Packaged microelectronic component assemblies

This application claims foreign priority benefits of Singapore Application No. 200204998-9 filed Aug. 19, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Various aspects of the present invention provide microelectronic component assemblies and methods for packaging such assemblies. In one example, a microelectronic component assembly includes a substrate and a microelectronic component. This substrate has a recess in its back face and a communication opening extending through a base of the recess. This microelectronic component has an active face positioned within the substrate recess, a back face positioned outside the substrate recess, and a plurality of component contacts carried by the component active face and electrically coupled to the substrate contacts through the communication opening. This exemplary microelectronic component assembly may also include a mold compound which encapsulates the microelectronic component and a portion of the substrate active face. The mold compound may also substantially fill a gap between the periphery of the microelectronic component and a sidewall of the recess.