Patent Document

FIELD 
       [0001]    Packaging and microelectronic device assembly. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In an effort to improve interconnect speed, decrease power consumption and reduce integrated circuit package form factor, three-dimensional packages with die-to-die stacking has been promoted. 
         [0003]    Die-to-die stacking minimizes the effort to place all technologies on a single die. Instead, multiple dies may be stacked together. Such dies may allow a different fabrication technology optimized for a particular type of circuitry, such as memory, logic, analog and sensors. Wide I/O memory is a recent dynamic random access memory (DRAM) technology that contemplates a memory die stacked on a microprocessor die or vice versa. JEDEC standard JESD229, “Wide I/O Single Data Rate,” December 2011, specifies four 128-bit channels, providing a 512-bit interface to DRAM. An interface between the dice involves, in one embodiment, solder connections. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a microelectronic package. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the microelectronic package of  FIG. 1  through line  2 - 2 ′. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows a top view through line  3 - 3 ′ of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows a top view through line  4 - 4 ′ of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a through-silicon via (TSV) die and a second device connected to the backside of the die. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  shows the structure of  FIG. 5  following the formation of a portion of a package on a device side of the die. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  shows the structure of  FIG. 6  following the introduction of build-up layers on or to a die backside to create contact points for a device or package. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  shows the structure of  FIG. 7  following the attachment of a third device to the structure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a microelectronic package. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of the microelectronic package of  FIG. 9  through line  10 - 10 ′. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional side view of a die having sidewall contacts. 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of a TSV die having sidewall contacts and a second device connected to the backside of the die. 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  shows the structure of  FIG. 12  following the formation of a portion of a package on a device side of the die. 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  shows the structure of  FIG. 13  following the introduction of an embedding material on the structure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  shows the structure of  FIG. 14  following the exposure of contacts through the embedding material. 
           [0019]      FIG. 16  shows the structure of  FIG. 15  following the connection of a third device to the structure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 17  illustrates computing device in accordance with one implementation of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Described herein are embodiments of packages including one or more dice connected to a second die or dice and a third die or dice through, for example, a package or package (POP) arrangement. Bumpless build-up layer (BBUL) technology is one approach to a packaging architecture. Among its advantages, BBUL eliminates the need for assembly, eliminates prior solder ball interconnections (e.g., flip-chip interconnections), reduces stress on low-k interlayer dielectric of dies due to die-to-substrate coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch, and reduces package inductions through elimination of core and flip-chip interconnect for improved input/output (I/O) and power delivery performance. 
         [0022]    Typical of BBUL technology is a die or dies embedded in a substrate, which then has one or more build-up layers formed thereon. Processes such as laser drilling, lithography and plating may be used for via formation to contacts on the die or dice and to form patterned conductive material lines or traces. Alternating layers of patterned conductive material are separated by insulating material typically applied as a film. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional side view of a microelectronic package according to one embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , microelectronic package  100  utilizes bumpless build-up layer (BBUL) technology. Microelectronic package  100  includes carrier  120  having surface  125  and opposing surface  127 . Die  110 , such as a microprocessor die (e.g., a system on chip die) is embedded in carrier  120 . In this manner, die  110  and carrier  120  are in direct physical contact with each other (e.g., there are no solder bumps connecting die  110  to carrier  120 ). Die  110  is directly connected to carrier  120  at its device side (device side down as viewed). Carrier  120  may include multiple build-up layers of conductive material (e.g., patterned conductive lines or traces) separated by dielectric material. The layer(s) of conductive material provide connectivity to the die (power, ground input/output, etc.).  FIG. 1  shows four layers of conductive material (conductive material  140 A, conductive material  140 B, conductive material  140 C and conductive material  140 D) disposed between five layers of dielectric material (dielectric material  130 A, dielectric material  130 B, dielectric material  130 C, dielectric material  130 D and dielectric material  130 E). The various conductive layers are connected to die  110  (e.g., to contact points on a device side of die  110 ) and to one another where desired by conductive vias (conductive vias  145 A, conductive vias  145 B, conductive vias  145 C and conductive vias  145 D). 
         [0024]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , die  110  is a through-silicon via (TSV) die.  FIG. 1  shows die  110  having conductive vias  150  that extend from a device side of the die to the contacts on a backside of the die. In this manner, a second device such as a logic device or memory device may be connected to die  110  through the contacts on the backside of the die. In one embodiment, a portion of the contacts (contacts  155 A) are arranged and configured for connection to (operable to connect to) a memory die in a wide I/O configuration.  FIG. 1  shows second device  160  that is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) die that, in one embodiment, is connected to contacts  155 A on a backside of die  110  in a wide I/O memory configuration. The connection is representatively by way of solder material. 
