Integrated circuit package having posts for connection to other packages and substrates

An integrated circuit package comprising:

• a plastic body having a first side, an opposite second side, and a plurality of metal-coated plastic posts each extending integrally from the body;
• a plurality of electrically conductive paths each electrically connected to the metal coating of at least one post;
• and
• an integrated circuit mounted on the second side of the body and in an electrical connection with the metal coating of at least some of the posts through the electrically conductive paths, wherein at least some of said posts are on the second side of the body outward of said integrated circuit.

A substrate for mounting one or more integrated circuit packages thereon, the substrate comprising:

• a plastic sheet having a plurality of metal-coated plastic posts extending integrally from at least one side of the sheet, said posts adapted to engage like posts of said one or more integrated circuit packages;
• an electrically conductive connector on the plastic sheet, said connector adapted to electrically and physically connect the substrate to circuitry external to the substrate;
• and
• a plurality of metal traces on the sheet each electrically connected between the connector and at least one of the posts.

An integrated circuit package comprising:

• a plastic body having opposed first and second sides, and a plurality of metal-coated plastic posts each extending integrally from both the first and second sides of the body;
• an integrated circuit mounted on the second side of the body and electrically coupled to the metal coating of at least some of the posts of both the first and second sides of the body;
• and
• wherein at least some of the posts are on the second side of the body outward of said integrated circuit.

An integrated circuit package comprising:

• a plastic body having a first side, an opposite second side, and a plurality of metal-coated plastic posts each extending integrally from the body;
• a plurality of electrically conductive traces overlying the body;
• and
• an integrated circuit mounted on the second side of the body and electrically coupled to the metal coating of at least some of the posts through at least some of the electrically conductive traces, wherein at least some of said posts are on the second side of the body outward of said integrated circuit.

An integrated circuit package comprising:

• a plastic body having a plurality of metal-coated plastic posts each extending integrally from the body;
• a plurality of electrically conductive paths each electrically connected to the metal coating of at least one post;
• and
• an integrated circuit mounted on the body and in an electrical connection with the metal coating of at least some of the posts through the electrically conductive paths,
• wherein the plastic body has a first side and a second side, the posts include first posts that extend integrally from the first side and second posts that extend integrally from the second side, and at least some of the electrically conductive paths are electrically connected between the metal coating of at least one first post and one second post,
• wherein the first posts are arranged in a plurality of groups, with each group including a plurality of first posts with space between the first posts of the group, and
• wherein the second posts are sized and located so that a second post of a similar package would snugly fit in each said space, thereby forming a metal-to-metal electrical connection with at least one of the first posts of the respective group.

An integrated circuit package comprising:

• a plastic body having a plurality of metal-coated plastic posts each extending integrally from the body;
• and
• an integrated circuit mounted on the body and electrically coupled to the metal coating of at least some of the posts,
• wherein the body includes opposed first and second sides, and the posts extend from both of the first and second sides, and
• wherein at least three posts of the first side of the body define an opening between them, and at least one post of the second side of the body is opposite said opening.