Electronic package and antenna structure thereof

An electronic package is provided, in which a ground layer is arranged on one side of an insulator, and a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion embedded in the insulator are vertically disposed on the ground layer, where a gap is formed between the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion, such that the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion are electrically matched with each other, and the ground layer is electrically connected to the second antenna portion but free from being electrically connected to the first antenna portion.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor packaging process, and more particularly, to an electronic package with an antenna structure.

2. Description of Related Art

Wireless communication technology has now been widely used in a myriad of consumer electronic products (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, etc.) to enable the reception and/or transmission of various kinds of wireless signals. In order to satisfy the demands for portability and networking of the consumer electronic products, manufacturing and designs of wireless communication modules are developed with compactness and lightweight in mind. Among which, patch antennae are often used in the wireless communication modules of electronic products owing to their small sizes, light weight and ease of manufacturing.

Technologies related to the applications of 5G will be fully commercialized in the future. Its application frequency will be in the high-frequency band in the range from approximately 1 GHz to 1000 GHz, and its commercial application model will be 5G in cooperation with 4G LTE where an outdoor cellular base station can be used in cooperation with smaller indoor base stations. As such, a 5G mobile communication will utilize a large amount of antennae in a base station for the large and fast transmissions and low latency of a 5G system.

FIG.1is a schematic perspective view of a conventional wireless communication module. As shown inFIG.1, the wireless communication module1includes: a substrate10, a plurality of electronic components11provided on the substrate10, an antenna structure12, and an encapsulant13. The substrate10is a circuit board. The electronic components11are disposed on the substrate10and electrically connected with substrate10. The antenna structure12is a patch antenna with an antenna body120and a feed line121. The antenna body120is electrically connected with an electronic component11via the feed line121. The encapsulant13encapsulates the electronic components11and a portion of the feed line121. On the other hand, in the 5G system, facing the demands for higher signal quality and transmission speed, more antennae need to be provided to improve the quality of signals and the transmission speed.

However, in the conventional wireless communication module1, the antenna structure12is a patch antenna, and the dimensions (i.e., length and width) of the substrate10are fixed. It is difficult to reduce the volume of the substrate10. Moreover, the radiation direction of the antenna structure12is constrained, which limits the functionality of the antenna structure12. If it is operated in cooperation with 5G antennae, the signals emitted may have poor efficiencies. As a result, it would be difficult for the wireless communication module1to meet the operating demands of the 5G antennae.

Therefore, there is a need for a solution that addresses the aforementioned issues of the prior art.

SUMMARY

In view of the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art, the present disclosure provides an antenna structure, which includes: an insulator having two opposite sides; a first antenna portion including at least one pillar-shaped antenna body embedded in the insulator and at least one acting circuit disposed on a surface of the insulator and connected with the antenna body, wherein the antenna body extends from one side of the insulator to the other side of the insulator, such that the antenna body interconnects the two opposite sides of the insulator; a second antenna portion including at least one conductive pillar embedded in the insulator and at least one auxiliary circuit disposed on the surface of the insulator and connected with the conductive pillar, wherein the conductive pillar is arranged correspondingly to the antenna body, wherein the conductive pillar extends from one side of the insulator to the other side of the insulator, such that the conductive pillar interconnects the two opposite sides of the insulator, and wherein a gap is formed between the antenna body and the conductive pillar, and the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion are electrically matched with each other; and a ground layer arranged on one of the sides of the insulator and electrically connected to the second antenna portion, wherein the ground layer is free from being electrically connected to the first antenna portion.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, the present disclosure further comprises a plurality of conductors arranged around the antenna body in the insulator.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, a plurality of the ground layers separated from each other are arranged in the insulator.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, the first antenna portion and/or the second antenna portion is located within a vertically projected area of the ground layer.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, a vertically projected area of the ground layer is greater than a vertically projected area of the first antenna portion and/or a vertically projected area of the second antenna portion.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, the present disclosure further comprises an opening region formed in the ground layer, wherein the antenna body passes through the opening region without contacting the ground layer.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, one end of the antenna body is used as a signal source, and the other end of the antenna body is exposed from the insulator and used as an emitting source. For example, the acting circuit extends horizontally on the insulator from the other end of the antenna body exposed from the insulator.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, one end of the conductive pillar is connected to the ground layer, and the other end of the conductive pillar is exposed from the insulator. For example, the auxiliary circuit extends horizontally on the insulator from the other end of the conductive pillar exposed from the insulator.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, the auxiliary circuit and the acting circuit are separated from each other.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, the auxiliary circuit and the acting circuit are aligned with each other and arranged on an imaginary straight line.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, the second antenna portion is used for grounding, such that the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion constitute a dipole antenna.

