Patent Abstract:
The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve board surface area. In a two-high CSP stack or module devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of CSPs is stacked, with one CSP above the other. The two CSPs are connected with a pair of flexible circuit structures. Each of the pair of flexible circuit structures is partially wrapped about a respective opposite lateral edge of the lower CSP of the module. The flex circuit pair connects the upper and lower CSPs and provides a thermal and electrical connection path between the module and an application environment such as a printed wiring board (PWB). The present invention may be employed to advantage in numerous configurations and combinations of CSPs in modules provided for high-density memories or high capacity computing.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to aggregating integrated circuits and, in particular, to stacking integrated circuits in chip-scale packages. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of techniques are used to stack packaged integrated circuits. Some methods require special packages, while other techniques stack conventional packages. In some stacks, the leads of the packaged integrated circuits are used to create a stack, while in other systems, added structures such as rails provide all or part of the interconnection between packages. In still other techniques, flexible conductors with certain characteristics are used to selectively interconnect packaged integrated circuits. 
     The predominant package configuration employed during the past decade has encapsulated an integrated circuit (IC) in a plastic surround typically having a rectangular configuration. The enveloped integrated circuit is connected to the application environment through leads emergent from the edge periphery of the plastic encapsulation. Such “leaded packages” have been the constituent elements most commonly employed by techniques for stacking packaged integrated circuits. 
     Leaded packages play an important role in electronics, but efforts to miniaturize electronic components and assemblies have driven development of technologies that preserve circuit board surface area. Because leaded packages a have leads emergent from peripheral sides of the package, leaded packages occupy more than a minimal amount of circuit board surface area. Consequently, alternatives to leaded packages have recently gained market share. 
     One family of alternative packages is identified generally by the term “chip scale packaging” or CSP. CSP refers generally to packages that provide connection to an integrated circuit through a set of contacts (often embodied as “bumps” or “balls”) arrayed across a major surface of the package. Instead of leads emergent from a peripheral side of the package, contacts are placed on a major surface and typically emerge from the planar bottom surface of the package. 
     The goal of CSP is to occupy as little area as possible and, preferably, approximately the area of the encapsulated IC. Therefore, CSP leads or contacts do not typically extend beyond the outline perimeter of the package. The absence of “leads” on package sides renders most stacking techniques devised for leaded packages inapplicable for CSP stacking. 
     CSP has enabled reductions in size and weight parameters for many applications. For example, micro ball grid array (μBGA) for flash and SRAM and wirebond on tape or rigid laminate CSPs for SRAM or EEPROM have been employed in a variety of applications. CSP is a broad category including a variety of packages from near chip scale to die-sized packages such as the die sized ball grid array (DSBGA) recently described in proposed JEDEC standard 95-1 for DSBGA. To meet the continuing demands for cost and form factor reduction with increasing memory capacities, CSP technologies that aggregate integrated circuits in CSP technology have recently been developed. For example, Sharp, Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Intel recently undertook support of what are called the S-CSP specifications for flash and SRAM applications. Those S-CSP specifications describe, however, stacking multiple die within a single chip scale package and do not provide a technology for stacking chip scale packages. Stacking integrated circuits within a single package requires specialized technology that includes reformulation of package internals and significant expense with possible supply chain vulnerabilities. 
     There are several known techniques for stacking packages articulated in chip scale technology. The assignee of the present invention has developed previous systems for aggregating μBGA packages in space saving topologies. The assignee of the present invention has systems for stacking BGA packages on a DIMM in a RAMBUS environment. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,654 B1 owned by the assignee of the present invention, a system for stacking ball grid array packages that employs lead carriers to extend connectable points out from the packages is described. Other known techniques add structures to a stack of BGA-packaged ICs. Still others aggregate CSPs on a DIMM with angular placement of the packages. Such techniques provide alternatives, but require topologies of added cost and complexity. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,895 B1 to Forthun (the “Forthun patent”) purports to disclose a technique for stacking chip scale packaged ICs. The Forthun patent discloses a “package” that exhibits a flex circuit wrapped partially about a CSP. The flex circuit is said to have pad arrays on upper and lower surfaces of the flex. 
