A large scale integrated circuit chip includes a semiconductor circuit having a multilayered wiring structure, a metal guard ring surrounding the semiconductor circuit, and a plurality of external connection terminals, on a semiconductor circuit. The plurality of external connection terminals connect to an uppermost-layer wiring of the multilayered wiring structure and are exposed on a surface of the large scale integrated circuit chip. A predetermined external connection terminal conducts to a predetermined wiring through a conductive via within the guard ring and conducts to a conductive piece through another conductive via outside the guard ring. One side of the external connection terminal extending over the guard ring connects to the conductive piece, and the other side of the external connection terminal connects to the uppermost-layer wiring within the guard ring. Thus, a cutout part is not necessary in the guard ring.

Method embodiments of wafer dicing for backside metallization are provided. One method includes: applying dicing tape to a front side of a semiconductor wafer, wherein the front side of the semiconductor wafer includes active circuitry; cutting a back side of the semiconductor wafer, the back side opposite the front side, wherein the cutting forms a retrograde cavity in a street of the semiconductor wafer, the retrograde cavity has a gap width at the back side of the semiconductor wafer, and the retrograde cavity has sidewalls with negative slope; depositing a metal layer on the back side of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the gap width is large enough to prevent formation of the metal layer over the retrograde cavity; and cutting through the street of the semiconductor wafer subsequent to the depositing the metal layer.

A semiconductor device is provided that includes a semiconductor chip having a main terminal and a control terminal, a main connection pin electrically connected to the main terminal, and a control connection pin electrically connected to the control terminal and having an electrical resistance higher than that of the main connection pin. The control connection pin may be a control internal connection pin or a control external connection pin. The control connection pin may include material having an electrical resistivity higher than that of material of the main connection pin. The control connection pin may have a shape different from that of the main connection pin.

In a soldering method for Ag-containing lead-free solders to be soldered to an Ag-containing member, void generation is prevented and solder wettability is improved. The soldering method for Ag-containing lead-free solders of the present invention is a soldering method for Ag-containing lead-free solders includes a first step of bringing a lead-free solder having a composition that contains Ag that a relation between a concentration C (mass %) of Ag contained in an SnAg-based lead-free solder before soldering of a mass M(g) and an elution amount B(g) of Ag contained in the Ag-containing member becomes 1.0 mass %(MC+B)100/(M+B)4.6 mass % and that the balance consists of Sn and unavoidable impurities into contact with the Ag-containing member, a second step of heating and melting the lead-free solder, and a third step of cooling the lead-free solder.

A power module includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a number of semiconductor die coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The semiconductor die are configured to provide a low-resistance path for current flow from the first terminal to the second terminal during a forward conduction mode of operation and a high-resistance path for current flow from the first terminal to the second terminal during a forward blocking configuration. Due to improvements made to the power module, it is able to pass a temperature, humidity, and bias test at 80% of its rated voltage for at least 1000 hours.

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes first to sixth semiconductor regions, a first electrode, and a first insulating film. The first semiconductor region includes first and second partial regions. The second semiconductor region is separated from the first partial region in a second direction crossing a first direction. The third semiconductor region is provided between the first partial region and the second semiconductor region. The fourth semiconductor region is provided between the first partial region and the third semiconductor region. The first electrode is separated from the second partial region, the second and third semiconductor regions, and a portion of the fourth semiconductor region. The first insulating film contacts the third semiconductor region. The fifth semiconductor region is provided between the first insulating film and the second partial region. The sixth semiconductor region is provided between the first insulating film and the fifth semiconductor region.

Properties of a semiconductor device are improved. A semiconductor device is configured so as to have a protective film provided over an interconnection and having an opening, and a plating film provided in the opening. A slit is provided in a side face of the opening, and the plating film is also disposed in the slit. Thus, the slit is provided in the side face of the opening, and the plating film is also grown in the slit. This results in a long penetration path of a plating solution during subsequent formation of the plating film. Hence, a corroded portion is less likely to be formed in the interconnection (pad region). Even if the corroded portion is formed, a portion of the slit is corroded prior to the interconnection (pad region) at a sacrifice, making it possible to suppress expansion of the corroded portion into the interconnection (pad region).

A method of forming a chip assembly may include forming a plurality of cavities in a carrier; The method may further include arranging a die attach liquid in each of the cavities; arranging a plurality of chips on the die attach liquid, each chip comprising a rear side metallization and a rear side interconnect material disposed over the rear side metallization, wherein the rear side interconnect material faces the carrier; evaporating the die attach liquid; and after the evaporating the die attach liquid, fixing the plurality of chips to the carrier.

A method for fabricating a backside contact using a silicon-on-insulator substrate that includes a device layer, a buried insulator layer, and a handle wafer. The method includes forming a first switch and a second switch in the device layer. An electrically-conducting connection is formed in a trench. The handle wafer is removed. After the handle wafer is removed, the buried insulator layer is partially removed to expose the electrically-conducting connection. After the buried insulator layer is partially removed, a final substrate is connected to the buried insulator layer such that the electrically-conducting connection contacts the final substrate.

A device structure with a backside contact includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate including a device layer, a buried insulator layer, and an electrically-conducting connection in a trench. A final substrate is connected to the buried insulator layer such that the electrically-conducting connection contacts the final substrate.