Patent US5480835A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5480835A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrical interconnect and method for forming the same
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-05
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Granted: 1996-01-02
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Expires: 2014-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A method for forming an electrical interconnect on a substrate. At least one pad (14) is formed on a substrate (11). The pad (14) is formed having a non-wetting surface (12) and a wettable surface (13). Photoresist (44) is patterned on a substrate (41) forming a cavity on a pad (46) leaving a non-wetting surface (42) and a wettable surface (43) exposed. Interconnect material (56) is formed on a non-wetting surface (52) and a wettable surface (53) of pad 57. Interconnect material (56) is reflowed forming an interconnect ball (74) on a wettable surface (73). Surface tension causes interconnect material (56) when reflowed to flow from a non-wetting surface (72) to the wettable surface (73) and ball up to form the interconnect ball (74).
Inventors
- 👤 Francis J. Carney
- 👤 George F. Carney
- 👤 Douglas G. Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:17
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3452; H05K3/3465; H05K3/3473; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/20; H05K2201/2081; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/04; H05K2203/043; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/01; H10W72/012; H10W72/01231; H10W72/01233; H10W72/01235; H10W72/01251; H10W72/01255; H10W72/01257; H10W72/019; H10W72/20; H10W72/251; H10W72/90; H10W72/921; H10W72/923; H10W72/951; H10W72/952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for forming a pad of an integrated circuit, the method comprising: forming a pad having an exposed surface, a first portion of said exposed surface being a wettable surface and a second portion being a non-wetting surface, said wettable surface and non-wetting surface are electrically conductive; forming a layer of interconnect material on said wettable surface and said non-wetting surface wherein said non-wetting surface increases an area of said exposed surface that allows a thinner layer of interconnect material to be placed on said pad for a given volume of interconnect material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for forming a pad of an integrated circuit, the method comprising: forming a pad having an exposed surface, a first portion of said exposed surface being a wettable surface and a second portion being a non-wetting surface, said wettable surface and non-wetting surface are electrically conductive; forming a layer of interconnect material on said wettable surface and said non-wetting surface wherein said non-wetting surface increases an area of said exposed surface that allows a thinner layer of interconnect material to be placed on said pad for a given volume of interconnect material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 1 including; depositing a non-wetting material on the substrate to form said non-wetting surface of each pad; and depositing a wettable material on a portion of said non-wetting surface of each pad to form said wettable surface of each pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 1 including; depositing a non-wetting material on the substrate to form a portion of each pad; and depositing a wettable material on the substrate adjacent to said non-wetting material on the substrate to form a remaining portion of each pad, wherein said non-wetting and wettable materials respectively form said non-wetting and wettable surfaces on each pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said forming each pad step includes depositing a wettable material on the substrate to form said wettable surface of each pad; and depositing a non-wetting material on a portion of said wettable material of each pad to form said non-wetting surface of each pad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further including patterning photoresist on the substrate on areas other than each pad leaving exposed said wettable surface and non-wetting surface of each pad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as recited in claim 5 further including electroplating an interconnect material on said wettable surface and said non-wetting surface of each pad reflowing said interconnect material, said interconnect material flows from said non-wetting surface to said wettable surface of each pad and balls up due to surface tension of said interconnect material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said electroplating an interconnect material step includes electroplating a layer of tin; and electroplating a layer of lead.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 7 wherein said reflowing said interconnect material step includes heating said layers of tin and lead of each pad until liquefied to form solder whereby surface tension causes said solder to flow from said non-wetting surface to said wettable surface of each pad and to ball up.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 5 further including electroless plating an interconnect material on said wettable surface and said non-wetting surface of each pad reflowing said interconnect material, said interconnect material flows from said non-wetting surface to said wettable surface of each pad and balls up due to surface tension of said interconnect material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 5 further including evaporating interconnect material on said wettable surface and said non-wetting surface of each pad reflowing said interconnect material, said interconnect material flows from said non-wetting surface to said wettable surface of each pad and balls up due to surface tension of said interconnect material.