An Efficient Bump Pad Design to Mitigate the Flip Chip Package Induced Stress

A numerical analysis using Finite Element Models of different stress buffer configurations has been proposed for improving the reliability of solder joints and at the same time decrease the induced stresses in the back-end-of-line (BEOL). A non-underfilled Flip Chip with a silicon die size of 10×10 mm² mounted on a FR4 board has been used as test vehicle. The die to substrate interconnection is done by using copper pillars and Sn solder with a diameter of 50 μm and a total standoff of 50 μm. The thickness of the passivation, a copper pedestal fabricated as a redistribution I/O pad and a polymeric buffer layer with different geometric configurations were used in combination to minimize the induced stresses in the BEOL and increase the flexibility of the copper pillar interconnections. It was found that a stiff layer below the copper pillar has the major contribution to reduce the stress in the BEOL, while the softer buffer layer minimizes the induced plastic strain in the solder interconnection. Fabrication of the samples with optimal configuration are under progress.