In the aforementioned antenna structure, the conductive pillar is arranged in parallel with the antenna body.

The present disclosure further provides an electronic package, which includes: the aforementioned antenna structure; and an electronic component communicatively connected with the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion, wherein the electronic component is carried by the insulator.

In the aforementioned electronic package, the insulator is arranged with a circuit structure electrically connected with the electronic component, the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion.

The aforementioned electronic package further includes a ground portion bonded with the insulator. For example, the ground portion is a conductive structure embedded in the insulator. Furthermore, the insulator is arranged with a circuit structure electrically connected with the electronic component, and the circuit structure is electrically connected with the ground portion. Alternatively, the ground portion includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of conductive blind vias electrically connected with the plurality of conductive layers and the ground layer, and wherein portions of the conductive layers are exposed from the insulator to be used as external connection pads.

As can be understood from the above, in the electronic package of the present disclosure and the antenna structure thereof, by vertically arranging the first antenna portion above the ground layer and not allowing the distribution areas of the first and second antenna portions to be greater than the layout area of the ground layers, compared to the prior art, the antenna structure of the present disclosure can effectively reduce the layout area of the antenna to facilitate reduction of the layout area of the insulator, while increasing the flexibility in antenna arrangement.

Moreover, since the distribution areas of the first and second antenna portions are free from being greater than the layout area of the ground layers, the radiation direction of the end of the antenna body exposed from the insulator can be perpendicular to the acting circuit or the surface of the insulator, and the radiation direction of the antenna structure is therefore not constrained and the functionality of the antenna structure can be enhanced. Thus, compared to the prior art, when the antenna structure is applied to antenna operations in a system, efficiency of signal emissions can be improved, thereby facilitating the electronic package in meeting the requirements of the antenna operations in the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The implementations of present disclosure are illustrated using the following specific embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art can readily appreciate other advantages and technical effects of the present disclosure upon reading the disclosure of this specification.

It should be noted that the structures, ratios, sizes shown in the drawings appended to this specification are to be construed in conjunction with the disclosure of this specification in order to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art. They are not meant, in any ways, to limit the implementations of the present disclosure, and therefore have no substantial technical meaning. Without affecting the effects created and the objectives achieved by the present disclosure, any modifications, changes or adjustments to the structures, ratio relationships or sizes, are to be construed as falling within the range covered by the technical contents disclosed herein. Meanwhile, terms such as “above,” “first,” “second,” “a,” “an,” and the like, are for illustrative purposes, and are not meant to limit the scope in which the present disclosure can be implemented. Any variations or modifications made to their relative relationships, without changing the substantial technical content, are also to be considered as within the scope in which the present disclosure can be implemented.

FIGS.2A and2Bare schematic views depicting an antenna structure2in accordance with the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the antenna structure2is in the form of a dipole antenna.

As shown inFIG.2A, the antenna structure2includes: an insulator2cand a first antenna portion2aand a second antenna portion2bbonded to the insulator2c.

The insulator2cincludes a base20and an insulating layer23disposed on the base20. The base20has a first surface20aand a second surface20bopposite to each other, such that the insulating layer23is formed on the second surface20bof the base20.

In an embodiment, the base20includes, for example, a dielectric material, polyimide (PI), a dry film, an epoxy resin, a molding compound, or the like, and the present disclosure is not limited to the above.

