Patent Publication Number: US-6699734-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for coupling a semiconductor die to die terminals

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/932,080, filed Aug. 17, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,746, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/054,275, filed Apr. 2, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,215. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is directed toward a method and apparatus for coupling a semiconductor die to die terminals. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Semiconductor dies are typically encased in a plastic shell or package prior to installation in microelectronic devices. The plastic package makes the die easier to handle during installation and protects the die from dust, dirt and other contaminants after it has been installed. The package includes package terminals, such as pins or other similar devices which have one end coupled to the bond pads of the die and an opposite end accessible outside the package. The ends of the package terminals accessible outside the package may be coupled to other microelectronic components, linking the die to those components. 
     FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a representative conventional die package  10 . FIG. 2 is a partially broken top plan view of the conventional die package  10  shown in FIG.  1 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the die package  10  comprises a plastic body  12  housing a die  20  therein. For purposes of clarity, the top portion of the body  12  is shown in phantom lines in FIG.  1  and partially broken away in FIG.  2 . The die  20  includes bond pads  21  that are coupled to circuitry within the die. The bond pads  21  are also coupled with wire bonds  50  to leadfingers  40  that extend outwardly away from the die to the edges of the die package  10  where they are coupled to pins  30 . The pins  30  project outwardly beyond the edges of the body  12  and may be coupled with other electronic components in a conventional manner so that the die  20  may communicate with the other components. 
     One problem with the conventional die package  10  described above is that the leadfingers  40  may limit the minimum size of the die package and die  20 . The ends of the leadfingers  40  must have a surface area which is large enough to permit the bond wires  50  to be easily coupled thereto. The leadfingers  40  must also be large enough to secure the die  20  in a selected position as the die is encapsulated in the body  12  during manufacture of the die package  10 . The large surface area of the leadfingers  40  and the spacing between adjacent leadfingers may limit the minimum size of the die package  10 . The size and spacing of the leadfingers  40  may also limit the minimum distance between the corresponding bond pads  21  to which the leadfingers are connected and may accordingly limit the minimum size of the die  20 . 
     Another problem with the conventional die package  10  described above is that the leadfingers  40  may increase the capacitance measured at the pins  30 , thereby reducing the speed with which signals may propagate between the pins  30  and the corresponding bond pads  21 . The reduced signal speed may decrease the overall speed and efficiency of the die  20  and the microelectronic components with which the die is coupled. 
     Yet another problem with the conventional die package  10  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that an impedance measured at one of the pins  30  may be different than an impedance measured at another pin  30 . The impedance mismatch between pins  30  of the same die  20  probably adversely affects the relative timing of signals coupled to the die through different pins  30 . 
     In another conventional arrangement (not shown), the die  20  may be coupled to leadfingers  40  which are positioned directly on the surface of a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may then be coupled to other microelectronic devices or other printed circuit boards. This alternate arrangement may suffer from the same problems discussed above, including a limited minimum die size, reduced signal speed and mismatched impedances. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed toward a method and apparatus for coupling a semiconductor die to terminals of a die package or printed circuit board which supports the die. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a microelectronic device comprising a semiconductor die having at least one terminal. The microelectronic device further comprises a conductive member elongated between a first end portion and a second end portion. The second end portion is proximate to the terminal of the die. The conductive member has an intermediate portion between the first and second end portions that is narrower than the second end portion. In one embodiment, the second end portion is positioned adjacent the semiconductor die, and in another embodiment, the second end portion is positioned on a surface of the semiconductor die. In either embodiment, the second end portion may be coupled to the die terminal with a conductive coupler. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the microelectronic device comprises a package having first and second package terminals and a semiconductor die positioned within the package and having first and second die terminals. A first conductive member is coupled at one end to the first package terminal. A first conductive coupler is coupled between the first die terminal and the first conductive member. The microelectronic device further comprises a second conductive member coupled at one end to the second package terminal. A second conductive coupler is coupled between the second die terminal and the second conductive member. The first conductive member and first conductive coupler are selected to produce a first impedance at the first package terminal and the second conductive member and second conductive coupler are selected to produce a second impedance at the second package terminal. The first and second impedances are selected to be approximately equal. 
     In still another embodiment, the semiconductor die may be positioned on the surface of a printed circuit board or other substrate. The substrate may include conductive members that are offset relative to each other and the semiconductor die. The conductive members may be coupled to the die terminals with conductive couplers and may also be connected to vias in the substrate. 
