PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8488331-B2
Application Number: US-201113106146-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electrical connection interfaces and methods for adjacently positioned circuit components

Abstract:
Electrical components, such as packaged integrated circuit devices that are mountable on a substrate surface, are provided with at least one exposed electrical contact on a side surface of the component that will be substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface when the component is mounted. Two such components can be mounted side-by-side on the substrate surface with the above-mentioned contacts close to one another between the above-mentioned side surfaces. An electrical connection between the contacts can be made (or perfected) by depositing an electrically conductive connector material in contact with both of the contacts between the above-mentioned side surfaces.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical circuit assembly comprising:
 a substrate surface; 
 a first packaged integrated circuit component mounted on the substrate surface and having a first side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface, the first component further having a first exposed electrical contact on the first side surface; 
 a second packaged integrated circuit component mounted on the substrate surface and having a second side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface, the second component further having a second exposed electrical contact on the second side surface, the first and second components being positioned on the substrate surface so that the first and second surfaces face toward one another, and so that the first and second contacts are within 1.0 mm of one another between the first and second surfaces; and 
 an electrically conductive connector material that has been deposited in contact with the first and second contacts between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first side surface is recessed from another portion of that surface to provide a recess at a location of the first contact, wherein the recess does not extend all the way to a bottom surface of the first component. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the substrate surface comprises a surface of a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       3. The assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the connector material comprises:
 solder. 
 
     
     
       4. The assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the connector material comprises:
 epoxy resin. 
 
     
     
       5. The assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the first and second contacts are within 0.5 mm of one another. 
     
     
       6. The assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the first and second contacts are within 0.25 mm of one another. 
     
     
       7. A method of making an electrical circuit assembly comprising:
 providing a substrate surface; 
 providing first and second packaged integrated circuit components having respective first and second side surfaces and respective first and second exposed electrical contacts on the first and second surfaces; 
 mounting the first and second components on the substrate surface so that the first and second surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface and so that the first and second surfaces face toward one another with the first and second contacts no more than 1.0mm from one another between the first and second surfaces; and 
 depositing electrically conductive connector material in contact with the first and second contacts between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first side surface is recessed from another portion of that surface to provide a recess at a location of the first contact, wherein the recess does not extend all the way to a bottom surface of the first component, wherein the depositing comprises:
 introducing the electrically conductive connector material into the recess. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The method defined in  claim 7  wherein the depositing comprises:
 introducing the electrically conductive connector material into contact with the first and second contacts while the material is in a flowable fluid form. 
 
     
     
       9. The method defined in  claim 7  wherein the recess is open to a top surface of the first component, and wherein the introducing comprises:
 flowing the electrically conductive connector material downwardly into the recess past the top surface. 
 
     
     
       10. The method defined in  claim 8  further comprising:
 allowing the electrically conductive connector material to solidify from the flowable fluid form after the electrically conductive connector material is in contact with the first and second contacts. 
 
     
     
       11. An electrical circuit assembly comprising:
 a substrate surface; 
 a first packaged integrated circuit component mounted on the substrate surface and having a first side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface, the first component further having a first plurality of exposed electrical contacts on the first side surface; 
 a second circuit component mounted on the substrate surface and having a second side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface, the second component further having a second plurality of exposed electrical contacts on the second surface, the first and second components being positioned on the substrate surface so that the first and second surfaces face toward one another, and so that the first plurality and the second plurality of contacts are within 1.0 mm of one another between the first and second surfaces; and 
 an electrically conductive connector material that has been deposited in contact with the first plurality and the second plurality of contacts between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first side surface is recessed for an upper portion of the first side surface where the first plurality of contacts is located, wherein the first side surface is not recessed for a bottom portion of the first side surface so that the electrically conductive connector material is prevented from flowing down to a structure below the first component. 
 
     
     
       12. The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein substrate surface comprises a surface of a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       13. The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the second component comprises a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       14. The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the first and second contacts are within 0.5 mm of one another. 
     
     
       15. The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the first and second contacts are within 0.25 mm of one another. 
     