     The flex circuit of the Forthun “package” has a pad array on its upper surface and a pad array centrally located upon its lower surface. On the lower surface of the flex there are third and fourth arrays on opposite sides from the central lower surface pad array. To create the package of Forthun, a CSP contacts the pad array located on the upper surface of the flex circuit. As described in the Forthun patent, the contacts on the lower surface of the CSP are pushed through “slits” in the upper surface pads and advanced through the flex to protrude from the pads of the lower surface array and, therefore, the bottom surface of the package. Thus, the contacts of the CSP serve as the contacts for the package. The sides of the flex are partially wrapped about the CSP to adjacently place the third and fourth pad arrays above the upper major surface of the CSP to create from the combination of the third and fourth pad arrays, a fifth pad array for connection to another such package. Thus, as described in the Forthun disclosure, a stacked module of CSPs created with the described packages will exhibit a flex circuit wrapped about each CSP in the module. 
     The previous known methods for stacking CSPs apparently have various deficiencies including complex structural arrangements and thermal or high frequency performance issues. Typically, the reliability of chip scale packaging is closely scrutinized. During such reliability evaluations, CSP devices often exhibit temperature cycle performance issues. CSPs are generally directly mounted on a PWB or other platform offset from the PWB by only the height of the ball or bump array emergent from the lower surface of the CSP. Consequently, stresses arising from temperature gradients over time are concentrated in the short lever arm of a low-height ball array. The issues associated with temp cycle performance in single CSPs will likely arise in those prior art CSP stacking solutions where the stack is offset from the PWB or application platform by only the height of the lower CSP ball grid array. 
     Thermal performance is also a characteristic of importance in CSP stacks. To increase dissipation of heat generated by constituent CSPs, the thermal gradient between the lower CSP and upper CSP in a CSP stack or module should be minimized. Prior art solutions to CSP stacking do not, however, address thermal gradient minimization in disclosed constructions. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a technique and system for stacking integrated circuits packaged in chip scale technology packaging that provides a thermally efficient, reliable structure that performs well at higher frequencies but does not add excessive height to the stack yet allows production at reasonable cost with readily understood and managed materials and methods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention stacks chip scale-packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) into modules that conserve PWB or other board surface area. The present invention can be used to advantage with CSP packages of a variety of sizes and configurations ranging from typical BGAs with footprints somewhat larger than the contained die to smaller packages such as, for example, die-sized packages such as DSBGA. Although the present invention is applied most frequently to chip scale packages that contain one die, it may be employed with chip scale packages that include more than one integrated circuit die. 
     In a two-high CSP stack or module devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two CSPs are stacked, with one CSP disposed above the other. The two CSPs are connected with a pair of flex circuits. Each of the pair of flex circuits is partially wrapped about a respective opposite lateral edge of the lower CSP of the module. The flex circuit pair connects the upper and lower CSPs and provides a thermal and electrical path connection path between the module and an application environment such as a printed wiring board (PWB). 
     The present invention may be employed to advantage in numerous configurations and combinations of CSPs in modules provided for high-density memories or high capacity computing. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of module  10  devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation view of module  10  devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 depicts, in enlarged view, the area marked “A” in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of an exemplar connection in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged depiction of an exemplar area around a lower flex contact in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 depicts a first outer surface layer of a flex circuit employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a first outer surface layer of a flex circuit employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 depicts a first conductive layer of a flex circuit employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a first conductive layer of a flex circuit employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 depicts an intermediate layer of a flex circuit employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 depicts an intermediate layer of a right side flex circuit employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 depicts a second conductive layer of a flex circuit of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 depicts a second conductive layer of a flex circuit of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 depicts a second outer layer of a flex circuit employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 reflects a second outer layer of a flex circuit employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 depicts an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17 illustrates a JEDEC pinout for DDR-II FBGA packages. 
     FIG. 18 illustrates the pinout of a module  10  in an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 illustrates the pinout of a module  10  in an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 20 depicts the pinout of an exemplar CSP employed in a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 21 depicts a second conductive layer of a flex circuit employed in an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 22 depicts a second conductive layer of a flex circuit employed in an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of module  10  devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Module  10  is comprised of upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14 . Each of CSPs  12  and  14  have an upper surface  16  and a lower surface  18  and opposite lateral sides  20  and  22 . 