         [0025]    In addition to the ability to connect a second device such as a memory die to a backside of die  110 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , additional contacts  155 B on a backside of die  110  may be used to connect a third device. As shown in  FIG. 1 , carrier  120  includes contacts  170  on surface  125 . In this embodiment, contacts  170  are connected to contacts  155 B on the backside of die  110  that are connected to a device side of die  110  through TSVs. In this embodiment, carrier  120  includes dielectric material  130 F that embeds die  110  and at least the opposing sides of second device  160  and defines surface  125 . As shown, die  110  has a thickness (a z-height of sidewall portions) denoted as “a” and second device has a thickness (a z-height of sidewall portions) denoted as “b”. Thus, dielectric material  130 F has a thickness “a” plus “b”. In one embodiment, dielectric material  130 F is a material such as ABF applied as a film or films. Conductive through vias  165  are between respective ones of contacts  155 B on a backside of die  110  and contacts  170  on surface  125 . Contacts  170  allow for the connection of a third device such as a memory die or package or several devices (e.g., stacked devices).  FIG. 1  shows third device  180  that is, for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device. In an embodiment where device  180  is encompassed in a package, a package-on-package (POP) configuration is described. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of structure  100  through line  2 - 2 ′ of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  shows contacts  155 A and contacts  155 B on a backside of die  110 . Contacts  155 A and contacts  155 B are connected to through-substrate vias (conductive vias  150 ) to a device side of die  110 .  FIG. 2  shows contacts  155 A aligned and suitable for connection to second device  160  (see  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, contacts  155 A are operable or configured to connect a second device that is a memory device such as a wide I/O memory configuration.  FIG. 2  also shows contacts  155 B disposed around a periphery or perimeter of a backside of die  110 . Contacts  155 B are suitable, in one embodiment, for connecting to a third device or package. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows the structure of  FIG. 1  through line  3 - 3 ′. In this embodiment, second device  160 , such as a DRAM memory die, is connected to die  110  through contacts  155 A on a backside of die  110 .  FIG. 4  shows the structure of  FIG. 1  through line  4 - 4 ′.  FIG. 4  shows third device  180 , such as a memory die or a package connected to die  110  through contacts  170  on a backside of die  110 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5-8  describe an embodiment for forming a microelectronic package, such as microelectronic package  100  ( FIG. 1 ) including one or more devices connected thereto. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  shows a side view of die  210  with contact points  214  on device side  212  of die  210  and contact pads  218  on die backside  217 .  FIG. 5  illustrates through-substrate vias  215  extending from device side  212  to die backside  217 . Die backside  217 , in this embodiment, includes metal routing layer  216  and contact pads  218 . In this embodiment, second device  220 , such as a wide I/O memory die is connected to a portion of the contact pads  218  on a backside representatively by solder material connection. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows the structure of  FIG. 5  following the formation of a portion of a package on device side  212  of die  210 . In one embodiment, the package portion includes four layers of conductive material (e.g., conductive traces) each separated by dielectric material to provide conductivity to die  110  and link die  110  to an external device or structure (e.g., a printed circuit board). A BBUL process may be used to form the conductive material layers.  FIG. 6  shows four conductive layers, lines or traces (conductive material  240 A, conductive material  240 B, conductive material  240 C and conductive material  240 D) built up from a device side (device side  212 ) of die  210 . In one embodiment of a BBUL process, a film of dielectric material such as an ABF is initially introduced on device side  212  of die  210 . Laser vias are then drilled through the dielectric material to contact points or pads  214  of die  210 . The vias are then desmeared and electroless copper is introduced on a surface of the dielectric material. A sacrificial material such as a dry film resist is then introduced and patterned on the electroless copper to define a routing layer or traces (routing layer or traces of conductive material  240 A). The sacrificial material is then stripped followed by a flash etch to remove electroless copper between traces. The above-described sequence is carried out multiple times until all desired build-up layers are completed (e.g., layers of conductive material  240 B, conductive material  240 C and conductive material  240 D are introduced and patterned). Following the last layer of patterned conductive material (conductive material  240 D), a solder resist film may be laminated and then patterned using lithography techniques to define openings for solder material.  FIG. 6  shows the structure including solder material  260  connected to the structure. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows the structure of  FIG. 6  following the introduction of build-up layers on or to a die backside to create contact points for a device or package. In one embodiment, a dielectric material is introduced to embed die  210  (e.g., dielectric material introduced to a thickness of die  210  defined by a height of the sidewall). As shown in  FIG. 7 , film or films  270  of dielectric material (e.g., ABF material) extends onto a backside of die  210  and embed each of the opposing sidewalls of second device  220  (e.g., film  270  has a thickness at least equal to a thickness of second device  220 ). 