Furthermore, at least one ground layer25a,25bis provided on the base20. For example, a plurality of ground layers25a,25bthat are separated from one another are arranged on the first surface20aand the second surface20bof the base20, respectively. The ground layers25a,25bare connected through a plurality of conductors250(e.g., conductive blind vias). More specifically, the ground layers25a,25bare formed by coating a metal layer (e.g., a copper material), such as by sputtering, vapor deposition, electroplating or chemical plating, or by lamination or foiling (e.g., metal foil with mesh or any arbitrary patterns).

Furthermore, the insulating layer23includes, for example, a dielectric material, polyimide (PI), a dry film, an epoxy resin, a molding compound, or the like, and the present disclosure is not limited to the above. It can be understood that the base20and the insulating layer23can be formed of the same material or different materials depending on the needs.

The first antenna portion2aincludes an antenna body22embedded in the insulator2c. The antenna body22is in the form of a conductive pillar and extends from one side to the other side of the insulator2c, such that the antenna body22interconnects the two opposite sides of the insulator2c, and that one end22aof the antenna body22is located in the base20to be used as a signal source, while the other end22bof the antenna body22is exposed from the insulator2cto be used as an emitting source.

In an embodiment, one end22aof the antenna body22interconnects the first surface20aand the second surface20bof the base20, and the antenna body22penetrates through the insulating layer23, so that the other end22bof the antenna body22is exposed from a surface23aof the insulating layer23. In one example, a pad221of the antenna body22can be formed on the first surface20aof the base20. Opening regions A are formed in the ground layers25a,25b, so that the antenna body22penetrates through the opening regions A and is free from being in contact with the ground layers25a,25b, and that the pad221is positioned in the opening regions A without contacting the ground layers25a,25b.

Moreover, the first antenna portion2afurther includes an acting circuit220connected with the antenna body22. The acting circuit220is arranged on the surface23aof the insulating layer23and extends horizontally from the end22bof the antenna body22exposed from the insulating layer23. The length L1of the acting circuit220can be adjusted (as shown inFIG.2B) to change the wavelength (or the frequency) of signals emitted by the antenna body22. In other words, the length L1of the acting circuit220is proportional to the radiation wavelength.

In addition, the length of the acting circuit220and the height of the antenna body22in the insulating layer23(equivalent to the thickness d of the insulating layer23) can be adjusted to change the impedance value of the antenna body22.

Moreover, the first antenna portion2acan be formed by applying a metal layer (e.g., a copper material), such as by sputtering, vapor deposition, electroplating or chemical plating, or by lamination or framing.

The second antenna portion2bincludes a conductive pillar24embedded in the insulator2c. The conductive pillar24extends from one side to the other side of the insulator2c, such that the conductive pillar24interconnects the two opposite sides of the insulator2c, and that one end24aof the conductive pillar24interconnects the ground layers25a,25b, while the other end24bof the conductive pillar24is exposed from the insulator2c.

In an embodiment, the conductive pillar24is arranged in parallel with the antenna body22, and a gap t is formed between the antenna body22and the conductive pillar24. The first antenna portion2aand the second antenna portion2bare symmetrically arranged, and the first antenna portion2aand the second antenna portion2bare electrically matched with each other. For example, the second antenna portion2bcan be used as a ground, and the first antenna portion2aand the second antenna portion2bform a dipole antenna.

Moreover, the second antenna portion2bfurther includes an auxiliary circuit240connected with the conductive pillar24. The auxiliary circuit240is arranged on the surface23aof the insulating layer23and extends horizontally from the end24bof the conductive pillar24exposed from the insulating layer23. The length L2of the auxiliary circuit240(as shown inFIG.2B) can be adjusted in cooperation with the acting circuit220, so the antenna body22can emit signals of the required waveform. In one example, the auxiliary circuit240and the acting circuit220are separated from each other by a distance (gap t), and the auxiliary circuit240and the acting circuit220are aligned with each other and arranged on an imaginary straight line L, as shown inFIG.2B.

Furthermore, the ground layers25a,25bcan be selected to cover a vertically projected area of surface area of the base20, for example, the entire surface shown inFIG.2B, so that this vertically projected area is greater than the vertically projected area of the first antenna portion2aand/or the vertically projected area of the second antenna portion2b. For example, the first antenna portion2aand/or the second antenna portion2bare within the vertically projected area of the ground layers25a,25b.

