Portable apparatus with an accelerometer device for free-fall detection

• US 20060150731A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Lasalandra, Ernesto, Fontanella, Luca, Riva, Caterina, Vigna, Benedetto
• Granted Patent: US 7,578,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/488
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions

Abstract

A portable apparatus having an accelerometer device and a supporting element in the accelerometer device, having a first body of semiconductor material integrating a sensor element that detects movements of the first body and generates a signal correlated to the detected movement; a second body of semiconductor material that integrates a conditioning electronics and that is electrically connected to the first body; and conductive bumps that provide electrical connection of the first and second bodies to the supporting element. In particular, the conductive bumps connect the first and second bodies to the supporting element without the interposition of any packaging.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus having an accelerometer device and a supporting element, said accelerometer device comprising:

a first body of semiconductor material integrating a sensor element configured to detect movements of said first body and generating a signal correlated to said movements;

a second body of semiconductor material integrating conditioning electronics, said second body electrically connected to said first body; and

electrical connection means for the electrical connection of said first and second bodies to said supporting element, said means of electrical connection connecting said first and second bodies to said supporting element without the interposition of packaging.

8. The portable apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting element comprises a printed-circuit board.

9. The portable apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a data-storage device provided with a storage medium, a read/write device, and a control circuit for said read/write device;

said accelerometer device and said control circuit carried by said printed-circuit board and integrated within said data-storage device.

10. The portable apparatus of claim 9 wherein said data-storage device comprises a hard-disk drive.

11. The portable apparatus of claim 9 wherein said control circuit receives at least one acceleration signal from said conditioning electronics for detecting a free-fall condition and activating actions of protection for said read/write device.

12. The portable apparatus of claim 9 wherein said conditioning electronics detect a free-fall condition, and said control circuit receives a signal of free-fall detection from said conditioning electronics for activating actions of protection for said read/write device.

13. The portable apparatus according of claim 1, chosen from the group comprising laptops, PDAs, digital audio players, cell-phones, and digital cameras.

2. The portable apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means of electrical connection comprise external conductive bumps electrically connected between said first and second bodies and said supporting element.

3. The portable apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first body comprises a first die and a cap fixed to said first die for hermetically closing said sensitive element, said cap having first through connections;

and wherein said means of electrical connection comprise first internal conductive bumps electrically connecting said first through connections and said second body, and second internal conductive bumps electrically connecting said second body and said external conductive bumps.

4. The portable apparatus of claim 3 wherein said external conductive bumps are made using the BGA technique, and said first and second internal conductive bumps are made using the flip-chip technique.

5. The portable apparatus of claim 3 wherein a surface of said cap facing said supporting element has a first conductive region;

and wherein said first internal conductive bumps are in contact with and arranged between said first through connections and said second body, and said second internal conductive bumps are in contact with and arranged between said first conductive region and said second body;

said external conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said first conductive region and said supporting element.

6. The portable apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second body has a first face facing said first body and carrying electrical contacts for connection with said first and second internal conductive bumps, and a second face facing said supporting element;

said second body arranged between said first body and said supporting element.

7. The portable apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an intermediate substrate of semiconductor material provided with second through connections and having a first face facing said first and second bodies and a second face facing said supporting element, said first face having a second conductive region;

a first group of said first internal conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said first through connections and said second conductive region, and a second group of said first internal conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said second body and said second conductive region;

said second internal conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said second body and said second through connections, and said external conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said second through connections and said supporting element.

14. A process for manufacturing a portable apparatus comprising:

forming a first body of semiconductor material integrating a sensor element configured to detect movements of said first body and to generate a signal correlated to said movements;

forming a second body of semiconductor material integrating conditioning electronics;

electrically connecting said first and second bodies together; and

electrically connecting said first and second bodies to a supporting element, comprising connecting said first and second bodies to said supporting element without interposition of packaging.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein electrically connecting said first and second bodies to a supporting element further comprises connecting external conductive bumps between said first and second bodies and said supporting element.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein forming a first body of semiconductor material comprises providing a first die, providing a cap having first through connections, and fixing said cap to said first die for hermetically sealing said sensitive element;

and wherein electrically connecting said first and second bodies to a supporting element further comprises electrically connecting first internal conductive bumps between said first through connections and said second body, and electrically connecting second internal conductive bumps between said second body and said external conductive bumps.

17. The process of claim 16 wherein forming a first body of semiconductor material further comprises forming a first conductive region on a surface of said cap, and wherein electrically connecting first internal conductive bumps comprises soldering said first internal conductive bumps between said first through connections and said second body, and electrically connecting second internal conductive bumps comprises soldering said second internal conductive bumps between said second body and said first conductive region;

and wherein connecting external conductive bumps comprises soldering said external conductive bumps between said first conductive region and said supporting element.

18. The process of claim 16, further comprising providing an intermediate substrate of semiconductor material, forming second through connections through said intermediate substrate, and forming a second conductive region on a face of said intermediate substrate;

and wherein electrically connecting first internal conductive bumps comprises soldering a first group of said first internal conductive bumps between said first through connections and said second conductive region, and soldering a second group of said first internal conductive bumps between said second body and said second conductive region; and

wherein electrically connecting second internal conductive bumps comprises soldering said second internal conductive bumps between said second body and said second through connections, and connecting external conductive bumps comprises soldering said external conductive bumps between said second through connections and said supporting element.

