Semiconductor chip and method for detecting disconnection of wire bonded to semiconductor chip

A semiconductor chip is provided with first and second electrode pads, a first current detector, and a third electrode pad. The first and second electrode pads are both to be wire-bonded to a first lead terminal. The first current detector is connected between the first and second electrode pads. The third electrode pad is wire-bonded to a second lead terminal. A first closed circuit is configured by the first lead terminal, the first electrode pad, the first current detector, and the second electrode pad. An induced current flows through the first closed circuit when a current generating an induced electromotive force is applied to the third electrode pad. The first current detector is configured to output different values depending on whether the induced current exceeds a threshold value or not.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-022068 filed on Feb. 6, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a semiconductor chip and a method for detecting disconnection of a wire bonded to the semiconductor chip.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

An electrode pad provided on a semiconductor chip is wire-bonded to a lead terminal via a wire. The lead terminal serves to provide a power-supply voltage via the wire to a circuit in the semiconductor chip, to input and output a signal to and from the circuit, or to receive an output voltage of the circuit in the semiconductor chip.

In some cases, a plurality of electrode pads is provided on a semiconductor chip, and each electrode pad is wire-bonded to one common lead terminal (so-called multi bonding). This enables to apply a power-supply voltage from said lead terminal to the plurality of electrode pads, which enables to apply a larger current to a circuit in the semiconductor chip (in the following, an electrode pad to which the power-supply voltage is applied will be referred to as a power electrode pad).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-225535 discloses a semiconductor chip which detects disconnection among multi-bonded wires. The semiconductor chip is provided with a plurality of power electrode pads, and an input signal electrode pad configured to input a signal to a circuit in the chip. The input signal electrode pad is arranged adjacent to the power electrode pads. Each of the plurality of the power electrode pads is multi-bonded to one common power lead terminal. The input signal electrode pad is wire-bonded to an input signal lead terminal different from the power lead terminal. A circuit is connected between each of the plurality of the power electrode pads and the input signal electrode pad, and a resistor with different resistance from each other is connected to each of the circuits. This enables to detect which wire is disconnected among the multi-bonded wires by applying a power-supply voltage to the power lead terminal and measuring a current output from the input signal lead terminal.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-225535, when detecting disconnection among the multi-bonded wires, a tester for applying a voltage (a voltage applying module) is connected to the power lead terminal, and a tester for measuring a current (a current measurement module) is connected to the input signal lead terminal. As described above, the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-225535 requires the testers to be allocated respectively to the power lead terminal and to the input signal lead terminal in order to detect disconnection among the wires.

The present description provides a technology enabling to reduce a use of a tester when detecting disconnection among wires which are wire-bonded to a common lead terminal.

The present description discloses a semiconductor chip comprising a first electrode pad, a second electrode pad, a first current detector, and a third electrode pad. The first electrode pad is to be wire-bonded to a first lead terminal. The second electrode pad is to be wire-bonded to the first lead terminal to which the first electrode pad is to be wire-bonded. The first current detector is connected between the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad. The third electrode pad is to be wire-bonded to a second lead terminal different from the first lead terminal. A first closed circuit is configured by the first lead terminal, the first electrode pad, the first current detector, and the second electrode pad. An induced current flows through the first closed circuit when a current generating an induced electromotive force is applied to the third electrode pad. The first current detector is configured to output different values depending on whether the induced current exceeds a threshold value or not.