     The invention is used with CSP packages of a variety of types and configurations such as, for example, those that are die-sized, as well those that are near chip-scale as well as the variety of ball grid array packages known in the art. Collectively, these will be known herein as chip scale packaged integrated circuits (CSPs) and preferred embodiments will be described in terms of CSPs, but the particular configurations used in the explanatory figures are not, however, to be construed as limiting. For example, the elevation views of FIGS. 1 and 2 are depicted with CSPs of a particular profile known to those in the art, but it should be understood that the figures are exemplary only. Later figures show embodiments of the invention that employ CSPs of other configurations as an example of one other of the many alternative CSP configurations with which the invention may be employed. The invention may be employed to advantage in the wide range of CSP configurations available in the art where an array of connective elements is emergent from at least one major surface. The invention is advantageously employed with CSPs that contain memory circuits but may be employed to advantage with logic and computing circuits where added capacity without commensurate PWB or other board surface area consumption is desired. 
     Typical CSPs, such as, for example, ball-grid-array (“BGA”), micro-ballgrid array (“μBGA”), and fine-pitch ball grid array (“FBGA”) packages have an array of connective contacts embodied, for example, as leads, bumps, solder balls, or balls that extend from lower surface  18  of a plastic casing in any of several patterns and pitches. An external portion of the connective contacts is often finished with a ball of solder. Shown in FIG. 1 are CSP contacts  24  along lower surfaces  18  of CSPs  12  and  14 . CSP contacts  24  provide connection to the integrated circuit within the respective packages. Collectively, CSP contacts  24  comprise CSP array  26  shown as to lower CSP  14  in the depicted particular package configuration as CSP arrays  26   1  and  26   2  which collectively comprise CSP array  26 . 
     In FIG. 1, flex circuits (“flex”, “flex circuits” or “flexible circuit structures”)  30  and  32  are shown partially wrapped about lower CSP  14  with flex  30  partially wrapped over lateral side  20  of lower CSP  14  and flex  32  partially wrapped about lateral side  22  of lower CSP  14 . Lateral sides  20  and  22  may be in the character of sides or may, if the CSP is especially thin, be in the character of an edge. Any flexible or conformable substrate with a multiple internal layer connectivity capability may be used as a flex circuit in the invention. The entire flex circuit may be flexible or, as those of skill in the art will recognize, a PCB structure made flexible in certain areas to allow conformability around lower CSP  14  and rigid in other areas for planarity along CSP surfaces may be employed as an alternative flex circuit in the present invention. For example, structures known as rigid-flex may be employed. 
     Portions of flex circuits  30  and  32  are fixed to upper surface  16  of lower CSP  14  by adhesive  34  which is shown as a tape adhesive, but may be a liquid adhesive or may be placed in discrete locations across the package. Preferably, adhesive  34  is thermally conductive. Adhesives that include a flux are used to advantage in assembly of module  10 . Layer  34  may also be a thermally conductive medium to encourage heat flow between the CSPs of module  10 . 
     Flex circuits  30  and  32  are multi-layer flexible circuit structures that have at least two conductive layers. Preferably, the conductive layers are metal such as alloy 110. The use of plural conductive layers provides advantages as will be seen and the creation of a distributed capacitance across module  10  intended to reduce noise or bounce effects that can, particularly at higher frequencies, degrade signal integrity, as those of skill in the art will recognize. Module  10  of FIG. 1 has module contacts  36  collectively identified as module array  38 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a module  10  devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 illustrates use of a conformal media  40  provided in a preferred embodiment to assist in creating conformality of structural areas of module  10 . Planarity of the module is improved by conformal media  40 . Preferably, conformal media  40  is thermally conductive. In alternative embodiments, thermal spreaders or a thermal medium may be placed as shown by reference  41 . Identified in FIG. 2 are upper flex contacts  42  and lower flex contacts  44  that are at one of the conductive layers of flex circuits  30  and  32 . Upper flex contacts  42  and lower flex contacts  44  are conductive material and, preferably, are solid metal. Lower flex contacts  44  are collectively lower flex contact array  46 . Upper flex contacts  42  are collectively upper flex contact array  48 . Only some of upper flex contacts  42  and lower flex contacts  44  are identified in FIG. 2 to preserve clarity of the view. It should be understood that each of flex circuits  30  and  32  have both upper flex contacts  42  and lower flex contacts  44 . Lower flex contacts  44  are employed with lower CSP  14  and upper flex contacts  42  are employed with upper CSP  12 . FIG. 2 has an area marked “A” that is subsequently shown in enlarged depiction in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts in enlarged view, the area marked “A” in FIG.  2 . FIG. 3 illustrates the connection between example CSP contact  24  and module contact  36  through lower flex contact  44  to illustrate the solid metal path from lower CSP  14  to module contact  36  and, therefore, to an application PWB to which module is connectable. As those of skill in the art will understand, heat transference from module  10  is thereby encouraged. 
