
Electronic equipment constantly
undergoes cycles of alternate expansion and
stabilization of function. In my opinion,
systemization discussion will be impossible
without the concept of the expansion and
stabilization of electronic equipment functions.
For example, the electronic calculator
has evolved with a basically fixed function, and
has incorporated SOCs. Conversely, the PC is still
developing, so it has not incorporated SOCs. As
long as its function continues to expand, the
product will be based not on an SOC, but with an
SOB (System on Board). The same currently
applies to mobile phones. However, when a
certain degree of functional stabilization begins,
the equipment's functional components first
become SOPs, then SOCs. This process is also
related to the size of the product's system. This is
shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 3: CSPs as system package
Recently, stacked CSP technology used
for 3D-mounting packages for systems, has
attracted attention as an SOP technique. For
mobile phones, progress has been made toward
the mass production of flash memory and SRAM
combination memory. This type of memory is
used for baseband processor programs and phone
number lists in mobile phones. This has
contributed to greater compactness and lighter
weight, and led de facto standardization. Japan has
emerged as a leader in this area, with the
technology spreading subsequently to Europe and
the USA. A time lag of about one year is required
for each step of this dissemination process.
Japanese package technology is becoming the
world's de facto standard technology.
Sharp is a leader in this area, and has
played a leading role in the system package area.
However, such massive global adoption was not
predicted during its original development.
Stacked CSP technology is still in its
infancy, and memory/memory combinations are
still flawed from the system standpoint.
Limitations also exist in the ways in which they
can be combined. However, progress in
combining logic devices will also continue.
Furthermore, the remaining passive components
will be almost certainly be incorporated as
package materials, and IC peripheral circuits will
become a single package module incorporating a
3D-stacked IC.
Fig. 4 shows current development
trends for both CSPs, which have had a significant
historical impact on the development of package
technology, and 3D-stacked package technology.
Fig. 4: Development trends in CSPs and 3D-
stacked packages
4. 3D-stacked package technology
Previously, 3D package technology has
been developed for military purposes and other
high-end applications. However, development
aimed at low-cost, high production volume for
civilian applications is beginning in Japan, as
explained below. This development is occurring as
follows. In 1999, 3D-stacked package
technology began to divide into package-stacked,
chip-stacked and wafer-stacked technologies. In
engineering terms, package-stacked is
comparatively easy, although it is hard to create a
CSP. Wafer-stacked is the most technically
complex, and commercialization is not expected
for some time. Chip-stacked is an extension of
current technology. Despite being an intermediate
technology, conversion to CSP is possible, so it is
currently the most suitable candidate for achieving
combination memory in mobile phones. Clearly,
the time is a critical factor for the success of any
given technology.
For package-stacked, multi-level
stacking has been reportedly employed to
successfully construct high-capacity memory. The
characteristics of each type of stacked technology
are shown in Fig. 5.
De v e lo p me n t tr e n d s
Wafer level CSP>Cost reduction
High perform ance>for Adv.DRAM
Stacking>for System Integration
or High density m em ory
Stacked Package
W afer level>Future technology
C h ip le v el> Ext e n d c u r r e n t te ch n olo gy
Packag e level>Cu rrent techn ology
De v e lo p me n t tr e n d s
Wafer level CSP>Cost reduction
High perform ance>for Adv.DRAM
Stacking>for System Integration
or High density m em ory
Stacked Package
W afer level>Future technology
C h ip le v el> Ext e n d c u r r e n t te ch n olo gy
Packag e level>Cu rrent techn ology
In the future
Stabiliz a tion of Function
Stabiliz a tion of Function
Small System(Ex. Calcu lator)
Small System(Ex. Calcu lator)
SOP
SOP
In the past Today
SOB
SOB
SSOC
SSOC SSOC
SSOC SOC
SOC
1234567890
SOP
SOP
In the past Today
SOB
SOB
SSOC
SSOC SSOC
SSOC SOC
SOC
12345678901234567890
Expansion of Function
Expansion of Function
Large Syst em( E x. PC)
Large Syst em( E x. PC)
SOB
SOB SOB
SOB
SSOP
SSOP
SSOC
SSOC
SSOC
SSOC
SOB
SOB SOB
SOB
SSOP
SSOP
SSOC
SSOC
SSOC
SSOC SOB
SOB
SSOP
SSOP
SSOC
SSOC
SOB
SOB
SSOP
SSOP
SSOC
SSOC
SOC
SOC
SOC
SOC
SSOC:Sub
SSOC:Sub-
-System on Chip
System on Chip
SSOP:Sub
SSOP:Sub-
-System on Packag
System on Package