Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6627481?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6,799,467
Timestamp: 2015-05-05 10:25:31
Document Index: 154068769

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 112', 'arts 112', 'art 112', 'art 112', 'arts 212', 'arts 212', 'arts 312', 'arts 412']

Patent US6627481 - Method of manufacturing a semiconductor package with a lead frame having a ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe present invention relates to a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages and products thereof. The method of manufacturing comprises steps of: (a) providing a lead frame which comprises a die pad, a plurality of connecting parts and a plurality of leads, wherein the die pad is lower than the...http://www.google.com/patents/US6627481?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6627481 - Method of manufacturing a semiconductor package with a lead frame having a support structureAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6627481 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/056,358Publication dateSep 30, 2003Filing dateJan 25, 2002Priority dateNov 9, 2001Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20030092216Publication number056358, 10056358, US 6627481 B2, US 6627481B2, US-B2-6627481, US6627481 B2, US6627481B2InventorsMeng-Tsang Lee, Kuang-Lin LoOriginal AssigneeAdvanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (5), Referenced by (3), Classifications (14), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod of manufacturing a semiconductor package with a lead frame having a support structure
US 6627481 B2Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages and products thereof. The method of manufacturing comprises steps of: (a) providing a lead frame which comprises a die pad, a plurality of connecting parts and a plurality of leads, wherein the die pad is lower than the leads and connects the leads through the connecting parts, and wherein the die pad comprises at least one supporting structure to fix the lead frame substantially; (b) mounting a die onto the die pad and electrically connecting the lead frame and die by bonding wires; (c) providing an upper mold and a lower mold, wherein the upper mold and lower mold are located at an upper side and a lower side of the leads, respectively, wherein the supporting structures of the die pad are allowed to be supported on the lower mold, and the leads are allowed to protrude outwards from a mold cavity formed by the upper and lower molds; (d) setting the lead frame in steps (a) and (b) onto the lower mold in step (c) and making the supporting structures of the die pad to be supported on the lower mold and then combining the upper mold to the lower mold; (e) applying an encapsulant into the mold cavity formed by the upper and lower molds; and (f) removing the upper and lower molds after encapsulating.
What is claimed is: 1. A method according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure protrudes downwards outside the lower mold.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lower mold comprises a concave adapted to the supporting structure.
The present invention relates to methods of manufacturing semiconductor packages, more particularly, to improved lead frames used in semiconductor packages.
To meet the requirement of modem electric products being delicate, designs of semiconductor package are aiming at minimizing volume and thickness. However, such products tend to be multiple functions; thus sizes of semiconductor die to be packaged are enlarged. To make the semiconductor package have minimized volume and large dies is what persons skilled in this field expect.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, or 3, a conventional method of manufacturing semiconductor packages comprises steps of (a) providing a lead frame 11 which comprises a die pad 111, a plurality of connecting parts 112 and a plurality of leads 113, wherein the die pad 111 is lower than the leads 113, and the connecting parts 112 connect the die pad 111 and the leads 113; besides, the lead frame 11 made of copper retains appropriate flexibility; furthermore, inner fingers used in connecting circuits inside the package and/or outer fingers used in connecting circuits outside the package are etched in proper positions of the lead frame; (b) mounting a die 12 onto the die pad 111 and electrically connecting the lead frame 11 and die 12 by bonding wires 13; (c) providing an upper mold 14 and a lower mold 15, wherein the upper mold 14 and lower mold 15 are located at an upper side and a lower side of the leads 113, respectively; the lead frame 11, die 12, and bonding wires 13 are enclosed in a mold cavity formed by the upper and lower molds 14 and 15 thereby, and the leads 113 are allowed to protrude outwards from the mold cavity. After fabricating such a construction, it can be proceeded with (d) applying an encapsulant through a filling hole co-formed by the upper mold 14 and the lower mold 15; and (e) forming an encapsulant 16 after encapsulating and removing the upper and lower molds 14 and 15 to complete the package.
For the purpose of preventing the die pad 111 of the lead frame 11 from exposure out of the encapsulant 16, an appropriate distance between the die pad 111 and the lower mold 15 should be kept. Therefore, the thickness of the semiconductor package cannot be reduced. In addition, when the dies to be packaged are too thick to fit the mold size, such dies should be grinded and cost and process rise as well.
In addition, in the process of applying the encapsulant, the encapsulant will form an upper flow F1 and a lower mold flow F2, respectively, resulting from the separation of the lead frame 11 and the die 12.
Referring to FIG. 1, when the upper and lower mold flows F1 and F2 distribute evenly in the mold cavity formed by the upper mold 14 and lower mold 15, the lead frame 11, die 12 and bonding wires 13 are forced equally, and relative positions thereof with the upper mold 14 and lower mold 15 would not be changed substantially. In this situation, electric elements are successfully enclosed in the mold cavity to achieve the desired package.