     With continuing reference to FIG. 3, CSP contact  24  and module contact  36  together offset module  10  from an application platform such as a PWB. The combined heights of CSP contact  24  and module contact  36  provide a moment arm longer than the height of a single CSP contact  24  alone. This provides a longer moment arm through which temperature-gradient-over-time stresses (such as typified by temp cycle), can be distributed. 
     Flex  30  is shown in FIG. 3 to be comprised of multiple layers. Flex  30  has a first outer surface  50  and a second outer surface  52 . Flex circuit  30  has at least two conductive layers interior to first and second outer surfaces  50  and  52 . There may be more than two conductive layers in flex  30  and flex  32 . In the depicted preferred embodiment, first conductive layer  54  and second conductive layer  58  are interior to first and second outer surfaces  50  and  52 . Intermediate layer  56  lies between first conductive layer  54  and second conductive layer  58 . There may be more than one intermediate layer, but one intermediate layer of polyimide is preferred. 
     As depicted in FIG.  3  and seen in more detail in later figures, lower flex contact  44  is preferably comprised from metal at the level of second conductive layer  58  interior to second outer surface  52 . Lower flex contact  44  is solid metal in a preferred embodiment and is comprised of metal alloy such as alloy  110 . This results in a solid metal pathway from lower CSP  14  to an application board thereby providing a significant thermal pathway for dissipation of heat generated in module  10 . 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of an exemplar connection between example CSP contact  24  and example module contact  36  through lower flex contact  44  to illustrate the solid metal path from lower CSP  14  to module contact  36  and, therefore, to an application PWB to which module  10  is connectable. As shown in FIG. 4, lower flex contact  44  is at second conductive layer  58  that is interior to first and second outer surface layers  50  and  52  respectively, of flex circuit  30 . 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged depiction of an exemplar area around a lower flex contact  44  in a preferred embodiment. Windows  60  and  62  are opened in first and second outer surface layers  50  and  52  respectively, to provide access to particular lower flex contacts  44  residing at the level of second conductive layer  58  in the flex. The upper flex contacts  42  are contacted by CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12 . Lower flex contacts  44  and upper flex contacts  42  are particular areas of conductive material (preferably metal such as alloy 110) at the level of second conductive layer  58  in the flex. Upper flex contacts  42  and lower flex contacts  44  are demarked in second conductive layer  58  and, as will be shown in subsequent Figs., may be connected to or isolated from the conductive plane of second conductive layer  58 . Demarking a lower flex contact  44  from second conductive layer  58  is represented in FIG. 5 by demarcation gap  63  shown at second conductive layer  58 . Where an upper or lower flex contact  42  or  44  is not completely isolated from second conductive layer  58 , demarcation gaps do not extend completely around the flex contact as shown, for example, by lower flex contacts  44 C in later FIG.  12 . CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14  pass through a window  60  opened through first outer surface layer  50 , first conductive layer  54 , and intermediate layer  56 , to contact an appropriate lower flex contact  44 . Window  62  is opened through second outer surface layer  52  through which module contacts  36  pass to contact the appropriate lower flex contact  44 . 