     
       16. An electrical circuit assembly comprising:
 a substrate surface; 
 a first packaged integrated circuit component mounted on the substrate surface and comprising a first side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface, the first component further comprising a first exposed electrical contact on the first side surface; 
 a second packaged integrated circuit component mounted on the substrate surface and comprising a second side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface, the second component further comprising a second exposed electrical contact on the second side surface, the first and second components being positioned on the substrate surface so that the first and second surfaces face toward one another, and so that the first and second contacts are within 1.0 mm of one another between the first and second surfaces; and 
 an electrically conductive connector material that has been deposited in contact with the first and second contacts between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first contact is mated to the second contact by recessing the first side surface at the location of the first contact to fit the raised protuberance on the second side surface at the location of the second contact. 
 
     
     
       17. The assembly defined in  claim 16  wherein substrate surface comprises a surface of a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       18. The assembly defined in  claim 16  wherein the second component comprises a printed circuit board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser No. 12/006,618, filed Jan. 3, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,957,153, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to electronic circuitry, and more particularly to making electrical connections between adjacent electronic components in an assembly of such components. 
     Many electronic systems require multiple electronic components, such as packaged integrated circuit devices, to be placed close together for such purposes as overall system compactness, electrical interconnections of the shortest possible length for increased signaling speed and reduced signal attenuation, etc. It is known to place such components on a printed circuit board (“PCB”), whereby input and/or output (“IO”) pins of the components can be interconnected via printed circuit traces on the PCB. Package-on-package (“POP”) assembly of such components is also known in which, for example, a packaged integrated circuit with IO or exposed electrical contacts on its lower surface is mounted on top of another such component having IO pins or exposed electrical contacts on its upper surface. The lower surface contacts on the first-mentioned component and the upper surface contacts on the second-mentioned component are vertically aligned with one another and electrically connect to one another, either directly or via some conductive medium such as solder, anisotropic conductive film (“ACF”), or the like. 
     Further improvements to techniques for interconnecting electronic components in systems are needed for reasons such as the following. Component size is becoming smaller, but the number of required interconnections is becoming larger. This places constraints on how many IO contacts a component can have if contacts are confined to the traditional locations (e.g., the bottom of a component for mounting on a PCB, and/or the top and bottom of a component that will be mounted on a PCB with another component mounted on top via POP). More ways to get signals into and/or out of a component and to and/or from adjacent components are therefore needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, a first electronic circuit component (such as a packaged integrated circuit) is provided with at least one exposed electrical contact along a side surface of the component. A second component is similarly provided with an exposed electrical contact along a side surface of the second component. The first and second components are mountable on a substrate such as a PCB so that their sides having the exposed electrical contacts are closely adjacent to and facing one another, and so that the exposed electrical contacts on those sides are also closely adjacent to one another. An electrically conductive material such as solder, an electrically conductive epoxy, or the like is then deposited between the above-mentioned surfaces and in contact with the contacts to electrically connect them. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages, will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified perspective or isometric view of an illustrative electronic circuit component in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified elevational view of a component like that shown in  FIG. 1  mounted on the surface of a substrate. 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified elevational view like  FIG. 2  showing two components like the one shown in  FIG. 1  mounted on the substrate surface in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but shows the  FIG. 3  structure after further processing in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is again similar to  FIG. 3 , but shows how the  FIG. 4  condition may be achieved in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but shows a possible modification of what  FIG. 5  shows in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified plan view of a structure like that shown in  FIG. 3  in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but shows the  FIG. 7  structure after further processing in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a simplified diagram of a material characteristic that may be provided and utilized in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 8 , but illustrates a possible alternative in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is again similar to  FIG. 7 , but illustrates a possible alternative in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a simplified perspective or isometric view of a representative portion of one component in  FIG. 11  in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 13  is similar to  FIG. 11 , but shows the  FIG. 11  structure after further processing in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 14  is again similar to  FIG. 11 , but shows a possible alternative in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 15  is similar to  FIG. 14 , but shows the  FIG. 14  structure after further processing in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a simplified elevational view showing another possible context in which the invention may be employed. 
