Methods of operating electronic devices, and methods of providing electronic devices

#The technical field is electronic devices, methods of operating electronic devices, and methods of forming electronic devices.

#As semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) devices continue to shrink in dimension, challenges are posed with respect to packaging the integrated circuitry into microelectronic devices. In some prior art integrated circuitry device, individual IC chips (die) are connected to inner leads of a lead frame by wire bonds. The chip, wire bonds, and inner leads are completely encapsulated for protection with a substance such as plastic or ceramic. Outer leads communicate with the inner leads of the lead frame, but the outer leads typically remain exposed for mounting of the packaged device to external circuitry, such as a printed circuit board. Exemplary constructions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,734,198, 5,736,783, 5,763,945, 5,818,105 5,117,068, and 5,692,298, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

#In a conventional construction, a semiconductor die is placed on and bonded to a center die paddle of a lead frame for support. Inner lead fingers of the lead frame are disposed proximate the paddle but do not contact or communicate with the paddle. Rather, wire bonds communicate between contact pads (terminals) on the die and the inner lead fingers of the lead frame by spanning a gap between the die and the fingers. The wire bonds allow for the transmission of electrical signals between the die and the lead frame. The lead fingers allow the chip or die to be electrically connected with other chips or die for providing an operable microelectronic device.

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a microelectronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, with a portion having been broken away for clarity.

#FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of a microelectronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of a microelectronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-5, and particularly to FIG. 1, an exemplary microelectronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The term “microelectronic device” as used in this document will be understood to include, without limitation, integrated circuit devices which are resident on a single die or chip, or a collection of die or chips arranged into an operable integrated circuit configuration. Device 10 includes a microelectronic package 12 which provides a housing within which integrated circuitry is received. The term “microelectronic package” will be understood to mean a housing or container within which integrated circuitry is received to provide a microelectronic device. By way of example only, example microelectronic packages include product containers such as computer hard drive housings, cellular phone housings, and other hand-held electronic device housings. Such microelectronic packages need not, however, be hand-held. In addition, microelectronic packages can include self-contained hermetically-sealed packages such as those which conventionally contain integrated circuit die. Such packages can be formed from plastic, ceramic, or any other suitable material.

#In FIG. 1, a portion of package 12 has been broken away for clarity. An integrated circuit die 14 is received within microelectronic package 12 and has integrated circuitry formed thereon. In this example, package 12 includes individual die 16, 18, 20, and 22 which have been prepackaged into individual respective integrated circuit chips which contain integrated circuitry which can be or is electrically connected into an operative arrangement.

#In FIG. 2, a top plan view of die 14, 16 is shown. The dashed lines which bound the individual die are intended to represent the exterior of a die or chip container. In a preferred embodiment, one of the integrated circuit die, e.g. die 14, includes integrated circuitry 24 (FIG. 4) having first transmit/receive circuitry 26 configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. Second transmit/receive circuitry (such as circuitry 26) is provided which is preferably discrete from first transmit/receive circuitry 26. Such second transmit/receive circuitry can be received or supported by die 16. Accordingly, the second transmit/receive circuitry is contained within microelectronic package 12 and is configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals.