Integrated circuits - Three dimensional integrated circuits - Part 1: Terminology

IEC 63011-1:2018 provides definitions pertaining to multichip integrated circuits, as vertically stacked dies using through-silicon vias (TSVs) or micro bumps. Terms and definitions related to the fabrication and test of the multichip integrated circuits are also provided.

Circuits intégrés - Circuits intégrés tridimensionnels - Partie 1 : Terminologie

L'IEC 63011-1:2018 donne des définitions relatives aux circuits intégrés multipuces constitués de puces empilées verticalement à l'aide de trous de liaison à travers le silicium ou de microbosses. Des termes et définitions relatifs à la fabrication et aux essais des circuits intégrés multipuces sont également fournis.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
27-Nov-2018
Technical Committee
SC 47A - Integrated circuits
Drafting Committee
WG 7 - TC 47/SC 47A/WG 7
Current Stage
PPUB - Publication issued
Start Date
28-Nov-2018
Completion Date
14-Dec-2018

Overview

IEC 63011-1:2018 is an international standard from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that establishes standardized terminology for three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D ICs). This document provides essential definitions related to multichip integrated circuits, specifically those employing vertically stacked dies interconnected with through-silicon vias (TSVs) or micro bumps. It serves as a foundational reference for stakeholders in semiconductor design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing of 3D integrated circuit technology.

Understanding the commonly accepted terms and definitions is critical for clear communication and streamlined processes across the global electronics and semiconductor industries. IEC 63011-1:2018 facilitates alignment and consistency in documentation, technical specifications, and quality assurance involving advanced 3D IC structures.

Key Topics

IEC 63011-1:2018 covers a comprehensive range of concepts integral to three-dimensional integrated circuits, including:

  • Vertically Stacked Dies: Definitions related to the stacking of multiple semiconductor dies for enhanced density and performance.
  • Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs): Terminology for TSV types (e.g., power TSV, single-drop signal TSV, multiple-drop signal TSV), functioning as vertical electrical connections in stacked devices.
  • Micro Bumps and Interposers: Terms for micro bumps (small conductive spheres) and interposers (electrical interfaces connecting different components).
  • 3D Bonding and Stacking: Processes that join dies or wafers together, ensuring electrical and mechanical integration.
  • 3D Packaging and Test Methods: Coverage of packaging techniques (such as package-on-package, multi-chip-package) and definitions for various test environments and methods in 3D structures.
  • Advanced Integration Methods: Clarification on concepts like system in package (SiP), die stack, flip chip, redistribution layer (RDL), and more.
  • Non-contact Interconnects: Definitions involving connectivity through capacitive and inductive coupling, without physical electrical contact.
  • Performance Considerations: Terms associated with reliability and signal integrity, such as cross talk, electromagnetic immunity, thermal immunity, and timing delay through TSVs.

Applications

IEC 63011-1:2018 terminology is valuable across a wide range of practical applications in the electronics industry, such as:

  • Semiconductor Device Design: Enables engineers and designers to clearly specify requirements for advanced 3D integration and packaging technologies.
  • Manufacturing and Assembly: Assists production teams in implementing and documenting processes related to stacked IC fabrication and testing with precise terminology.
  • Testing and Quality Assurance: Standardizes communication around test methodologies for complex 3D environments, critical for ensuring product reliability and performance.
  • Supply Chain Coordination: Promotes consistency among suppliers, manufacturers, and OEMs by providing a shared vocabulary for procurement and specification of 3D IC components.
  • Research and Development: Supports R&D efforts in developing new types of 3D integrated circuits by providing a recognized foundation for technical discussions and innovation.
  • Documentation and Training: Serves as a reference for creating manuals, datasheets, and educational materials for engineers and technicians.

Related Standards

Several IEC and international standards complement IEC 63011-1:2018, providing additional guidance for design, alignment, and testing of three-dimensional integrated circuits:

  • IEC 63011-2: Integrated circuits - Three dimensional integrated circuits - Part 2: Alignment of stacked dies having fine pitch interconnect
  • IEC 63011-3: Integrated circuits - Three dimensional integrated circuits - Part 3: Model and measurement conditions of through-silicon via
  • IEC Electropedia: The IEC’s online electrotechnical vocabulary, which includes terms from this and related standards
  • IEC 60050 Series: International Electrotechnical Vocabulary, covering general concepts in circuit theory, electromagnetic compatibility, and more

Adhering to these standards ensures harmonization and interoperability within the fast-evolving field of 3D IC technology.

Keywords: 3D integrated circuits, through-silicon vias (TSV), multichip ICs, micro bumps, 3D packaging, semiconductor terminology, IEC 63011-1, stacked dies, interposer, die stacking, electronic standards.