In the above semiconductor chip, when the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad are wire-bonded to the first lead terminal, the first closed circuit is formed by the first lead terminal, the first electrode pad, the first current detector, and the second electrode pad. Here, in a case where wires forming the first closed circuit are not disconnected, an induced electromotive force is generated in the first closed circuit by electromagnetic induction when magnetic flux penetrating the first closed circuit changes by an application of the current generating the induced electromotive force to the third electrode pad, resulting in an induced current flowing through the first closed circuit. On the other hand, in a case where at least one of the wires forming the first closed circuit is disconnected, even when the magnetic flux penetrating the first closed circuit changes by the application of the current generating the induced electromotive force to the third electrode pad, electromagnetic induction does not occur, as a result of which the induced current does not flow through the first closed circuit. The first current detector is configured to output different values depending on whether the induced current exceeds the threshold value or not. By making the threshold value of the first current detector less than a value of the induced current flowing through the first closed circuit when none of the wires forming the first closed circuit are disconnected, a disconnection among the wires can be detected depending on the output from the first current detector. As described above, the above semiconductor chip has a configuration in which a wire disconnection is detectable based on the induced current flowing through the first closed circuit. Therefore, it is not necessary to allocate testers to both of the first lead terminal and the second lead terminal in order to detect the wire disconnection, and thus the use of testers can be reduced. Moreover, since it becomes possible to detect the wire disconnection by making use of a current applying module of a tester, a number of functions required for the tester can be reduced. Note that when the current flowing through the first current detector is equal to the threshold value, the first current detector may indicate the output for the case where the current exceeds the threshold value, or may indicate the output for the case where the current falls below the threshold value. Besides, in the present description, for a purpose of simplifying explanation, a circuit comprising the first lead terminal, the first electrode pad, the first current detector, and the second electrode pad is referred to as “a first closed circuit” even when at least one of the wires is disconnected. In addition, in the following, “disconnection among wires forming a closed circuit” is simply referred to also as “wire disconnection”.

Moreover, the present description discloses a novel method for detecting the wire disconnection in the semiconductor chip. In the above method, disconnection of at least one of wires, that comprises a wire with which the first electrode pad formed on the semiconductor chip and the first lead terminal are wire-bonded and a wire with which the second electrode pad formed on the semiconductor chip and the first lead terminal are wire-bonded is detected. In the above method, a current generating an induced electromotive force is applied to the third electrode pad from the second lead terminal to detect an output from the first current detector at the time when the current generating the induced electromotive force is applied. According to the above method, information necessary for determining whether at least one of the wires is disconnected or not can be obtained by applying the current to the second lead terminal. The only function required for the tester is a function of applying the current. The tester can be used in an effective manner. Moreover, the above method can be performed at the same time as another test that involves applying a current to the second lead terminal. In this case, it becomes unnecessary to apply the current to the second lead terminal only to detect the disconnection. Therefore, a tester used solely for detecting disconnection becomes unnecessary and thus a test time can be shortened.

Further, the present description discloses another novel method for detecting disconnection among wires of a semiconductor chip, which is different from the above method for detecting the disconnection. In this method, the disconnection of at least one of a first wire and a second wire of the semiconductor chip is detected. The semiconductor chip comprises a first electrode pad to be wire-bonded to a lead terminal with the first wire, a second electrode pad to be wire-bonded to the lead terminal with the second wire, and a current detector connected between the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad. Here, a closed circuit is configured by the lead terminal, the first wire, the first electrode pad, the current detector, the second electrode pad, and the second wire. The method comprises applying magnetic flux and detecting disconnection. In the applying of magnetic flux, magnetic flux is applied in a direction penetrating the closed circuit. In the detecting of disconnection, the disconnection of at least one of the first wire and the second wire is detected depending on an output value from the current detector in the applying of magnetic flux. In the above method, magnetic flux can be applied to the closed circuit using various configurations in the applying of magnetic flux, and therefore degree of freedom in designing the semiconductor chip improves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A semiconductor chip100of embodiment 1 will be explained with reference toFIG. 1. The semiconductor chip100is an electronic component with a rectangular parallelepiped shape provided with an integrated circuit50. The semiconductor chip100is packaged by resin11together with a plurality of lead terminals, and thereby composes a semiconductor device110. InFIG. 1, two lead terminals30,80among the plurality of terminals are illustrated. Note that inFIG. 1, illustration of parts of the lead terminals30,80protruding outside of the resin11is omitted. Besides, inFIG. 1, for a purpose of clarifying illustration, only outer shape of the resin11is illustrated, omitting illustration of the resin11covering the lead terminals30,80and the semiconductor chip100.