However, referring to FIG. 2, in the process of applying the encapsulant, when the lower mold flow F2 is greater than the upper mold flow F1, a lifting force is applied to the flexible lead frame 11, and such a force may change angles of the connecting part 112 between the die pad 111 and leads 113. Extremely, the lifting force may even make the whole die pad 111 convex. The deformation of the lead frame 11 not only changes relative positions between elements but also may make the bonding wires 13 touch the upper mold 14. Thus, such a product becomes defect in view of the exposure of the bonding wires 13 outside the encapsulant 16.
On the other hand, if the upper mold flow F1 is greater than the lower mold flow F2 in the process of applying the encapsulant, as shown in FIG. 3, a pressing force is applied to the flexible lead frame 11, and such a force may also change angles of the connecting part 112 between the die pad 111 and leads 113. Extremely, the pressing force may even make the whole die pad 111 concave. The deformation of the lead frame 11 not only changes relative positions between elements but also may make the die pad 111 touch the lower mold 15. Thus, the exposure of the lead frame 11 outside the encapsulant 16 occurs as well. Furthermore, the bonding wires 13 may be broken because of the deformation of the lead frame 11, and such a product does not fit the requirement of packaging either.
The subject invention is to develop a novel method of manufacturing semiconductor packages to solve the problems of exposures of the bonding wires or lead frame and the semiconductor packages being over thick.
One objective of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages and products thereof. The method of manufacturing comprises steps of: (a) providing a lead frame which comprises a die pad, a plurality of connecting parts and a plurality of leads, wherein the die pad is lower than the leads and connects the leads through the connecting parts, and wherein the die pad comprises at least one supporting structure to fix the lead frame substantially; (b) mounting a die onto the die pad and electrically connecting the lead frame and die by bonding wires; (c) providing an upper mold and a lower mold, wherein the upper mold and lower mold are located at an upper side and a lower side of the leads, respectively, wherein the supporting structures of the die pad are allowed to be supported on the lower mold, and the leads are allowed to protrude outwards from a mold cavity formed by the upper and lower molds; (d) setting the lead frame in steps (a) and (b) onto the lower mold in step (c) and making the supporting structures of the die pad to be supported on the lower mold and then combining the upper mold to the lower mold; (e) applying an encapsulant into the mold cavity formed by the upper and lower molds; and (f) removing the upper and lower molds after encapsulating.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lead frame used in a semiconductor package, which comprises a die pad, a plurality of connecting parts and a plurality of leads, wherein the die pad is lower than the leads and connects the leads through the connecting parts, and wherein the die pad comprises at least one supporting structure to fix the lead frame to the lower mold substantially. The present invention can enlarge ranges of the thickness of a die and avoiding the die from being grinded.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the first conventional mold flow in a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the second conventional mold flow in a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the third conventional mold flow in a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating mold flows of a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages according to the first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating mold flows of a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages according to the second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating mold flows of a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages according to the third embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a lead frame according to the invention.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, a method of manufacturing semiconductor packages in the present invention comprises steps of: (a) providing a lead frame 21 which comprises a die pad 211, a plurality of connecting parts 212 and a plurality of leads 213; wherein the die pad 211 is lower than the leads 213 and connects the leads 213 through the connecting parts 212, and the die pad 213 comprises at least one supporting structure 214, and each of the supporting structure 214 is a protrusion protruding downwards from the die pad 211; (b) mounting a die 22 onto the die pad 211 and electrically connecting the lead frame 21 and die 22 by bonding wires 23; (c) providing an upper mold 24 and a lower mold 25, wherein the upper mold 24 and lower mold 25 are located at an upper side and a lower side of the leads 213, respectively, to enclose the lead frame 21, die 22, and bonding wires 23, and the leads 213 are allowed to protrude outwards from a mold cavity formed by the upper mold 24 and the lower mold 25; (d) mounting the lead frame 21 containing the die 22 and bonding wires 23 onto the lower mold 25 and making the supporting structures 214 of the die pad 211 to be supported on the lower mold 25 and then combining the upper mold 24 to the lower mold 25; (e) applying an encapsulant to the mold cavity co-formed by the upper mold 24 and the lower mold 25 through a filling hole (not shown); and (f) forming an encapsulant 26 and removing the upper mold 24 and lower mold 25 after encapsulating to complete the package.