         [0032]    Following the introduction of film  270 , laser vias may be drilled into film  270  to form openings to contact points or pads  218  on backside  217  of die  210 . Conductive vias  280  and contact pads  285  may be formed on a surface of film  270  in a manner such as described previously for defining routing traces. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows the structure of  FIG. 7  following the attachment of a third device to the structure.  FIG. 8  shows third device  295  of, for example, a memory die or package (e.g., a package including a DRAM device) connected to contact pads  218  through solder material connection  297 . Third device  295  is connected through conductive vias  280  to contact pads  218  that are connected to TSVs  215  of die  210 . 
         [0034]    In the above-described process, a size (area) of second device  220  is less than a size (area) of die  210 . In this manner, second device  220  is directly connected to contact points or pads on die  210  and third device  295  is connected with contact pads  285  and directly through a dielectric film to contact pads  218  on a backside surface of die  210  without any routing layer therebetween. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a microelectronic package. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , microelectronic package  300  utilizes BBUL technology. Microelectronic package  300  includes carrier  320  having surface  325  and opposing surface  327 . Die  310 , such as a microprocessor die (e.g., a system on chip die) is embedded in carrier  320 . In this manner, die  310  and carrier  320  are in direct physical contact with each other (e.g., there are no solder bumps connecting die  310  to carrier  320 ). Die  310  is directly connected to carrier  320  at its device side (device side down as viewed). Carrier  320 , in this embodiment, includes multiple build-up layers of conductive material (e.g., patterned conductive lines or traces) separated by dielectric material. The layers of conductive material (e.g., conductive material  340 A, conductive material  340 B, conductive material  340 C and conductive material  340 D) are disposed between layers of dielectric material (dielectric material  330 A, dielectric material  330 B, dielectric material  330 C, dielectric material  330 D and dielectric material  330 E). The various conductive layers are connected to die  310  (e.g., to contact points on a device side of die  310 ) and to one another where desired by conductive vias (e.g., conductive vias  345 A, conductive vias  345 B, conductive vias  345 C and conductive vias  345 D). 
         [0036]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , die  310  is a TSV die.  FIG. 9  shows die  310  having conductive vias  350  (illustrated in dashed lines) that extend from a device side of the die to contacts on a backside of the die. In this manner, a second device or devices such as a logic device or memory device may be connected to die  310  through the contacts on the backside of the die. In one embodiment, such contacts are arranged and configured for connection to (operable to connect to) a memory die in a wide I/O configuration.  FIG. 9  shows second device  360  that is, for example, a DRAM die connected to contacts on a backside of die  310  in a wide I/O memory configuration. The connection is representatively by way of solder material. 
         [0037]    In addition to having contacts on a backside of die  310 , die  310  also includes sidewall contacts  352  at or extending from one or more sidewalls of the die. Sidewall contacts  352  allow for connection of an additional device (a third device or devices) through, for example, connections to routed traces from the sidewall contacts. In one embodiment, sidewall contacts  352  are connected to traces from a device side and/or a backside of die  310 .  FIG. 9  shows conductive material  365  of patterned traces connected to respective ones of sidewall contacts  352  and extending laterally (as viewed) from the respective contacts. 
         [0038]    The routing of traces from sidewall connections of die  310  allows an additional device or devices to form part of a microelectronic package, even where second device  360  has the greater size (e.g., occupied the greater area) than die  310 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , traces of conductive material  365  may be routed from respective ones of sidewall contacts  352  to an area of the package outside of an area by second device  360 .  FIG. 10  shows a top view of the structure through line  10 - 10 ′ of  FIG. 9 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , second device  360  has an area greater than an area of die  310  (die  310  shown in dashed lines beneath second device  360 ). Conductive material  365  is routed laterally from sidewall contacts  352  a distance beyond a perimeter of second device  360 . 
         [0039]    Referring again to  FIG. 9 , overlying the disposed conductive material  365  is dielectric material  367  of, for example, an ABF film.  FIG. 9  also shows contacts  370  connected to conductive material  365 . Contacts  370  are, for example, copper contacts formed as described above (e.g., forming an opening in dielectric material  367 , seeding the opening, plating copper material in the opening and on a superior surface of dielectric material  367 , and removing any mask and undesired seeding material). 
