A semiconductor apparatus includes: a metal plate; a semiconductor device mounted on the metal plate; an external terminal electrically connected to the semiconductor device or the metal plate; a metal wire wire-bonded to the semiconductor device, the metal plate or the external terminal; and a package covering and resin-sealing the semiconductor device, the metal plate and the metal wire, wherein the metal wire is bonded to a top-layer electrode of the semiconductor device at a first bond and a second bond, and the metal wire includes a low loop that is positioned between the first bond and the second bond, is adjacent to at least one of the first bond and the second bond and is not in contact with the top-layer electrode.

An electronic power conversion component includes an electrically conductive package base comprising a source terminal, a drain terminal, at least one I/O terminal and a die-attach pad wherein the source terminal is electrically isolated from the die-attach pad. A GaN-based semiconductor die is secured to the die attach pad and includes a power transistor having a source and a drain, wherein the source is electrically coupled to the source terminal and the drain is electrically coupled to the drain terminal. A plurality of wirebonds electrically couple the source to the source terminal and the drain to the drain terminal. An encapsulant is formed over the GaN-based semiconductor die, the plurality of wirebonds and at least a top surface of the package base.

A semiconductor device includes a first electrode on a semiconductor element at a first location and a second electrode on the semiconductor element at a second location spaced from the first location. And insulating film covers the first electrode, the second electrode and a third electrode. First and second pads are on the insulating film. The first electrode contacts the first pad through an opening in a first portion of the insulating film. The second electrode contacts the second pad each through an opening in a second portion of the insulating film. A bonding surface of the first pad is at a first distance above one portion of the insulating film, and a second distance above another. A bonding surface of the second pad likewise at different distances above the insulating film depending on location.

A bonding wire for connecting a first pad to a second pad is provided. The bonding wire includes a ball part bonded to the first pad, a neck part formed on the ball part, and a wire part extending from the neck part to the second pad. Less than an entire portion of a top surface of the neck part is covered by the wire part, and the wire part is in contact with the neck part, the ball part, and the first pad.

A semiconductor apparatus includes: a metal plate; a semiconductor device mounted on the metal plate; an external terminal electrically connected to the semiconductor device or the metal plate; a metal wire wire-bonded to the semiconductor device, the metal plate or the external terminal; and a package covering and resin-sealing the semiconductor device, the metal plate and the metal wire, wherein the metal wire is bonded to a top-layer electrode of the semiconductor device at a first bond and a second bond, and the metal wire includes a low loop that is positioned between the first bond and the second bond, is adjacent to at least one of the first bond and the second bond and is not in contact with the top-layer electrode.

A semiconductor device is provided that includes a dielectric layer, a bond pad, a passivation layer and a planar barrier. The bond pad is positioned in the dielectric layer. The passivation layer is positioned over the dielectric layer and has an opening over the bond pad. The planar barrier is positioned on the bond pad.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor element, a ground pad, an insulating coating member, a conductive bonding member, and a conductive cap. The inner peripheral end of a bottom of the conductive cap is disposed at a side close to the inner periphery of the insulating coating member relative to the outer peripheral end of the insulating coating member. The bottom has a shape in which the distance between the main surface and itself decreases continuously from its outer peripheral end toward its inner peripheral end.

A performance of a semiconductor device is improved. The semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes a wire that is bonded to one bonding surface at a plurality of parts in an opening formed in an insulating film of a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor device includes also a sealer that seals the semiconductor chip and the wire so that the sealer is in contact with the bonding surface. An area of a part of the bonding surface, the part not overlapping the wire, is small.

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a semiconductor chip has first and second pads, a passivation film formed such that respective parts of the first and second pads are exposed, a first surface-metal-layer provided on the part of the first pad and a part of the passivation film, and a second surface-metal-layer provided on the part of the second pad and another part of the passivation film. Respective wires are electrically connected to the first and second surface-metal-layers. The semiconductor chip and the respective wires are then sealed with a resin.

A substrate for mounting a semiconductor element thereon includes a metal plate and columnar terminal portions composed only of plating layers and formed on one-side surface of the metal plate. The columnar terminal portions include, as an outermost plating layer, a roughened silver plating layer having acicular projections. The roughened silver plating layer has a crystal structure in which the crystal direction <101> occupies a largest proportion among the crystal directions <001>, <111> and <101>. The substrate for mounting a semiconductor element thereon can be manufactured with improved productivity owing to reduction in cost and operation time, and achieves remarkably high adhesion to sealing resin while keeping the total thickness of plating layers including the silver plating layer, which are to serve as terminals and the like, to be thin.