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Frequently Asked Questions

IEC 63011-1:2018 is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its full title is "Integrated circuits - Three dimensional integrated circuits - Part 1: Terminology". This standard covers: IEC 63011-1:2018 provides definitions pertaining to multichip integrated circuits, as vertically stacked dies using through-silicon vias (TSVs) or micro bumps. Terms and definitions related to the fabrication and test of the multichip integrated circuits are also provided.

IEC 63011-1:2018 provides definitions pertaining to multichip integrated circuits, as vertically stacked dies using through-silicon vias (TSVs) or micro bumps. Terms and definitions related to the fabrication and test of the multichip integrated circuits are also provided.

IEC 63011-1:2018 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 31.200 - Integrated circuits. Microelectronics. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

IEC 63011-1:2018 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

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IEC 63011-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-11
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Integrated circuits – Three dimensional integrated circuits –
Part 1: Terminology
Circuits intégrés – Circuits intégrés tridimensionnels –
Partie 1: Terminologie
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IEC 63011-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-11
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Integrated circuits – Three dimensional integrated circuits –

Part 1: Terminology
Circuits intégrés – Circuits intégrés tridimensionnels –

Partie 1: Terminologie
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 31.200 ISBN 978-2-8322-6290-0

– 2 – IEC 63011-1:2018 © IEC 2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative reference . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
3.1 General . 6
3.2 Test method in 3D environment . 8
Bibliography . 12

Figure 1 – Examples of TSVs . 9

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS –
THREE DIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED CIRCUITS –

Part 1: Terminology
FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 63011-1 has been prepared by subcommittee 47A: Integrated
circuits, of IEC technical committee 47: Semiconductor devices.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
47A/1060/FDIS 47A/1064/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 4 – IEC 63011-1:2018 © IEC 2018
A list of all parts in the IEC 63011 series, published under the general title Integrated Circuits
– Three dimensional integrated circuits, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
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colour printer.
INTRODUCTION
High performance electrical system requires a massive data exchange between processing
integrated circuit (IC) and storage IC. Stacked multiple ICs with a large number of vertical
interconnects among dies are an innovative way of providing higher data transfer rate among
dies. In addition to bumps, metal pillars, or metal pads which are traditional ways of
interconnection between dies, through-silicon vias enable to configure the integration of three
or more dies. The integration environment of multichip IC is significantly different from that of
the integration on a printed circuit board. This document describes definitions pertaining to
the multichip ICs.
– 6 – IEC 63011-1:2018 © IEC 2018
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS –
THREE DIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED CIRCUITS –

Part 1: Terminology
1 Scope
This part of IEC 63011 provides definitions pertaining to multichip integrated circuits, as
vertically stacked dies using through-silicon vias (TSVs) or micro bumps. Terms and
definitions related to the fabrication and test of the multichip integrated circuits are also
provided.
2 Normative reference
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their
content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition
cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1 General
The general terms listed below relate to the secondary integration method in vertical direction
using integrated circuits fabricated on a horizontal surface of semiconductor.
3.1.1
interposer
electrical interface that connects one socket or connection to another
Note 1 to entry: The purpose of an interposer is to spread a connection to a wider pitch or to reroute a connection
to a different connection
3.1.2
multichip interconnect technology
technology that allows for the vertical stacking of layers of basic electronic components which
are connected using an interconnect fabric are as follows:
Note 1 to entry: "Basic electronic components” are elementary circuit devices such as transistors, diodes,
resistors, capacitors and inductors.
Note 2 to entry: A special case of multichip interconnect technology is the interposer structures that may only
contain interconnect layers, although in many cases other basic electronic components (in particular decoupling
capacitors) may be embedded into the interposer.

3.1.3
3-D bonding
process that joins two die or wafer surfaces together multiple surfaces mechanically or
electrically
EXAMPLE: Die-to-die, die-to-wafer, wafer-to-wafer
3.1.4
3-D stacking
3-D bonding operation that assumes electrical interconnects between the two devices
3.1.5
3-D packaging
3-D integration of multiple dies using wire bonding, package-on-package stacking, or
embedding in printed circuit boards
3.1.6
3-D wafer-level-packaging
3-D WLP
3-D integration using wafer level packaging technologies, performed after wafer fabrication,
which consists of flip-chip redistribution, redistribution interconnect, fan-in chip-size
packaging, and fan-out reconstructed wafer chip-scale packaging
Note 1 to entry: This note applies to the French language only.
3.1.7
redistribution layer
RDL
extra metal layer on a chip that makes the IO pads of an integrated circuit available in other
locations
Note 1 to entry: This note applies to the French language only.
3.1.8
system in package
SIP
integration of multiple dies, packages, or mixture of them as system in a package
Note 1 to entry: This note applies to the French language only.
3.1.9
3-D stacked integrated circuit
3-D approach using direct interconnects without wire bonding between integrated circuits of
multiple dies
Note 1 to entry: The 3-D stack uses a sequence of alternating front-end (devices) and back-end (interconnect)
layers.
3.1.10
3-D integrated circuit
3-D IC
3-D approach using direct stacking of active devices
Note 1 to entry: Interconnects are on the local on-chip interconnect levels. The 3-D stack is characterized by a
stack of front-end devices, combined with a common back-end interconnect stack.
Note 2 to entry: This note applies to the French language only.