         FIG. 17  is a simplified elevational showing another illustrative embodiment of employment of the invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a simplified elevational view showing another illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a simplified perspective or isometric view of another illustrative structure in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a simplified cross-sectional view showing use of structures like what is shown in  FIG. 19  in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a view similar to  FIG. 19  for another illustrative structure in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a simplified elevational view showing use of a structure like what is shown in  FIG. 21  in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 23  is a simplified perspective or isometric view showing another illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a simplified sectional view showing a representative portion of structure like that shown in  FIG. 23  in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An illustrative circuit component  10  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Circuit component  10  may be a packaged integrated circuit chip or device. Only the external surface of component  10  is visible in  FIG. 1 , and indeed  FIG. 1  shows component  10  upside down. Component  10  is basically a right parallelepiped, i.e., a six-sided solid object, each side of which is a rectangle (the word rectangle also including square as a possibility). Thus component  10  has a rectangular bottom surface  20 , a rectangular side surface  30   a , another rectangular side surface  30   b , two more rectangular side surfaces that are not visible in  FIG. 1 , and a rectangular top surface that is also not visible in  FIG. 1 . 
     Most of the external surface of component  10  is made of a non-electricity-conducting material (which may also be referred to as an electrical insulator or just an insulator). Inside this external package material, component  10  typically has an integrated circuit device that is not visible in  FIG. 1 . However, electrical circuits on this internal circuitry are electrically connected to electrical contacts such as  22  and  32  that are exposed on the outside of component  10 . Contacts  22  and  32  constitute the means by which electrical signals can be applied to and/or output from the circuitry that is inside the external package  20 / 30  of component  10 . Although contacts  22  and  32  are all shown as simple squares on the various surfaces  20  and  30  of the component package, it will be understood that these contacts can be of various forms and shapes. For example, they can be flush with the associated surface  20  or  30 ; or they can be raised above that surface; or they can be recessed below that surface; they can be in the form of outwardly projecting pins (perpendicular to the associated surface); and/or they can have various shapes such as square, rectangular, circular, hexagonal, octagonal, oval, or any other desired shape. 
     Contacts  22  are conventionally located on the bottom surface of component  10  for conventional connection, e.g., to various circuit traces on a printed circuit board (“PCB”). Such connections may be made, for example, by or with the aid of solder between contacts  22  and the PCB traces.  FIG. 2  shows such conventional surface mount assembly (“SMA”) of component  10  on PCB  100 . 
     Unlike contacts  22 , contacts  32  are not conventionally located. Rather, contacts  32  are non-conventionally located (in accordance with the present invention) on one or more sides  30  of the component package that will be substantially perpendicular to the surface of the substrate (e.g., PCB  100  in  FIG. 2 ) on which component  10  is or will be mounted.  FIG. 3  shows an example of how these side contacts  32  can be used in accordance with the inventions. 
     In  FIG. 3  two components  10   a  and  10   b  (each of which can generally be like component  10  in earlier FIGS.) are mounted in close, side-by-side proximity to one another on the upper surface of PCB  100 . In particular, each of components  10   a  and  10   b  has a side surface ( 30   x  and  30   y , respectively) that is close to and faces toward the similar side surface of the other component. Thus, surfaces  30   x  and  30   y  are (1) both substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of PCB  100 , (2) parallel to one another, (3) facing toward one another, and (4) separated from one another by a relatively small distance. In addition, each of surfaces  30   x  and  30   y  has on it or in it at least one exposed electrical contact  32   x  or  32   y  like any of the contacts  32  described above in connection with the earlier FIGS. Contacts  32   x  and  32   y  are preferably aligned with one another along an axis that is perpendicular to surfaces  30   x  and  30   y . Contacts  32   x  and  32   y  may be spaced from one another by a small space as shown in  FIG. 3  (although such spacing can be eliminated if desired). Any spacing between contacts  32   x  and  32   y  is preferably no more than 1.0 mm, more preferably no more than 0.5 mm, most preferably no more than 0.25 mm. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , after components  10   a ,  10   b , and  100  have been assembled as shown in  FIG. 3 , electrical connection between contacts  32   x  and  32   y  is made (or at least reinforced) by adding an electrically conductive substance between and/or around those contacts, e.g., as shown at  40  in  FIG. 4 . Examples of materials that are suitable for making connection  40  are solder, an electrically conductive epoxy material (e.g., an epoxy resin that is loaded with conductive metal particles that can contact on another and form a good electrical conductor over at least a short distance through the cured epoxy resin), or the like. 
