A crystal controlled oscillator includes a crystal unit, an integrated circuit, and an insulating resin. The crystal unit contains a crystal vibrating piece resonating at a predetermined frequency. The integrated circuit places the crystal unit. The integrated circuit includes an oscillator circuit oscillating the crystal vibrating piece. The insulating resin is formed to cover the crystal unit on the integrated circuit.

A semiconductor device includes a metal column that extends in a stretching direction; a polymer layer that surrounds the metal column from a direction crossing the stretching direction; and a guide that surrounds the polymer layer in the crossing direction so as to be spaced from the metal column with the polymer layer interposed therebetween. A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices includes a step of filling a mixture containing metal particles and polymers in a guide; and a step of subjecting the mixture to a heat treatment so that the polymers agglomerate to the guide to form a polymer layer that makes contact with the guide and the metal particles agglomerate away from the guide with the polymer layer interposed therebetween to form a metal column that stretches in a stretching direction of the guide from the metal particles.

A thin film element that includes a base material, a wiring conductor film disposed on the surface of the base material, a protective film that covers the surface of at least the wiring conductor film, an outer electrode, and a first resist film and a second resist film that cover the surface of the protective film. The protective film has a contact hole at a location overlapping the wiring conductor film. The outer electrode is disposed in the contact hole and on the surface of the wiring conductor film. The outer electrode is thicker than the protective film and has a side surface. The first resist film is in contact with the entire circumference of the side surface of the outer electrode, and the second resist film is disposed at a distance from the side surface of the outer electrode and the first resist film.

The disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit structure for joining wafers and methods of forming same. The IC structure may include: a metallic pillar over a substrate, the metallic pillar including an upper surface; a wetting inhibitor layer about a periphery of the upper surface of the metallic pillar; and a solder material over the upper surface of the metallic pillar, the solder material being within and constrained by the wetting inhibitor layer. The sidewall of the metallic pillar may be free of the solder material. The method may include: forming a metallic pillar over a substrate, the metallic pillar having an upper surface; forming a wetting inhibitor layer about a periphery of the upper surface of the metallic pillar; and forming a solder material over the upper surface of the metallic pillar within and constrained by the wetting inhibitor layer.

Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate, and a passivation layer disposed over the substrate and a first portion of the contact pad. A post passivation interconnect (PPI) line is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled to a second portion of the contact pad. A PPI pad is disposed over the passivation layer. A transition element is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled between the PPI line and the PPI pad. The transition element comprises a first side and a second side coupled to the first side. The first side and the second side of the transition element are non-tangential to the PPI pad.

Wafers include multiple bulk redistribution layers. A terminal contact pad is on a surface of one of the bulk redistribution layers. A final redistribution layer is formed on the surface and in contact with the terminal contact pad. The final redistribution layer is formed from a material other than a material of the plurality of bulk redistribution layers. A solder ball is formed on the terminal contact pad.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pad over the semiconductor substrate, a conductor over the conductive pad, a polymeric material over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the conductor, and a seed layer between the polymeric material and the conductor. A top surface of the conductor, a top surface of the polymeric material and a top surface of the seed layer are substantially coplanar.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate includes a first layer and a second layer over the first layer, a bump disposed over the second layer, a molding disposed over the second layer and surrounding the bump, and a retainer disposed over the second layer, wherein the retainer is disposed between the molding and a periphery of the substrate. Further, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate, disposing several bumps on the substrate, disposing a retainer on the substrate and surrounding the bumps, and disposing a molding between the bumps and the retainer.

A multi-chip system includes a top chip stack element comprising a top chip having two major surfaces and top solder pads arrayed along a plane of one of the major surfaces; a bottom chip stack element comprising a bottom substrate having two major surfaces and bottom solder pads arrayed along a plane of one of the major surfaces; one or more solder reservoir pads connected to one or more of the top solder pads or of the bottom solder pads; and solder material; and wherein at least one of the top solder pads is connected to one of the bottom solder pads by one of the solder material.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductor provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer disposed to cover a surface of the conductor and having a recess from a surface thereof towards the conductor, the recess having an opening provided at a bottom portion of the recess and exposing a portion of the conductor, and an external connection terminal connected to the portion of the conductor exposed from the opening. In a plan view of the semiconductor device, the external connection terminal covers the entire opening, and the entire external connection terminal is within the recess.