IP Library Granted Patent US 7,582,919
Granted Patent B2
US 7,582,919 · App. 10/524,891 · Granted Sep 1, 2009

Functional coating of the SCFM preform

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,582,919
App. No.
10/524,891
Granted
Sep 1, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a power semiconductor module having at least one semiconductor chip ( 11 ) made of a semiconductor material and having a first and a second main electrode ( 12, 13 ), a first and a second main connection ( 91, 92 ) and a contact lamina ( 2 ) in electrical contact with the first main electrode ( 12 ) and the first main connection ( 92 ). The contact lamina ( 2 ) contains an alloying partner which can form a eutectic with the semiconductor material. According to the invention, the contact lamina is coated with an electrically conductive protective layer ( 31, 32 ) that prevents formation of a fixed material connection between the first main electrode ( 12 ) and the contact lamina ( 2 ).

Claims (37)

1. A power semiconductor module comprising

at least one semiconductor chip made of a semiconductor material and having first and a second main electrodes,

first and second main connections,

a contact lamina in electrical contact with the first main electrode and the first main connection,

the contact lamina containing an alloying partner capable of forming an eutectic between the alloying partner and the semiconductor material,

the contact lamina being coated with an electrically conductive protective layer, wherein

the protective layer has at least one electrically conductive base layer applied on the contact lamina, and an electrically conductive surface layer, which forms an external contact area,

the base layer and the surface layer substantially comprise different materials, and

the surface layer is present between the contact lamina and the first main connection and between the contact lamina and the semiconductor chip.

2. The power semiconductor module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the base layer comprises Ni and has a thickness of approximately 1 μm to 5 μm.

3. The power semiconductor module as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the thickness of the base layer is approximately 2 μm to 8 μm.

4. The power semiconductor module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the surface layer has a thickness of approximately 0.1 μm to 5 μm.

5. The power semiconductor module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the semiconductor chip internally has an IGBT structure or a diode structure.

6. The power semiconductor module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the base layer comprises a good covering material, and in that

the surface layer comprises a material having one or more of the following properties:

a non-oxidizable, exhibiting little chemical reactivity,

b does not react chemically with a first electrode metallization of the first main electrode and exhibits neither contact corrosion nor material diffusion,

c has a low coefficient of friction,

d can be deposited at temperatures at which the contact layer is not damaged or deformed.

7. The power semiconductor module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface layer encircles the contact lamina.

8. The power semiconductor module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface layer encloses the contact lamina.

9. The power semiconductor module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface layer is between the contact lamina and the first main electrode of the semiconductor chip.

10. A power semiconductor module comprising

at least one semiconductor chip made of a semiconductor material and having first and a second main electrodes,

first and second main connections,

a contact lamina in electrical contact with the first main electrode and the first main connection,

the contact lamina containing an alloying partner capable of forming an eutectic between the alloying partner and the semiconductor material,

the contact lamina being coated with an electrically conductive protective layer, wherein

the protective layer has at least one electrically conductive base layer applied on the contact lamina, and

an electrically conductive surface layer, which forms an external contact area,

the surface layer substantially comprises Ru,

an electrically conductive intermediate layer is provided between the surface layer and the base layer, said intermediate layer substantially comprising Au and having a thickness of approximately 0.2 μm, and

the base layer has a thickness of 5 μm to 12 μm.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
Reel/Frame 065549/0576 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 31, 2021
From: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 058666/0540 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2020
From: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
To: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 052916/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2005
From: ASSAL, JEROME; KAUFMANN, STEFAN
To: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 016960/0619 →