• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 2004

A three-dimensional (3D) IC technology platform is presented for high-performance, low-cost heterogeneous integration of silicon ICs. The platform uses dielectric adhesive bonding of fully-processed wafer-to-wafer aligned ICs, followed by a three-step thinning process and copper damascene patterning to form inter-wafer interconnects. Daisy-chain inter-wafer via test structures and compatibility of the process steps with 130 nm CMOS sal devices and circuits indicate the viability of the process flow. Such 3D integration with through-die vias enables high functionality in intelligent wireless terminals, as vertical integration of processor, large memory, image sensors and RF/microwave transceivers can be achieved with silicon-based ICs (Si CMOS and/or SiGe BiCMOS). Two examples of such capability are highlighted: memory-intensive Si CMOS digital processors with large L2 caches and SiGe BiCMOS pipelined A/D converters. A comparison of wafer-level 3D integration 'lith system-on-a-chip (SoC) and system-in-a-package (SiP) implementations is presented.

• The Proceeding of the Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.23-34
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• 2013

Over the past several decades in the microelectronics industry, devices have gotten smaller, thinner, and lighter, without any accompanying degradation in quality, performance, and reliability. One permanent and deniable trend in packaging as well as wafer fabrication industry is system integration. The proliferating options for system integration, recently, are driving change across the overall semiconductor industry, requiring more investment in developing, ramping and supporting new die-, wafer- and board-level solution. The trend toward 3D system integration and miniaturization in a small form factor has accelerated even more with the introduction of smartphones and tablets. In this paper, the key issues and state of the art for system integration in the packaging process are introduced, especially, focusing on ease transition to next generation packaging technologies like through silicon via (TSV), 3D wafer-level fan-out (WLFO), and chip-on-chip interconnection. In addition, effective solutions like fine pitch copper pillar and MEMS packaing of both advanced and legacy products are described with several examples.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.37-41
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• 2012

The wafer level stacking with Cu-to-Cu bonding becomes an important technology for high density DRAM stacking, high performance logic stacking, or heterogeneous chip stacking. Cu CMP becomes one of key processes to be developed for optimized Cu bonding process. For the ultra low-k dielectrics used in the advanced logic applications, Ti barrier has been preferred due to its good compatibility with porous ultra low-K dielectrics. But since Ti is electrochemically reactive to Cu CMP slurries, it leads to a new challenge to Cu CMP. In this study Ti barrier/Cu interconnection structure has been investigated for the wafer level 3D integration. Cu CMP wafers have been fabricated by a damascene process and two types of slurry were compared. The slurry selectivity to $SiO_2$ and Ti and removal rate were measured. The effect of metal line width and metal density were evaluated.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-33
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• 2012

The demand for 3D wafer level integration has been increasing significantly. Although many technical challenges of wafer stacking are still remaining, wafer stacking is a key technology for 3D integration due to a high volume manufacturing, smaller package size, low cost, and no need for known good die. Among several new process techniques Cu-to-Cu wafer bonding is the key process to be optimized for the high density and high performance IC manufacturing. In this study two main challenges for Cu-to-Cu wafer bonding were evaluated: misalignment and bond quality of bonded wafers. It is demonstrated that the misalignment in a bonded wafer was mainly due to a physical movement of spacer removal step and the bond quality was significantly dependent on Cu bump dishing and oxide erosion by Cu CMP.

• 정보저장시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.22-25
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• 2005

In this research, a wafar-level transfer method of cantilever array on a conventional CMOS circuit has been developed for high density probe-based data storage. The transferred cantilevers were silicon nitride ($Si_3N_4$) cantilevers integrated with poly silicon heaters and piezoelectric sensors, called thermo-piezoelectric $Si_3N_4$ cantilevers. In this process, we did not use a SOI wafer but a conventional p-type wafer for the fabrication of the thermo-piezoelectric $Si_3N_4$ cantilever arrays. Furthermore, we have developed a very simple transfer process, requiring only one step of cantilever transfer process for the integration of the CMOS wafer and cantilevers. Using this process, we have fabricated a single thermo-piezoelectric $Si_3N_4$ cantilever, and recorded 65nm data bits on a PMMA film and confirmed a charge signal at 5nm of cantilever deflection. And we have successfully applied this method to transfer 34 by 34 thermo-piezoelectric $Si_3N_4$ cantilever arrays on a CMOS wafer. We obtained reading signals from one of the cantilevers.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2007

