MLC Conductor Pattern Off-Set Design to Eliminate Line to via Cracking

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to packaging of semiconductor chips and more particularly to line-to-via connections in ceramic packaging structures.

2. Description of Related Art

In current multilayered ceramic packaging, the conductor lines are being narrowed in an attempt to maximize the use of space on the package to increase the density of the package.

The problem addressed here is that in view of the narrowness of the circuit conductors and the mechanics of formation of multilayered glass ceramic packages, there is a tendency for line-to-via cracking opens defects to appear where thin conductor lines are joined to large vias. One possible problem is that large copper grains are employed. In addition, opens are caused by contamination and line thinning at line-to-via junctions.

In FIG. 1, a multilayered ceramic package 10 has a set of vias 11, 12, 13 connected in turn to lines 14, 15, 16 with conductor lines 14-16 being very narrow, i.e. only about 76 .mu.m (3 mils) wide. As can be seen the vias are far larger in width than the conductor lines and a problem of cracking at the junction or interface between the line and the via leads to open circuits to an undesirable degree.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a segment of the prior art package of FIG. 1 rotated 90.degree.. FIG. 3B is a section of FIG. 3A taken along line 3B--3B showing the thickness of prior art line-to-via connections. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show a fragment of the plan and sectional schematics of the package FIG. 1 with one of the prior art line to via connections of FIG. 1. The via 12 of FIG. 1 is connected in turn to line 14 with conductor lines 15 being thin, having a thickness t.sub.1 only about 12 .mu.m (0.5 mil) thick.

In accordance with this invention, a semiconductor ceramic packaging substrate has vias of sintered electrically conductive metal therethrough and metal conductive elements on the surface thereof. The vias are connected to the conductive elements in a predetermined pattern. The improvement comprises a via having a conductive cap on the surface thereof. The conductive cap joins the via and the conductive element. The cap has a width substantially larger than the diameter of the vias at the point of contact of each of the vias and the associated conductor in contact therewith.

Further in accordance with this invention, a semiconductor glass ceramic packaging substrate has vias of sintered electrically conductive metal therethrough and metal conductive elements on the surface thereof. The vias are connected to the conductive elements in a predetermined pattern. The improvement comprises the via having a conductive cap on the surface thereof. The cap joins the via and the conductive element. The conductive cap has a width on the order of 1.5 to 2 times the diameter of the vias at the point of contact of each of the vias and the associated conductor in contact therewith.

In semiconductor ceramic packaging substrates having vias of sintered electrically conductive metal therethrough and metal conductive elements on the surface thereof, the vias are connected to the conductive elements in a predetermined pattern. The improvement comprises a conductive via cap on the surface of the via. The via cap has a cross sectional area substantially larger than the cross sectional area of the conductive element at the point of contact of the via cap and the conductive element in contact therewith.

In summary, a semiconductor ceramic packaging substrate has the usual vias of sintered electrically conductive metal extending through the substrate. There are the usual metal conductor lines comprising conductive elements on the surface of the substrate. Each via is connected to the conductive elements in a predetermined pattern through a conductive via cap on the surface of the ceramic package. The caps join each conductive element and each via. The cap has a width substantially larger than the diameter of the via at the point of contact of the via and the conductive element in contact with it. The caps are also substantially thicker and wider than the conductive elements.

The foregoing and other aspects and advantages of this invention are explained and described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a plan view of a prior art set of line-to-via connections of a package for semiconductor circuits.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a plan view of a a set of line-to-via connections for a semiconductor circuit package, the connections being configured in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a segment of the prior art package of FIG. 1 rotated 90.degree..

FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic sectional view of FIG. 3A taken along line 3B--3B showing the thickness of prior art line-to-via connections.

FIG. 4A is a plan view of a segment of the package of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic sectional view of FIG. 4A taken along line 4B--4B showing the thickness of line-to-via connections in accordance with this invention.

In FIG. 2, a multilayered ceramic package 20 has a set of vias 21, 22, 23 indicated by the dotted lines (in phantom) connected in turn to lines 24, 25, 26 with conductor lines 24-26 being very narrow, i.e. only about 76 .mu.m (3 mils) wide. The new via caps 27-29 provided in accordance with this invention at the via ends of conductor lines 24-26 respectively are considerably wider than the conductor lines 24-26. As can be seen the vias 21, 22, 23 are far narrower (less wide) than the via caps 27-29 of conductor lines 24-26 respectively. Accordingly, as a result of the thicker structure at the cap the problem of cracking at the junction or interface between a line and the corresponding via no longer leads to open circuits to any considerable degree.

The line-to-via connection is redesigned to provide thick paste deposit and a large cross sectional area both in the vicinity of the line-to-via junction, and at the line-to-via junction to reduce latent and actual open defects.

The length of the enlarged via caps 27-29 of the conductor lines preferably have a line-offset-segment length X and a via cap diameter y which have a relationship as follows:

where

.alpha.=from about 1.5 to about 2

x=line off-set segment length

v=via diamter

y=via cap diameter

y>v (y is greater than the via diameter v, but y=equals the width of the enlarged via caps where they overlie the vias 21-23.

FIG. 4A is a plan view of a segment of the package of FIG. 2. FIG. 4B is a section of FIG. 4A taken along line 4B--4B showing the thickness of line-to-via connections employed in the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the portion of the multilayered ceramic package 20 including vias 21 and via cap 27 is shown. Via cap 27 is connected to line 24, but conductor lines 24 is thinner, i.e. only about 12 .mu.m (0.05 mils) thick.

The via cap 27 which is about 25 .mu.m-50 .mu.m (1-2 mils) thick 24 is considerably thicker than the conductor line 24 which is about 12 .mu.m (0.5 mils) thick. As the via cap 27 (as well as caps 28 and 29, etc.) is so thick, the problem of cracking at the junction or interface between line 24 and the corresponding via 21 no longer leads to open circuits to nearly the same degree.

The parameters of the circuits of FIGS. 4A and 4B have important relationships, as described above. The parameters are as follows:

v=via diameter=75 .mu.m-175 .mu.m (3 mils-7 mils)

y=via cap diameter=125 .mu.m-225 .mu.m (5 mils-9 mils)

x=line off-set=188 .mu.m-338 .mu.m (7.5-13.5 mils) segment length

w=line width=75 .mu.m-125 .mu.m (3 mils-5 mils)

t.sub.1 =line thickness=12 .mu.m (0.5 mils)

t.sub.2 =via cap thickness=25 .mu.m-50 .mu.m (1 mils-2 mils) where t.sub.2 .gtoreq.2 t.sub.1

While this invention has been described in terms of the above embodiment(s), those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications withing the spirit and scope of the appended claims.