Through silicon via: From the CMOS imager sensor wafer level package to the 3D integration

A wide range of requests coming from customer appears to demonstrate the feasibility of the TSV for a large range of via size and via AR either for process point of view or for performances point of view. The main application in the market is the CIVICS image sensor with the integration of via at AR1. Now based on this first wafer level package of CMOS Image Sensor (CIS), the integration on the z axe will continue by the wafer lens integration for a continuous form factor and low cost module. First 3Di applications with TSV is entering the market with the via-last approach, more simply to be developed in semiconductor manufacturing in order to secure the 3Di technologies and to promote the 3Di to customers. Then specific design and electrical models will be developed and optimized allowing a fast and prosperous development of the via-first approach. A challenge in the modelisation of the TSV is the understanding of the mechanical impact of the trench and the metal filling on the behavior of the CIVICS components and the reliability. These types of researches are progressing in various institutes and are essential for an increasing integration of TSV. Because actually, the technology continues to drive the 3D roadmap, the mechanical and thermal modelisation and 3D design tool need to be more activated to be developed faster in order to optimize the 3D module. Then the electrical testing will be a real challenge to be able to distinguish drift in the right strata, to be able to isolate a via within more than 10000 via in a module. The electrical testing will be strictly linked to mechanical and electrical failure analysis to get feed-back in technology, actual drawback of the 3D development. The cost of the 3Di and the TSV integration is more and more important and looks as a primary driver even if the functionalities increase faster than cost! Some steps have been already identified to be more costly steps: bonding and via filling. Indeed, throughput and material used have a direct impact on the final price. Continuous perspectives of TSV integration are progressing in order to optimise actual applications or to develop new integration. First challenging integration is the interposers with 3D interconnection allowing devices mounting on both side, like passive device integration or building of micro-cooling channels. The main interest of the 3D silicon interposer is the fact that it can connect chips at different locations and sizes, as example memory over digital IC. The usage of silicon as an interposer leads to an increase in the cost, but it will boost performances and reduce power consumption. One other advantage of the introduction of 3D interposer is the simplification of the required substrate implying a better mismatch of CTE lowering the packaging failure. In the wafer level package, TSV is now introduced to reduce the package footprint and mainly simplify the capping of device, similar to that for the MEMS. Indeed by integrating TSV, the capping must only protect the device against external environment, and not also take into account the electrical path in the bond layer degrading the hermiticity performance. To finish this paper, the sentence of Yann Guillou is the right situation: The (3D) roadmaps need to be based on application requirements and not driven by technology ONLY. 3D Integration with TSV is not a scaling based concept Does it make sense today to think about submicron via diameter or dice thinner than 30 mu m for example? Applications need to take a risk by using 3D TSV technology! (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.