Semiconductor module

1. A semiconductor module comprising:

a metal substrate having a mounting surface;

a first conductive plate on the mounting surface;

an insulating substrate on the first conductive plate;

a second conductive plate on the insulating substrate;

a conductive pad on the insulating substrate;

a semiconductor element on the second conductive plate;

a circuit board electrically connected to the conductive pad;

a resin case connected to the metal substrate and extending along at least a portion thereof, and around the first conductive plate, the insulating substrate, the second conductive plate, the conductive pad, the semiconductor element, and the circuit board; and

a silicone gel in a region bounded by the metal substrate and the resin case, wherein

the circuit board comprises a plurality of planar surfaces oriented perpendicular to the mounting surface of the metal substrate.

2. The semiconductor module according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit board extends along less than an entire perimeter of silicone gel.

3. The semiconductor module according to claim 2 , wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of planar portions connected by at least one curved portion.

4. The semiconductor module according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a bonding wire extending between the second conductive plate and the conductive pad in a first direction different than a second direction along which the circuit board is oriented.

5. The semiconductor module according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an auxiliary terminal located between the circuit board and the conductive pad.

6. The semiconductor module of claim 5 , wherein the circuit board comprises:

a flexible portion, and

a second portion that is physically connected to the auxiliary terminal.

7. The semiconductor module of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board includes a portion thereof extending outwardly of the silicone gel.

8. The semiconductor module according to claim 1 , wherein

the circuit board includes a signal terminal and a gate resistor, and

the circuit board includes a plurality of curved portions extending between adjacent planar surfaces thereof.

9. A semiconductor module having a conductive substrate having a generally planar upper surface facing inwardly of the module, an insulating substrate thereover having a generally planar upper surface facing inwardly of the module, a semiconductor device substrate over the insulating substrate, and a semiconductor device chip mounted on the semiconductor device substrate, said semiconductor module comprising:

a circuit board electrically connected to the semiconductor device chip, the circuit board located only between the perimeter of the insulating substrate and the perimeter of the conductive substrate.

10. The semiconductor module of claim 9 , further comprising:

a protective material overlying the conductive substrate, the insulating substrate and the semiconductor device substrate, and contacting a sidewall of the circuit board.

11. The semiconductor module of claim 9 , wherein the circuit board includes a generally planar sidewall oriented perpendicular to the generally planar upper surfaces of the conductive substrate and the insulating substrate.

12. The semiconductor module of claim 9 , further comprising:

a conductive pad between the semiconductor device substrate and the circuit board; and

a conductive wire connected to, and between, the conductive pad and the semiconductor device chip.

13. The semiconductor module of claim 12 , further comprising:

a conductive terminal electrically connected to, and between, the conductive pad and the circuit board.

14. The semiconductor module of claim 13 , wherein

the protective material comprises a silicone gel located over the conductive substrate and the insulating substrate; and

the circuit board includes at least two generally planar portions and a flexible portion, the generally planar portions connected together by the flexible portion.

15. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor module, comprising:

providing a conductive substrate having a generally planar upper surface;

affixing an insulating substrate on the conductive substrate, the insulating substrate having a generally planar upper surface;

positioning a semiconductor device substrate over the insulating substrate;

providing a circuit board only between a perimeter of the insulating substrate and a perimeter of the conductive substrate, the circuit board electrically to a semiconductor device chip mounted on the semiconductor device substrate; and

locating a protective material over the upper surfaces of the conductive substrate and the insulating substrate.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

configuring the circuit board to include generally planar rigid portions connected by curved portions, wherein two rigid portions are spaced from one another by a portion of the protective material disposed therebetween.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the protective material is a silicone gel.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the semiconductor device chip is connected to the circuit board by:

providing conductive pad between the semiconductor device substrate and the circuit board;

connecting a conductive wire between the conductive pad and the semiconductor device substrate, and;

connecting an auxiliary terminal between the conductive pad and the circuit board.