A description is given of a power semiconductor module 10 which can be transferred from a normal operating mode to an explosion-free robust short-circuit failure mode. Said power semiconductor module 10 comprises a power semiconductor 1 having metallizations 3 which form potential areas and are separated by insulations and passivations on the top side 2 of said power semiconductor. Furthermore, an electrically conductive connecting layer is provided, on which at least one metal shaped body 4 which has a low lateral electrical resistance and is significantly thicker than the connecting layer is arranged, said at least one metal shaped body being applied by sintering of the connecting layer such that said metal shaped body is cohesively connected to the respective potential area. The metal shaped body 4 is embodied and designed with means for laterally homogenizing a current flowing through it in such a way that a lateral current flow component 5 is maintained until this module switches off in order to avoid an explosion, wherein the metal shaped body 4 has connections 6 having high-current capability. A transition from the operating mode to the robust failure mode then takes place in an explosion-free manner by virtue of the fact that the connections 6 are contact-connected and dimensioned in such a way that in the case of overload currents of greater than a multiple of the rated current of the power semiconductor 1, the operating mode changes to the short-circuit failure mode with connections 6 remaining on the metal shaped body 4 in an explosion-free manner without the formation of arcs.

Various structures and fabrication methods for leadless plastic chip carrier (QFN) packages which utilize carriers in strip format, wherein the leads (or terminals) are formed to be electrically isolated from one another within each unit and in which the units are formed to be electrically isolated from one another within the strip using chemical etching techniques.

A semiconductor package includes a leadframe having a clip foot portion, the clip foot portion having a first tie bar, a conductive clip situated over the leadframe, the conductive clip including a first lock fork having at least two prongs around the first tie bar so as to secure the conductive clip to the clip foot portion of the leadframe. The conductive clip includes a second lock fork having at least two prongs around a second tie bar of the clip foot portion. The conductive clip is electrically coupled to the clip foot portion of the leadframe. The clip foot portion of the leadframe includes exposed leads. The semiconductor package also includes at least one semiconductor device situated on the leadframe. The at least one semiconductor device is coupled to a driver integrated circuit situated on the leadframe.

A semiconductor package includes a leadframe having a clip foot portion, the clip foot portion having a first tie bar, a conductive clip situated over the leadframe, the conductive clip including a first lock fork having at least two prongs around the first tie bar so as to secure the conductive clip to the clip foot portion of the leadframe. The conductive clip includes a second lock fork having at least two prongs around a second tie bar of the clip foot portion. The conductive clip is electrically coupled to the clip foot portion of the leadframe. The clip foot portion of the leadframe includes exposed leads. The semiconductor package also includes at least one semiconductor device situated on the leadframe. The at least one semiconductor device is coupled to a driver integrated circuit situated on the leadframe.

A semiconductor device includes a lead frame having a first principal surface which includes a recess, and a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface, a relay board, disposed in the recess, and having a third principal surface, and a fourth principal surface opposite to the third principal surface, wherein the fourth principal surface opposes a bottom surface of the recess, a first semiconductor chip disposed on the third principal surface, a first conductive material connecting the lead frame and the relay board, and a second conductive material connecting the relay board and the first semiconductor chip. A distance between the second principal surface and the third principal surface is less than or equal to a distance between the second principal surface and the first principal surface.

A method for manufacturing a chip-mounting substrate includes a pre-coating step of forming a precoat on a substrate including a plurality of conductive portions and an insulating portion interposed between the conductive portions, an etching step of etching at least a portion of the precoat through a laser to form a pattern, and a step of forming a metal layer on the substrate. The pattern is disposed on at least one of the conductive portions, and the metal layer is formed in the pattern.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of islands, each having an outer surface including an upper surface and end surfaces, semiconductor chips, above the respective islands, a bonding material, between the islands and the semiconductor chips, and plating layers, formed on the outer surfaces of the islands, and with at least one of the plurality of islands, the island is exposed as a bare surface region at a first end surface, which, among the end surfaces of the one island, faces the island adjacent thereto.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of islands, each having an outer surface including an upper surface and end surfaces, semiconductor chips, above the respective islands, a bonding material, between the islands and the semiconductor chips, and plating layers, formed on the outer surfaces of the islands, and with at least one of the plurality of islands, the island is exposed as a bare surface region at a first end surface, which, among the end surfaces of the one island, faces the island adjacent thereto.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a wiring layer formed thereon, an insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the wiring layer and having a pad opening exposing a portion of the wiring layer as a pad, a front surface protection film formed on the insulating film and being constituted of an insulating material differing from the insulating film and having a second pad opening securing exposure of at least a portion of the pad, a seed layer formed on the pad, and a plating layer formed on the seed layer.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a wiring layer formed thereon, an insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the wiring layer and having a pad opening exposing a portion of the wiring layer as a pad, a front surface protection film formed on the insulating film and being constituted of an insulating material differing from the insulating film and having a second pad opening securing exposure of at least a portion of the pad, a seed layer formed on the pad, and a plating layer formed on the seed layer.