Abstract:
A chip package module is disclosed, which comprises a core plate and two rigid plates individually having a circuit layer. The core plate is sandwiched in between the two rigid plates to form a composite circuit board. Furthermore, the two rigid plates individually have a cavity to expose the surface of the core plate. In addition, the cavities individually have at least one chip disposed therein, and each chip electrically connects to the composite circuit board. The present invention reduces the height of the package module and makes the package module lighter and smaller.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a chip package module, more particularly, to a chip package module that exhibits rigidity and flexibility. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In the development of electronics, the design trend of electronic devices is towards multifunction and high-performance. Thus, high-density integration and miniaturization are necessary for a semiconductor package structure. On the reason aforementioned, the double layer circuit boards are being replaced by the multilayer circuit boards. The area of circuit layout on the circuit board is increased within a restricted space by interlayer connection to meet with the requirement of high-density integration. 
         [0005]    In the conventional semiconductor device structure, a semiconductor chip is attached on top of a substrate and then processed in wire bonding. On the other hand, in the advanced semiconductor device structure, a chip is connected to a substrate through bumps by a flip chip package. Therefore high contact pins are provided, but the performance of electronic devices cannot be enhanced and is in fact restricted, owing to the over-long path of circuits and then high impedance for high frequency operation. 
         [0006]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a conventional semiconductor package module  10  comprises a substrate  11 , a first chip  12 , and a second chip  13 . Herein, one side surface of the substrate  11  has a plurality of solder balls  14  formed thereon to electrically connect to an outer electronic device. The first chip  12  has an active surface and an inactive surface. The inactive surface of the first chip  12  is mounted on the substrate  11  through an epoxy resin  15 , and the active surface of the first chip  12  has a plurality of electrode pads  121  thereon. The electrode pads  121  electrically connect to the substrate by metal wires  16 . In addition, the second chip  13  is stacked above the first chip  12 , and electrically connects to the first chip  12  by a plurality of solder bumps  17 . There is a first molding material  18  covering the second chip  13 . Furthermore, a second molding material  19  is formed above the surface having the first chip  12  and the second chip  13  to cover the first chip  12 . 
         [0007]    However, in the aforementioned semiconductor package module, the number of the stacked chips is restricted since the chips are stacked on the substrate. In addition, there are not enough contact pads on the substrate for electrical connecting to additional electronic devices to enhance electrical performance. Furthermore, the semiconductor package module cannot meet with the requirements of high-density integration and miniaturization, owing to the increased height. Thereby, it is an important issue to provide a chip package module that can overcome the difficulties in reducing the height of the package module and enhancing the electrical performance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In order to obviate the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a chip package module, comprising: a core plate, a first rigid plate, a second rigid plate, a first chip, and a second chip. Herein, the surface of the core plate has a core circuit layer. The first rigid plate is disposed on one side surface of the core plate and has at least one first circuit layer therein to electrically connect to the core circuit layer of the core plate. The surface of the first rigid plate has a plurality of first conductive pads, and the first rigid plate has a first cavity to expose one side surface of the core plate. The second rigid plate is disposed on another surface of the core plate. The second rigid plate has a second circuit layer electrically connecting to the core circuit layer of the core plate and a plurality of second conductive pads thereon. The second rigid plate further has a second cavity corresponding to the first cavity to expose another side surface of the core plate. The second rigid plate, the first rigid plate and the core plate are combined as a composite circuit board. The first chip is embedded and fixed in the first cavity of the first rigid plate and electrically connects to the composite circuit board. In addition, the second chip is embedded and fixed in the second cavity of the second rigid plate and electrically connects to the composite circuit board. 
         [0009]    In the chip package module of the present invention, the materials of the first and second conductive pads are independently selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, Ni/Au, Ni/Pd/Au and the combination thereof. Preferably, the materials of the first and second conductive pads are Cu. 
         [0010]    The chip package module of the present invention further comprises a molding material to encapsulate the first and second chips. Preferably, the material of the molding material is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin and a siloxane resin. 
         [0011]    The aforementioned first chip can electrically connect to the first conductive pads of the first rigid plate of the composite circuit board by bonding wires, and is fixed on the surface of the core plate exposed by the first cavity through an adhesive material. As aforementioned, the second chip can electrically connect to the second conductive pads of the second rigid plate of the composite circuit board by bonding wires, and is fixed on the surface of the core board exposed by the second cavity through an adhesive material. Herein, the material of the adhesive material can be selected from the group consisting of a resin and a film tape. 
