Abstract:
A device includes a carrier and an integrated circuit chip having a first side supported by the carrier and a second side having contacts. The carrier has multiple carrier contacts supported by the carrier and separated from the integrated circuit chip. Multiple leads are coupled between the contacts on the integrated circuit chip and the multiple carrier contacts. A resin encapsulates the integrated circuit chip leaving the multiple carrier contacts at least partially uncovered for attaching to a card or board.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Smart cards utilize a dedicated connector to connect to computer chip modules. The connectors tend to take up a significant amount of space, and also are a source of failures. Still further, the computer chip module has a footprint that is too large compared to the overall smart card size, and are not amenable to connection by the use of solder. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram representative of a chip carrier module having multiple contacts according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram representation of the module of  FIG. 1  having a resin formed over part of the module according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the module of  FIG. 2  having contacts soldered to contacts on a printed circuit board according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a block cross section of the module of  FIG. 3  according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a chip carrier module coupled to a board via spring loaded contacts according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a block cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  according to an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 
     A smart card may include a subscriber identity module (SIM) application that enable GSM modem to connect a GSM network infrastructure. The SIM application is an embedded software executed onto an integrated circuit (IC) chip that has multiple contacts for making connections to a printed circuit board (PCB). In the various embodiments described, the IC chip may have multiple IC contacts for attaching lead wires. One side of the IC chip may be fastened to a module carrier or substrate having carrier contacts formed adjacent to multiple edges of the IC chip, with leads coupling the substrate contacts to the IC chip contacts. The IC chip may be encapsulated with a resin or other protective, electrically insulative material. The resin may extend over the substrate to partially cover the substrate contacts. 
     The substrate may be placed on a PCB or card, with matting contacts formed directly adjacent the carrier contacts, facilitating electrical connection to the IC chip by solder or other conductive material such as conductive glue. The PCB may then be placed on a smart card, which may include plastic cards, such as credit and debit cards to name a few. In one embodiment, such cards may thus provide machine to machine communication abilities, using the SIM to provide proper credentials for accessing or otherwise communicating with other machines, without human intervention. In further embodiments, the IC chip may implement a variety of different applications, such as trusted platform module (TPM) or other access control mechanisms, RF chips, passport IDs, and other applications. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram representative of a chip carrier module  100 . An IC  110  is coupled to a module substrate or carrier  115  by gluing or otherwise. In one embodiment, the IC  110  is centered on the carrier  115 . Multiple carrier contacts  120  are formed near or abutting edges of the carrier  115 . The carrier contacts  120  may be positioned adjacent edges of the carrier  115  in a manner that facilitates forming electrical contact with mating contacts when carrier  115  is placed on a PCB or other board or card on which the carrier module  100  may be mounted. The carrier contacts  120  may be electrically coupled to contacts on the IC  110  via leads  125 , such as by wire bonding. In one embodiment, the leads  125  may be coupled to the carrier contacts  120  at a portion of the carrier contacts  120  that is closer to the IC  110 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram representation of the carrier module  100  of  FIG. 1  having a resin  210  formed over part of the carrier module  100 . In one embodiment, the resin  210  covers the entire IC  110 , and extends beyond the IC to partially cover the carrier contacts  120 . The resin  210  may be formed of an electrically insulating material and may completely cover the leads  125  that are coupled to the carrier contacts  120 . The complete coverage of the leads  125  may be facilitated by the coupling of the leads to the carrier contacts  120  on portions of the carrier contacts  120  that are closer to the IC  110  than edges of the carrier  115 . In one embodiment, at least a portion of the carrier contacts  120  remain exposed to facilitate later electrical connection. In one embodiment, approximately one-half of selected contacts is covered by the resin. The amount of coverage may vary, as can be seen by contacts near a corner of the carrier  115 , where the resin may have a curved portion. 
     The shape of the resin  210  may be obtained with the use of molding, or a ring, such as a silicon ring that limits the coverage of the resin  210  to that desired. The use of the resin provides for protection of the IC, and helps prevent shorts between leads. Further, by limiting the coverage of the resin, the carrier contacts  120  are accessible to provide connections to the IC  110 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the carrier module  100  of  FIG. 2  having carrier contacts  120  soldered to PCB contacts  310  on a printed circuit board, PCB  315 , according to an example embodiment. In further embodiments, PCB  315  may be a standard printed circuit board, or various types of cards, such as plastic cards used as credit, debit, gift or other financial cards. In some embodiments, the carrier module  100  may be fastened to a plastic card by glue, such as a conductive or non-conductive glue. Plastic cards may be used without contacts formed on the plastic cards in one embodiment. The plastic card may be used to provide a handling mechanism for later coupling of the module  100  to other electronic devices. 
     In one embodiment, the PCB contacts  310  are arranged in a manner to be adjacent the carrier contacts  120  when the carrier module  100  is placed on the PCB  315  and coupled to the PCB  315  by glue or otherwise. In one embodiment, the carrier module  100  is surface mounted to the PCB  315 . Solder  320  may then be used to electrically couple the carrier contacts  120  with the PCB contacts  310 . Solder  320  may bridge any gap between the adjacent sets of contacts to form a good electrical connection between the IC  110  and the PCB  315 . The PCB  315  may contain wiring from the PCB contacts  310  to other components on the PCB  315  to facilitate machine to machine communications or for other functions. In one embodiment, the carrier module  100  has a flat bottom surface that contacts the PCB  315  at a corresponding flat surface. 
       FIG. 4  is a block cross section of the carrier module  100  of  FIG. 3  according to an example embodiment. In this embodiment, an optional additional layer, isolator  410  is provided between the IC  110  and the carrier  115  to prevent electrical shorts between IC  110  and carrier  115 . The isolator  410  may be formed as a layer covering the carrier  115 , including contacts  120 . Before, or after the IC  110  has been attached to the carrier  115 , the isolator  410  layer may be etched or otherwise patterned to expose the carrier contacts for attachment of the leads  125  and solder  320 . The isolator  410  layer may be formed of a flexible isolating material, such as Kapton® polyimide film from DuPont, in one embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a chip carrier module  100  coupled to a board via spring loaded contacts  505  according to an example embodiment, and  FIG. 6  is a block cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  In this embodiment, multiple spring loaded contacts  505  are formed on a PCB  510  to form electrical connection between the PCB  510  and carrier contacts, indicated at  515 . In one embodiment, the spring loaded contacts are formed with base structures  520  forming a socket for insertion of the carrier module  100 . Two of the base structure  520  include a lateral extension  525  such that the socket blocks the module  100  on three lateral sides. A flipping lock  530  may be used on a fourth lateral side of the module  100 . The spring loaded contacts  505  apply a vertical pressure on the contacts  505  to maintain module  100  vertically to ensure resistance to vibration. 
     In one embodiments, mechanical contacts, such as spring loaded contacts  505 , shown in block form, include a spring  605  that is used to spring load a contact arm  610  into electrical contact with carrier contact  515 . In various embodiments, many different arrangement of spring loaded contacts may be used, such as a leaf spring contacts, compression fit contacts, reversed push-pull pins, and others.  FIG. 6  is functional representation of an example spring loaded contact and is used to represent many different types of spring loaded contacts. In one embodiment, module  100  may be inserted into the socket without tooling, and locked into place, and easily removed when desired. 
     The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.