The semiconductor chip100comprises electrode pads12a,12b,60, wires14a,14b,66, a resistor16a,a comparator18a,a controller24, and switches SW1, SW2, SW3. The electrode pads12a,12b,60are adjacently provided in this order on an outer circumferential part of an upper surface of the semiconductor chip100(that is, a surface opposite to a surface (a lower surface) in contact with a die pad (illustration omitted) of a lead frame (illustration omitted) when the semiconductor chip100is mounted on the die pad. The electrode pad12ais wire-bonded to one end of the lead terminal30with a wire40a.The electrode pad12bis wire-bonded to the one end of the lead terminal30with a wire40b.That is, electrode pads12a,12bare double-bonded to the common lead terminal30. The electrode pad60is wire-bonded to one end of the lead terminal80with a wire90. Note that although plural electrode pads are provided on the upper surface of the semiconductor chip100, only electrode pads12a,12b,60are illustrated inFIG. 1. Electrode pads12a,12b,60correspond to one example of “first electrode pad”, “second electrode pad”, and “third electrode pad”, respectively, and lead terminals30,80correspond to one example of “first lead terminal” and “second lead terminal”, respectively.

The wire14aconnects the electrode pad12awith the integrated circuit50. The wire14bconnects the electrode pad12bwith the integrated circuit50. With this, when a power supply voltage is applied to the lead terminal30, voltage is applied to each of the electrode pads12a,12b,and current is supplied to the integrated circuit50via the wires14a,14b.By the lead terminal30being double-bonded to two electrode pads12a,12b,a large current can be supplied to the integrated circuit50. The wire14aand the wire14bjoin together at a point B1to be one wire. In the present embodiment, a wire on the integrated circuit50side from the point B1serves both as the wire14aand as the wire14b. The wire66connects the electrode pad60with the integrated circuit50.

The resistor16ais a resistor with resistance R1, and is connected between a point B2of the wire14aand a point B3of the wire14b.The comparator18ais configured to compare a voltage on a higher potential side and a voltage on a lower potential side of the resistor16aand to output a comparison result as a binary signal of H (high) or L (low). Specifically, one end of the resistor16a(an upper side of the resistor16ainFIG. 1) is connected to a non-inverting input terminal Vin+ of the comparator18a,and another end (a lower side of the resistor16ainFIG. 1) is connected to an inverting input terminal Vin−. An output terminal Vout of the comparator18ais connected to a register22ainside of the semiconductor chip100. The comparator18ais a comparator with a threshold value. A voltage Vin1across both ends of the resistor16a(hereinafter also called as “input voltage Vin1”) is input to the non-inverting input terminal Vin+. In a case where the input voltage Vin1exceeds the threshold value, the output terminal Vout outputs an H signal, while in a case where the input voltage Vin1falls below the threshold value, the output terminal Vout outputs an L signal. An output signal is stored in the register22a.The output signal stored in the register22acan be read out. Note that the resistor16acorresponds to one example of “first resistor”, and the comparator18acorresponds to one example of “first comparator”.

The switch SW1is provided between the point B1and the point B2of the wire14a.The switch SW2is provided, adjacent to the resistor16a,between the point B2and the point B3. The switch SW3is provided between the point B1and the point B3of the wire14b.The controller24controls on and off of the switches SW1to SW3. Specifically, the controller24turns off the switches SW1, SW3when turning on the switch SW2, and turns off the switch SW2when turning on the switches SW1, SW3. While the switch SW2is on, a closed circuit L1is formed in which the lead terminal30, the electrode pad12a,the switch SW2, the resistor16a,and the electrode pad12bwith wires40a,40band wires14a,14bare connected. In this state, since the switches SW1, SW3are off, the electrode pads12a,12bare electrically disconnected from the integrated circuit50and are in a non-conducting state. On the other hand, while the switch SW2is off, the closed circuit L1is not formed. In this state, since the switches SW1, SW3are on, the electrode pads12a,12bare connected to the integrated circuit and are in a conducting state. Note that the closed circuit L1corresponds to one example of “first closed circuit”.

