Patent ID: 7592724
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: H01L,H02K

Abstract:
1. A rectifier for an automotive alternator, the rectifier comprising: a plurality of rectifying elements; a heat sink that has the rectifying elements mounted thereon to dissipate heat generated by the rectifying elements during operation; a plurality of terminals each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the rectifying elements; and a terminal base that has the terminals built therein to support the terminals, wherein each of the rectifying elements includes a semiconductor chip and a lead electrode that connects the semiconductor chip to the corresponding one of the terminals, the semiconductor chip has a first surface fixed to the heat sink and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the lead electrode has a joining portion joined to the second surface of the semiconductor chip and a lead body portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the second surface of the semiconductor chip, the terminal base is disposed away from the lead body portion of the lead electrode in a direction parallel to the second surface of the semiconductor chip, the corresponding terminal has a joining portion that protrudes out of the terminal base and extends in the direction parallel to the second surface of the semiconductor chip to be joined to the lead body portion of the lead electrode, the joining portion of the corresponding terminal is formed of first and second terminal plates that are laminated together in the direction perpendicular to the second surface of the semiconductor chip, and the first terminal plate is located farther from the semiconductor chip than the second terminal plate and has a larger coefficient of thermal expansion than the second terminal plate.