other embodiments of the present invention, the molding may be omitted in favor of using the sheet of molding material placed over components. 
         [0096]    In various embodiments of the present invention, it may be desirable to isolate some components from other components in the module. This may be done using one or more columns or walls, such as columns  130  or walls  140  above, or other columns or walls provided by embodiments of the present invention. These columns or walls, such as columns  130  or walls  140  and the other columns or walls shown here may be formed of aluminum, steel, copper, or other conductive material. These columns or walls may be formed by stamping, forging, metallic injection molding, machining, micro-machining, or other manufacturing technique. In still other embodiments of the present invention, these columns or walls may be formed of a conductive adhesive. These conductive adhesive columns or walls may be formed using printing, stenciling, or other appropriate technique. These columns or walls may extend from a shield to a contact, plating, or other conductive portion on a bottom side of the module. 
         [0097]    In the above examples, one or more electrical components may be attached to a surface of a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. In still other embodiments the present invention, an embedded substrate may be used where one or more electrical components are located inside of a board or board-type structure. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
         [0098]      FIGS. 34 and 35  illustrate portions of electronic systems according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 34 , one or more components  3410  may be located on layers in an embedded substrate  3420 . Embedded substrate  3420  may be plated with a top ground plate  3430  and a bottom ground plate  3440 . Either or both of these plates  3430  and  3440  may include openings for contacts to allow electrical connections to components  3410  to be made. Top plate  3430  and bottom plate  3440  may attach to each other through vias  3422 . Vias  3422  may be formed in the same or similar manner as columns  130  or walls  140  in the examples above. Top plate  3430  and bottom plate  3440  may be formed by printing, such as by ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, plating, sputtering, vapor deposition, or other appropriate technique. These plates may also be formed using caps, as shown in the above examples. Plates  3430  and  3440  may be made using a molding material formed as a sheet laminated to a copper or other type of conductive layer. In  FIG. 35 , top plate  3430  and bottom plate  3440  may electrically connect to each other by side plating  3510 . Side plating  3510  may be formed by printing, such as by ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, plating, sputtering, vapor deposition, or other appropriate technique. 
         [0099]    In the above portions of electronic systems, and in other portions of electronic systems provided by embodiments of the present invention, it may be desirable to isolate some components from other components. This may be done using one or more columns or walls, such as columns  130  or walls  140  or  2850  above, or other columns or walls provided by embodiments of the present invention. These columns or walls, such as columns  130  or walls  140  or  2850  and the other columns or walls shown here may be formed of aluminum, steel, copper, or other conductive material. These columns or walls may be formed by stamping, forging, metallic injection molding, machining, micro-machining, or other manufacturing technique. In still other embodiments of the present invention, these columns or walls may be formed of a conductive adhesive. These conductive adhesive columns or walls may be formed using printing, stenciling, or other appropriate technique. These columns or walls may extend from top plate  3530  to bottom plate  3540 , or between other plates or layers in embedded substrate  3520  or other electronic system structure. 
         [0100]    It should be noted that while the interconnect structures described above are well-suited to forming system-in-a-package modules, in other embodiments of the present invention, other types of electronic devices may be formed using these techniques. 
         [0101]    In various embodiments of the present invention, contacts, interconnect paths, and other conductive portions of SIP modules may be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions may be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They may be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions, such as the moldings, may be formed using injection or other molding, ink-jet, 3-D, aerosol-jet, or other type of printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions, such as the various overmolded portions including overmold  120  and  2010 , may be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), plastic, epoxy, resin, or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. The printed circuit boards used may be formed of FR-4, BT or other material. Printed circuit boards may be replaced by other substrates, such as flexible circuit boards, in many embodiments of the present invention, while flexible circuit boards may be replaced by printed circuit boards in these and other embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0102]    Embodiments of the present invention may provide SIP modules that may be located in various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, wearable computing devices, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. 
         [0103]    The above description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.