A method and an apparatus for the pressure-sintering connection of a first and a second connection provide a frame element lowerable onto a frame surface surrounding the supporting surface, having a sintering ram lowerable lowered from the normal direction onto the second connection partner and exerts pressure thereon, and converting a sintering paste between the connection partners into a sintered metal, and having an auxiliary apparatus for the arrangement of a separating film for the peripheral covering of the frame surface and the connection partners. This arrangement of the separating film produces an inner region bounded by the frame element and bounded by a separating film portion within the frame element and by the supporting surface, and injection opening and an outlet opening allow a second gas to flush through said inner region from the injection opening to the outlet opening and displace a first gas.

According to one embodiment, in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a controller relatively moves a bonding tool and a stage close to each other while causing a semiconductor chip to adhere by suction to a surface via a tape using at least a first suction structure in a first period. In a second period, the controller controls the temperature of the bonding tool to a first target temperature while keeping substantially equal to a target pressure a pressure applied to the semiconductor chip by the bonding tool. In a third period, the controller controls a relative distance between the bonding tool and the stage so that the pressure applied to the semiconductor chip by the bonding tool is kept equal to the target pressure and controls the temperature of the bonding tool to a second target temperature. The second target temperature is higher than the first target temperature.

Interconnecting a first chip and a second chip by a bridge member includes a chip handler for handling the first chip and the second chip. Each of the first chip and the second chip has a first surface including a first set of terminals and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The chip handler has an opening and at least one support surface for supporting the first surfaces of the first chip and the second chip when the first chip and the second chip are mounted to the chip handler. A chip support member supports the first chip and the second chip from the second surfaces, and a bridge handler is provided for inserting the bridge member through the opening of the chip handler and for placing the bridge member onto the first sets of terminals of the first chip and the second chip.

A bonding apparatus includes a first holder, a second holder, a first interferometer, a housing, a gas supply and an airflow control cover. The first holder attracts and holds the first substrate. The second holder attracts and holds the second substrate. The first interferometer measures, by radiating light to the second holder or a first object which is moved along with the second holder in the first horizontal direction, a distance to the second holder or the first object in the first horizontal direction. The housing accommodates therein the first holder, the second holder and the first interferometer. The gas supply is provided at a lateral side of the housing, and supplies a gas into the housing. The airflow control cover is provided within the housing, and redirects a part of a flow of the gas supplied from the gas supply toward a first path of the light.

A bonding apparatus includes a first holder, a second holder, a first interferometer, a housing, a gas supply and an airflow control cover. The first holder attracts and holds the first substrate. The second holder attracts and holds the second substrate. The first interferometer measures, by radiating light to the second holder or a first object which is moved along with the second holder in the first horizontal direction, a distance to the second holder or the first object in the first horizontal direction. The housing accommodates therein the first holder, the second holder and the first interferometer. The gas supply is provided at a lateral side of the housing, and supplies a gas into the housing. The airflow control cover is provided within the housing, and redirects a part of a flow of the gas supplied from the gas supply toward a first path of the light.

According to one embodiment, in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a controller relatively moves a bonding tool and a stage close to each other while causing a semiconductor chip to adhere by suction to a surface via a tape using at least a first suction structure in a first period. In a second period, the controller controls the temperature of the bonding tool to a first target temperature while keeping substantially equal to a target pressure a pressure applied to the semiconductor chip by the bonding tool. In a third period, the controller controls a relative distance between the bonding tool and the stage so that the pressure applied to the semiconductor chip by the bonding tool is kept equal to the target pressure and controls the temperature of the bonding tool to a second target temperature. The second target temperature is higher than the first target temperature.

An apparatus having a seal plate which includes rigid hard portions and one or more flexible soft portions located between the hard portions is used for bonding at least one semiconductor device onto a substrate that is supported on a platform. The seal plate is movable between a first position which is spaced from the substrate and a second position whereat a first side of the seal plate is configured to be in contact with the substrate. A diaphragm covers a second side of the seal plate opposite to the first side. A fluid pressure generator exerts a fluid pressure onto the diaphragm to actuate the diaphragm to compress the one or more soft portions to transmit a bonding force onto the at least one semiconductor device during bonding.

A bonding system for bonding a semiconductor element to a substrate is provided. The bonding system includes a substrate oxide reduction chamber configured to receive a substrate. The substrate includes a plurality of first electrically conductive structures. The substrate oxide reduction chamber is configured to receive a reducing gas to contact each of the plurality of first electrically conductive structures. The bonding system also includes a substrate oxide prevention chamber for receiving the substrate after the reducing gas contacts the plurality of first electrically conductive structures. The substrate oxide prevention chamber has an inert environment when receiving the substrate. The bonding system also includes a reducing gas delivery system for providing a reducing gas environment during bonding of a semiconductor element to the substrate.

A bonding system for bonding a semiconductor element to a substrate is provided. The bonding system includes a substrate oxide reduction chamber configured to receive a substrate. The substrate includes a plurality of first electrically conductive structures. The substrate oxide reduction chamber is configured to receive a reducing gas to contact each of the plurality of first electrically conductive structures. The bonding system also includes a substrate oxide prevention chamber for receiving the substrate after the reducing gas contacts the plurality of first electrically conductive structures. The substrate oxide prevention chamber has an inert environment when receiving the substrate. The bonding system also includes a reducing gas delivery system for providing a reducing gas environment during bonding of a semiconductor element to the substrate.

According to an embodiment, a temperature of an inside of a furnace is set to fall within a range of a reduction temperature or more of a carboxylic acid and less than a melting temperature of a solder bump, and the inside is concurrently set to have a first carboxylic acid gas concentration. Thereafter, the temperature of the inside is raised up to the melting temperature, and the inside is concurrently set to have a second carboxylic acid gas concentration. The second carboxylic acid gas concentration is lower than the first carboxylic acid gas concentration, and is a concentration containing a minimum amount of carboxylic acid gas defined to achieve reduction on an oxide film of the solder bump. The inside has the second carboxylic acid gas concentration at least at a time when the temperature of the inside reaches the melting temperature.