Stacking integrated circuits containing serializer and deserializer blocks using through silicon via

[0001] A Serializer/Deserializer (SER/DES) is a pair of functional blocks [integrated circuits or IC/chip] commonly used in high speed communications. These blocks convert data between serial data and parallel interfaces in each direction. Although the term “SER/DES” is generic, in speech it is sometimes used as a more pronounceable synonym for Serial Gigabit Media Independent Interface (SGMII).

[0002] SER/DES chips facilitate the transmission of parallel data between two points over serial streams, reducing the number of data paths and thus, the number of connecting pins or wires required. Most SER/DES devices are capable of full duplex operation, meaning that data conversion can take place in both directions simultaneously. SER/DES chips are used in many application including Gigabit Ethernet systems, wireless network routers, fiber optic communications systems, storage applications just to name a few.

[0003] Specifications and speeds vary depending on the needs of the user and on the application. These blocks are often integrated within another Integrated Circuit (i.e. ASIC).

[0004] The quest for “smaller, chipper, faster” devices is ever increasing. IC packaging is one area that this quest is continuously challenged. In IC packaging chips are mounted on and connected to a rigid laminate (substrate) via wirebonds (FIG. 1) or bumps in flip chip (FIG. 2) applications. In wirebond technology (FIG. 1) the silicon die (102) is connected via wires (108) to solder mask (106) over a rigid laminate (103). The solder mask (106) is then connected to solder balls (104) through Via holes (107) inside the rigid laminate (103). In flip chip technology (FIG. 2), the silicon die (201) is connected to a substrate (203) via balls (202) and the substrate (203) routes the metal to proper solder balls (204).

[0005] Packaging SER/DES is a very challenging and specialized area in the world of IC packaging. With higher data rate flip chips are adapted for packaging high speed SER/DES because in Flip Chip packaging wirebonds are replaced by conductive solder bumps thereby wirebond inductance is no longer present.

[0006] At the present, industry is moving toward 3D packaging where two or more dice are stacked on the top of each other or packages are stacked on the top of packages. These packaging methods offer high density integration in smaller footprint making it suitable for applications in which size matters such as cell phone. FIG. 3 is an example of two equal size chips placed vertically in the same package, in which the chips are connected to the solder balls (305) using wirebond technology. As can be seen from FIG. 3, a first die (301) is placed above a second dies (302), which in turn is placed above a substrate (306). A spacer (303) is placed between the two dies. Another spacer (304) is placed between the bottom die (302) and the substrate (306). FIG. 4 is another example of 3D chip stacking in which the SER/DES die (404) is not stacked and is positioned as a side die beside the stacked dice (401 and 403).

[0007] The drawback of stacked die packaging is the use of wirebond, making it unsuitable for high speed SER/DES packaging. In order to circumvent this impediment, this invention proposes to use Through Silicon Via (TSV) to connect dice vertically.

[0008] The benefits of using TSV to connect dice vertically are:

[0009] 1. Higher degree of miniaturization: By placing TSV within the SER/DES block one can facilitate the connection of the die above or below that would otherwise be placed side by side. In a case where non SER/DES dice are stacked with wirebond and SER/DES die is placed next to it, using TSV will eliminate all wires.

[0010] 2. Placing TSV makes it possible to stack two or more dice with SER/DES block

[0011] 3. Electrical superiority: When using TSV, it is possible to stack and connect very high data rate SER/DES blocks vertically without the need for any wire.

[0012] 4. Better thermal performance: The TSV placed within the SER/DES block provides a highly conductive passage for heat removal from the die above.

[0013] 5. No need for spacer material: Normally, thick Spacer materials are placed between the dice to make wire-bonding of same or different die size possible. Using TSV eliminates the need for this material thereby reducing the cost as well as decreasing the overall height of the package making it possible to fit the package in places where height is a constraint such as very thin cell phones.

[0014] This patent claims the placement of TSV within the SER/DES block to enable high density packaging of dice with SER/DES blocks or any other block.

[0015] This invention uses techniques to enable connecting multiple chips (dice) vertically to create a compact 3D chip package. Specifically, it uses techniques that enable high speed SER/DES circuits get connected between multiple dice or from a die to external pins via Through Silicon Via (TSV) that will reduce or eliminate the inductance and capacitance associated with otherwise using wirebond. The techniques for stacking multiple high speed chips enables efficient routing of TSV between different dice that simplifies 3D chip design and manufacturing by providing guidelines on positioning and aligning the chips and by providing guidelines for creating redistribution layer (RDL) and routes that are resistant to stress.

