Single layer BGA substrate process

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide semiconductor packaging techniques that form a substrate using metal and insulating materials. The substrate includes a first surface that is bonded to a semiconductor device and a second surface that is bonded to a printed circuit board. The substrate is formed using several techniques that minimize the amount of mask levels used to form the substrate. For example, a metal substrate is patterned to form a three dimensional pattern on the surface. A dielectric material is deposited on the three dimensional pattern. Using several patterning and polishing embodiments described herein, the metal/dielectric substrate is patterned and polished to form a substantially flush surface that is bonded to the semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the top surface of the metal/dielectric substrate is patterned to expose the underlying metal substrate and the bottom surface of the metal substrate is polished to be substantially flush with the dielectric material.