     The present invention is also embodied in a method for positioning conductive members proximate to first and second adjacent terminals of a semiconductor die. In one embodiment, the method comprises positioning an end of a first conductive member proximate the first terminal of the die and positioning an end of a second conductive member proximate the second terminal of the die. The ends of the first and second conductive members are staggered such that the end of the second conductive member is spaced apart from the second terminal by a distance which is greater than the distance between the end of the first conductive member and the first terminal. 
     The present invention is also embodied in a method for selecting the impedance of a conductive path between a terminal of a semiconductor die and a terminal of a package in which the die is housed. In one embodiment, the method comprises selecting a size and material of a conductive member to have a first impedance and selecting a size and material of a conductive coupler to have a second impedance. The conductive member has first and second opposite ends and the method further comprises connecting the first end of the conductive member to the terminal of the package and connecting the conductive coupler to extend between the terminal of the die and the second end of the conductive member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a die package in accordance with the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially broken top plan view of the die package shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a partially broken top plan view of a die package having staggered conductive members extending over a surface of a semiconductor die in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a partially broken top plan view of a die package having staggered conductive members and the same number of package terminals as shown in FIG. 1, housing a die with an increased number of die terminals, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a partially broken top plan view of a die package having staggered conductive members and the same number of package terminals as shown in FIG. 1, housing a die with closely spaced die terminals in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a lead frame for supporting the conductive members shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is a partially broken top plan view of a die package having staggered conductive members positioned proximate a semiconductor die in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a partially broken top plan view of a die package having conductive members and conductive couplers of varying lengths in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the top surface of a portion of a substrate having staggered conductive members thereon and a bottom isometric view of a die having correspondingly positioned solder balls. 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the top surface of a portion of a substrate having enlarged staggered conductive members thereon and a bottom isometric view of a die having correspondingly positional solder balls. 
     FIG. 11 is a top isometric view of a die mounted to a substrate having staggered conductive members in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic of a computer having a die package in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is embodied in an apparatus and method for coupling terminals of a die to terminals of a die package or printed circuit board which supports the die. An aspect of the invention is that conductive members which extend between the die terminals and the package terminals may be staggered to increase the number of conductive members and die terminals that may be positioned in a given die package. A further aspect of the invention is that the conductive members may be connected to the die terminals with conductive couplers, and the size and composition of the conductive members and conductive couplers may be selected to produce a selected impedance at the package terminals. FIGS. 3-10 illustrate various embodiments of the apparatus and methods, and like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the figures. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a representative die package  110  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The die package  110  generally comprises a solid plastic body  112  which is shown partially broken away and which encapsulates a semiconductor chip or die  120 . The die  120  has die terminals or bond pads  121  which are coupled with conductive couplers  150  and conductive members  140  to package terminals  130  positioned along the edges  113  of the body  112 . The package terminals  130  project away from the body  112  so that they may be easily coupled to other microelectronic components. 
     The body  112  may comprise a plastic or other suitable insulating material. As shown in FIG. 3, the die  120  may be centered within the body  112  and may include die terminals  121  which are aligned along a central axis of an upper surface  122  of the die. In other embodiments, the die terminals  121  may have other configurations, as will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIG.  7 . In one embodiment, the die terminals  121  may comprise conventional bond pads, as shown in FIG. 3, and may comprise solder balls, as will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, or other terminal devices in other embodiments. 
     The conductive members or leads  140  extend over the upper surface  122  of the die  120  in a “lead-over-chip” configuration so as to be proximate to the die terminals  121 . The upper surface  122  of the die  120  accordingly comprises an insulating layer to electrically isolate the conductive members  140  from each other. The conductive members  140  may be adhesively bonded to the die  120  to hold the die  120  in position during manufacturing, as will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIG.  5 . 
     Each conductive member  140  is elongated and has a bonding portion  142  at one end, a terminal portion  143  at an opposite end, and an intermediate portion  144  extending between the bonding portion and the terminal portion. Each bonding portion  142  is connected with a conductive coupler  150  to the corresponding die terminal  121 . The conductive couplers  150  may comprise gold wire, aluminum wire, a conductive adhesive, or other suitable conductive materials which have a low resistance and may be easily bonded to the bonding portion  142  with a mechanical or chemical/mechanical bond. Each bonding portion  142  has a width sufficient to keep the bonding portion stable when the conductive coupler  150  is connected thereto. Accordingly, the bonding portion  142  may have a width of approximately 0.008 inch in one embodiment and may have other widths in other embodiments. 
