Embedded solutions: Fan-out and Embedded Dies Packages market and technology trends
Authors: AZEMAR Jerome , BEICA Rozalia , BUISSON Thibault , IVANCOVIC Andrej , PIZZAGALLI Amandine 
Published: October 2015

Embedded packages are nowadays not anymore just an interesting approach for some specific application. Benefiting from 3D TSV high cost, and consequently delays, these packages could fit the high expectations of the industry. Indeed, added value of embedded packages in terms of integration, reliability and even cost at system level is already clear for manufacturers.

Embedded packages lacked success until 2013–2014 because of long time of qualification, few players involved and customer convincing time. The situation changed with new product announcements and strong involvement of some key players.

In this presentation we will focus on two main types of embedded packages, those that are most of interest at the moment: Fan-Out and Embedded Dies packages.

The principle of Fan Out technology is to embed products in a molded compound and allow redistribution layers pitch to be independent from die size. This approach is already mature enough to have high volume products claimed by Nanium and Stats ChipPAC using eWLB type of Fan-Out. Market for Fan-Out packages in 2014 almost reached $200M and a 20% growth for the coming years is expected. Understanding the potential of that market and the high demand from telecom industry for a thin and cheap package, other important OSATs like SPIL or J-Devices are willing to enter the market with their own technologies. TSMC is also proposing its inFO process to its customers, confirming that foundries could look at the OSATs reserved market through wafer-level packages. Each player has its own view on how to gain market share and meet the challenges such as cost reduction, panel manufacturing, yield improvement, die shift…

The principle of Embedded dies package has the same purpose of promoting high integration due to placing chips within the substrate but with a different approach: Embedding is done in laminate substrates. This process is pushed by PCB manufacturers such as AT&S and could create a new supply chain with new players. One of the main advantages is to use a mature and cheap manufacturing chain created for PCB manufacturing and then having low cost for a technology that would allow a good integration and access to both sides of the chips easily. On the other hand, Embedded Die technologies are still waiting for a high volume project that shall be coming once higher yield, better resolution and clarification of the supply chain will be achieved. In this presentation we will describe what the strategies to reach that goal are.

Both technologies seem to be competing but are actually complementary and often targeting different markets. Key customers already qualified them and will open the gates for the fast growing packaging market.

The presentation will provide an overview of the products announcements, commercialization roadmaps as well as market forecasts per application. Insights and trends into the different fan-out and embedded die packaging approaches by applications, business models and major players will be reviewed.