Just in time for the Super Bowl and like the “Stub Hub” commercial below, in Figure 1, “You can’t have your Fan-out in here”. So what’s all this hype on Fan-out Wafer Level Packaging (FO-WLP)?
FAN IN WLP
First, let us define Fan-In WLP.
Fan In WLP means the flip chip interconnects are within the outline of the die as shown in Figure 2. Typically, integrated circuit die have peripheral I/O bonding pads, which are routed to a “X-Y” grid in rows and columns as shown in Figure 2. This is accomplished by adding another thin film conductor layer over a polyimide passivation called a redistribution layer (RDL).
Fan Out WLP means that the flip chip interconnects extend outside the outline of the example 3 mm die as shown in Figure 4. By extending the connections outside the die outline, a reduced I/O pitch is obtained.
WHY IS FAN OUT WLP SO IMPORTANT2,3 ?
- Eliminates die interconnect (bumps and wire bonds) and substrate
- Excellent Electrical Performance – Shorter interconnects = Lower parasitic
- Eliminate interconnect stress and ELK (extreme low dielectric constant) crack delamination issues
- Fine Line/Space (L/S) for better RDL “route-ability”
- Finer pad pitch on die than flip chip
- Thin package, Smaller Form Factor, Potential System in Package (SiP), Multi-die, 3D Solutions
- – High integration – Heterogeneous chips including passives and /or Integrated Passive Devices (IPD)
- With die size reduction and higher pin count manufacturers will have two options:
- Reducing ball pitch in order to have more connections within the die surface
- Going Fan-Out and allowing an easier redistribution
- Since pitch reduction is very challenging, Fan-Out approach is offering a good compromise on next level (board) surface mount technology (SMT)
Conclusion:
Dan Tracy, SEMI, stated, “packaging is a key enabler of functionality in the mobile space ─ due to thin, small form factor multi-die and SiP applications growing. He also stressed that Fan-out wafer-level packaging (FO-WLP) is disruptive and will have a significant impact on the consumption of semiconductor packaging materials in the coming years.”
References
- “Overview of Fan-out Wafer Level Package (FO WLP) and Fan -out Panel Level Package (FO-PLP)”, Charlie Lu, Altera
- “Introduction to Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging” Beth Keser, Qualcomm
- Introduction to Advanced Microelectronic Packaging Technologies Course/Training, TJ Green Associates LLC. See description below

A few readers hav asked me for the link to Figure 1….
Here's the link for the commercial
or click on “Figure 1” or in the blog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OigYTHnDZk
thanks
Tom
Dear Readers
Mia aculpa for the dead link
go to GM Systems web site gmsystems-dot-com
about
t2 blogs
the pdf file is there at the bottom of the blog
sorry not to give a link but Planet analog doesn't alllow any urls
kind of crummy
regrds
tom Terlizzi
Dear Readers
Mia aculpa for the dead link
go to GM Systems web site gmsystems-dot-com
about
t2 blogs
the pdf file is there at the bottom of the blog
sorry not to give a link but Planet analog doesn't alllow any urls
kind of crummy
regrds
tom Terlizzi