     Respective ones of CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14  are connected at the second conductive layer  58  level in flex circuits  30  and  32  to interconnect appropriate signal and voltage contacts of the two CSPs. Respective CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14  that convey ground (VSS) signals are connected at the first conductive layer  54  level in flex circuits  30  and  32  by vias that pass through intermediate layer  56  to connect the levels as will subsequently be described in further detail. Thereby, CSPs  12  and  14  are connected. Consequently, when flex circuits  30  and  32  are in place about lower CSP  14 , respective CSP contacts  24  of each of upper and lower CSPs  12  and  14  are in contact with upper and lower flex contacts  42  and  44 , respectively. Selected ones of upper flex contacts  42  and lower flex contacts  44  are connected. Consequently, by being in contact with lower flex contacts  44 , module contacts  36  are in contact with both upper and lower CSPs  12  and  14 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, module contacts  36  pass through windows  62  opened in second outer layer  52  to contact lower CSP contacts  44 . In some embodiments, as will be later shown, module  10  will exhibit a module contact array  38  that has a greater number of contacts than do the constituent CSPs of module  10 . In such embodiments, some of module contacts  36  may contact lower flex contacts  44  that do not contact one of the CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14  but are connected to CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12 . This allows module  10  to express a wider datapath than that expressed by the constituent CSPs  12  or  14 . A module contact  36  may also be in contact with a lower flex contact  44  to provide a location through which different levels of CSPs in the module may be enabled when no unused CSP contacts are available or convenient for that purpose. 
     In a preferred embodiment, first conductive layer  54  is employed as a ground plane, while second conductive layer  58  provides the functions of being a signal conduction layer and a voltage conduction layer. Those of skill will note that roles of the first and second conductive layers may be reversed with attendant changes in windowing and use of commensurate interconnections. 
     As those of skill will recognize, interconnection of respective voltage CSP contacts  24  of upper and lower CSPs  12  and  14  will provide a thermal path between upper and lower CSPs to assist in moderation of thermal gradients through module  10 . Such flattening of the thermal gradient curve across module  10  is further encouraged by connection of common ground CSP contacts  24  of upper and lower CSPs  12  and  14  through first conductive layer  54 . Those of skill will notice that between first and second conductive layers  54  and  58  there is at least one intermediate layer  56  that, in a preferred embodiment, is a polyimide. Placement of such an intermediate layer between ground-conductive first conductive layer  54  and signal/voltage conductive second conductive layer  58  provides, in the combination, a distributed capacitance that assists in mitigation of ground bounce phenomena to improve high frequency performance of module  10 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, FIG. 6 depicts first outer surface layer  50  of flex  30  (i.e., left side of FIG.  1 ). The view is from above the flex looking down into flex  30  from the perspective of first conductive layer  54 . Throughout the Figs., the location reference “B” is to orient views of layers of flex  30  to those of flex  32  as well as across layers. Windows  60  are opened through first outer surface layer  50 , first conductive layer  54 , and intermediate layer  56 . CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14  pass through windows  60  of first outer surface layer  50 , first conductive layer  54 , and intermediate layer  56  to reach the level of second conductive layer  58  of flex  30 . At second conductive layer  58 , selected CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14  make contact with selected lower flex contacts  44 . Lower flex contacts  44  provide several types of connection in a preferred embodiment as will be explained with reference to later FIG.  12 . When module  10  is assembled, a portion of flex  30  will be wrapped about lateral side  20  of lower CSP  14  to place edge  62  above upper surface  16  of lower CSP  14 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, FIG. 7 depicts first outer surface layer  50  of flex  32  (i.e., right side of FIG.  1 ). The view is from above the flex looking down into flex  32  from the perspective of first conductive layer  54 . The location reference “B” relatively orients the views of FIGS. 6 and 7. The views of FIGS. 6 and 7 may be understood together with the reference marks “B” of each view being placed nearer each other than to any other corner of the other view of the pair of views of the same layer. As shown in FIG. 7, windows  60  are opened through first outer surface layer  50 , first conductive layer  54  and intermediate layer  56 . CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14  pass through windows  60  of first outer surface layer  50 , first conductive layer  54 , and intermediate layer  56  to reach the level of second conductive layer  58  of flex  30 . At second conductive layer  58 , selected CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14  make contact with lower flex contacts  44 . Lower flex contacts  44  provide several types of connection in a preferred embodiment as will be explained with reference to later FIG.  12 . When module  10  is assembled, a portion of flex  32  will be wrapped about lateral side  22  of lower CSP  14  to place edge  64  above upper surface  16  of lower CSP  14 . 
     FIG. 8 depicts first conductive layer  54  of flex  30 . Windows  60  continue the opened orifice in flex  30  through which CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14  pass to reach second conductive layer  58  and, therefore, selected lower flex contacts  44  at the level of second conductive layer  58 . 