         [0040]    Overlying dielectric layer  367  is embedding material  375  of, for example, an epoxy (e.g., CEL-9740HF, commercially available from Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan). Openings are formed through embedding material  375  to contacts  370 .  FIG. 9  shows third device  380  of, for example, a memory die or a package including a memory die connected to contacts  370  through solder material connections. 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional side view of a die having sidewall contacts. Die  410  includes a device side including contacts  415 . Die  410  is a TSV dice and includes through-substrate vias  455  extending from a device side to a backside of the die. Die  410  includes contacts  457  on a backside of the die. The contacts on a backside of each die are connected to through through-silicon vias to a front side of the die. 
         [0042]      FIG. 11  shows sidewall contacts  450 A and contacts  450 B on opposing sidewalls of die  410 . As illustrated, sidewall contact  450 A is connected to a device side of die  410  (a conductive contact point on device side) by trace  461  (e.g., a plated trace).  FIG. 11  shows die  410  having on a right side (as viewed) two rows of sidewall contacts represented by reference numeral  450 B. Sidewall contacts  450 B, in the illustrated embodiment, are respectively connected to conductive contact points on a backside and a device side of die  310  by trace  462  and trace  463 , respectively. The number of rows of sidewall contacts will depend, in one aspect, on the desired number of connections and a thickness of the die. In one embodiment, the forming of sidewall contacts and routing of traces from a device side or a backside of a die may be done at a die fabrication stage (e.g., after a die is singulated) or the packaging stage. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 12-16  describe an embodiment of a process of forming a structure of microelectronic package similar to that of microelectronic package of  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 12  shows die  510  of, for example, a microprocessor (e.g., a system on chip die). Die includes device side  515  including a number of contacts  520 . Die  510  is also a TSV die and includes conductive vias from a device side of the die to a backside. Die  510  further includes sidewall contacts  525  disposed, in this embodiment, on each sidewall portion of the die. Sidewall contacts  525  are formed at the die fabrication stage.  FIG. 12  also shows second device  530  such as a memory die connected to die  510  through contacts on a backside of die  510 . In one embodiment, second device  530  is a memory die and contacts are arranged and configured for a wide I/O configuration. One representative connection method of connecting second device  530  of a memory die to contacts on a backside of die  510  is through solder material connections. 
         [0044]      FIG. 13  shows the structure of  FIG. 12  following the formation of a portion of a package. In one embodiment, the package portion includes four layers of conductive material (e.g., conductive traces on a device side of die  510 ) each separated by dielectric material to provide conductivity to die  510  and link die  510  to an external device or structure (e.g., a printed circuit board). A BBUL process may be used to form the conductive material layers.  FIG. 13  shows four conductive layers, lines or traces (conductive material  540 A, conductive material  540 B, conductive material  540 C and conductive material  540 D) built up from a device side (device side  515 ) of die  510 . In one embodiment of a BBUL process, a film of dielectric material such as an ABF is initially introduced on device side  515  of die  510 . Laser vias are then drilled through the dielectric material to contacts  520  of die  510 . The vias are then desmeared and electroless copper is introduced on a surface of the dielectric material. A sacrificial material such as a dry film resist is then introduced and patterned on the electroless copper to define a routing layer or traces (routing layer or traces of conductive material  540 A). The sacrificial material is then stripped followed by a flash etch to remove electroless copper between traces. The above-described sequence is carried out multiple times until all desired build-up layers are completed (e.g., layers of conductive material  540 B, conductive material  540 C and conductive material  540 D are introduced and patterned).  FIG. 13  shows layers of conductive materials  540 A- 540 B set up respectively between dielectric material  530 A, dielectric material  530 B, dielectric material  530 C and dielectric material  530 D, each of, for example, an ABF film. Dielectric material of, for example, is a solder dielectric film  530 E may be laminated and patterned using lithography techniques to define openings for solder material to, for example, conductive material layer  540 D. 
         [0045]    In addition to the build-up layers on device side of die  510 ,  FIG. 13  also shows conductive material  550  as routed traces from sidewall contacts  525  of die  510 . Initially, a dielectric film of, for example, ABF may be introduced on dielectric material  530 A, the dielectric film having a thickness equivalent to a distance between a sidewall contact and a device side of the die.  FIG. 13  shows dielectric material  535  of, for example, ABF disposed on dielectric material  530 A. Overlying dielectric material  535  is conductive material  550 . Conductive material  550  may be introduced as described above, such as by seeding an area of dielectric material  535  with electroless copper, patterning a masking material to define routing traces from sidewall contacts  525  and electroplating copper to form the traces and finally removing the sacrificial material and any undesired electroless copper. In one embodiment, conductive material  550  is formed to a thickness equivalent to a diameter, d, of sidewall contacts  525 . Overlying conductive material  550  in  FIG. 13  is a dielectric material such as an ABF film. Collectively, dielectric film  555 , conductive material  550  and optional dielectric material  535  encompass or have a thickness at least equivalent to the sidewall thickness of die  510  and, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , to a thickness greater than a sidewall thickness of die  510 . Following the introduction of dielectric material  555 , openings are made through the dielectric material and contacts  558  are formed to conductive material  550  for connection of a third device. The contacts may be formed such as described above. 