     The intermediate portion  144  of each conductive member  140  has a width which is less than the width of the bonding portion  142  and less than the width of the conventional leadfingers  40  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingly, the spacing between adjacent conductive members  140  may be reduced by positioning the bonding portion  142  of one conductive member adjacent the intermediate portion  144  of the neighboring conductive member. Each conductive member  140  may be axially offset relative to its neighbor, producing a staggered pattern of conductive members, as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     In one embodiment, the intermediate portions  144  have a width of approximately 0.004 inch. The intermediate portions  144  may have other widths in other embodiments, so long as the intermediate portions are narrow enough to allow adjacent conductive members  140  to be staggered, as shown in FIG. 3, and wide enough to support the die  120  in position when the body  112  is formed around the die. Furthermore, if the intermediate portions  144  are too narrow, the conductive members  140  may tend to curl or otherwise bend away from the die  120 , making it difficult to attach the conductive members to the die, and making it difficult to attach the conductive couplers  150  to the conductive members. Accordingly, the intermediate portions  144  may be wide enough in one embodiment to keep the conductive member  140  substantially flat against the upper surface  122  of the die  120 . 
     The terminal portion  143  of each conductive member  140  is connected to a corresponding package terminal  130 , as shown in FIG.  3 . The package terminals  130  may comprise pins in one embodiment and may comprise other types of terminals or connectors in other embodiments. In one embodiment, the bonding portion  142 , intermediate portion  144 , and terminal portion  143  are formed integrally with each other and with the corresponding package terminal  130 , as will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIG.  5 . 
     One advantage of the conductive members  140  shown in FIG. 3 is that they may be spaced more closely together than conventional leadfingers. Accordingly, an increased number of conductive members  140  may be positioned on the upper surface  122  of the die  120 , as may be seen by comparing the die package  110  shown in FIG. 3 with the conventional die package  10  shown in FIG.  2 . The die package  110  shown in FIG. 3 has sixteen conductive members  140 , while the conventional die package  10  shown in FIG. 2 has only fourteen leadfingers  40  positioned on a die  20  having the same dimensions as the die shown in FIG.  3 . The die package  110  may have a greater or lesser number of conductive members  140  in alternate embodiments. The increased number of conductive members  140  may provide the connections necessary to transmit signals to and/or from an increased number of die terminals  121 . 
     A further advantage of the conductive members  140  is that the relatively narrow intermediate portions  144  thereof reduce the overall size, and therefore capacitance, of each conductive member when compared with a conventional leadfinger. The conductive members  140  may accordingly transmit signals to and/or from the die terminal  121  at a faster rate than the conventional leadfingers  40  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the die package  110  has an increased number of die terminals  121 , conductive members  140 , and package terminals  130  when compared to the conventional die package  10  shown in FIG.  2 . In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the die package  110   a  may have the same number and spacing of package terminals  130  as the conventional die package  10 , so as to be compatible with devices configured to be coupled to the conventional die package. The die package  110   a  may have an increased number of conductive members  140  and die terminals  121 , as discussed above with reference to FIG. 3, so long as the additional conductive members  140  are coupled to existing package terminals  130 . Accordingly, two pairs of conductive members  140   a  and  140   b  are each connected to existing package terminals  130   a.  The die package  110   a  accordingly has twelve package terminals, as does the conventional die package  10  shown in FIG.  2 . The die package  110   a  has sixteen conductive members  140  and die terminals  121 , as compared with the conventional die package  10  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which has only fourteen leadfingers  40  and bond pads  21 . 
     An advantage of the die package  110   a  shown in FIG. 4 is that it may include a die  120  having an increased number of die terminals  121  while the die package itself has the same number of package terminals  130  as a conventional package. The increased number of die terminals  121  may increase the performance of the die, as discussed above with reference to FIG.  3 . Furthermore, because the die package  110   a  has the same number of package terminals  130  as a conventional die package, it may be easily coupled to the same devices as is a conventional die package. 
