Flip-Chip Leadframe Interconnect With Vertical Protrusions for High Current

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional wire bonding methods for semiconductor power devices face limitations in handling high current densities, leading to increased complexity, cost, and reliability issues, while clip bonding introduces manufacturing challenges and errors.

Innovation Solution

A flip-chip packaging solution using a leadframe with vertical protrusions and a conductive film, allowing for parallel interconnect formation through sputtering or plating, eliminating sequential clip bonding and soldering processes, and enabling efficient thermal dissipation with a double-sided cooled configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If clip bonding is used to handle high current densities, then electrical performance and heat distribution are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the bonding process entirely by using pre-formed metal clips that are mechanically attached to the semiconductor die and leadframe. This eliminates the complex multi-step clip bonding process (solder application, pick-and-place, reflow, flux cleaning, inspection) while maintaining the electrical performance benefits of metal-to-metal contact for high current density applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The metal clips are pre-formed and pre-positioned on the leadframe before the semiconductor die is mounted. This preliminary preparation of interconnect structures simplifies the overall manufacturing process by eliminating the need for complex real-time bonding operations during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If clip bonding is used to handle high current densities, then electrical performance and heat distribution are improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the multi-step clip bonding process entirely and replacing it with simple mechanical attachment of pre-formed clips, the manufacturing time is dramatically reduced. The complex sequence of solder application, pick-and-place, reflow heating, flux cleaning, and quality inspection is replaced with a single straightforward mounting operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses simple, inexpensive metal clips that can be mass-produced and pre-positioned. These clips serve as temporary mechanical interconnects during assembly and provide permanent electrical connection, replacing expensive and time-consuming bonding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional wire bonding is used, then manufacturing process is simpler, but ability to handle high current densities is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcurrent density handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of wire bonding (manufacturing simplicity) with the advantages of clip bonding (high current density capability). The metal clips provide wide contact areas for high current density handling while the overall assembly process remains simple and straightforward, avoiding the complexity of traditional wire bonding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of interconnect geometry from thin wire (wire bonding) to wide metal clips with large contact areas. This parameter change enables high current density handling while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through mechanical attachment rather than complex wire manipulation processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and enhances reliability by providing superior thermal dissipation and electrical performance, suitable for high-power semiconductor devices.

Implementation Method 1

The conductive film may be a sputtered or plated interconnect film forming a lateral electrical contact on the top side of the semiconductor device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSputtering: Sputtering

Implementation Method 2

The conductive film may be a sputtered or plated interconnect film forming a lateral electrical contact on the top side of the semiconductor device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlating: Electroplating

Data Source

PatentEP4672331A1Semiconductor device with plated clip and flip-chip interconnect on leadframe
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 NEXPERIA BV
  • EP4672331A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4672331A1 patent drawingFigure 1c~2
  • EP4672331A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A semiconductor device (100) and manufacturing method thereof are presented. The device has a top side and a bottom side and comprises a leadframe with pads (110A, 112, 114) extending to the bottom side of and exterior to the device. At least one of the pads comprises a leadframe vertical protrusion (110B) extending from the bottom side to the top side. A die (200) is flip-chip arranged in the semiconductor device and comprises terminals (202, 204, 206). At least one of the terminals (202, 204) on the top side of the die and facing the bottom side of the device is electrically connected to a corresponding pad (112, 114). Another one of the terminals (206) on the bottom side of the die faces the top side of the device where a conductive film (102) electrically connects the terminal (206) to the leadframe vertical protrusion (110B) at the top side.