         [0012]    In the aforementioned chip package module of the present invention, the surface of the core plate exposed by the first cavity or that exposed by the second cavity can have a plurality of third conductive pads formed thereon. The material of the aforementioned third conductive pads can be selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, Ni/Au, Ni/Pd/Au and the combination thereof. Preferably, the material of the third conductive pads is Cu. 
         [0013]    In the chip package module of the present invention, the first chip embedded and fixed in the first cavity or the second chip embedded and fixed in the second cavity can electrically connect to the aforementioned third conductive pads by solder bumps. 
         [0014]    In the chip package module of the present invention, the first cavity of the first rigid plate can further have a third chip disposed therein. The third chip electrically connects to the first conductive pads of the first rigid plate of the composite circuit board by bonding wires and is attached to the first chip by a connection layer. The first chip electrically connects to the third conductive pads of the core plate of the composite circuit board by solder bumps. As aforementioned, the second cavity of the second rigid plate also can further have a third chip disposed therein. The third chip electrically connects to the second conductive pads of the second rigid plate of the composite circuit board by bonding wires and is attached to the second chip by a connection layer. The second chip electrically connects to the third conductive pads of the core plate of the composite circuit board by solder bumps. Herein, the material of the aforementioned connection layer can be selected from the group consisting of a resin and a film tape. 
         [0015]    In the chip package module of the present invention, the composite circuit board can electrically connect to an outer electronic device by the first conductive pads of the first rigid plate or the second conductive pads of the second rigid plate. Herein, the outer electronic device electrically connecting to the first conductive pads can be a circuit board, and the outer electronic device electrically connecting to the second conductive pads can be selected from the group consisting of a flip-chip package, a ball grid array package, and a chip package module. 
         [0016]    Accordingly, the present invention can overcome the difficulties in reducing the height of the package module and enhancing the electrical performance. 
         [0017]    Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a cross-section view of a conventional semiconductor package module; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of a chip package module of a preferred embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3 to 7  are a cross-section views of chip package modules of other preferred embodiments; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of a chip package module connecting to outer electronic devices of another preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiment 1 
       [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a cross-section view of a chip package module in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a core plate  20  is provided, and the core plate  20  is a flexible circuit board that exhibits suitable mechanical strength and thereby can carry the chips in the following process. There are a core circuit layer  21  formed on the two side surfaces of the core plate  20  and plated through holes  22  formed in the core plate  20  by machine-drilling and then electroplating. The plated through holes  22  have an insulating material  221  therein. The plated through holes  22  in the core plate  20  can electrically connect the core circuit layer  21  on the two side surfaces of the core plate  20 . In addition, the two side surfaces of the core plate  20  are laminated with a cover layer  23   a ,  23   b  to protect the core plate  20 . Herein, the material of the cover layer  23   a ,  23   b  is a photosensitive dielectric material. The material of the core circuit layer  21  can be selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, Ni/Au, Ni/Pd/Au and the combination thereof. In the present invention, the material of the core circuit layer  21  is Cu. 
         [0023]    Then, a first rigid plate  30  having a first cavity  301  and a second rigid plate  40  having a second cavity  401  are provided. In the present embodiment, the first and second rigid plates are rigid circuit boards. Herein, a first cavity  301  can be formed in the first rigid plate  30  by mill cutting first, and then the first rigid plate  30  is disposed on one side surface of the core plate  20 . The first rigid plate  30  has a first circuit layer  31  therein, and the first circuit layer  31  of the first rigid plate  30  can be double-layered or multi-layered. In addition, a second cavity  401  can be formed in the second rigid plate  40  by mill cutting first, and then the second rigid plate  40  is disposed on another side surface of the core plate  20 . The second rigid plate  40  has a second circuit layer  41  therein, and the second circuit layer  41  of the second rigid plate  40  can be double-layered or multi-layered. Herein, the materials of the first and second circuit layers can be independently selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, Ni/Au, Ni/Pd/Au and the combination thereof. In the present embodiment, the materials of the first and second circuit layers are Cu. 