       FIG. 5  shows an illustrative embodiment of how conductive connection material  40  may be introduced between components  10   a  and  10   b  to form or perfect the electrical connection between contacts  32   x  and  32   y  as shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a syringe or syringe-like instrument  200  is positioned vertically above the gap between surfaces  30   x  and  30   y , and also vertically above contacts  32   x  and  32   y . Conductive connection material  40  in a fluid state is then forced out of the lower end of the hollow tube of instrument  200  and flows down between surfaces  30   x  and  30   y  and into contact with contacts  32   x  and  32   y . For example, during such flow, conductive connection material  40  may be molten solder or uncured resin so that it can flow. Upon reaching contacts  32   x  and  32   y , the fluid material  40  hardens (e.g., the molten solder cools or the uncured resin cures) to a solid so that it remains in place as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an alternative in which the lower end of instrument  200  is able to enter the space between surfaces  30   x  and  30   y  and thereby get even closer to contacts  32   x  and  32   y  as it ejects conductive connection material  40  onto the contacts. 
     Use of syringe-like instrument  200  to get conductive connection material  40  into contact with contacts like  32   x  and  32   y  is only an example of how this can be done, and any other suitable means may be used instead if desired. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of structures that can be like what is shown in any of the earlier FIGS.  FIG. 7  shows how multiple contacts  32  on the adjacent sides  30   x  and  30   y  of components  10   a  and  10   b  can line up with one another and be used (with the addition of conductive connection material  40  as shown in  FIG. 8 ) to provide electrical connections between components  10   a  and  10   b . For example, exposed electrical contact  32   x   1  on the side surface  30   x  of component  10   a  mounted on PCB  100  lines up with exposed electrical contact  32   y   1  on the side surface  30   y  of component  10   b  also mounted on PCB  100 . Contacts  32   x   2  and  32   y   2  similarly line up with one another between surfaces  30   x  and  30   y , as do contacts  32   x   3  and  32   y   3 . To make or perfect the electrical connection between each of these aligned pairs of contacts, conductive connection material  40  is applied to each such pair as shown in  FIG. 8  (e.g., in any of the ways shown and described above). The number of pairs of contacts  32   x  and  32   y  between components  10   a  and  10   b  that is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  (i.e., three pairs of contacts) is only an example, and it will be understood more such pairs or less such pairs can be provided if desired. 
     If desired, conductive connection material  40  can have an electrical resistance characteristic like that shown in  FIG. 9 . This is a characteristic in which resistance of the material is very low across short distances through the material, but very high for significantly longer distances through the material. For example,  FIG. 9  shows that the resistance through material  40  is very low for distances through that material of about 1 mm or less, but that resistance through the material increases greatly for distances greater than about 1 mm. Epoxy resin conductive connection material can be formulated to have this kind of a characteristic, e.g., by appropriately selecting such parameters as the size of the conductive particles in the resin matrix, the proportion of conductive particles to resin matrix, etc. 
     A conductive connection material  40  having a resistance characteristic like that shown in  FIG. 9  can be used on multiple contact pairs as shown, for example, in  FIG. 10 . As  FIG. 10  shows, with this type of material  40  it is not necessary to physically separate the material  40  that connects each pair of contacts (e.g.,  32   x   1  and  32   y   1 ) from the material  40  that connects other pairs of contacts (e.g.,  32   x   2  and  32   y   2 ). The distance between the contacts in each pair is less than the distance at which resistance through material  40  becomes very large. Material  40  is therefore a good conductor of electricity between the contacts in each aligned pair of contacts (e.g., like  32   x   1  and  32   y   1 ). On the other hand, the distance between contacts  32  that are not aligned in a pair (e.g., the distance between contacts  32   x   1  and  32   x   2 ) is great enough that material  40  is not a good conductor of electricity between such not-aligned contacts. Accordingly,  FIG. 10  shows that one continuous mass or body of material  40  can be applied to all of the contacts between surfaces  30   x  and  30   y , and the result will be that effective electrical connections are only made between the contacts in each aligned pair of contacts (e.g.,  32   x   1  and  32   y   1 ) and not between contacts that are in different ones of such pairs (e.g., material  40  does not produce a short-circuit connection between contacts  32   x   1  and  32   x   2  because those contacts are too far apart). 
