Patent ID: 7038312

Claim:
A ball grid array (BGA) package, comprising: a substrate that has an electrically insulating layer and a plurality of electrically conductive features formed on a first surface of said insulating layer and an array of contact pads formed on a second surface of said insulating layer; a substantially planar stiffener that has a first surface and a second surface, wherein said second surface of said planar stiffener is attached to said first surface of said insulating layer; a plurality of solder balls attached to said contact pads of said insulating layer; a ring shaped stiffener defined by opposing first and second surfaces, wherein said ring shaped stiffener has a central opening that is open at said first and said second surfaces of said ring shaped stiffener, wherein said ring shaped stiffener is attached to said first surface of said substantially planar stiffener to surround a central region of said first surface of said substantially planar stiffener; and an integrated circuit (IC) die mounted in said central region of said first surface of said substantially planar stiffener, wherein said ring shaped stiffener has an outer surface between said first and said second surfaces of said ring shaped stiffener that is flush with an outer profile of said planar stiffener, wherein a thermal path is formed between said IC die and said ring shaped stiffener via said substantially planar stiffener, whereby heat is conducted over said thermal path from said IC die to said ring shaped stiffener during operation of said integrated circuit die.