     Those of skill will recognize that as flex  30  is partially wrapped about lateral side  20  of lower CSP  14 , first conductive layer  54  becomes, on the part of flex  30  disposed above upper surface  16  of lower CSP  14 , the lower-most conductive layer of flex  30  from the perspective of upper CSP  12 . In the depicted embodiment, those CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12  that provide ground (VSS) connections are connected to the first conductive layer  54 . First conductive layer  54  lies beneath, however, second conductive layer  58  in that part of flex  30  that is wrapped above lower CSP  14 . Consequently, some means must be provided for connection of the upper flex contact  42  to which ground-conveying CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12  are connected and first conductive layer  54 . Consequently, in the depicted preferred embodiment, those upper flex contacts  42  that are in contact with ground-conveying CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12  have vias that route through intermediate layer  56  to reach first conductive layer  54 . The sites where those vias meet first conductive layer  54  are identified in FIG. 8 as vias  66 . These vias may be “on-pad” or coincident with the flex contact  42  to which they are connected. Those of skill will note a match between the vias  66  identified in FIG.  8  and vias  66  identified in the later view of second conductive layer  58  of the depicted preferred embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, vias  66  in coincident locations from Fig. to Fig. are one via. For clarity of the view, depicted vias in the figures are shown larger in diameter than in manufactured embodiments. As those of skill will recognize, the connection between conductive layers provided by vias (on or off pad) may be provided any of several well-known techniques such as plated holes or solid lines or wires and need not literally be vias. 
     Also shown in FIG. 8 are off-pad vias  74 . Off-pad vias  74  are disposed on first conductive layer  54  at locations near, but not coincident with selected ones of windows  60 . Unlike vias  66  that connect selected ones of upper flex contacts  42  to first conductive layer  54 , off-pad vias  74  connect selected ones of lower flex contacts  44  to first conductive layer  54 . In the vicinity of upper flex contacts  42 , second conductive layer  58  is between the CSP connected to module  10  by the upper flex contacts  42  (i.e., upper CSP  12 ) and first conductive layer  54 . Consequently, vias between ground-conveying upper flex contacts  42  and first conductive layer  54  may be directly attached to the selected upper flex contacts  42  through which ground signals are conveyed. In contrast, in the vicinity of lower flex contacts  44 , first conductive layer  54  is between the CSP connected to module  10  by the lower flex contacts  44  (i.e., lower CSP  14 ) and second conductive layer  58 . Consequently, vias between ground-conveying lower flex contacts  44  and first conductive layer  54  are offset from the selected lower flex contacts  44  by off-pad vias  74  shown in offset locations. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates first conductive layer  54  of flex  32 . The location reference marks “B” are employed to relatively orient FIGS. 8 and 9. Windows  60 , vias  66  and off-pad vias  74  are identified in FIG.  9 . Also shown in FIG. 9, are enable vias  68  and  70  and enable trace  72 . Enable via  70  is connected off-pad to a selected lower flex contact  44  that corresponds, in this preferred embodiment, to an unused CSP contact  24  of lower CSP  14  (i.e., a N/C). A module contact  36  at that site conveys an enable signal (C/S) for upper CSP  12  through the selected lower flex contact  44  (which is at the level of second conductive layer  58 ) to off-pad enable via  70  that conveys the enable signal to first conductive layer  54  and thereby to enable trace  72 . Enable trace  72  further conveys the enable signal to enable via  68  which extends through intermediate layer  56  to selected upper flex contact  42  at the level of second conductive layer  58  where contact is made with the C/S pin of upper CSP  12 . Thus, upper and lower CSPs  12  and  14  may be independently enabled. 
     FIG. 10 depicts intermediate layer  56  of flex  30 . Windows  60  are shown opened in intermediate surface  56 . CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14  pass through windows  60  in intermediate layer  58  to reach lower flex contacts  44  at the level of second conductive layer  58 . Those of skill will notice that, in the depicted preferred embodiment, windows  60  narrow in diameter from their manifestation in first outer layer  50 . Vias  66 , off-pad vias  74 , and enable vias  68  and  70  pass through intermediate layer  56  connecting selected conductive areas at the level of first and second conductive layers  54  and  58 , respectively. FIG. 11 depicts intermediate layer  56  of flex  32  showing windows  60 , vias  66 , off-pad vias  74 , and enable vias  68  and  70  passing through intermediate layer  56 . 
