Method and apparatus for using capacitively coupled communication within stacks of laminated chips
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Drost, Ronald Ho, Arthur R. Zingher
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a technique for assembling semiconductor chips. First, multiple semiconductor chips are permanently laminated together into a plurality of laminated chip assemblies, wherein the semiconductor chips within the laminated chip assembly communicate with each other through electrically conductive connections. Next, laminated chip assemblies are stacked together to form a stack of semiconductor chips without permanently bonding the laminated chip assemblies together, wherein the laminated chip assemblies communicate with each other using capacitive coupling.
Claims20
An apparatus that includes a stack of semiconductor chips, comprising:
- a plurality of laminated chip assemblies, wherein each laminated chip assembly is comprised of multiple semiconductor chips, which are permanently laminated together, and that communicate with each other through electrically conductive connections;
- wherein the plurality of laminated chip assemblies are stacked together to form a stack of semiconductor chips, but are not permanently bonded to each other;
- and
- wherein laminated chip assemblies communicate with each other through capacitive coupling.
A computer system that includes semiconductor chips, which are stacked together, comprising:
- a processor;
- a main memory;
- a plurality of laminated chip assemblies, wherein each laminated chip assembly is comprised of multiple semiconductor chips, which are permanently laminated together, and that communicate with each other through electrically conductive connections;
- wherein the laminated chip assemblies are stacked together to form a stack of semiconductor chips, but are not permanently bonded to each other;
- and
- wherein laminated chip assemblies communicate with each other through capacitive coupling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.