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for forming an electrical interconnect of increased height, the method comprising: forming an electrically conductive pad having an exposed surface, said exposed surface comprising a wettable surface and a non-wetting surface; forming a layer of electrically conductive interconnect material on said wettable surface and non-wetting surface of said pad; reflowing said layer of electrically conductive interconnect material to form an interconnect ball on said wettable area wherein said layer of electrically conductive interconnect material on said non-wetting surface flows to said wettable surface for increasing a volume and height of said interconnect ball.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for forming an electrical interconnect of increased height, the method comprising: forming an electrically conductive pad having an exposed surface, said exposed surface comprising a wettable surface and a non-wetting surface; forming a layer of electrically conductive interconnect material on said wettable surface and non-wetting surface of said pad; reflowing said layer of electrically conductive interconnect material to form an interconnect ball on said wettable area wherein said layer of electrically conductive interconnect material on said non-wetting surface flows to said wettable surface for increasing a volume and height of said interconnect ball.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming a plurality of pads step includes depositing non-wetting materials to form said non-wetting surface, said non-wetting material is chosen from a group consisting of aluminum, chromium, titanium-tungsten, nickel, titanium-tungsten-nitride, and titanium; and depositing wettable material to form said wettable surface, said wettable material is chosen from a group consisting of copper, silver, and gold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming an interconnect material on each pad step includes electroplating said interconnect material on said non-wetting surface and said wettable surface of each pad.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming an interconnect material on each pad step includes electroless plating said interconnect material on said non-wetting surface and said wettable surface of each pad; and reflowing said interconnect material, said interconnect material flows from said non-wetting surface to said wettable surface of each pad and balls up due to surface tension of said interconnect material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming an interconnect material on each pad step includes evaporating said interconnect material on said non-wetting surface and said wettable surface of each pad; reflowing said interconnect material, said interconnect material flows from said non-wetting surface to said wettable surface of each pad and balls up due to surface tension of said interconnect material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said patterning photoresist on the substrate step includes forming photoresist on the substrate having a thickness less than 50 microns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said forming an interconnect material step includes depositing materials on said non-wetting surface and said wettable surface of each pad from a group consisting of tin-lead, tin-bismuth, indium-tin, tin-lead-silver, and tin-gold.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for forming a solder ball of increased height, the method comprising: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of pads, each pad being electrically conductive and having an exposed surface, said exposed surface comprising a non-wetting surface and a wettable surface; patterning photoresist on said substrate wherein said wettable surface and said non-wettable surface of each pad is exposed; electroplating a layer of solder on said exposed surface of each pad wherein said non-wetting surface increases an area of each pad to decrease a thickness of said layer of solder; and reflowing said layer of solder on each pad to a liquid state wherein said solder couples to said Wettable surface of each pad and wherein surface tension of said solder causes said solder to flow from said non-wetting surface of each pad forming a solder ball of increased height on said wettable surface of each pad.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for forming a solder ball of increased height, the method comprising: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of pads, each pad being electrically conductive and having an exposed surface, said exposed surface comprising a non-wetting surface and a wettable surface; patterning photoresist on said substrate wherein said wettable surface and said non-wettable surface of each pad is exposed; electroplating a layer of solder on said exposed surface of each pad wherein said non-wetting surface increases an area of each pad to decrease a thickness of said layer of solder; and reflowing said layer of solder on each pad to a liquid state wherein said solder couples to said Wettable surface of each pad and wherein surface tension of said solder causes said solder to flow from said non-wetting surface of each pad forming a solder ball of increased height on said wettable surface of each pad.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said forming a plurality of pads step includes forming said non-wetting surface of each pad by depositing materials from a group consisting of aluminum, chromium, titanium-tungsten, nickel, titanium-tungsten-nitride, and titanium; and forming said wettable surface of each pad by depositing material from a group consisting of copper, gold, and silver.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said electroplating interconnect material step includes electroplating materials on each pad from a group consisting of tin-lead, tin-bismuth, indium-tin, tin-lead-silver, and tin-gold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-01 | 1999-07-03 | 2000-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-01 | 2003-07-03 | 2004-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-01 | 2007-07-03 | 2008-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |