This application claims the priority benefit of Japan application serial no. 2023-138886, filed on Aug. 29, 2023. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device.
A general semiconductor device is manufactured by electrically connecting a semiconductor element to a circuit board formed with a metal pattern or to a lead frame including inner leads, and performing resin-sealing thereon. Specifically, as a typical semiconductor element, a power chip such as a transistor or a diode that handles a high power is mainly bonded to the metal pattern by soldering in a reflow process. Further, in the case where a power chip is present with a control chip such as a control IC that does not handle a high power as the power chip, it is common to dispose the power chip and the control chip at different positions on the circuit board or in different regions of the lead frame. Further, in some cases, the control chip may be connected by a conductive adhesive instead of soldering.
The power chip (hereinafter also referred to as a semiconductor element or simply a chip) is expected to handle an increasingly higher power as applications thereof expand. At the same time, techniques for improving integration and thinning are also advancing.
To improve integration, a technique of flip chip bonding (FCB) has been disclosed. The FCB involves mounting an electrode of a first surface of a power chip, which includes electrodes on both surfaces, to a first substrate, flipping by 180 degrees, and then bonding an electrode of a second surface of the power chip to a second substrate (see Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-107506). Compared to conventional wire bonding (WB), the FCB has been known to save space and exhibit reduced inductance components due to a reduced wiring length, which is suitable for high frequencies.
To achieve thinning, as an example of thinning of electrodes, a technique of Cu pillars (arrays of pillar-shaped Cu bumps (protrusions)) has been disclosed (see Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-151183).
In the case of using a semiconductor element such as a power chip that handles a high power and further improving integration and thinning, there are three issues to address.
First, a heat dissipation performance is to be ensured. To prevent the semiconductor element from thermal destruction due to a temperature rise resulting from power loss, sufficient heat dissipation is necessary.
Second, an impedance of a path is to be reduced. As the power handled by the semiconductor element increases, a current (I) flowing therethrough also increases. Thus, if an impedance (Z) of the path to which the semiconductor element is bonded is high, a power loss (I2×|Z|) in the path becomes large, leading to heat generation and a decrease in efficiency. To avoid this, the impedance of the path should be kept low.
Third, an insulation distance is to be ensured. With improvements in integration and thinning, a distance between electrodes (e.g., a first electrode and a second electrode of a semiconductor element) of the semiconductor element becomes small. Thus, an electrode (e.g., conductive pattern of the substrate) on the component to be bonded with the first electrode becomes close not only to the first electrode but also to the second electrode. In such cases, due to an even slight misalignment during bonding, the insulation distance between the second electrode and the conductive pattern on the substrate bonded with the first electrode of the semiconductor element cannot be ensured, potentially causing a short or damage to the semiconductor element. To avoid this, the insulation distance should be ensured.
A semiconductor device of an embodiment of the disclosure includes a semiconductor element on a substrate having a conductive pattern. The semiconductor element includes a plurality of electrodes provided on a first surface and an electrode provided on a second surface, each of the plurality of electrodes provided on the first surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate via a conductive spacer, and the electrode provided on the second surface is bonded to a pad surface of a conductive clip lead.
With such a semiconductor device, each of the plurality of electrodes of the semiconductor element provided on the first surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate via the conductive spacer, and heat can be dissipated. In addition, the electrode of the semiconductor element provided on the second surface is bonded to the pad surface of the conductive clip lead, and heat can be dissipated. Thus, since heat can be dissipated via each of the electrodes on both surfaces of the semiconductor element, a sufficient heat dissipation performance can be ensured.
Further, each of the plurality of electrodes of the semiconductor element provided on the first surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate via the conductive spacer, and the electrode of the semiconductor element provided on the second surface is bonded to the pad surface of the conductive clip lead. Since an impedance of a path after bonding is determined by a shape of the conductive pattern of the substrate or a shape of the pad surface of the clip lead, the impedance may be adjusted in any manner based on these shapes. Specifically, since both are planar, by increasing areas thereof, more current can be flowed easily. In other words, by increasing the areas, the impedance of the path can be reduced.
Further, since each of the plurality of electrodes of the semiconductor element provided on the first surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate via the conductive spacer, a distance from each of the plurality of electrodes to the conductive pattern of the substrate can be increased by a thickness of the spacer, and insulation distances can be easily ensured. Furthermore, with the spacer provided, a gap surrounded by the plurality of electrodes, the spacer, and the conductive pattern is widened, so it also becomes possible to fill the gap with an insulating resin material, and with the insulating resin material filled, the insulation performance can be further enhanced.
Further, the clip lead may further include a terminal surface, and the terminal surface may be bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate.
With such a planar terminal surface, not only can the terminal surface itself dissipate heat, but by further bonding to the conductive pattern by surface contact, heat can be efficiently transferred and dissipated from the terminal surface to the conductive pattern. Furthermore, since the configuration can remain a planar shape from the pad surface via the terminal surface to the conductive pattern, the area is not narrowed midway, and the low impedance of the path can be maintained.
Further, a wire for wiring may be bonded to a surface of the clip lead opposite to the pad surface.
