In an embodiment, a method includes: stacking a plurality of first dies to form a device stack; revealing testing pads of a topmost die of the device stack; testing the device stack using the testing pads of the topmost die; and after testing the device stack, forming bonding pads in the topmost die, the bonding pads being different from the testing pads.

A semiconductor element bonding structure capable of strongly bonding a semiconductor element and an object to be bonded and relaxing thermal stress caused by a difference in thermal expansion, by interposing metal particles and Ni between the semiconductor element and the object to be bonded, the metal particles having a lower hardness than Ni and having a micro-sized particle diameter. A plurality of metal particles 5 (aluminum (Al), for example) having a lower hardness than nickel (Ni) and having a micro-sized particle diameter are interposed between a semiconductor chip 3 and a substrate 2 to be bonded to the semiconductor chip 3, and the metal particles 5 are fixedly bonded by the nickel (Ni). Optionally, aluminum (Al) or an aluminum alloy (Al alloy) is used as the metal particles 5, and aluminum (Al) or an aluminum alloy (Al alloy) is used on the surface of the semiconductor chip 3 and/or the surface of the substrate 2.

A semiconductor element bonding structure capable of strongly bonding a semiconductor element and an object to be bonded and relaxing thermal stress caused by a difference in thermal expansion, by interposing metal particles and Ni between the semiconductor element and the object to be bonded, the metal particles having a lower hardness than Ni and having a micro-sized particle diameter. A plurality of metal particles 5 (aluminum (Al), for example) having a lower hardness than nickel (Ni) and having a micro-sized particle diameter are interposed between a semiconductor chip 3 and a substrate 2 to be bonded to the semiconductor chip 3, and the metal particles 5 are fixedly bonded by the nickel (Ni). Optionally, aluminum (Al) or an aluminum alloy (Al alloy) is used as the metal particles 5, and aluminum (Al) or an aluminum alloy (Al alloy) is used on the surface of the semiconductor chip 3 and/or the surface of the substrate 2.

A method of bonding semiconductor components is described. In one aspect a first component, for example a semiconductor die, is bonded to a second component, for example a semiconductor wafer or another die, by direct metal-metal bonds between metal bumps on one component and corresponding bumps or contact pads on the other component. In addition, a number of solder bumps are provided on one of the components, and corresponding contact areas on the other component, and fast solidified solder connections are established between the solder bumps and the corresponding contact areas, without realizing the metal-metal bonds. The latter metal-metal bonds are established in a heating step performed after the soldering step. This enables a fast bonding process applied to multiple dies bonded on different areas of the wafer and/or stacked one on top of the other, followed by a single heating step for realizing metal-metal bonds between the respective dies and the wafer or between multiple stacked dies. The method allows to improve the throughput of the bonding process, as the heating step takes place only once for a plurality of dies and/or wafers.

A method of bonding semiconductor components is described. In one aspect a first component, for example a semiconductor die, is bonded to a second component, for example a semiconductor wafer or another die, by direct metal-metal bonds between metal bumps on one component and corresponding bumps or contact pads on the other component. In addition, a number of solder bumps are provided on one of the components, and corresponding contact areas on the other component, and fast solidified solder connections are established between the solder bumps and the corresponding contact areas, without realizing the metal-metal bonds. The latter metal-metal bonds are established in a heating step performed after the soldering step. This enables a fast bonding process applied to multiple dies bonded on different areas of the wafer and/or stacked one on top of the other, followed by a single heating step for realizing metal-metal bonds between the respective dies and the wafer or between multiple stacked dies. The method allows to improve the throughput of the bonding process, as the heating step takes place only once for a plurality of dies and/or wafers.

A package includes a package substrate including an insulating layer having a trench and a package component bonded to the package substrate. The package component includes a redistribution structure, an optical die bonded to the redistribution structure, the optical die including an edge coupler near a first sidewall of the optical die, a dam structure on the redistribution structure near the first sidewall of the optical die, a first underfill between the optical die and the redistribution structure, an encapsulant encapsulating the optical die, and an optical glue in physical contact with the first sidewall of the optical die. The first underfill does not extend along the first sidewall of the optical die. The optical glue separates the dam structure from the encapsulant. The package further includes a second underfill between the insulating layer and the package component. The second underfill is partially disposed in the trench.

A semiconductor module includes a housing, a pin arranged in the housing and including a first contact region which has a press-fit connection, a semiconductor component arranged in the housing and electrically conductively connected to the pin, and a first substrate arranged in the housing and clamped in the housing via the pin by a non-positive locking connection, which, when formed, causes the press-fit connection to be deformed elastically and/or plastically with the first substrate. The first substrate has a first recess which is open and at least in part encompasses the pin in the first contact region. A metallic coating is applied to the first substrate at least in a region of the first recess so as to electrically conductively connect the first substrate to the semiconductor component, and a second substrate is in contact with the pin and connected within the housing in a non-releasable manner.

Microelectronic assemblies, and related devices and methods, are disclosed herein. For example, in some embodiments, a microelectronic assembly may include a package substrate having a core substrate with a first conductive structure having a first thickness on the core substrate, and a second conductive structure having a second thickness on the core substrate, where the first thickness is different than the second thickness.

Microelectronic assemblies, and related devices and methods, are disclosed herein. For example, in some embodiments, a microelectronic assembly may include a package substrate having a core substrate with a first conductive structure having a first thickness on the core substrate, and a second conductive structure having a second thickness on the core substrate, where the first thickness is different than the second thickness.

An integrated circuit component includes a semiconductor substrate, conductive pads, a passivation layer and conductive vias. The semiconductor substrate has an active surface. The conductive pads are located on the active surface of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate, and the conductive pads each have a contact region and a testing region, where in each of the conductive pads, an edge of the contact region is in contact with an edge of the testing region. The passivation layer is located on the semiconductor substrate, where the conductive pads are located between the semiconductor substrate and the passivation layer, and the testing regions and the contact regions of the conductive pads are exposed by the passivation layer. The conductive vias are respectively located on the contact regions of the conductive pads.