Semiconductor package with improved ball land structure

[0001] This U.S. non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2003-52328, filed Jul. 29, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to electronic packaging technology and, more particularly, to semiconductor packages having improved ball land structures.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] A recent high-integration technology for integrated circuit (IC) makes it possible to form and connect much more circuits in and on a semiconductor chip at a given chip size. Thus, a package, which contains the semiconductor chip therein, also needs more input/output (I/O) terminals communicating with external circuitry such as a motherboard.

[0006] In order to meet such a need, a ball grid array (BGA) package has been developed wherein the I/O terminals are distributed over a package surface, rather than just located peripherally at one or more package edges as in a conventional lead frame package. Typically, an array of solder balls provides the surface-distributed I/O terminals for the BGA package. Such distribution of terminal locations radically allows a reduction in a board surface required for the BGA package when the package is mounted on the motherboard.

[0007] In the conventional BGA package, the solder balls are formed on a lower surface of a substrate, and the semiconductor chip is attached on an upper surface of the substrate. The chip is electrically connected to the substrate through wires and encapsulated with resin encapsulant. Hereinafter, the lower surface of the substrate will be referred to as a ball-mounting surface. Further, a region of the ball-mounting surface on which the solder ball is formed will be referred to as a solder ball land.

[0008] FIG. 1A schematically shows, in a plan view, one type of the solder ball land of a conventional BGA package. This type is generally known as a solder mask defined (SMD) type.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1A, a solder ball land 10 and a wiring pattern 14 connected thereto are formed on the ball-mounting surface of the substrate (not shown). The solder ball land 10 is generally shaped like a circle and made of copper. Further, the solder ball land 10 is preferably plated with nickel and gold for enhancing a reliable attachment of a solder ball (not shown). A solder mask 16 covers the overall ball-mounting surface, together with the wiring pattern 14 and a peripheral portion 10a of the solder ball land 10, but exposes a central portion 10b of the solder ball land 10 through an opening 16a.

[0010] FIG. 1B schematically shows, in a plan view, another type of the solder ball land of a conventional BGA package. This type is generally known as a non-solder mask defined (NSMD) type.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1B, a solder ball land 20 and a wiring pattern 24 connected thereto are formed on the ball-mounting surface 1 of the substrate. A solder mask 26 covers the ball-mounting surface 1 and a main portion 24a of the wiring pattern 24, but exposes an end portion 24b of the wiring pattern 24, the entire solder ball land 20, and parts of the ball-mounting surface 1 around the solder ball land 20, through an opening 26a.

[0012] As widely known in the art, the above-described conventional solder ball lands 10 and 20 have the following drawbacks.

[0013] In the case of SMD type, during a solder joint reliability test that evaluates a joining strength of the solder ball after the BGA package is mounted on the motherboard, the solder ball is often cracked or detached from the solder ball land. Further, in the case of NSMD type, after the BGA package is mounted on the motherboard, the wiring pattern is disconnected from the solder ball land, or the solder ball land is peeled from the ball-mounting surface of the substrate.

[0014] These issues related to the solder ball lands often arise in another types of packages, using solder ball connections, such as wafer-level packages, flip-chip packages, and so on.

[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide semiconductor packages having improved ball land structures, especially, to allow stabilized and enhanced connections between solder balls and a substrate.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor package comprises a substrate having a planar surface, a plurality of ball lands formed on the planar surface of the substrate, a mask layer covering the planar surface of the substrate and defining a plurality of opening areas through which the ball lands are substantially exposed, and a plurality of connection balls formed on the ball lands, respectively.

[0017] Particularly, a first straight line is defined to link a land center of the ball land to a central point of the planar surface, and a second straight line is defined to start from the land center and extend in the opposite direction to the first straight line. The first straight line intersects a land edge of the ball land at a first point and an opening edge of the opening area at a second point, and the second straight line intersects the land edge at a third point and the opening edge of the opening area at a fourth point. When a distance between the first point and the land center, a distance between the second point and the land center, a distance between the third point and the land center, and a distance between the fourth point and the land center are defined as a first, a second, a third, and a fourth distances, respectively, the first distance is longer than the second distance, and the third distance is shorter than the fourth distance.

[0018] In another embodiment of the prevent invention, the ball land has a first radius. Further, a first opening edge of the opening area has a second radius greater than the first radius, and a second opening edge of the opening area has a third radius smaller than the first radius.

[0019] Also, a first angle formed by the first opening edge may range from 60 degrees to 180 degrees on the second straight line as a central axis, and a second angle formed by the second opening edge may range from 180 degrees to 300 degrees on the first straight line as a central axis. Preferably, the first angle is about 150 degrees.

[0020] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the opening area has a fourth radius. Further, a first land edge of the ball land has a fifth radius smaller than the fourth radius, and a second land edge of the ball land has a sixth radius greater than the fourth radius. A third angle formed by the first land edge may range from 60 degrees to 180 degrees on the second straight line as a central axis, and a fourth angle formed by the second land edge may range from 180 degrees to 300 degrees on the first straight line as a central axis. Preferably, the third angle is about 150 degrees.

[0021] In still another embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor package comprises a substrate having a planar surface, a plurality of ball lands formed on the planar surface of the substrate, each ball land having a seventh radius, a mask layer covering the planar surface of the substrate and defining a plurality of opening areas through which the ball lands are substantially exposed, each opening area having an eighth radius smaller than the seventh radius, and a plurality of connection balls formed on the ball lands, respectively.

[0022] Particularly, the ball land further has a curved groove and a plurality of straight grooves. A centerline of the curved groove has a ninth radius smaller than the eighth radius, and the straight grooves are radially arranged along an outer periphery of the curved groove and communicate with the curved groove. Also, each straight groove extends to a position between a land edge of the ball land and an opening edge of the opening area.

[0023] In still another embodiment of the present invention, a fifth angle formed by the curved groove may range from 60 degrees to 180 degrees on a third straight line as a central axis, the third straight line linking a central point of the planar surface to a land center of the ball land. Preferably, the fifth angle is about 150 degrees.

[0024] In still another embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device comprises a substrate including a planar surface having a central point, at least one terminal land formed on the planar surface of the substrate, the terminal land having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, a mask layer covering the planar surface of the substrate and defining at least one opening area through which the terminal land is substantially exposed, and at least one connection terminal formed on the terminal land. In particular, the first peripheral portion of the terminal land is covered with the mask layer, and the second peripheral portion is exposed through the opening area of the mask layer.

[0025] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the first peripheral portion is disposed to face the central point of the planar surface of the substrate, and the second peripheral portion is disposed to face the opposite direction to the central point. Moreover, the connection terminal may include a solder ball, and the substrate may include a printed circuit board, a silicon substrate, and a flexible circuit tape.

[0026] The invention will become more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description, which proceeds with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0034] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0035] In the description, well-known structures and processes have not been shown in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention. It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, some elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Like reference numerals and characters are used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

[0036] First Embodiment

[0037] FIGS. 2A and 2B show, in plan views, a solder ball land of a BGA package in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a solder ball land 30 is formed on a ball-mounting surface 2 of a substrate used for a BGA package (not shown). A solder mask 36 covers the ball-mounting surface 2, defining an opening area 37.

[0038] A first straight line L1 starts from a land center 30c of the solder ball land 30 and extends toward a central point 2C of the ball-mounting surface 2. The first straight line L1 intersects a land edge 30a of the solder ball land 30 at a first point C1. A distance between the first point C1 and the land center 30c is defined as a first distance W1. Further, the first straight line L1 intersects a second opening edge 37b of the opening area 37 at a second point C2. A distance between the second point C2 and the land center 30c is defined as a second distance W2. As best shown in FIG. 2B, the first distance W1 is longer than the second distance W2, and as best shown in FIG. 2A, the solder mask 36 covers one part of a peripheral portion of the solder ball land 30. This covered part is defined as a first peripheral portion A1.

