Microelectronic integrated circuit mounted on circuit board with solder column grid array interconnection, and method of fabricating the solder column grid array

Abstract

An integrated circuit is mounted on and interconnected with a circuit board by an array of electrically conductive columns. The assembly is fabricated by initially interconnecting the integrated circuit and the circuit board with an array of reflowable electrically conductive solder balls that correspond to the columns respectively. The circuit board is held with the integrated circuit extending downwardly therefrom. Sufficient heat is applied to cause the solder balls to reflow. The integrated circuit is pulled downwardly away from the circuit board by gravity such that the balls are stretched to form the columns, and the assembly is allowed to cool such that the columns solidify. A fixture may be provided against which the integrated circuit abuts after it has moved away from the circuit board by a predetermined distance such that the columns have a precisely determined height.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.