Patent ID: 7750483

Claim:
A semiconductor chip assembly, comprising: a semiconductor chip that includes first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface of the chip includes a conductive pad; a conductive trace that includes a routing line, a metal pillar and a plated contact terminal, wherein the metal pillar is metallurgically welded to and only to the routing line and consists of a ball bond and an elongated stem; the ball bond is welded to the routing line; the stem extends from the ball bond, is spaced from the routing line and includes a distal end that faces away from the ball bond; and the plated contact terminal is plated on and only on the distal end; a connection joint that electrically connects the routing line and the pad; and an encapsulant that includes first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface of encapsulant faces in a first direction; the second surface of the encapsulant faces in a second direction opposite the first direction; the chip and the metal pillar are embedded in the encapsulant; the chip, the metal pillar and the encapsulant extend vertically beyond the routing line in the first direction; the routing line extends laterally beyond the metal pillar towards the chip and extends vertically beyond the chip and the metal pillar in the second direction; the metal pillar is disposed outside a periphery of the chip and extends vertically across most or all of a thickness of the chip between the first and second surfaces of the chip; the stem extends vertically beyond the ball bond in the first direction and extends vertically farther than the ball bond; the distal end is laterally aligned with the first surface of the encapsulant and disposed within a periphery of the plated contact terminal; and the plated contact terminal extends vertically beyond the chip, the metal pillar and the encapsulant in the first direction, has a dome-like shape with an apex that faces in the first direction and has a diameter that is at least twice as large as a diameter of the distal end.