Universal Scientific Industrial

The miniaturization of electronics requires smaller, more efficient packaging solutions, and the field encompasses a variety of ways to achieve miniaturization. This advanced packaging technology integrates multiple dies, active, passive components, and even electromechanical devices into a single miniaturized package. This integration offers significant advantages in terms of size reduction, performance enhancement, and overall system functionality. Before start it, you can get more about SiP technology from our another article: System in Package (SiP) for Miniaturization: Turnkey Solution We Offer

In this article, let’s dive into the world of System-in-Package (SiP), explore its intricate assembly process and other advanced packaging solutions like System-in-Package (SiP), System-on-Chip (SoC), and Chiplet. 


Break Down the SiP Assembly Steps

The SiP manufacturing process involves several key steps, by following these meticulous steps, manufacturers can ensure the quality, reliability, and long-term functionality of SiP modules used in various electronic devices:

• Substrate preparation

1. The selected substrate undergoes a surface treatment process to ensure proper adhesion of components. This process is often handled by the PCB manufacturer before passing on to the packaging manufacturer. It may involve cleaning, roughening the surface, and applying a thin layer of metal (usually copper) for better conductivity.
2. Stencils, which are metallic sheets with laser-cut holes to match the size and location of component footprints, are placed on the prepared substrate.
3. Solder paste, a viscous material containing tiny solder powders, will be printed onto the designated areas of the substrate through the stencil openings, creating solder pads for component attachment.

• High-Density Surface Mount Technology (HD-SMT)

• Interconnection through Die / Wire Bonding

• Encapsulation

• Testing and inspection

The Beauty of SiP Manufacturing Process

SiP technology offers several compelling advantages:

• Compact Design: By integrating multiple components, SiP significantly reduces the overall footprint of electronic devices. This is crucial for consumer applications where space is a premium, such as wearable electronics and smartphones.
• Improved Performance: SiP enables shorter electrical paths between components, leading to faster signal transmission and better signal integrity. This translates to enhanced system performance.
• Increased Reliability: SiP can improve the reliability of electronic devices by the packaging technologies to protect components from external stress, moisture, and contaminants like dust.
• Faster Time-to-Market: By integrating components in the modular design, SiP can streamline simultaneous multiple product development and shorten the time to bring the products to market. This allows brand owners, which are our customers, to capitalize on market opportunities more quickly.

What Miniaturization Solutions other than SiP?

System-in-Package (SiP) technology is one of solutions to revolutionize the electronics industry by enabling the miniaturization and integration of complex functionalities. But which solution will be chosen that can be diversity regarding customers, products and even the budgets. So, let's look at the other two packaging solutions that are highly discussed in the market today: 

SoC (System on Chip)

SoC involves the integration of diverse functionalities onto a single chip, encompassing crucial components such as processors, memory units, and input/output interfaces. This consolidation of functions onto a unified platform streamlines the architecture of electronic systems, leading to enhanced efficiency and reduced footprint. However, even though SoC technology is still widely adopted by the mainstream market, it is inevitable that more new functional units will need to be integrated in the face of ever-changing functional requirements. In the face of this problem, SoC technology has begun to show process bottlenecks.

What would be the Challenges be?

One of the primary obstacles is its rigid nature in manufacturing, which limits the agility of the chip in accommodating dynamic requirements. Although SoC technology is capable of integrating different functions, it is limited to components of the same technology level. This inflexibility often necessitates substantial redesign efforts in response to modifications or upgrades, resulting in delays and increased development expenditures. These challenges underscore the importance of alternative miniaturization technologies, such as Chiplet and System-in-Package (SiP).

Chiplet 

With the rapid rise of AI applications around the world in recent years, the demand for highly computational and image-processing modules has begun to increase dramatically, and Chiplet technology has become the first choice for AI applications. Because chiplet technology offers greater design flexibility than System-on-chip (SoC). Unlike SoCs, where all components are confined to the same process, Chiplets enable the assembly of different components using diverse processes onto a single interposer layer. This flexibility makes Chiplet technology a compelling option for high-performance computing tasks such as those required in AI applications.

What would be the Challenges?

The main difficulties of Chiplet technology will center around production yield and cost. The intricate process of assembling multiple dies onto an interposer layer demands precise manufacturing techniques, which can increase the likelihood of defects and raise production costs. Additionally, managing thermal dissipation and power distribution across multiple chiplets within a compact package presents another obstacle, as increased power density could exacerbate heat dissipation challenges and compromise overall system reliability. Despite these challenges, packaging technologies are steadily addressing these issues, paving the way for the widespread adoption of Chiplet technology across diverse applications, including AI, high-performance computing, and beyond.

There is a diversity of advanced packaging solutions that can be chosen, depending on the product’s performance requirements. While each solution offers unique advantages, SiP emerges as a compelling choice for many applications. It strikes a remarkable balance between miniaturization, functionality, and cost. When considering all factors, SiP stands out as a mature, versatile, and cost-effective solution for a wide range of applications.