[0039] A second straight line L2 starts from the land center 30c and extends in the opposite direction to the first straight line L1. The second straight line L2 intersects a land edge 30b at a third point C3. A distance between the third point C3 and the land center 30c is defined as a third distance W3. Further, the second straight line L2 intersects a first opening edge 37a of the opening area 37 at a fourth point C4. A distance between the fourth point C4 and the land center 30c is defined as a fourth distance W4. As best shown in FIG. 2B, the third distance W3 is shorter than the fourth distance W4, and as best shown in FIG. 2A, the solder mask 36 does not cover the other part of the peripheral portion of the solder ball land 30. This non-covered, i.e., exposed, part is defined as a second peripheral portion A2.

[0040] To summarize, in the solder ball land 30, the first peripheral portion A1 facing the central point 2C of the ball-mounting surface 2 is covered with the solder mask 36, whereas the second peripheral portion A2 facing the opposite direction is exposed through the opening area 37. Additionally, the ball-mounting surface 2 adjacent to the second peripheral portion A2 is partially exposed through the opening area 37, as indicated by a reference number ‘2a’ in FIG. 2A. Consequently, the first peripheral portion A1 forms an SMD type solder ball land structure, and the second peripheral portion A2 forms an NSMD type solder ball land structure.

[0041] This composite structure of the solder ball land 30 produces favorable effects such as the followings. In the past, after the BGA package is mounted on the motherboard by using the solder ball, the solder ball land and the solder ball undergo mechanical stress due to a mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the package and the motherboard. Here, mechanical stress chiefly acts in a radially outward direction, which is indicated by a reference character ‘F’ in FIG. 2A, opposite to the central point 2C. This causes crack or detachment of the solder ball in case of the SMD type, and disconnection of a wiring pattern or peeling of the solder ball land in case of the NSMD type, as discussed above.

[0042] By the way, it has been found that the problem of the SMD type occurs mainly at the second peripheral portion A2 and the problem of the NSMD type occurs mainly at the first peripheral portion A1. Therefore, by configuring the solder ball land 30 to have the invented composite structure, such problems can be solved at once. This unique configuration of the ball lands can also be available to another types of packages, for example, a wafer-level package, a flip-chip package, and other surface-mount packages. Furthermore, the substrate on which the solder ball lands are formed is a printed circuit board (PCB), a silicon substrate, a flexible circuit tape, and so on. The solder ball land 30 is electrically connected to the wiring pattern 34. Preferably, the solder ball land 30 is shaped like a circular plate having a first radius R1. The opening area 37 has the first opening edge 37a and the second opening edge 37b as described above. Preferably, the first and second opening edges 37a and 37b are shaped like an arc, and the center of the opening area 37 coincides with the land center 30c. The first opening edge 37a has a second radius R2 greater than the first radius R1, and the second opening edge 37b has a third radius R3 smaller than the first radius R1. The first and second opening edges 37a and 37b are connected by a third opening edge 37c. Preferably, the third opening edge 37c forms a straight line.

[0043] A first angle D1, which is formed by the first opening edge 37a, can range from 60 degrees to 180 degrees on the second straight line L2 as a central axis. A second angle D2, which is formed by the second opening edge 37b, can range from 180 degrees to 300 degrees on the first straight line L1 as a central axis. Preferably, the first and second angles D1 and D2 are about 150 degrees and about 210 degrees, respectively.

[0044] Second Embodiment

[0045] FIG. 3 shows, in a plan view, a ball-mounting surface of a BGA package in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the ball-mounting surface 2 of the BGA package is almost covered with the solder mask 36, except a plurality of opening areas 37. Further, a plurality of solder ball lands 30 are formed on the ball-mounting surface 2, and each solder ball land 30 is partially exposed through the respective one opening area 37.