     FIG. 5 is a partially broken top plan view of a die package  110   b  housing a reduced size die  120   a  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The die  120   a  has the same number of die terminals  121  as does the conventional die  20  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The die terminals  121 , however, are more closely spaced than are the bond pads  20  shown in FIG.  2 . Accordingly, the overall size of the die  120   a  may be reduced when compared to the overall size of the die  20  shown in FIG.  2 . As shown in FIG. 5, the conductive members  140  are staggered so as to remain proximate to the corresponding die terminals  121 . As a result, the overall size of the die package  110   b  may be reduced when compared to the die package  10  shown in FIG.  2 . This configuration is advantageous where it is desirable to reduce the size of the die  120   a  and/or the package  112  housing the die, as is the case in any number of myriad of microelectronic applications. 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a lead frame  141  formed during manufacture of the die package  110   a  discussed above with reference to FIG. 4. A similar lead frame may be formed during manufacture of the die packages  110 ,  110   b  discussed above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6. The lead frame  141  comprises conductive members  140  substantially identical to those shown in FIG. 4, except that the conductive members each include an elongated portion  146  extending outwardly away from the terminal portions  143  thereof. The elongated portions  146  are connected with connective portions  147  so that each conductive member  140  has a fixed location relative to the other conductive members. In one embodiment, the lead frame  141  may be etched from a sheet of metallic material, such as a nickel/iron alloy, a copper alloy or another suitable conductive material. In another embodiment, the lead frame  141  may be stamped from a metallic sheet. Other manufacturing methods may be used in further embodiments. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the die package  110   a  may be formed by attaching the lead frame  141  to the die  120  and then encapsulating the die and a portion of the lead frame in the body  112 , the edges  113  of which are shown in phantom lines in FIG.  6 . In one embodiment, the lead frame  141  may be attached to the die by adhesively bonding the conductive members  140  to the upper surface  122  of the die  120  such that the bonding portions  142  of the conductive members are adjacent the corresponding die terminals  141 . The conductive couplings  150  (FIG. 4) may be connected between the die terminals  121  and the bonding portions  142  without substantial risk that the die will move relative to the conductive members  140  and potentially disrupt the coupling established therebetween. The lead frame  141  may then be clamped between two halves of a mold (not shown), the inner edges of which correspond to the outer edges  113  of the body  112 . The mold may be filled with a liquid or flowable non-conductive encapsulating material which is then allowed to harden, forming the body  112 . The body  112 , die  120 , and lead frame  141  may be removed as a unit from the mold and elongated portions  146  are trimmed along trim lines  148  to remove excess material. The residual tab portions  149  may be bent perpendicular to the body  112  to form the package terminals or pins  130  shown in FIGS. 3-5. 
     An advantage of the lead frame  141  shown in FIG. 6 is that it has a greater number of conductive members  140  than does a conventional lead frame. Accordingly, the lead frame  141  may provide additional support for the die  120  as it is encapsulated in the body  112 , reducing the likelihood that the die may move relative to the lead frame and disturb the electrical connections formed therebetween. 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a die package  110   c  having conductive members  140  which extend up to but not over the die  120   b.  The die  120   b  has die terminals  121  spaced around the periphery thereof, proximate to the bonding portions  142  of the conductive members  140  and are bonded to the bonding portions with conductive couplings  150 , substantially as discussed above with reference to FIG.  3 . The conductive members  140  are sized and shaped similarly to the conductive members shown in FIG. 3, so as to create a staggered pattern of bonding portions  142 . During manufacture, the conductive members  140  may be interconnected with connective portions, substantially as discussed previously with reference to FIG.  6 . In addition, the connective portions may be connected to paddle fingers  161  which are in turn connected to a support paddle  160 . The support paddle  160  is positioned beneath the die  120   b  and has the same general plan-form shape as the die. The support paddle  160  and the paddle fingers  161  support the die relative to the conductive members  140  when the conductive members are coupled to the die terminals  121  with the conductive couplings  150 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the conductive members  140  may be advantageously staggered to increase the number of conductive members which may be bonded to the die  120   b.  As discussed previously with respect to FIG. 3, the die  120   b  may accordingly have more die terminals  121  than a die housed in a conventional die package. The additional conductive members  140  may be coupled to a conventional number of package terminals  130 , in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 4, or to an increased number of package terminals in a manner similar to that shown in FIG.  3 . In another embodiment, the number of conductive members  140  and package terminals  130  may be the same as a conventional die package, but the die  120   b  and/or the die package  110   b  may have a reduced size when compared to their conventional counterparts, in a manner similar to that discussed above with reference to FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of a die package  110   d  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention having conductive members  140  and conductive couplers  150  sized to have a desired capacitance and/or impedance. As discussed above with reference to FIG. 3, the conductive couplers  150  may be formed from thin wire, having a generally circular cross-sectional shape and a relatively small surface area. The capacitance between pairs of conductive couplers  150  and/or between one conductive coupler and ground is accordingly relatively low and the conductive couplers may not significantly reduce the rate at which signals propagate between the die terminals  121  and the package terminals  130 . The conductive members  140  may comprise portions of thin sheets having a relatively large surface area and the capacitance between pairs of conductive members  140  and/or between one conductive member and ground may be relatively high. On the other hand, the conductive members  140  may be stronger and more rigid than the conductive couplers  150 . The conductive members  140  may accordingly form a more stable connection between the die terminals  121  and the package terminals  130 , and may be less likely to break during manufacture and may be less likely to flex to such a degree as to contact adjacent conductive members. 
