Hermetically sealed ceramic package

A method of forming a hermetically sealed package for accessing selected electrodes of an electronic package having a multiplicity of electrodes comprising the steps of:

• forming a base member having top and bottom surfaces;
• defining a space on the top surface of the base member for locating the electronic device;
• corresponding to each electrode of the electronic device to be accessed forming a hole in a selected regions of the base member;
• each hole extending from the top to the bottom surface of the base member;
• forming a groove corresponding to each one of said holes along the bottom surface of the base member extending from hole ending at the bottom surface and running to the outer periphery of the base member;
• plating the holes and grooves with materials for facilitating the subsequent sealing of the holes;
• securely attaching the electronic device to the top surface of the base member within the defined space;
• inserting a conductive lead along each groove and hole, one end of each lead extending vertically above the top surface of the base member and the other end of each lead extending horizontally beyond the outer periphery of the base member;
• connecting the vertical end of selected leads to selected electrodes of the electronic device;
• hermetically sealing the holes with their respective conductive leads in place within the holes;
• mounting a lid over the top surface of the base member covering the electronic device and the leads extending above the top surface of the base member;
• and
• hermetically sealing the bottom rim of the lid to the top surface of the base member for providing an hermetically sealed package.

A hermetically sealed package comprising:

• a base member of electrically non-conductive material having an outer periphery and having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• means securely mounting an electronic device having a multiplicity of electrodes onto said top surface;
• and wherein said electronic device has “n” electrodes which are to be accessed;
• means for accessing the electrodes of the electronic device comprising:
• a—for each one of said electrodes to be accessed a preformed thru-hole in said base member extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the base member;
• b—corresponding to each one of said thru-holes there is preformed a furrow along the bottom surface of the base member, each furrow extending from the intersection of its corresponding thru hole with the bottom surface of the base member to the outer periphery of the base member;
• c—a lead of conductive material, one lead per thru-hole and its corresponding furrow, each one of said lead being shaped to fit within and along a furrow and its corresponding hole;
• each lead extending vertically through its hole a given distance above the top surface of the base member and each lead extending horizontally co-planarly with the bottom surface of the base member a given distance beyond the outer periphery of the base member;
• means brazing each lead within its hole for forming a hermetic seal between the lead and the inner surfaces of the hole;
• selected ones of the leads being electrically insulated from the other leads and selected ones of the leads being wire bonded to selected electrodes of the electronic device;
• and
• a lid mounted over the top surface of the base member covering the electronic device and the leads extending above the top surface of the base member, said lid having a bottom rim brazed to the top surface of the base member for providing an hermetically sealed package.