Patent ID: 7223638

Claim:
A method of constructing a microelectronic assembly, comprising: placing a thermally conductive member adjacent a microelectronic die with a thermal interface material between the microelectronic die and a wetting layer formed on a surface of the thermally conductive member, the surface of the thermally conductive member including a first opening, wherein in a cross-sectional side view of the microelectronic assembly, the thermally conductive member does not include the first opening, and in a cross-sectional view that is diagonal to the cross-sectional side view of the microelectronic assembly, the thermally conductive member includes the first opening; heating the thermal interface material to cause reflow thereof, a first portion of the thermal interface material being directed by the wetting layer to an area outside the microelectronic die, wherein the area outside the microelectronic die is the first opening ; and allowing the thermal interface material to cool and solidify.