Moreover, the second antenna portion2bcan be formed by applying a metal layer (e.g., a copper material), such as by sputtering, vapor deposition, electroplating or chemical plating, or the conductive pillar24can be formed by lamination or framing.

It can be understood that a patterning (e.g., electroplating or etching of metals) routing process, such as a redistribution layer (RDL) process, can be performed on the base20and/or the insulating layer23to manufacture the first antenna portion2aand the second antenna portion2bsimultaneously.

Therefore, the antenna structure2of the present disclosure allows the first antenna portion2ato be vertically disposed above the ground layers25a,25b, such that the radiation direction of the exposed end22bof the antenna body22is perpendicular to the acting circuit220or the first surface20aof the base20(or along the direction of the pillar of the antenna body22), and the distribution areas (or vertically projected areas) of the first antenna portion2aand the second antenna portion2bare not greater than the layout areas (or vertically projected areas) of the ground layers25a,25b. Thus, compared to the prior art, the antenna structure2of the present disclosure can effectively reduce the layout area of the antenna to facilitate reduction of the layout area of the insulator2c(or the first surface20aof the base20), while increasing flexibility in antenna arrangement.

In addition, since the distribution area (or vertically projected area) of the first antenna portion2a(or the auxiliary circuit240) is not greater than the layout area (or vertically projected area) of the ground layer25a, the ground layer25acan be used as a reflector to effectively reflect signals from the acting circuit220, so that the radiation direction of the exposed end22bof the antenna body22can be perpendicular to the acting circuit220or the first surface20aof the base20(or along the direction of the pillar of the antenna body22). As such, the radiation direction of the antenna structure2is not constrained and the functionality of the antenna structure2can be enhanced.

Furthermore, a plurality of conductors250for grounding are provided around the signal source (the end22aof the antenna body22at the base20or the pad221) of the antenna body22, that is, the conductors250are arranged around the antenna body22in order to shield the signal source. This reduces signal distortions or losses of the antenna body22.

FIG.3Ais a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic package3in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.3A, the electronic package3includes an antenna structure2and at least one electronic component31communicatively connected with the first antenna portion2aand the second antenna portion2b.

In an embodiment, the electronic package3further includes a ground portion34arranged on the insulator2c, and the electronic component31is carried by the insulator2c.

A circuit structure30is provided in the base20of the insulator2cto form a package substrate with a core layer and circuit layers or a coreless circuit structure with multiple circuit layers. The circuit structure30includes at least one first circuit layer301and at least one second circuit layer302formed in the base20, such as fan-out redistribution layers (RDLs).

In an embodiment, ground layer25bis disposed on the second surface20bof the base20, whereas the other ground layer25ais disposed in the base20. The ground layers25a,25bare separated from each other and interconnected via at least one conductor250.

The insulating layer23of the insulator2cis bonded onto the second surface20bof the base20, and the material forming the insulating layer23can be, for example, PI, a dry film, a molding compound, etc., and the present disclosure is not limited to the above.

The electronic component31is disposed on the base20, either on the first surface20aor on the second surface20b, or on both the first surface20aand the second surface20bas needed, and can be embedded in the base20and/or the insulating layer23.

In an embodiment, the electronic component31is an active component, a passive component, or a combination of both. The active component can be, for example, a semiconductor chip, and the passive component can be, for example, a resistor, a capacitor or an inductor. For example, the electronic component31can be a semiconductor chip with mmWave functionality, and can be disposed on the first circuit layer301and the second circuit layer302by the flip-chip technique through a plurality of conductive bumps310(e.g., solder or copper material) and electrically connected with the first circuit layer301and the second circuit layer302. Alternatively, the electronic component31can be electrically connected with the first circuit layer301and the second circuit layer302by wire bonding through a plurality of bonding wires (not shown). Alternatively, the electronic component31can be in direct contact with the first circuit layer301and the second circuit layer302. However, the method by which the electronic component31is electrically connected with the circuit layers is not limited to those described above.