     In one embodiment, the relative lengths of the conductive couplers  150  and conductive members  140  are chosen to maintain a relatively low total capacitance while at the same time maintaining a relatively high level of stability. In another embodiment, other dimensions of the conductive couplers  150  and conductive members  140 , including the widths and thicknesses thereof, may be selected to reduce the capacitance between the die terminals  121  and package terminals  130  while maintaining a stable connection therebetween which adequately supports the die  120  as the die package  110   d  is manufactured. 
     The conductive couplers  150  discussed above may have a relatively higher inductance than the conductive members  140 . Accordingly, in one embodiment, where it is desirable to reduce the overall inductance between the die terminals  121  and the package terminals  130 , the length of the conductive member  140  may be increased and the length of the conductive coupler  150  may be decreased. Conversely, where the circuit design is relatively independent of inductance, the conductive couplers  150  may be as long as possible and the conductive members  140  may be as short as possible to reduce overall capacitance. In one aspect of this embodiment, the conductive members may be long enough to adequately support the die  120  as the die package  110   d  is manufactured. 
     In still a further alternate embodiment, the conductive couplers  150  and conductive members  140  may be configured so that the impedance measured at each package terminal  130  is approximately equal even though the impedance measured at each die terminal  121  may be different. Accordingly, a die terminal  121   a  having a relatively low impedance may be coupled via a relatively high impedance path to the corresponding package terminal  130   a.  The high impedance path may include a short conductive coupler  150   a  having a relatively low impedance coupled to a relatively long conductive member  140   c  having a relatively high impedance. A die terminal  121   c  having a relatively high impedance may be coupled via a relatively low impedance path to its corresponding package terminal  130   c.  The low impedance path may include a long conductive coupler  150   c  coupled to a short conductive member  140   c.  The respective impedances of the conductive members  140  and conductive couplers  150  may be selected based on the size and/or material composition of the conductive members and couplers, as discussed above. 
     In yet a further alternate embodiment, the capacitances rather than the inductances measured at different package terminals  130  may be adjusted to be approximately equal by adjusting the size and/or shape of the conductive members  140  and conductive couplers  150  which extend between the package terminals  130  and the corresponding die terminals  121 . 
     One advantage of matching the impedance and/or capacitance of the package terminals  130 , as discussed above, is that the die  120  may have improved operational characteristics as a result. By equating or approximately equating the impedance and/or capacitance measured at each package terminal  130 , signals propagated to and from the die  120  may tend to arrive and depart in a more synchronous fashion, increasing the likelihood that the signals will be properly synchronized with each other and with other signals generated by other devices to which the die may be connected. 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the top surface of a substrate  126  having staggered conductive members  140  thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate  126  may comprise a printed circuit board and may comprise another semiconductor substrate in other embodiments. A semiconductor die  120   c  having die terminals  121   b  aligned with the conductive members  140  is shown positioned above the substrate  126  in FIG.  9 . In one embodiment, the die terminals  121   b  comprise solder balls which may be engaged with the bonding portions  142  of the corresponding conductive members  140 . The terminal portions of the conductive members  140 , not shown for purposes of clarity, may be coupled to other semiconductor dies or other components. In other embodiments, the die terminals  121   b  may comprise other materials which may be heated so as to bond them to the corresponding conductive couplers  140 . In still further embodiments, the die terminals  121   b  may comprise other materials which may be adhesively or otherwise bonded to the corresponding conductive members  140 . 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the conductive members  140  are staggered in a manner similar to that discussed previously with reference to FIGS. 3-8. Accordingly, an advantage of the conductive members  140  shown in FIG. 9 is that a greater number of die terminals  121   b  may be positioned within a given surface area of the die  120   c.    