         [0024]    The aforementioned first rigid plate  30  is laminated on one surface of the core plate  20  by an adhesive layer  32 . The material of the adhesive layer  32  is prepreg. Similarly, the second rigid plate  40  is also laminated on another surface of the core plate  20  by an adhesive layer  42 . The material of the adhesive layer  42  also can be prepreg. The second cavity  401  corresponds to the first cavity  301 . Accordingly, the first rigid plate  30  and the second rigid plate  40  are laminated on the surfaces of the core plate  20 . Subsequently, through holes  40  extending through the first rigid plate  30 , the core plate  20 , and the second rigid plate  40  are formed by machine-drilling, and then plated through holes  51  are formed by electroplating. The plated through holes  51  have an insulating material  511  therein. The plated through holes  51  can electrically connect the core circuit layer  21  of the core plate  20  with the first circuit layer  31  of the first rigid plate  30  and the second circuit layer  41  of the second rigid plate  40 . Hereafter, a patterned solder mask  33  can be formed on the outer surface of the first rigid plate  30 , and openings  331  can be formed to expose the part surface of the first circuit layer  31  so as to form first conductive pads  311 . A patterned solder mask  43  also can be formed on the outer surface of the second rigid plate  40 , and openings  431  can be formed to expose the part surface of the second circuit layer  41  so as to form second conductive pads  411 . Accordingly, a composite circuit board  50  is accomplished. 
         [0025]    Subsequently, a first chip  60  is embedded and fixed in the first cavity  301  of the first rigid plate  30  of the composite circuit board  50 . The first chip  60  has an active surface and an inactive surface. The inactive surface of the first chip  60  is fixed on the surface of the cover layer  23   a  of the core plate  20  by an adhesive material  24   a , and the active surface of the first chip  60  has a plurality of electrode pads  61  disposed thereon. Herein, the material of the adhesive material  24   a  can be selected from the group consisting of a resin and a film tape. In the present embodiment, the material of the adhesive material  24   a  is a resin. In addition, a second chip  70  is embedded and fixed in the second cavity  401  of the second rigid plate  40 . Similarly, the second chip  70  also has an active surface and an inactive surface. The active surface of the second chip  70  has a plurality of electrode pads  71  disposed thereon, and the inactive surface of the second chip  70  is fixed on the surface of the other cover layer  23   b  of the core plate  20  by an adhesive material  24   b . The material of the adhesive material  24   b  used to fix the second chip  70  can be the same as the material of the adhesive material  24   a  used to fix the first chip  60 . 
         [0026]    Then, the electrode pads  61  on the active surface of the first chip  60  in the composite circuit board  50  can electrically connect to the first conductive pads  311  of the first rigid plate  30  in the composite circuit board  50  by bonding wires  521 . The bonding wires  521  can be gold wires. In the present embodiment, the bonding wires  521  are gold wires. Similarly, the electrode pads  71  on the active surface of the second chip  70  in the composite circuit board  50  also electrically connect to the second conductive pads  411  of the second rigid plate  40  in the composite circuit board  50  by bonding wires  521 . Finally, the chip package module is accomplished. 
         [0027]    In addition, a molding material  53  can be formed above the surface having the first chip  60  to encapsulate the first chip  60  and the bonding wires  521  so as to protect the first chip  60 . Herein, the material of the molding material  53  can be selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin and a siloxane resin. In the present embodiment, the material of the molding material  53  is an epoxy resin. The molding material  53  also can be formed above the surface having the second chip  70  to encapsulate the second chip  70  and the bonding wires  521  so as to protect the second chip  70 . 
         [0028]    Accordingly, the chip package module of the present invention comprises: a core plate  20 , a first rigid plate  30 , a second rigid plate  40 , a first chip  60 , and a second chip  70 . Herein, the surface of the core plate  20  has a core circuit layer  21 . The first rigid plate  30  is disposed on one side surface of the core plate  20  and has at least one first circuit layer  31  therein to electrically connect the core circuit layer  21  of the core plate  20 . The surface of the first rigid plate  30  has a plurality of first conductive pads  311 , and the first rigid plate  30  has a first cavity  301  to expose one side surface of the core plate  20 . The second rigid plate  40  is disposed on another surface of the core plate  20 . The second rigid plate  40  has a second circuit layer  41  electrically connecting to the core circuit layer  21  of the core plate  20  and a plurality of second conductive pads  41  thereon. The second rigid plate  40  further has a second cavity  401  corresponding to the first cavity  301  to expose another side surface of the core plate  20 . The second rigid plate  40 , the first rigid plate  30  and the core plate  20  are combined as a composite circuit board  50 . The first chip  60  is embedded and fixed in the first cavity  301  of the first rigid plate  30  and electrically connects to the composite circuit board  50 . In addition, the second chip  70  is embedded and fixed in the second cavity  401  of the second rigid plate  40  and electrically connects to the composite circuit board  50 . 