– 8 – IEC 63011-1:2018 © IEC 2018
3.2 Test method in 3D environment
3.2.1
package stack
integrated circuit packaging method to combine vertically discrete logic and memory ball grid
array (BGA) packages
Note 1 to entry: Two or more packages are installed atop each other.
3.2.2
package-on-package
POP
package in which multiple packages are enclosed
Note 1 to entry: This note applies to the French language only.
3.2.3
multi-chip-package
MCP
package in which multiple dies are stacked vertically or placed side-by-side
Note 1 to entry: This note applies to the French language only.
3.2.4
die stack
chip in which two or more layers of active electronic components are integrated both vertically
and horizontally into a single circuit
3.2.5
contacting die stack
chip in which two or more layers of active electronic components are integrated and signals
between multiple layers are transferred via physical and electrical contacts
3.2.6
bump
stud of metal protruded on the surface of die to provide the physical and electrical contact
3.2.7
micro bump
small size bump to make an electrical contact between two dies
3.2.8
flip chip
die mounted with face down
3.2.9
through-silicon via
TSV
vertical interconnect access passing completely through a silicon wafer or die
Note 1 to entry: Examples of TSVs are shown in Figure 1.

Key
a power TSV;
b single drop signal TSV;
c multiple drop signal TSV;
d inter-die jumper;
e stacked inter-die jumper.
Figure 1 – Examples of TSVs
3.2.10
power TSV
TSV intended to deliver power from one layer to another layer of stacked silicon wafers or
dies
Note 1 to entry: Examples are shown in Figure 1.
3.2.11
single drop signal TSV
TSV intended to deliver electric signals from one layer to another layer of stacked silicon
wafers or dies
Note 1 to entry: An example is shown in Figure 1.
3.2.12
multiple drop signal TSV
TSV intended to deliver electric signals from one layer to multiple layers of stacked silicon
wafers or dies
Note 1 to entry: An example is shown in Figure 1.
3.2.13
inter-die jumper
TSV bridging circuits between adjacent two layers of stacked dies, that is not connected to
the output pin of the package
Note 1 to entry: An example is shown in Figure 1.

– 10 – IEC 63011-1:2018 © IEC 2018
3.2.14
single drop signal pin
TSV connecting the first die and to a pin of the package
3.2.15
multiple drop signal pin
TSV connecting delivering a signal from a pin of the package to multiple layers of dies
3.2.16
keep-out zone
KOZ
area around TSV in which it is recommended not to be occupied with active circuits because
the electrical properties are modified by the mechanical distortion by TSV
Note 1 to entry: This note applies to the French language only.
3.2.17
non-contacting die stack
chip in which two or more layers of active electronic components are integrated and signals
between the multiple layers are transferred without physical contacts
3.2.17.1
capacitive coupling
coupling between electric circuit elements, by which a voltage between the terminals of one of
them gives rise to an electric charge in another element
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-131:2002, 131-12-31]
3.2.17.2
inductive coupling
coupling between electric circuit elements, by which an electric current in one of them gives
rise to a linked flux between the terminals of another element
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-131:2002, 131-12-33]
3.2.18
cross-point
feature or device formed at the cross-section dimension of specific row and specific column
3.2.19
vertical transistor
transistor made to transport the charge in vertical direction
3.2.20
through-silicon via
vertical electrical connection passing completely through a silicon wafer or die
3.2.21
alignment key
apparatus to monitor or adjust the alignment of the overlaid dies
3.2.22
capacitive alignment
alignment method using differentiation of capacitance, where the maximum capacitance
appears when the top and bottom plates or chips perfectly overlap

3.2.23
inductive alignment
alignment method using differentiation of inductance, where the maximum capacitance
appears when the top and bottom plates or chips perfectly overlap
3.2.24
capacitance test
measurement of the capacitance incorporated with the t
...

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