19. An electronic device comprising:

an accelerometer device and a supporting element, said accelerometer device comprising;

a first body of semiconductor material integrating a sensor element, configured to detect movements of said first body and generating a signal correlated to said movements;

a second body of semiconductor material integrating a conditioning electronics, said second body being electrically connected to said first body; and

electrical connection means for the electrical connection of said first and second bodies to said supporting element without the interposition of a package.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 wherein said means of electrical connection comprise external conductive bumps electrically connected between said first and second bodies and said supporting element.

21. The electronic device of claim 20 wherein said first body comprises a first die and a cap fixed to said first die for hermetically closing said sensor element, said cap having first through connections;

and wherein said means of electrical connection comprise first internal conductive bumps electrically connecting said first through connections and said second body, and second internal conductive bumps, electrically connecting said second body and said external conductive bumps.

22. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein said external conductive bumps are made using the BGA technique, and said first and second internal conductive bumps are made using the flip-chip technique.

23. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein a surface of said cap facing said supporting element has a first conductive region;

and wherein said first internal conductive bumps are in contact with and arranged between said first through connections and said second body, and said second internal conductive bumps are in contact with and arranged between said first conductive region and said second body;

said external conductive bumps being in contact With and arranged between said first conductive region and said supporting element.

24. The electronic device of claim 23 wherein said second body has a first face facing said first body and carrying electrical contacts for connection with said first and second internal conductive bumps, and a second face facing said supporting element;

said second body arranged between said first body and said supporting element.

25. The electronic device of claim 21, further comprising an intermediate substrate of semiconductor material provided with second through connections and having a first face facing said first and second bodies and a second face facing said supporting element, said first face having a second conductive region;

a first group of said first internal conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said first through connections and said second conductive region, and a second group of said first internal conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said second body and said second conductive region;

said second internal conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said second body and said second through connections, and said external conductive bumps in contact with and arranged between said second through connections and said supporting element.

26. The electronic device of claim 19 wherein said supporting element is a printed-circuit board.

27. The electronic device of claim 26, comprising a data-storage device and further comprising a storage medium, a read/write device, and a control circuit for said read/write device;

said accelerometer device and said control circuit carried by said printed-circuit board.

28. The electronic device of claim 27 wherein said control circuit receives at least one acceleration signal from said conditioning electronics for detecting a free-fall condition and activating actions of protection for said read/write device.

29. The electronic device of claim 27 wherein said conditioning electronics detect a free-fall condition, and said control circuit receives a signal of free-fall detection from said conditioning electronics for activating actions of protection for said read/write device.

30. An enhanced proximity free-fall detection device without a package for use with a portable hard disk, comprising:

a printed circuit board electrically coupled to the portable hard disk;

a free-fall detection module configured to generate a free-fall detection signal upon detection of a free-fall condition to cause the portable hard disk device to attain a protected condition; and

an electrical connection system electrically coupling the free-fall detection module to the printed circuit board, the electrical connection system comprising at least one first conductive bump electrically coupling the module to a first body containing a circuit for conditioning the free-fall signal prior to reception by the portable hard disk, and at least one second conductive bump electrically coupling the first body to the printed circuit board.

31. The device of claim 30, further comprising an intermediate electrical conductive member coupling the first body to the at least one second bump.

32. The device of claim 30 wherein the free-fall detection module includes a through-hole for electrical coupling of a free-fall detection sensor in the free-fall detection module to the at least one first bump.

33. The device of claim 30 wherein the at least one first bump physically attaches the module to the printed circuit board and the at least one second bump physically attaches the first body to the module without a package.

34. An enhanced proximity free-fall detection device without a package for use with a portable hard disk, comprising:

a printed circuit board electrically coupled to the portable hard disk;

a free-fall detection module configured to generate a free-fall detection signal upon detection of a free-fall condition to cause the portable hard disk device to attain a protected condition; and

an electrical connection system electrically coupling the free-fall detection module to the printed circuit board, the electrical connection system comprising at least one first bump electrically coupling the module to a first intermediate substrate, at least one second bump electrically coupling a first body containing a circuit for conditioning the free-fall detection signal from the module prior to reception by the portable hard disk to the intermediate substrate, and at least one third bump electrically coupling the intermediate substrate to the printed circuit board.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein the intermediate substrate comprises an intermediate conductive member electrically coupling the first body to the module.

36. The device of claim 34, further comprising a through-hole formed in the module for electrically coupling a free-fall detection sensor to the at least one first bump.

37. The device of claim 36, further comprising a through-hole formed in the intermediate layer for electrically coupling the module and the circuit on the first body to the printed circuit board.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the at least one first bump physically attaches the module to the intermediate substrate, the at least one second bump physically attaches the first body to the intermediate substrate, and the at least one third bump physically attaches the intermediate substrate to the printed circuit board.