         [0046]      FIG. 14  shows the structure of  FIG. 13  following the introduction of an embedding material on the structure. In one embodiment, embedding material  560  is, for example, a dielectric material such as an epoxy or other mold compound that is introduced as a liquid and allowed to solidify (e.g., solidifying in presence of heat). Embedding material  560  has a thickness greater than a thickness of second device  530  and therefore embeds second device  530  (e.g., at least surrounds the sidewall portions and, in the embodiment shown, is disposed on a top surface of second device  530  (as viewed)). 
         [0047]      FIG. 15  shows the structure of  FIG. 14  following the exposure of contacts  558  through embedding material  560 . In one embodiment, contacts  558  may be exposed by a laser drilling process, wherein the process forms openings to contacts  558  using electromagnetic radiation.  FIG. 15  also shows the introduction of solder material  570  on contacts  558 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 16  shows the structure of  FIG. 15  following the connection of third device  580  to the structure. In one embodiment, third device  580  is a package including a memory die (e.g., a DRAM memory die or dice). Third device  580  includes a number of contact points or pads.  FIG. 16  shows solder material  585  introduced on the contact points or pads. Once solder material  585  is introduced, third device  580  is connected to the structure through the connection of solder material  585  to solder material  570  and, for example, a reflow process. 
         [0049]      FIG. 17  illustrates a computing device  600  in accordance with one implementation. The computing device  600  houses board  602 . Board  602  may include a number of components, including but not limited to processor  604  and at least one communication chip  606 . Processor  604  is physically and electrically connected to board  602 . In some implementations at least one communication chip  606  is also physically and electrically connected to board  602 . In further implementations, communication chip  606  is part of processor  604 . 
         [0050]    Depending on its applications, computing device  600  may include other components that may or may not be physically and electrically connected to board  602 . These other components include, but are not limited to, volatile memory (e.g., DRAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM), flash memory, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor, a crypto processor, a chipset, an antenna, a display, a touchscreen display, a touchscreen controller, a battery, an audio codec, a video codec, a power amplifier, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a speaker, a camera, and a mass storage device (such as hard disk drive, compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), and so forth). Representatively, processor  604  is a system on chip and is packaged in a microprocessor package assembly such as described above with a DRAM die connected to a backside of processor  604  in a wide I/O configuration and another memory device (e.g., a DRAM device) also connected to the package. 
         [0051]    Communication chip  606  enables wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from computing device  600 . The term “wireless” and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communications channels, etc., that may communicate data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. The term does not imply that the associated devices do not contain any wires, although in some embodiments they might not. Communication chip  606  may implement any of a number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16 family), IEEE 802.20, long term evolution (LTE), Ev-DO, HSPA+, HSDPA+, HSUPA+, EDGE, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, TDMA, DECT, Bluetooth, derivatives thereof, as well as any other wireless protocols that are designated as 3G, 4G, 5G, and beyond. Computing device  600  may include a plurality of communication chips  606 . For instance, a first communication chip  606  may be dedicated to shorter range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a second communication chip  606  may be dedicated to longer range wireless communications such as GPS, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Ev-DO, and others. 
         [0052]    Communication chip  606  also includes an integrated circuit die packaged within communication chip  606  such as described above. 
         [0053]    In further implementations, another component housed within computing device  600  may contain a microelectronic package including an integrated circuit die such as described above. 
         [0054]    In various implementations, computing device  600  may be a laptop, a netbook, a notebook, an ultrabook, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an ultra mobile PC, a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a server, a printer, a scanner, a monitor, a set-top box, an entertainment control unit, a digital camera, a portable music player, or a digital video recorder. In further implementations, computing device  600  may be any other electronic device that processes data. 
         [0055]    In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. The particular embodiments described are not provided to limit the invention but to illustrate it. The scope of the invention is not to be determined by the specific examples provided above but only by the claims below. In other instances, well-known structures, devices, and operations have been shown in block diagram form or without detail in order to avoid obscuring the understanding of the description. Where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics. 
         [0056]    It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one or more embodiments”, or “different embodiments”, for example, means that a particular feature may be included in the practice of the invention. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the invention.

Technology Category: 5