     Components like  10   a  and  10   b  may be given surface features in the vicinity of contacts  32  to facilitate the introduction of material  40  into proximity to those contacts and/or to help keep material  40  confined to particular areas and away from other structures. An example of this principle is shown in  FIG. 11 , which is otherwise a view generally like  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11  (and also  FIG. 12 , which shows a representative portion of what is shown in  FIG. 11  from another perspective), the side surface of each of components  10   a  and  10   b  having side contacts  32  is recessed (at  34 ) adjacent each of those contacts. When the sides  30   x  and  30   y  of components  10   a  and  10   b  are put together, these recesses  34  create separate or relatively separate openings between the two components. Each of these openings can be filled (or more or less filled) with conductive connection material  40  without that material being able to extend from one opening to other openings (see  FIG. 13 ). Between the pairs of facing recesses (e.g., between recess pair  34   xy   1  and recess pair  34   xy   2 ) component package surfaces  30   x  and  30   y  can be sufficiently close to one another (or even in contact with one another) to prevent material  40  in the fluid state (i.e., during deposit into each recess pair  34   xy ) from flowing significantly beyond that recess pair (e.g., to reach contacts  32  in the next adjacent recess pair(s)). This helps ensure physical separation and therefore electrical isolation (insulation) of each connected pair of contacts  32  from all of the other contacts  32 . 
       FIG. 14  shows another example of modification of component package surface shapes in accordance with this invention. In  FIG. 14  side surface  30   x  of component  10   a  can be like what is shown in  FIGS. 11-13  for that component. It therefore includes a recess  34  in its side surface  30   x  for each of its contacts  32   x  (i.e., each of contacts  32   x  is located in a respective one of recesses  34   x ). Component  10   b , on the other hand, has a raised protuberance  36  on its side surface  30   y  at each of its contacts  32   y . Each of protuberances  36   y  can fit at least part way into a respective one of apertures  34   x . The closeness and/or tightness of this fit can be designed as desired. This type of mating structure can again help to confine subsequently deposited conductive connecting material  40  to separate regions that are respectively adjacent each pair of facing contacts (e.g.,  32   x   2  and  32   y   2 ) (see  FIG. 15 ). 
       FIG. 16  illustrates how the invention may be used in the context of a stack of PCBs. The lower part of  FIG. 16  can be like what is shown in any of many of the earlier FIGS. (e.g., like  FIG. 4 ). PCB  100  is connected to another PCB  300  above it by a plurality of vias  320 . Other components (e.g., other packaged integrated circuit devices)  310   a  and  310   b  can be mounted on PCB  300 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates how the invention may be used in the context of POP assembly of some components. Again, the lower part of  FIG. 17  can be like what is shown in any of several of the earlier FIGS. (e.g., like  FIG. 4 ).  FIG. 17  then shows the addition of another component  310   c  (e.g., another packaged integrated circuit device) on top of component  10   a  using POP techniques. 
       FIG. 18  shows extension of what is shown in  FIG. 17  to include two layers of application of the present invention. Once again, the lower portion of  FIG. 18  may be as described earlier. After those components ( 100 ,  10   a ,  10   b , and  40   a ) have been assembled, a separator  330  (typically of an insulating material) may be placed above the facing side surfaces of components  10   a  and  10   b . POP is then used to assemble components  310   c  and  310   d  on top of components  10   a  and  10   b , respectively. In this case, components  310   c  and  310   d  are like components  10   a  and  10   b , in that they have exposed electrical contacts on their side surfaces that face one another. Conductive connecting material  40   b  is then deposited in contact with each adjacent pair of such side contacts on components  310   c  and  310   d  to electrically connect the contacts in each such pair. Separator  330  keeps material  40   b  from flowing down to structures below the level of POP components  310   c  and  310   d.    
       FIG. 19  shows another example of a geometry that may be used to help control the deposit of conductive connection material  40  in proximity to pairs of side contacts that need to be connected in accordance with the invention. As shown in  FIG. 19 , representative exposed contact  32  is disposed in a recess  34  in the side surface  30  of component package  10 . In this case, however, recess  34  does not extend all the way to the bottom surface of component  10 . Instead, the portion  38  of side surface  30  below recess  34  is not recessed. Accordingly, when side  30  of component  10  is placed close to the side of another component, a well with a bottom is formed. An example of this is shown in  FIG. 20  in which two component  10   a  and  10   b  (each as shown in  FIG. 19 ) are placed side by side. Recesses  34   x  and  34   y  then collectively form a well, but unrecessed surface portions  38   x  and  38   y  come closer together so that the well effectively has a bottom that is above the