[0047] In each of the solder ball lands 30, the first peripheral portion A1 forming the SMD type structure is disposed to face the central point 2C of the ball-mounting surface 2, whereas the second peripheral portion A2 forming the NSMD type structure is disposed to face the opposite direction to the central point 2C. This composite structure provides more stable and enhanced connection between the solder ball (not shown) and the ball-mounting surface 2, even though the ball-mounting surface 2 is warped due to the aforementioned mismatch in the CTE.

[0048] Third Embodiment

[0049] FIG. 4 shows, in a plan view, a solder ball land of a BGA package in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 4, a solder ball land 40 and a wiring pattern 44 electrically connected thereto are formed on the ball-mounting surface 2. Further, the solder mask 36 covers the ball-mounting surface 2, defining an opening area 47. The solder ball land 40 has a first land edge 40a and a second land edge 40b, which are preferably shaped like an arc. The opening area 47 is shaped like a circle having a fourth radius R4. Preferably, a land center 40c coincides with a center of the opening area 47. In the solder ball land 40, the first land edge 40a has a fifth radius R5 smaller than the fourth radius R4, and the second land edge 40b has a sixth radius R6 greater than the fourth radius R4. The first and second land edges 40a and 40b are connected by a straight land edge 40d.

[0051] A third angle D3, which is formed by the first land edge 40a, can range from 60 degrees to 180 degrees on the second straight line L2 as a central axis. A fourth angle D4, which is formed by the second land edge 40b, can range from 180 degrees to 300 degrees on the first straight line L1 as a central axis. Preferably, the third and fourth angles D3 and D4 are about 150 degrees and about 210 degrees, respectively.

[0052] Fourth Embodiment

[0053] FIG. 5 shows, in a plan view, a solder ball land of a BGA package in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 5, a solder ball land 50 and a wiring pattern 54 electrically connected thereto are formed on the ball-mounting surface 2. Further, the solder mask 36 covers the ball-mounting surface 2, defining an opening area 57. The solder ball land 50 is shaped like a circular plate having a seventh radius R7. The opening area 57 is shaped like a circle having an eighth radius R8 smaller than the seventh radius R7. Preferably, a land center 50c coincides with a center of the opening area 57.

[0055] The solder ball land 50 has a curved groove 58 and a plurality of straight grooves 59. A centerline of the curved groove 58 has a ninth radius R9 smaller than the eighth radius R8 so that the curved groove 58 is positioned within the opening area 57. The straight grooves 59 are radially arranged along an outer periphery of the curved groove 58, while communicating with the curved groove 58. Each straight groove 59 extends to a position between a land edge 50d of the solder ball land 50 and an opening edge 57a of the opening area 57. This configuration of the straight grooves 59 permits the exhaust of voids generated when the solder ball (not shown) is formed on the solder ball land 50. Therefore, trapping of the voids, which may cause degradation in solder ball formation, is effectively prevented.

[0056] Fifth Embodiment

[0057] FIG. 6 shows, in a plan view, a solder ball land of a BGA package in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 6, the solder ball land 60 has a curved groove 68 and a plurality of straight grooves 69, as discussed above. A fifth angle D5, which is formed by the curved groove 68, can range from 60 degrees to 180 degrees on a third straight line L3 as a central axis. The third straight line L3 links the central point 2C of the ball-mounting surface 2 to a land center 60c of the solder ball land 60. Preferably, the fifth angle D5 is about 150 degrees. Like the fourth embodiment, the curved groove 68 is positioned within the opening area. Also, the straight grooves 69 are radially arranged along an outer periphery of the curved groove 68, while communicating with the curved groove 68 and extending in the opposite direction to the central point 2C.

[0059] A person skilled in the art will be able to practice the present invention in view of the description present in this document, which is to be taken as a whole. Numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail in order not to obscure unnecessarily the invention.

[0060] While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense. Indeed, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present description that the invention can be modified in numerous ways. The inventor regards the subject matter of the invention to include all combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein.