A packaged semiconductor includes an electrically insulating encapsulant body having an upper surface, a first semiconductor die encapsulated within the encapsulant body, the first semiconductor die having a main surface with a first conductive pad that faces the upper surface of the encapsulant body, a second semiconductor die encapsulated within the encapsulant body and disposed laterally side by side with the first semiconductor die, the second semiconductor die having a main surface with a second conductive pad that faces the upper surface of the encapsulant body, and a first conductive track that is formed in the upper surface of the encapsulant body and electrically connects the first conductive pad to the second conductive pad. The encapsulant body includes a laser activatable mold compound.

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring wafer bonding and for detecting or determining defects in a wafer bond formed between two semiconductor wafers. A wafer bonding system includes a camera configured to monitor bonding between two semiconductor wafers. Wafer bonding defect detection circuitry receives video data from the camera, and detects a bonding defect based on the received video data.

A semiconductor die is arranged on a substrate and an encapsulation of laser direct structuring (LDS) material is molded onto the semiconductor die. A through mold via (TMV) extends through the encapsulation. This TMV includes a collar section that extends through a first portion of the encapsulation from an outer surface to an intermediate level of the encapsulation, and a frusto-conical section that extends from a bottom of the collar section through a second portion of the encapsulation. The collar section has a first cross-sectional area at the intermediate level. The first end of the frusto-conical section has a second cross-section area at the intermediate level. The second cross-sectional area is smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The TMV can have an aspect ratio which is not limited to 1:1.

A packaged semiconductor includes an electrically insulating encapsulant body having an upper surface, a first semiconductor die encapsulated within the encapsulant body, the first semiconductor die having a main surface with a first conductive pad that faces the upper surface of the encapsulant body, a second semiconductor die encapsulated within the encapsulant body and disposed laterally side by side with the first semiconductor die, the second semiconductor die having a main surface with a second conductive pad that faces the upper surface of the encapsulant body, and a first conductive track that is formed in the upper surface of the encapsulant body and electrically connects the first conductive pad to the second conductive pad. The encapsulant body includes a laser activatable mold compound.

Approaches for foil-based metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves locating a metal foil above a plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions disposed in or above a substrate. The method also involves laser welding the metal foil to the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The method also involves patterning the metal foil by laser ablating through at least a portion of the metal foil at regions in alignment with locations between the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The laser welding and the patterning are performed at the same time.

Provided is a mask changing unit for a laser bonding apparatus, and more particularly, a mask changing unit for a laser bonding apparatus, wherein the mask changing unit supplies or changes a mask to or in the laser bonding apparatus for bonding a semiconductor chip to a substrate by using a laser beam. The mask changing unit for a laser bonding apparatus, a plurality of masks that are used in performing laser bonding of a semiconductor chip to a substrate while the semiconductor chip is being pressed may be easily supplied to the laser bonding apparatus or changed in the laser bonding apparatus.

Approaches for foil-based metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves locating a metal foil above a plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions disposed in or above a substrate. The method also involves laser welding the metal foil to the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The method also involves patterning the metal foil by laser ablating through at least a portion of the metal foil at regions in alignment with locations between the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The laser welding and the patterning are performed at the same time.

Disclosed are a laser bonding apparatus and a laser bonding method capable of bonding an electronic component to a three-dimensional structure having a regular or irregular shape in a curved portion such as an automobile tail lamp or a headlamp. The laser bonding apparatus and method for a three-dimensional structure may prevent misalignment and poor bonding of the electronic component with respect to the three-dimensional structure.

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring wafer bonding and for detecting or determining defects in a wafer bond formed between two semiconductor wafers. A wafer bonding system includes a camera configured to monitor bonding between two semiconductor wafers. Wafer bonding defect detection circuitry receives video data from the camera, and detects a bonding defect based on the received video data.

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring wafer bonding and for detecting or determining defects in a wafer bond formed between two semiconductor wafers. A wafer bonding system includes a camera configured to monitor bonding between two semiconductor wafers. Wafer bonding defect detection circuitry receives video data from the camera, and detects a bonding defect based on the received video data.