Therefore, by manufacturing the base20and the circuit structure30using a carrier board for packaging processes to carry the electronic component31, the electronic component31can be communicatively connected with the first antenna portion2aand the second antenna portion2bvia the first circuit layer301and the second circuit layer302.

The first antenna portion2ais disposed on the base20and bonded with the insulating layer23, and is electrically connected with the electronic component31via the first circuit layer301.

In an embodiment, the first antenna portion2ais free from being embedded in the base20, the antenna body22is vertically arranged on the second surface20bof the base20and embedded in the insulating layer23. One end22aof the antenna body22is bonded with the second surface20bof the base20and electrically connected with the first circuit layer301, whereas the other end22bof the antenna body22is exposed from the insulating layer23to be used as an emitting source. For example, one end22aof the antenna body22can be bonded onto the second surface20bof the base20and electrically connected with the first circuit layer301via the pad221. The opening regions A are formed in the ground layers25a,25bto allow the pad221and the first circuit layer301to pass through the opening regions A without contacting the ground layers25a,25b.

Moreover, the acting circuit220of the first antenna portion2aextends horizontally from the exposed end22bof the antenna body22on the surface23aof the insulating layer23.

The second antenna portion2bis also vertically arranged on the base20and bonded with the insulating layer23, and is electrically connected with the electronic component31through the second circuit layer302.

In an embodiment, the conductive pillar24of the second antenna portion2bis spaced apart from the antenna body22by a gap t, such that the first antenna portion2aand the second antenna portion2bare electrically matched with each other to form a dipole antenna. The auxiliary circuit240of the second antenna portion2bextends horizontally from the exposed end24bof the conductive pillar24on the surface23aof the insulating layer23. For example, the auxiliary circuit240and the acting circuit220are separated from each other by a distance (gap t), and the auxiliary circuit240and the acting circuit220are aligned with each other and arranged on an imaginary straight line L, as shown inFIG.3B.

The ground portion34is a conductive structure embedded in the base20, and thus can be manufactured with the second circuit layer302. In one example, the ground portion34includes a plurality of conductive layers340electrically connected with the second circuit layer302and a plurality of conductive blind vias341electrically connected with the conductive layers340and the ground layer25a. Some of the conductive layers340can be exposed from the first surface20aof the base20to be used as external connection pads342.

In addition, the electronic package3further includes a plurality of conductive components36disposed on the first surface20aof the base20. In one example, the conductive components36are solder balls disposed on the external connection pads342for electrically connected with the second circuit layer302and/or the first circuit layer301.

Therefore, the electronic package3in accordance with the present disclosure utilizes the design of the antenna structure2, allowing the electronic package3to have effectively reduced antenna layout area, which reduces the area of the carrier board used for packaging process, and increases the flexibility in antenna arrangement.

Moreover, the radiation direction of the antenna structure2is not constrained and is advantageous in improving the functionality of the antenna structure2. As a result, when the antenna structure2is applied to antenna operations in a 5G system, efficiency of signal emission can be improved, thereby facilitating the electronic package3in meeting the requirements of the antenna operations in the 5G system.

Furthermore, using the ground layers25a,25b, the electronic package3is capable of preventing cross talk, noise interference and radiation interference from the antenna body22to the electronic component31.

In summary, in the electronic package of the present disclosure and the antenna structure thereof, by vertically arranging the first antenna portion above the ground layer and not allowing the distribution areas of the first and second antenna portions to be greater than the layout area of the ground layers, the antenna structure of the present disclosure can effectively reduce the layout area of the antenna to facilitate the reduction of layout area of the insulator, while increasing the flexibility in antenna arrangement.

Moreover, since the radiation direction of the end of the antenna body exposed from the insulator can be perpendicular to the acting circuit or a surface of the insulator, the radiation direction of the antenna structure is not constrained and the functionality of the antenna structure can be enhanced. Thus, when the antenna structure is applied to antenna operations in a system, efficiency of signal emissions can be improved, thereby facilitating the electronic package in meeting the requirements of the antenna operations in the system.

The above embodiments are set forth to illustrate the principles of the present disclosure, and should not be interpreted as to limit the present disclosure in any way. The above embodiments can be modified by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.