The present invention is characterized in designs of the supporting structure 214. The lead frame 21 of the present invention is made of flexible conventional materials. In this embodiment, the supporting structures 214 are supported on the lower mold 25 as supporting points, and they make the whole lead frame 21 and the die 22 and bonding wires 23 thereon fix to the lower mold 25 substantially. A distance between the lead frame 21 and the lower mold 25 is reduced, and it further avoids keeping an appropriate distance of the lead frame and lower mold, which is for the purpose of preventing the exposure of the bonding wires and lead frame in the conventional packages. Therefore, when applying the encapsulant, most mold flows are an upper mold flow F1. A downward force applied by the upper mold flow F1 will not move or deform the lead frame 21, because of the fixation of the supporting structures 214 and thus it avoids the bonding wires and lead frame from exposing outside of the molds.
Referring to FIG. 5, the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in the invention, wherein a lead frame 31 comprises a die pad 311, a plurality of connecting parts 312 and a plurality of leads 313. The die pad 311 comprises at least one supporting structure 314. In this embodiment, the supporting structures 314 are a plurality of supporting points protruding downwards outside a lower mold 35 and then fixed thereon. The supporting points in the embodiment are designed to be set on the die pad 311 where are allowed to expose. As the result, such exposures are not exposures triggered by forces of the mold flow in any positions in conventional packages; therefore, the effects of the whole packages would not be affected.
Referring to FIG. 6, the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in the invention, wherein a lead frame 41 comprises a die pad 411, a plurality of connecting parts 412 and a plurality of leads 413. The die pad 413 comprises at least one supporting structure 414. A lower mold 45 comprises a concave adapted to the supporting structure 414. For example, while each supporting structure 414 of the die pad 413 is a protrusion, positions on the lower mold 45 corresponding to the supporting structures 414 of the die pad 413 are identical protrusions as well. Such a design makes the fixation between the lead frame 41 and lower mold 45 stronger.
In the embodiments described above, the packages further comprise a first distance between the die pad and leads and a second distance between the leads and a base of the lower mold; wherein the first distance can be designed slightly larger than the second distance. During the fabrication, the die pad can take advantage of the supporting structures supported on the lower mold resulting from the flexible material to make the support stronger.
In the invention, designs of the supporting structures of the lead frame are not necessary to keep a distance between the lead frame and the lower mold to prevent from exposure. Therefore, as to the same sizes of the packages, the thickness of the die to be packaged in the invention can be enlarged to have superiority in competition. In addition, it avoids the thicker dies to be packaged from being grinded and prevents damages caused by grinding dies in the manufacturing conventional packages.
Shapes of the supporting structures in the methods of manufacturing semiconductor packages, products thereof, and lead frames in the present invention are not limited in what present in the above embodiments. The lead frame, which is supported on the lower mold to avoid movement or deformation in the process of applying an encapsulant, is in the scope of the invention. The lead frame of the invention can be further etched to form inner and outer fingers for electrical connection. The lead frame in the invention can be both applied to manufacturing single or a plurality of packages on one lead frame. While manufacturing a plurality of packages, they may connect each other by the leads to meet the requirement of production on a large scale.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5389739 *Dec 15, 1992Feb 14, 1995Hewlett-Packard CompanyElectronic device packaging assemblyUS5578871 *Oct 18, 1994Nov 26, 1996Fierkens; Richard H. J.Integrated circuit package and method of making the sameUS6303985 *Nov 12, 1998Oct 16, 2001Micron Technology, Inc.Semiconductor lead frame and package with stiffened mounting paddleJP40504797A * Title not availableJP41014485A * Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7635613 *Jun 27, 2005Dec 22, 2009Texas Instruments IncorporatedSemiconductor device having firmly secured heat spreaderUS8134225 *Jun 30, 2008Mar 13, 2012International Business Machines CorporationQuad flat no-lead chip carrier with standoffUS8455988 *Jul 7, 2008Jun 4, 2013Stats Chippac Ltd.Integrated circuit package system with bumped lead and nonbumped lead* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification438/112, 438/123, 438/124, 257/E21.504, 257/E23.037International ClassificationH01L23/495, H01L21/56Cooperative ClassificationH01L24/48, H01L2224/48091, H01L23/49503, H01L21/565, H01L2224/48247European ClassificationH01L23/495A, H01L21/56MLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 30, 2015FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Mar 30, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Mar 30, 2007FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jan 27, 2004CCCertificate of correctionJan 25, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC., TAIWANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEE, MENG-TSANG;LO, KUANG-LIN;REEL/FRAME:012528/0142Effective date: 20020116Owner name: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. NANTZE EXFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEE, MENG-TSANG /AR;REEL/FRAME:012528/0142Owner name: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. NANTZE EXFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEE, MENG-TSANG /AR;REEL/FRAME:012528/0142Effective date: 20020116RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services