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the top surface of a portion of a substrate  126 , such as a printed circuit board, having enlarged staggered conductive members  140   d  positioned thereon. As discussed above with reference to FIG. 9, a semiconductor die  120   d  having die terminals  121   b  may be aligned with the substrate  126  such that the die terminals  121   b  engage the bonding portions  142   a  of the corresponding conductive members  140   d  when the die  120   d  is placed face down on the substrate. As shown in FIG. 10, the bonding portions  142   a  of the conductive members  140   d  are enlarged compared with the bonding portions  142  of the conductive members  140  shown in FIG.  9 . Accordingly, the enlarged bonding portions  142   a  shown in FIG. 10 may provide a greater bonding area and accordingly a greater bond strength between the conductive members  140  and the corresponding die terminals  121   b.  Another advantage of the enlarged bonding portions  142   a  is that they may still align with the corresponding die terminal  121   b  even if the die  120   d  itself is slightly misaligned relative to the substrate  126 . Accordingly, the enlarged bonding portions  142  provide a margin for error in the alignment process. As shown in FIG. 10, the staggered arrangement of the conductive members  140   d  allows enlarged bonding portions  142  to be positioned in the same area which would otherwise be occupied by conventionally sized bonding portions. 
     FIG. 11 is a top isometric view of a semiconductor die  220  attached to a substrate  226  having staggered conductive members  240  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The substrate  226  may include a printed circuit board having several layers  227  (shown as  227   a,    227   b,  and  227   c ) formed from organic epoxy-glass resin based materials, such as bis-maleimidie-triazine, or from a polyimide, a ceramic material, or another suitable material. The uppermost layer  227   a  may include an attachment surface  228  to which the semiconductor die  220  is attached, and the lowermost layer  227   c  may include a contact surface  229  opposite the attachment surface  228 . A plurality of vias  252  may extend from the attachment surface  228  through the layers  227  to corresponding contacts  230  on the contact surface  229 . For purposes of clarity, only one connection between a via  252  and a contact  230  is shown in FIG.  11 . In one embodiment, the contacts  230  may be flush-mounted on the contact surface  229 , and in other embodiments, the contacts  230  may include solder balls, such as are shown in FIG. 10, or other types of connectors. The contacts  230  may be coupled to other devices (not shown) to link the substrate  226  and the semiconductor die  220  to the other devices. 
     The conductive members  240  may be positioned on the attachment surface  228  proximate to the semiconductor die  220 . The conductive members  240  may be coupled to the vias  252  with traces  251 , and may be coupled to corresponding die terminals  221  on the semiconductor die  220  with conductive couplers  250  to transmit signals between the semiconductor die and the contacts  230 . The conductive couplers  250  may comprise gold wire or other suitable conductive materials, as discussed above with reference to FIG.  3 . As discussed above with respect to FIG. 8, the capacitance of the conductive couplers  250 , the traces  251 , and the conductive members  240  may be selected to produce a desired impedance and/or capacitance at the die terminals  221 . 
     As shown in FIG. 11, adjacent conductive members  240  may be staggered or offset relative to one another and relative an edge  222  of the semiconductor die  220 . The conductive members  240  may have a generally square shape in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, and may have other shapes in other embodiments. In one embodiment, the conductive members  240  may be etched into the attachment surface  228 , and in other embodiments the conductive members may be bonded to the attachment surface. In any of the foregoing embodiments, an advantage of the substrate  226  and the conductive members  240  shown in FIG. 11 is that an increased number of conductive members  240  may be positioned adjacent the semiconductor die  220 , permitting an increased number of connections between the semiconductor die and the substrate  226 . 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic of a computer  160  having a data input device  161  and a data output device  162 . The data input and output devices  161  and  162  are coupled to circuitry  163  within the computer  160  that may include, but is not limited to, a processor  165 , a memory  166  and a chipset  164 . In one embodiment, the processor  165  includes a die package  110  that is generally similar to the die package shown in FIG.  3 . In other embodiments, the chipset  164  and/or the memory  166  and/or other circuitry components (not shown) may include a die package  110 . In still further embodiments, the circuitry  163  may include die packages generally similar to any of the die packages shown in FIGS. 4-11. 
     From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.