With such a configuration, heat can be dissipated by the pad surface of the clip lead, and even if a connection destination is located at a position (e.g., a distant position) difficult to connect with the clip lead, the wire can be extended to be wired flexibly.
Further, the semiconductor device may further include an insulating resist provided around the spacer on the conductive pattern of the substrate, and the semiconductor element and the conductive pattern may be bonded to each other by a solder.
With such a configuration, the solder melted on the conductive pattern is dammed by the insulating resist and does not spread further outward. In addition to bonding opposing surfaces of the conductive pattern and the spacer, the solder climbs up in a gap between an inner side of the insulating resist and a periphery of the spacer, and can adhere to a lateral surface of the spacer to provide bonding by wrapping from a lower surface to the lateral surface of the spacer. Accordingly, the semiconductor element and the conductive pattern can be reliably bonded to each other.
Further, the spacer may be a Cu pillar.
With such Cu pillars, the conductive spacer which connects the plurality of electrodes and the conductive pattern can be reliably realized.
As described above, according to the semiconductor device of the disclosure, each of the plurality of electrodes of the semiconductor element provided on the first surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate via the conductive spacer, and heat can be dissipated. In addition, the electrode of the semiconductor element provided on the second surface is bonded to the pad surface of the conductive clip lead, and heat can be dissipated. Thus, since heat can be dissipated via the electrodes on both surfaces of the semiconductor element, a sufficient heat dissipation performance can be ensured.
Further, each of the plurality of electrodes of the semiconductor element provided on the first surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate via the conductive spacer, and the electrode of the semiconductor element provided on the second surface is bonded to the pad surface of the conductive clip lead. Since an impedance of a path after bonding is determined by a shape of the conductive pattern of the substrate or a shape of the pad surface of the clip lead, the impedance may be adjusted in any manner based on these shapes. Specifically, since both are planar, by increasing widths of the surfaces, more current can be flowed easily. In other words, by increasing the widths of the surfaces, the impedance of the path can be reduced.
Further, since each of the plurality of electrodes of the semiconductor element provided on the first surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate via the conductive spacer, a distance from each of the plurality of electrodes to the conductive pattern of the substrate can be increased by a thickness of the spacer, and insulation distances can be easily ensured. Furthermore, with the spacer provided, a gap surrounded by the plurality of electrodes, the spacer, and the conductive pattern is widened, so it also becomes possible to fill the gap with an insulating resin material, and with the insulating resin material filled, the insulation performance can be further enhanced.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a semiconductor device capable of ensuring a heat dissipation performance, reducing an impedance of path, and ensuring an insulation distance.
The disclosure will be described in detail below but is not limited to the description.
As described above, to use a semiconductor element that handles a high power and further improve integration and thinning, there has been a demand for a semiconductor device that can ensure a heat dissipation performance, reduce an impedance of a path, and ensure an insulation distance.
As a result of intensive studies, the inventor has found that the above issue can be solved by devising a bonding structure of electrodes of the semiconductor element, and has thus completed the disclosure.
That is, the disclosure is a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element on a substrate having a conductive pattern. The semiconductor element includes a plurality of electrodes provided on a first surface and an electrode provided on a second surface. Each of the plurality of electrodes provided on the first surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate via a conductive spacer, and the electrode provided on the second surface is bonded to a pad surface of a conductive clip lead.
Details will be described with reference to the drawings.
Herein, the substrate is not particularly limited as long as a conductive pattern is formed on a surface thereof. The substrate may also be a substrate having a metal pattern also formed on a back surface thereof, or may also be a multilayer substrate. For example, a direct bonding copper (DBC) substrate may be adopted.
The conductive pattern is not particularly limited as long as a solder can be bonded, and the conductive pattern may be a copper pattern.
The solder is not particularly limited as long as it can fix the semiconductor element. For example, a lead-free solder may be adopted.
The solder is not particularly limited but may be printed in advance, and bonded by heating and melting in a reflow process.
The semiconductor element is not particularly limited but may be a power chip such as a diode or a transistor. Further, an IGBT or a power MOSFET may be adopted.
The electrode is not particularly limited as long as it is conductive and can be bonded by a solder, and the electrode may be made of Cu or Al.
The conductive spacer is not particularly limited as long as it is conductive and can be bonded by the solder. The conductive spacer may be made of Cu or may be Cu pillars.
Furthermore, the conductive spacer may also be plated, and in the case of plating, the plating may be made of Sn or the like.
The conductive clip lead is not particularly limited as long as it is conductive and can be bonded by the solder. The conductive clip lead may be a metal plate made of Cu, Al, SUS, Fe, or another alloy.
A first embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to
As shown in
With such a semiconductor device, the plurality of electrodes 7a and 7b of the semiconductor element 5 provided on the first surface are respectively bonded to the conductive patterns 3a and 3b of the substrate 1 via the conductive spacers 4a and 4b, and heat can be dissipated through the entire substrate 1. In addition, the electrode 7c of the semiconductor element 5 provided on the second surface is bonded to the pad surface 11 of the conductive clip lead 10, and heat can be dissipated through the entire clip lead 10. Thus, since heat can be dissipated extensively via each of the electrodes 7a to 7c on both surfaces of the semiconductor element 5, a sufficient heat dissipation performance can be ensured.
