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"High Performance Modules on Copper Substrates: Next Generation Packaging for Servers and Supercomputers" -- Peter Salmon, VP, Salmon Technologies, LLC

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
  • Seated dinner served at 6:30 ($25 if reserved by May 12; $30 after & at door; vegetarian available)

  • Presentation (no cost) at 7:30.

    Ramada Inn

  • 1217 Wildwood Ave (Fwy 101 frontage road, between Lawrence Expressway and Great America Parkway), Sunnyvale, (800) 888-3899 -- see map.

    PLEASE RESERVE IN ADVANCE --

  • For dinner and/or meeting: by email to Janis Karklins
  • Please reserve for "presentation-only", even if not attending the dinner.

    OVERVIEW:
    A concept for a high-performance module using build-up layers on copper is presented. Copper provides mechanical support, an electrical backplane, good thermal conductivity, and is impervious to water. Photolithographic processing can be performed on wafer-sized copper substrates using coaters and aligners (from Suss Microtec, for example). Stacked module configurations can be well-cooled, and have good test and rework capabilities.

    The ability to make compact assemblies with high silicon content spurs parallel development in the areas of cooling, testing, and rework. New test and cooling concepts will be described, looking towards automated assembly, test, and rework at the wafer level. Potential innovations in socketing and optical interfaces will also be briefly described.

    A few observations about the materials aspect of copper-based electronic modules:

  • A blade server of today comprises around 0.1% silicon and 55% air by volume. Only the silicon is doing useful work.
  • Modern packaging can support around 20% silicon and 5% air if the twin problems of heat dissipation and testability can be solved.
  • Copper is ~1600 times more thermally conductive than FR4 epoxy laminate.
  • In terms of forming a barrier to water, 1 micron of copper is roughly equivalent to 1 centimeter of glass and to 100 centimeters of epoxy.
  • Assuming 1 liter/min of cooling fluid, water can cool around 4,000 watts while air can cool only around 0.2 watts.
  • Copper can be multi-functional in four dimensions: electrical conductivity for controlled impedance and shielding; thermal conductivity for heat spreading; low water permeability supporting integrated cooling channels; and good mechanical support.

    The packaging strategies are supported by 12 new patent applications, some of which have issued.

    Speaker Biography:
    Peter Salmon is a systems engineer and inventor. He has authored over 25 patents in the areas of electronic packaging, high-speed digital printers, and electrostatic motors and generators. His packaging patents include novel solutions to flip chip manufacture and assembly, advanced socket assemblies, a new functional test method at the board level, parallel testing of microprocessor wafers at full speed and full power, advanced copper substrates, and automated assembly test and rework at the wafer level. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Auckland University, New Zealand, and two graduate degrees from Northeastern University, all in Electrical Engineering.


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