     FIG. 12 depicts second conductive layer  58  of flex  30  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Depicted are various types of upper flex contacts  42 , various types of lower flex contacts  44 , signal traces  76 , and VDD plane  78  as well as previously described vias  66  and off-pad vias  74 . Throughout FIGS. 12 and 13, only exemplars of particular features are identified to preserve clarity of the view. Flex contacts  44 A are connected to corresponding selected upper flex contacts  42 A with signal traces  76 . To enhance the clarity of the view, only exemplar individual flex contacts  44 A and  42 A are literally identified in FIG.  12 . As shown, in this preferred embodiment, signal traces  76  exhibit path routes determined to provide substantially equal signal lengths between corresponding flex contacts  42 A and  44 A. As shown, traces  76  are separated from the larger surface area of second conductive layer  58  that is identified as VDD plane  78 . VDD plane  78  may be in one or more delineated sections but, preferably is one section. Lower flex contacts  44 C provide connection to VDD plane  78 . In a preferred embodiment, upper flex contacts  42 C and lower flex contacts  44 C connect upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14 , respectively, to VDD plane  78 . Lower flex contacts  44  that are connected to first conductive layer  54  by off-pad vias  74  are identified as lower flex contacts  44 B. To enhance the clarity of the view, only exemplar individual lower flex contacts  44 B are literally identified in FIG.  12 . Upper flex contacts  42  that are connected to first conductive layer  54  by vias  66  are identified as upper flex contacts  42 B. 
     FIG. 13 depicts second conductive layer  58  of right side flex  32  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Depicted are various types of upper flex contacts  42 , various types of lower flex contacts  44 , signal traces  76 , and VDD plane  78  as well as previously described vias  66 , off-pad vias  74 , and enable vias  70  and  68 . FIG. 13 illustrates upper flex contacts  42 A connected by traces  76  to lower flex contacts  44 A. VDD plane  78  provides a voltage plane at the level of second conductive layer  58 . Lower flex contacts  44 C and upper flex contacts  42 C connect lower CSP  14  and upper CSP  12 , respectively, to VDD plane  78 . Lower flex contact  44 D is shown with enable via  70  described earlier. Corresponding upper flex contact  42 D is connected to lower flex contact  44 D through enable vias  70  and  68  that are connected to each other through earlier described enable trace  72  at the first conductive layer  54  level of flex  32 . 
     FIG. 14 depicts second outer layer  52  of flex  30 . Windows  62  are identified. Those of skill will recognize that module contacts  36  pass through windows  62  to contact appropriate lower flex contacts  44 . When flex  30  is partially wrapped about lateral side  20  of lower CSP  14 , a portion of second outer layer  52  becomes the upper-most layer of flex  30  from the perspective of upper CSP  12 . CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12  pass through windows  64  to reach second conductive layer  58  and make contact with appropriate ones of upper flex contacts  42  located at that level. FIG. 15 reflects second outer layer  52  of flex  32  and exhibits windows  64  and  62 . Module contacts  36  pass through windows  62  to contact appropriate lower flex contacts  44 . CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12  pass through windows  64  to reach second conductive layer  58  and make contact with appropriate ones of upper flex contacts  42  located at that level. 
     FIG. 16 depicts an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention showing module  10 . Those of skill will recognize that the embodiment depicted in FIG. 16 differs from that in FIG. 2 by the presence of module contacts  36 E. Module contacts  36 E supply a part of the datapath of module  10  and may provide a facility for differential enablement of the constituent CSPs. A module contact  36 E not employed in wide datapath provision may provide a contact point to supply an enable signal to differentially enable upper CSP  12  or lower CSP  14 . 
     In a wide datapath module  10 , the data paths of the constituent upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14  are combined to provide a module  10  that expresses a module datapath that is twice the width of the datapaths of the constituent CSPs in a two-high module  10 . The preferred method of combination is concatenation, but other combinations may be employed to combine the datapaths of CSPs  12  and  14  on the array of module contacts  36  and  36 E. 
     As an example, FIGS. 17,  18 , and  19  are provided to illustrate using added module contacts  36 E in alternative embodiments of the present invention to provide wider datapaths for module  10  than are present in constituent CSPs  12  and  14 . FIG. 17 illustrates a JEDEC pinout for DDR-II FBGA packages. FIG. 18 illustrates the pinout provided by module contacts  36  and  36 E of a module  10  expressing an 8-bit wide datapath. Module  10  is devised in accordance with the present invention and is, in the exemplar embodiment, comprised of an upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14  that are DDR-II-compliant in timing, but each of which are only 4 bits wide in datapath. As will be recognized, the module  10  mapped in FIG. 18 expresses an 8-bit wide datapath. For example, FIG. 18 depicts DQ pins differentiated in source between upper CSP  12  (“top”) and lower CSP  14  (“bot”) to aggregate to 8-bits. FIG. 19 illustrates the pinout provided by module contacts  36  and  36 E of module  10  expressing a 16-bit wide datapath. Module  10  is devised in accordance with the present invention and is, in this exemplar embodiment, comprised of an upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14  that are DDR-II-compliant in timing, but each of which are only 8-bits wide in datapath. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the wide datapath embodiment may be employed with any of a variety of CSPs available in the field and such CSPs need not be DDR compliant. 
     FIG. 20 illustrates a typical pinout of a memory circuit provided as a CSP and useable in the present invention. Individual array positions are identified by the JEDEC convention of numbered columns and alphabetic rows. The central area (e.g., A 3 -A 6 ; B 3 -B 6 ; etc.) is unpopulated. CSP contacts  24  are present at the locations that are identified by alpha-numeric identifiers such as, for example, A 3 , shown as an example CSP contact  24 . FIG. 21 depicts second metal layer  58  of flex  30  in an alternative embodiment of the invention in which module  10  expresses a datapath wider than that expressed by either of the the constituent CSPs  12  and  14 . Lower flex contacts  44 E are not contacted by CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14 , but are contacted by module contacts  36 E to provide, with selected module contacts  36 , a datapath for module  10  that is 2n-bits in width where the datapaths of CSPs  12  and  14  have a width of n-bits. As shown in FIG. 21, lower flex contacts  44 E are connected to upper flex contacts  42 E. As shown in earlier FIG. 14, windows  62  pass through second outer layer  52 . In the alternative preferred embodiment for which second conductive layer  58  is shown in FIG. 21, module contacts  36  and  36 E pass through windows  62  in second outer layer  52  of flex circuit  30 , to contact appropriate lower flex contacts  44 . 
     FIG. 22 illustrates second metal layer  58  of flex  32  in an alternative embodiment of the invention in which module  10  expresses a datapath wider than that expressed by either of the the constituent CSPs  12  and  14 . Lower flex contacts  44 E are not contacted by CSP contacts  24  of lower CSP  14 , but are contacted by module contacts  36 E to provide, with selected module contacts  36 , a datapath for module  10  that is 2n-bits in width where the datapaths of CSPs  12  and  14  have a width of n-bits. As shown in FIG. 22, lower flex contacts  44 E are connected to upper flex contacts  42 E. As shown in earlier FIG. 14, windows  62  pass through second outer layer  52 . In the alternative preferred embodiment for which second conductive layer  58  is shown in FIG. 22, module contacts  36  pass through windows  62  in second outer layer  52  of flex circuit  32 , to contact appropriate lower flex contacts  44 . 
     In particular, in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 21 and 22, module contacts  36 E contact flex contacts  44 E and  44 EE. Those of skill will recognize that lower flex contacts  44 E are, in the depicted embodiment, eight (8) in number and that there is another lower flex contacts identified by reference  44 EE shown on FIG.  21 . Lower flex contact  44 EE is contacted by one of the module contacts  36 E to provide differential enablement between upper and lower CSPs. Those of skill will recognize that lower flex contacts  44 E are connected to corresponding upper flex contacts  42 E. CSP contacts  24  of upper CSP  12  that convey data are in contact with upper flex contacts  42 E. Consequently, the datapaths of both upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14  are combined to provide a wide datapath on module  10 . With the depicted connections of FIGS. 21 and 22, lower flex contacts  44 E of flex circuits  30  and  32  convey to module contacts  36 E, the datapath of upper CSP  12 , while other lower flex contacts  44  convey the datapath of lower CSP  14  to module contacts  36  to provide module  10  with a module datapath that is the combination of the datapath of upper CSP  12  and lower CSP  14 . In the depicted particular embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22, module  10  expresses a 16-bit datapath and CSP  12  and CSP  14  each express an 8-bit datapath. 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in a variety of specific forms and that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The described embodiments are only illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7