bottom-most surfaces of components  10   a  and  10   b . ( FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view through components  10   a  and  10   b  at the location of the contacts  32   x  and  32   y  that are in the above-mentioned well.) Then when conductive connection material  40  is deposited in contact with contacts  32   x  and  32   y , that material is confined to the above-mentioned well. It is prevented from flowing down from the well by the bottom of the well ( 38   xy ), and it is prevented from flowing sideways (e.g., into other wells) by the sides of the well. A feature like this can be used immediately above PCB  100  in any of the earlier FIGS. (to keep material  40  off the PCB), and/or it can be used in POP layers (to keep material  40  from flowing down to structures below). In the latter case, for example, it may render the provision of a separate separator like  330  in  FIG. 18  unnecessary. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates the point that the principle shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20  is not limited to providing separate wells for each contact pair. Thus  FIG. 21  shows the upper portion  34  of side surface  30  recessed, and several contacts  32  in that recess. Below this recess, side surface  30  is not recessed (as shown at  38 ). When two such components  10  are put together, unrecessed portion  38  of side surface  30  will be close enough to the other component to prevent material  40  from flowing down to any structure below.  FIG. 22  further illustrates this point, and further shows that only one of the components (i.e.,  10   a  in this example) needs to have such a partially recessed side surface  30   x . The facing side surface  30   y  of the other component  10   b  can have another shape (e.g., unrecessed or flat) to cooperate with unrecessed surface  38   x  and thereby form a channel with a bottom that retains material  40  and keeps it from flowing to any structure below. 
       FIGS. 23 and 24  illustrate application of the invention to a so-called embedded device structure. This structure includes substrate  100  (e.g., a PCB), at least one other generally similar structure  400  (e.g., one or more other layers of PCB structure) on top of substrate  100  but having an aperture with sides  430  that are substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of substrate  100 , and component  10  (e.g., a packaged integrated circuit device) disposed on substrate  100  in the aperture in structure  400 . Component  10  has at least one exposed electrical contact  32  on at least one of its sides  30  that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of substrate  100 . Structure  400  also has at least one exposed electrical contact  432  on at least one of the sides  430  of the aperture through that structure. When component  10  is mounted in the aperture in structure  400 , above-mentioned contacts  32  and  432  form an adjacent, facing, and generally aligned pair of contacts that can be electrically connected to one another by depositing conductive connection material  40  in contact with them as shown in  FIG. 24 . This can be done for any number of layers of circuitry in structure  400 . Any of the principles illustrated in earlier FIGS. can be applied again to applications like those illustrated by  FIGS. 23 and 24 . 
     As was mentioned above, it is generally preferred that the distance between the contacts in a pair of contacts that are to be connected in accordance with this invention (e.g., two contacts  32 , or a contact  32  and a contact  432 ) be relatively small (i.e., no more than 1.0 mm, more preferably no more than 0.5 mm, most preferably no more than 0.25 mm). 
     It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the numbers of contact pairs that are provided and connected in accordance with the invention can be different from the numbers shown in the various FIGS. herein. Also, although the FIGS. herein frequently show only two components  10  connected to one another by the invention in any given plane, it will be understood that more than two components in a plane can be connected to one another by the invention. For example, three components can be connected to one another in a straight line or an L on substrate  100 ; four components can be connected to one another in a square, a line, an L, or a T on substrate  100 ; etc.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110512
Publication Date: 20130716
Grant Date: 20130716
Priority Date: 20080103
Inventors: ROSENBLATT MICHAEL
SALEHI AMIR
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01L2224/13", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/1053", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2224/1302", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2225/1058", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L25/105", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/4913", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2225/1005", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10727", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2224/16137", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/4913", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/181", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10727", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02P70/50", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02P70/50", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/181", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L25/105", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2225/1005", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/1053", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2224/13", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2225/1058", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 40844380