Future MEMS systems will be composed of larger varieties of devices with very different functionality such as electronics, mechanics, optics and bio-chemistry. Integration technology of heterogeneous devices must be developed. This article first deals with the current development trend of new fabrication technologies; those include self-assembling of parts over a large area, wafer-scale encapsulation by wafer-bonding, nano imprinting, and roll-to-roll printing. In the latter half of the article, the concept towards the heterogeneous integration of devices and functionality into micro/nano systems is described. The key idea is to combine the conventional top-down technologies and the novel bottom-up technologies for building nano systems. A simple example is the carbon nano tube interconnection that is grown in the via-hole of a VLSI chip. In the laboratory level, the position-specific self-assembly of nano parts on a DNA template was demonstrated through hybridization of probe DNA segments attached to the parts. Also, bio molecular motors were incorporated in a micro fluidic system and utilized as a nano actuator for transporting objects in the channel.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.261-278
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• 2003

Concepts.Wafer-Level Chip-Scale Concept with Handling Substrate.Low Accuracy Placement Layout with Isolation Trench.Possible Pitch of Interconnections down to $10{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (Sn-Grains).Wafer-to-Wafer Equipment Adjustment Accuracy meets this Request of Alignment Accuracy (+/-1.5 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$).Adjustment Accuracy of High-Speed Chip-to-Wafer Placement Equipment starts to meet this request.Face-to-Face Modular / SLID with Flipped Device Orientation.interchip Via / SLID with Non-Flipped Orientation SLID Technology Features.Demonstration with Copper / Tin-Alloy (SLID) and W-InterChip Vias (ICV).Combination of reliable processes for advanced concept - Filling of vias with W as standard wafer process sequence.No plug filling on stack level necessary.Simultanious formation of electrical and mechanical connection.No need for underfiller: large area contacts replace underfiller.Cu / Sn SLID layers $\leq$ $10{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in total are possible Electrical Results.Measurements of Three Layer Stacks on Daisy Chains with 240 Elements.2.5 Ohms per Chain Element.Contribution of Soldering Metal only in the Range of Milliohms.Soldering Contact Resistance ($0.43\Omega$) dominated by Contact Resistance of Barrier and Seed Layer.Tungsten Pin Contribution in the Range of 1 Ohm

• Transactions of the Society of Information Storage Systems
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.96-99
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• 2006

In this research, a wafer-level transfer method of cantilever away on a conventional CMOS circuit has been developed for high density probe-based data storage. The transferred cantilevers were silicon nitride ($Si_3N_4$) cantilevers integrated with poly silicon heaters and piezoelectric sensors, called thermo-piezoelectric $Si_3N_4$ cantilevers. In this process, we did not use a SOI wafer but a conventional p-type wafer for the fabrication of the thermo-piezoelectric $Si_3N_4$ cantilever arrays. Furthermore, we have developed a very simple transfer process, requiring only one step of cantilever transfer process for the integration of the CMOS wafer and cantilevers. Using this process, we have fabricated a single thermo-piezoelectric $Si_3N_4$ cantilever, and recorded 65nm data bits on a PMMA film and confirmed a charge signal at 5nm of cantilever deflection. And we have successfully applied this method to transfer 34 by 34 thermo-piezoelectric $Si_3N_4$ cantilever arrays on a CMOS wafer. We obtained reading signals from one of the cantilevers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.555-556
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• 2006

In recent years, the higher flatness level in wafer shape has been strictly demanded with a high integration of the semiconductor devices. It has become difficult for a conventional wafer preparing process to satisfy those demands. In order to meet those demands, surface grinding with in-feed grinder is adopted. In an in-feed grinding method, a chuck table fur fixing a semiconductor wafrr rotates on its rotation axis with a slight tilt angle to the rotation axis of a cup shaped grinding wheel and the grinding wheel in rotation moves down to grind the wafer. So, stability of the grinder structure is very important to aquire a wafer of good quality. This paper describes the features of the in-feed grinder and some FEM analysis results of the grinder structure.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.825-831
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• 2006

As an increase of chip complexity and level of chip integration, chip input/output (I/O) pad pitches are also drastically reduced. With arrival of high complexity SoC (System on Chip) and SiP (System in Package) products, conventional horizontal type probe card showed its limitation on probing density for wafer level test. To enhance probing density, we proposed new vertical type probe card that has the $70{\mu}m$ probe needle with tungsten wire in $80{\mu}m$ micro-drilled hole in ceramic board. To minimize alignment error, micro-drilling conditions are optimized and epoxy-hardening conditions are also optimized to minimize planarity changes. To apply wafer level test for target devices (T5365 256M SDRAM), designed probe card was characterized by probe needle tension for test, contact resistance measurement, leakage current measurement and the planarity test. Compare to conventional probe card with minimum pitch of $50{\sim}125{\mu}m\;and\;2\;{\Omega}$ of average contact resistance, designed probe card showed only $22{\mu}$ of minimum pitch and $1.5{\Omega}$ of average contact resistance. And also, with the nature of vertical probing style, it showed comparably small contact scratch and it can be applied to bumping type chip test.