Further, the plurality of electrodes 7a and 7b of the semiconductor element 5 provided on the first surface are respectively bonded to the conductive patterns 3a and 3b of the substrate 1 via the conductive spacers 4a and 4b, and the electrode 7c of the semiconductor element 5 provided on the second surface is bonded to the pad surface 11 of the conductive clip lead 10. Since an impedance of a path after bonding is determined by shapes of the conductive patterns 3a and 3b of the substrate 1 or a shape of the pad surface 11 of the clip lead 10, the impedance may be adjusted in any manner based on these shapes. Specifically, since both are planar, by increasing areas thereof, more current can be flowed easily. Particularly, as shown in
Further, as shown in
Next, with reference to
Next,
Next,
Next,
With such a clip lead 10 including a planar terminal surface 12, not only can the terminal surface 12 itself dissipate heat, but by further bonding to the conductive pattern 3d by surface contact, heat can be efficiently transferred and dissipated from the terminal surface 12 to the conductive pattern 3d. Furthermore, since the configuration can remain a wide planar shape from the pad surface 11 via the terminal surface 12 to the conductive pattern 3d, the area is not narrowed due to, for example, passing through a wire with a narrow cross-sectional area midway, and the low impedance of the path can be maintained.
In this embodiment, the semiconductor elements 5 and 6 are assumed to be general silicon types composed of two chips including an IGBT and a diode, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.
In another embodiment, for example, as one chip only, a SiC-type IGBT may be configured. The example of one chip will be described with reference to
A semiconductor element 16 is one chip and is a SiC-type IGBT. Compared to two chips (semiconductor elements 5 and 6 in
A third embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to
The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that a clip lead 18 has a flat shape when viewed from a lateral side, a terminal surface is not provided, and a wire 19 is included.
Specifically, one end of the wire 19 for wiring is bonded by a solder 9i to a surface of the clip lead 18 opposite to the pad surface 20, and the other end of the wire 19 is bonded by a solder 9j to the conductive pattern 3d. Further, the wire 19 may also be a thick wire of aluminum or the like that is ultrasonically wire-bonded without using the solders 9i and 9j.
With such a configuration, heat can be dissipated by the pad surface 20 of the clip lead 18, and even if a connection destination is located at a position (e.g., a distant position) difficult to connect with the clip lead, the other end of the wire 19 can be extended to be wired flexibly.
A fourth embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to
The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that insulating resists are included.
In other words, the insulating resists 21 and 22 are provided around the spacers 4a and 4b on the conductive patterns 3a and 3b of the substrate 1, and the semiconductor element 5 and the conductive patterns 3a and 3b are bonded to each other by the solders 9k and 9l.
With such a configuration, the solders 9k and 9l melted on the conductive patterns 3a and 3b are dammed by the insulating resists 21 and 22 and do not spread further outward. In addition to bonding opposing surfaces of the conductive patterns 3a and 3b and the spacers 4a and 4b, the solders 9k and 9l climb up in gaps between inner sides of the insulating resists 21 and 22 and peripheries of the spacers 4a and 4b and also adhere to lateral surfaces of the spacers 4a and 4b. As a result, the solders 9k and 9l can provide bonding by wrapping from lower surfaces to lateral surfaces of the spacers 4a and 4b. Accordingly, the semiconductor element 5 and the conductive patterns 3a and 3b can be reliably bonded to each other.
Of course, the fourth embodiment may be applied to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
A fifth embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to
The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that Cu pillars are used as spacers.
As described above, the spacers 4e and 4f in this embodiment are Cu pillars.
With such Cu pillars, the conductive spacers 4e and 4f which connect the plurality of electrodes 7a and 7b and the conductive patterns 3a and 3b can be reliably realized.
Particularly, in the case of bonding the electrodes 7a and 7b and the conductive patterns 3a and 3b by solders, with the solders entering gaps between the Cu pillars of the spacers 4e and 4f, the bonding can be strengthened.
Of course, the fifth embodiment may be applied to the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment.
The disclosure includes the following aspects.
[1]:
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor element on a substrate having a conductive pattern, wherein
[2]:
The semiconductor device according to [1], wherein the clip lead further includes a terminal surface, and the terminal surface is bonded to the conductive pattern of the substrate.
[3]:
The semiconductor device according to [1], wherein a wire for wiring is bonded to a surface of the clip lead opposite to the pad surface.
[4]:
The semiconductor device according to any one of [1] to [3], further including an insulating resist provided around the spacer on the conductive pattern of the substrate, wherein the semiconductor element and the conductive pattern are bonded to each other by a solder.
[5]:
The semiconductor device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the spacer is a Cu pillar.
The disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments are examples, and any configuration that involves substantially the same technical spirit described in the claims of the disclosure and exhibits similar effects is included in the technical scope of the disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2023-138886 | Aug 2023 | JP | national |