       Embodiment 2 
       [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a cross-section view of a chip package module in the present embodiment. The present embodiment is the same as Embodiment 1 (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), except that the cover layer  23   b  disposed on the surface having the second chip  70  placed there above has a plurality of openings  231   b  to expose the surface of the core circuit layer  20  for third conductive pads  211   b . The third conductive pads  211   b  formed on the core plate  20  in the composite circuit board  50  can electrically connect to the electrode pads  71  on the active surface of the second chip  70  by solder bumps. 
       Embodiment 3 
       [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a cross-section view of a chip package module in the present embodiment. The present embodiment is the same as Embodiment 2 (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), except that the cover layer  23   a  disposed on the surface having the first chip  60  placed there above has a plurality of openings  231   a  to expose the surface of the core circuit layer  20  for third conductive pads  211   a . The third conductive pads  211   a  formed on the core plate  20  in the composite circuit board  50  can electrically connect to the electrode pads  61  on the active surface of the first chip  60  by solder bumps. 
       Embodiment 4 
       [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a cross-section view of a chip package module in the present embodiment. The configuration of the second chip  70  disposed in the composite circuit board  50  is the same as that in Embodiment 1 (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and the configuration of the first chip  60  disposed in the composite circuit board  50  is the same as that in Embodiment 3, except that the inactive surface of the first chip  60  has a third chip  80   a  disposed thereon. Similarly, the third chip  80   a  has an active surface and an inactive surface, and the inactive surface of the third chip  80   a  is attached to the first chip  60  by a connection layer  82   a . Herein, the material of the connection layer  82   a  is selected from the group consisting of a resin and a film tape. In the present embodiment, the material of the connection layer  82   a  is a resin. In addition, the electrode pads  81   a  on the active surface of the third chip  80   a  in the present embodiment electrically connect to the first conductive pads  311  of the first rigid plate  30  in the composite circuit board  50  by bonding wires  521 . 
       Embodiment 5 
       [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a cross-section view of a chip package module in the present embodiment. The present embodiment is the same as Embodiment 4 (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), except that the configuration of the second chip  70  disposed in the composite circuit board  50  is the same as that in Embodiment 2. 
       Embodiment 6 
       [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a cross-section view of a chip package module in the present embodiment. The present embodiment is the same as Embodiment 5 (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), except that the second cavity  401  of the second rigid plate  40  also has a third chip  80   b  disposed therein, the active surface of the third chip  80   b  has a plurality of electrode pads  81   b , and the inactive surface of the third chip  80   b  is attached to the second chip  70  by a connection layer  82   b . In addition, the electrode pads  81   b  on the active surface of the third chip  80   b  of the present embodiment electrically connect to the second conductive pads  411  of the second rigid plate  30  in the composite circuit board  50  by bonding wires. 
       Embodiments 7˜12 
       [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a cross-section view of a chip package module connecting to outer electronic devices  90   a  and  90   b . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the chip package module (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) of Embodiment 1 is provided. In Embodiment 7, the first conductive pads  311  on the surface of the first rigid plate  30  in the composite circuit board  50  having the first chip  60  and the second chip  70  electrically connect to the outer electronic device  90   a  by solder balls  91   a . The outer electronic device  90   a  is a circuit board. Similarly, the second conductive pads  411  on the surface of the second rigid plate  40  also electrically connect to the other outer electronic device  90   b  by solder balls  91   b . The outer electronic device  90   b  is selected from the group consisting of a flip-chip package, a ball grid array package, and the chip package modules provided by Embodiments 1˜6. For example, in the present embodiment, the outer electronic device  90   b  is a flip-chip package. Herein, the first rigid plate  30  also can electrically connect to the outer electronic device  90   b  (in the present embodiment, the outer electronic device  90   b  is a flip-chip package) while the second rigid plate  40  can electrically connect to the outer electronic device  90   a  (in the present embodiment, the outer electronic device  90   a  is a circuit board). 
         [0035]    Similarly, in Embodiments 8˜12, the chip package modules provided by Embodiments 2˜6 electrically connect to outer electronic devices, respectively. The configurations of the chip package modules attached to outer electronic devices in Embodiments 8˜12 are the same as that in Embodiment 7 so as to provide the chip package modules connecting to outer electronic devices. 
         [0036]    Accordingly, the present invention can reduce the height of the package module and enhance the electrical performance by the electrical connection to outer electronic devices so as to overcome the difficulties in reducing the height of the package module and enhancing the electrical performance.