Embedded die packaging for semiconductor devices and methods of fabrication wherein conductive vias are provided to interconnect contact areas on the die and package interconnect areas. Before embedding, a protective masking layer is provided selectively on regions of the electrical contact areas where vias are to be formed by laser drilling. The material of the protective masking layer is selected to protect against over-drilling and/or to control absorption properties of surface of the pad metal to reduce absorption of laser energy during laser drilling of micro-vias, thereby mitigating physical damage, overheating or other potential damage to the semiconductor device. The masking layer may be resistant to surface treatment of other regions of the electrical contact areas, e.g. to increase surface roughness to promote adhesion of package dielectric.

An electronic package and a method for manufacturing is provided, having first and opposing second surfaces, and a circuit thereon, each of the first and second surfaces has a terminal connected to the circuit; a conductive element spaced apart from the die with top and a bottom surfaces; a body of molding compound encapsulating the die and the element, the body having a top side facing the first surface and a bottom side facing the second surface; a first package terminal at the top side connected to the terminal at the first surface, and a second package terminal at the top side connected to the top surface of the conductive element, the conductive element is formed from the first package terminal and the second package terminal; and a conductive layer connecting the bottom surface of the conductive element to the terminal arranged on the second surface of the die.

A preferred aim of the invention is to provide technique for improving reliability of semiconductor devices when using a low-dielectric-constant film having a lower dielectric constant than a silicon oxide film to a part of an interlayer insulating film. More specifically, to achieve the preferred aim, an interlayer insulating film IL1 forming a first fine layer is formed of a middle-Young's-modulus film, and thus it is possible to separate an integrated high-Young's-modulus layer (a semiconductor substrate 1S and a contact interlayer insulating film CIL) and an interlayer insulating film (a low-Young's-modulus film; a low-dielectric-constant film) IL2 forming a second fine layer not to let them directly contact with each other, and stress can be diverged. As a result, film exfoliation of the interlayer insulating film IL2 formed of a low-Young's-modulus film can be prevented and thus reliability of semiconductor devices can be improved.

A preferred aim of the invention is to provide technique for improving reliability of semiconductor devices when using a low-dielectric-constant film having a lower dielectric constant than a silicon oxide film to a part of an interlayer insulating film. More specifically, to achieve the preferred aim, an interlayer insulating film IL1 forming a first fine layer is formed of a middle-Young's-modulus film, and thus it is possible to separate an integrated high-Young's-modulus layer (a semiconductor substrate 1S and a contact interlayer insulating film CIL) and an interlayer insulating film (a low-Young's-modulus film; a low-dielectric-constant film) IL2 forming a second fine layer not to let them directly contact with each other, and stress can be diverged. As a result, film exfoliation of the interlayer insulating film IL2 formed of a low-Young's-modulus film can be prevented and thus reliability of semiconductor devices can be improved.

Wafer processing techniques, or methods for forming semiconductor rides, are disclosed for fabricating plated pillar dies having die-level electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield layers. In embodiments, the method includes depositing a metallic seed layer over a semiconductor wafer and contacting die pads thereon. An electroplating process is then performed to compile plated pillars on the metallic seed layer and across the semiconductor wafer. Following electroplating, selected regions of the metallic seed layer are removed to produce electrical isolation gaps around a first pillar type, while leaving intact portions of the metallic seed layer to yield a wafer-level EMI shield layer. The semiconductor wafer is separated into singulated plated pillar dies, each including a die-level EMI shield layer and plated pillars of the first pillar type electrically isolated from the EMI shield layer.

A technique for marking semiconductor devices with an identifiable mark or alphanumeric text yields a high-contrast, easily distinguishable mark on an electrical terminal of the device without impacting the device's breakdown voltage capability and without compromising the solderability and wire bondability of the terminal. This approach deposits the mark on the terminal as a patterned layer of palladium, which offers good contrast with the base metal of the terminal and maintains the solderability and bondability of the terminal.

A semiconductor device has a substrate with first and second conductive layers formed over first and second opposing surfaces of the substrate. A plurality of bumps is formed over the substrate. A semiconductor die is mounted to the substrate between the bumps. An encapsulant is deposited over the substrate and semiconductor die. A portion of the bumps extends out from the encapsulant. A portion of the encapsulant is removed to expose the substrate. An interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant and semiconductor die and electrically coupled to the bumps. A portion of the substrate can be removed to expose the first or second conductive layer. A portion of the substrate can be removed to expose the bumps. The substrate can be removed and a protection layer formed over the encapsulant and semiconductor die. A semiconductor package is disposed over the substrate and electrically connected to the substrate.

A semiconductor device has a substrate with first and second conductive layers formed over first and second opposing surfaces of the substrate. A plurality of bumps is formed over the substrate. A semiconductor die is mounted to the substrate between the bumps. An encapsulant is deposited over the substrate and semiconductor die. A portion of the bumps extends out from the encapsulant. A portion of the encapsulant is removed to expose the substrate. An interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant and semiconductor die and electrically coupled to the bumps. A portion of the substrate can be removed to expose the first or second conductive layer. A portion of the substrate can be removed to expose the bumps. The substrate can be removed and a protection layer formed over the encapsulant and semiconductor die. A semiconductor package is disposed over the substrate and electrically connected to the substrate.

A method of manufacturing a power module comprising two substrates is provided, wherein the method comprises disposing a compensation layer of a first thickness above a first substrate; disposing a second substrate above the compensation layer; and reducing the thickness of the compensation layer from the first thickness to a second thickness after the second substrate is disposed on the compensation layer.

A method of manufacturing a power module comprising two substrates is provided, wherein the method comprises disposing a compensation layer of a first thickness above a first substrate; disposing a second substrate above the compensation layer; and reducing the thickness of the compensation layer from the first thickness to a second thickness after the second substrate is disposed on the compensation layer.