The present disclosure is directed to a high throughput clip bonding tool or system which is flexible and easily adapts to different clip bond pitches or sizes. The clip bonding system may be an integrated system with various modules, including a clip singulation module, a feeder module, a transfer module and a clip attach module within a shared footprint. For example, an incoming clip source may be fed to the clip singulation module for clip singulation before the singulated clips are transferred by the feeder and transfer modules to a clip presentation area for clip alignment before pickup. A pickup tool of the clip attach module is configured to facilitate pickup and attachment of clips onto the semiconductor packages to be clip bonded. For example, the pickup head is programmable to facilitate clip bonding process of different applications which may require clips and packages with different sizes.

The present disclosure is directed to a high throughput clip bonding tool or system which is flexible and easily adapts to different clip bond pitches or sizes. The clip bonding system may be an integrated system with various modules, including a clip singulation module, a feeder module, a transfer module and a clip attach module within a shared footprint. For example, an incoming clip source may be fed to the clip singulation module for clip singulation before the singulated clips are transferred by the feeder and transfer modules to a clip presentation area for clip alignment before pickup. A pickup tool of the clip attach module is configured to facilitate pickup and attachment of clips onto the semiconductor packages to be clip bonded. For example, the pickup head is programmable to facilitate clip bonding process of different applications which may require clips and packages with different sizes.

A semiconductor package that includes a conductive can, a power semiconductor device electrically and mechanically attached to the inside surface of the can, and an IC semiconductor device copackaged with the power semiconductor device inside the can.

A half bridge circuit includes an input connection configured to supply an electric input, an output connection configured to supply an electric output to a load to be connected to the output connection, a switch and a diode arranged between the input connection and the output connection and a voltage limiting inductance arranged in series between the switch and the diode. The voltage limiting inductance is configured to limit, upon switching the switch, a maximum voltage across the switch to below a breakdown voltage of the switch. A corresponding method of operating the half bridge circuit and package are also described.

A half bridge circuit includes an input connection configured to supply an electric input, an output connection configured to supply an electric output to a load to be connected to the output connection, a switch and a diode arranged between the input connection and the output connection and a voltage limiting inductance arranged in series between the switch and the diode. The voltage limiting inductance is configured to limit, upon switching the switch, a maximum voltage across the switch to below a breakdown voltage of the switch. A corresponding method of operating the half bridge circuit and package are also described.

In one example, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having substrate terminals and providing a component having a first component terminal and a second component terminal adjacent to a first major side of the component. The method includes providing a clip structure having a first clip, a second clip, and a clip connector coupling the first clip to the second clip. The method includes coupling the first clip to the first component terminal and a first substrate terminal and coupling the second clip to a second substrate terminal. The method includes encapsulating the component, portions of the substrate, and portions of the clip structure. the method includes removing a sacrificial portion of the clip connector while leaving a first portion of the clip connector attached to the first clip and leaving a second portion of the clip connector attached to the second clip. In some examples, the first portion of the clip connector includes a first portion surface, the second portion of the clip connector includes a second portion surface, and the first portion surface and the second portion surface are exposed from a top side of the encapsulant after the removing. Other examples and related structures are also disclosed herein.

In one example, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having substrate terminals and providing a component having a first component terminal and a second component terminal adjacent to a first major side of the component. The method includes providing a clip structure having a first clip, a second clip, and a clip connector coupling the first clip to the second clip. The method includes coupling the first clip to the first component terminal and a first substrate terminal and coupling the second clip to a second substrate terminal. The method includes encapsulating the component, portions of the substrate, and portions of the clip structure. the method includes removing a sacrificial portion of the clip connector while leaving a first portion of the clip connector attached to the first clip and leaving a second portion of the clip connector attached to the second clip. In some examples, the first portion of the clip connector includes a first portion surface, the second portion of the clip connector includes a second portion surface, and the first portion surface and the second portion surface are exposed from a top side of the encapsulant after the removing. Other examples and related structures are also disclosed herein.

In a power semiconductor module, the 0.2% yield strength of solder under a lead terminal that bonds the lead terminal and a semiconductor element is set to be lower than the 0.2% yield strength of solder under the semiconductor element that bonds the semiconductor element and an insulating substrate. As a result, the lead terminal is expanded with self-heating by energization of the semiconductor element, and stress is applied to the semiconductor element via the solder under the lead terminal. However, the solder under the lead terminal with low 0.2% yield strength reduces the stress that is applied to the semiconductor element. Thus, the reliability of a surface electrode of the semiconductor element that is bonded to the solder under the lead terminal is improved.

An embodiment related to a device. The device includes a first die with first and second die surfaces. The second die surface is bonded to a first die attach pad (DAP) disposed on a first substrate surface of a package substrate and the first die surface includes a first die contact pad. The device also includes a first clip bond including a first clip bond horizontal planar portion attached to the first die contact pad on the first die surface, and a first clip bond vertical portion disposed on an edge of the first clip bond horizontal planar portion. The first clip bond vertical portion is attached to a first substrate bond pad on the first substrate surface. The device further includes a first conductive clip-die bonding layer with spacers on the first die contact pad of the first die. The first conductive clip-die bonding layer bonds the first clip bond horizontal planar portion to the first die contact pad, and the spacers maintain a uniform Bond Line Thickness (BLT) of the first conductive clip-die bonding layer.

An embodiment related to a device. The device includes a first die with first and second die surfaces. The second die surface is bonded to a first die attach pad (DAP) disposed on a first substrate surface of a package substrate and the first die surface includes a first die contact pad. The device also includes a first clip bond including a first clip bond horizontal planar portion attached to the first die contact pad on the first die surface, and a first clip bond vertical portion disposed on an edge of the first clip bond horizontal planar portion. The first clip bond vertical portion is attached to a first substrate bond pad on the first substrate surface. The device further includes a first conductive clip-die bonding layer with spacers on the first die contact pad of the first die. The first conductive clip-die bonding layer bonds the first clip bond horizontal planar portion to the first die contact pad, and the spacers maintain a uniform Bond Line Thickness (BLT) of the first conductive clip-die bonding layer.