[0026] To create a more compact and space efficient integrated circuit, it is necessary to be able to stack multiple dice on top of each other. Two general methods are possible for interconnecting the stacked dice to each other and for connecting those dice to the pins or solder balls of the 3D chip package. One method is to use wirebond, meaning that to use wires to connect chips to each other or to the pins of the 3D package as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The wirebond technique is not very useful for high speed SER/DES due to creation of inductance and capacitance.

[0027] Another technique is to use Through Silicon Via (TSV) to connect multiple stacked dice to each other or to the external pins. FIG. 8 shows an example of TSVs (801, 803) of two dice (802, 804) connected to each other. While FIG. 9 shows the contact pads (901) of one die (902) is connected to the TSVs (903) of another die (904). TSVs has so far been only used for lower speed integrated circuits. This patent extends the TSV technology for usage with high speed SER/DES circuits. Doing so would eliminate the need for wirebond and would create a more compact package with superior electrical and thermal characteristics.

[0028] And, finally, to test dice which are stacked on each other, test pads need to be created for each die. The test pads must be located at the extreme periphery or edge of dice. FIG. 10 shows two dice (1001, 1003) are stacked on top of each other, They both have TSVs (1005) and the test pads (1002, 1004) are placed at the edge of these dice.

[0029] In order to successfully use TSV for the SER/DES circuits a number of rules have to be followed. This patent provides the techniques for using TSV in high speed SER/DES block of chips that could be used for connecting the SER/DES circuit to external pins.

[0030] The first technique is to have the SER/DES blocks that use TSV at one or more peripheries of the die. FIG. 5 is an example of such method in which four SER/DES blocks (501) are used at the four peripheries of the die (503) and the SER/DES blocks are equipped with TSVs (502) that can be used to pass through lower dice and get connected to external pins or other dice.

[0031] The second technique is to try to limit the SER/DES blocks that use TSV to one or more peripheries of the die and rotate the upper and lower stacked dice by 90 degrees or have the SER/DES staggered so that the SER/DES blocks of those dice will not block each other. This method makes the TSV creation and routing in the interposer layer much easier.

[0032] The third technique is to use a redistribution layer (RDL) or interposer when TSVs of the lower and upper die can't be aligned to each other. Redistribution layer (RDL) is used to route and connect TSV to “contact pad”. The trace routes can be of any shape, angle or material. There could be solder resist on the top of RDL and adhesive such as (BCB), etc. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the TSVs of 3 stacked dice are aligned to each other and therefore no RDL is required. While FIG. 7 shows an example, in which the TSVs of the two dice (706, 708) are not aligned to each other and therefore an RDL (707) is required between two dice (706, 708) to route the TSVs. The RDL may contain TSV, blind via, buried via, or any combination of via. The RDL may or may not contain plans, or passive elements such as capacitors. FIG. 8 shows another example of a RDL (805) that is used to connect the via (801) of the top die (802) to the via (803) of the bottom die (804).

[0033] The fourth technique is the method for aligning stacked dice. Dice can be aligned using fiducials of any type, such as cross, square, circle, +, □, =, etc, or any text character. Fiducials can be used on the interposer and/or dice for the purpose of alignment. The interposer and dice can have one, two or as many Fiducials, as needed.

[0034] The fifth technique is to create (deposit) contact pads on RDL to create a contact point for the other dice TSV. This pad can of any material, size or shape. A circular contact pad (704) is shown in FIG. 7 that resides in the RDL (707). The contact pad (704) is used to connect the TSV of the upper layer (708) to the trace (705) on the RDL and subsequently to the TSV of the lower die (702).

[0035] The sixth technique is use tear drops for connecting traces on the RDL to TSVs for the purposes of reinforcement and stress reduction. FIG. 7 shows an example of a tear drop (709) on the TSV of the lower die (702).

[0036] The seventh technique is mix wirebond and TSV in stacked chips. Wirebond could be used for low speed digital circuits, while TSV could be used for the high speed SER/DES circuits.

[0037] The eight technique is to place the test pads for testing a die that uses TSV at the extreme periphery of the die.

[0038] Any variations of the above are also intended to be covered by the application here.