A Method for Reducing the Number of Metal Layers for Embedded LSI Package

We have successfully demonstrated a high-pin-count and thin embedded-LSI package to realize next generation's mobile terminals. The following three design key points were applied: (i) Using Cu posts, (ii) Using the coreless structure, (iii) Using a Cu plate as the ground plane. In order to quantitatively determine the contribution of the three points, the five-stage process for reducing the number of metal layers is described by means of the electrical simulation. The point-(i) and (ii) are effective from the viewpoint of the power integrity (PI); that is, these points play important roles in reducing the number of metal layers, and especially the point-(ii) contributes at least twice as the point-(i). The point-(iii) is not effective in the PI, but has a few effects on the signal integrity (SI). For reducing the number of metal layers, we should, at first, pay attention whether the PI characteristics fulfill the specification, and then we should confirm the SI characteristics.