A current source70is connectable to another end of the lead terminal80(that is, a part of the lead terminal80protruding from the resin11). The current source70is a current source for a test (tester), and is used to test product quality of the semiconductor device110(the semiconductor chip100) by supplying a current I1to the lead terminal80.

A method for detecting disconnection of at least one of the wires40a,40b(that is, wires being double-bonded) will be explained The method for detecting disconnection is performed at a same time as an operation confirmation step. In the operation confirmation step, first, the controller24turns on the switch SW2and turns off the switches SW1, SW3. Accordingly, the closed circuit L1is formed, and the electrode pads12a,12bare electrically disconnected from the integrated circuit50. Next, the current source70is connected to the lead terminal80to supply the current I1. Then, whether the semiconductor device110properly operates or not is tested. A test performed in the operation confirmation step may be any type of test as long as the current I1is supplied to the lead terminal80from the current source70in the test. The current I1supplied to the lead terminal80flows through the wire90rightward inFIG. 1. This generates a concentric magnetic field around the wire90in a clockwise direction seen along a traveling direction of the current. Since the closed circuit L1is positioned on a left side of the wire90seen along the traveling direction of the current, the magnetic field generated penetrates the closed circuit L1in a direction from the lower surface toward the upper surface of the semiconductor chip100. Note that the current I1corresponds to one example of “current generating an induced electromotive force”.

In a case where none of the wires40a,40bare disconnected, the magnetic flux penetrating the closed circuit L1changes when the magnetic field generated around the wire90penetrates the closed circuit L1, resulting in a generation of an induced electromotive force Ve1in the closed circuit L1by electromagnetic induction. The induced electromotive force Ve1is equal to a rate of change of the magnetic flux with time. In other words, the induced electromotive force Ve1is proportional to both a rate of change of the current I1with time and an area of the closed circuit L1. In the present embodiment, the current source70supplies the current I1that increases at a constant rate of change during a predetermined time in the operation confirmation step. Therefore, the induced electromotive force Ve1comes to be at a constant value.

The resistance R1of the resistor16aof the closed circuit L1is quite large compared to resistances of other elements constituting the closed circuit L1(that is, wires40a,40bor wires14a,14b) such that a voltage drop in the closed circuit L1can be regarded to occur only in the resistor16a.In this case, the voltage drop in the resistor16a(that is, a voltage across the both ends of the resistor16a) is equal to the induced electromotive force Ve1by Kirchhoff's second law. With this configuration, an induced current12(=Ve1/R1) flows through the closed circuit L1in a clockwise direction (refer to an arrow inFIG. 1). Accordingly, the input voltage Vin1equaling in its value to the induced electromotive force Ve1is input to the non-inverting input terminal Vin+ of the comparator18a(that is, Vin1=Ve1). The threshold value of the comparator18ais preset so as to be larger than 0 and smaller than Ve1. Accordingly, the input voltage Vin1(=Ve1) input to the non-inverting input terminal Vin+ of the comparator18aexceeds the threshold value, resulting in the output terminal Vout outputting the H signal. The output signal is stored in the register22a.

On the other hand, in a case where at least one of the wires40a,40bis disconnected, the electromagnetic induction does not occur in the closed circuit L1even when the magnetic field generated around the wire90penetrates the closed circuit L1, and thus the input voltage Vin1becomes 0 [V]. Accordingly, the input voltage Vin1falls below the threshold value, which causes the output terminal Vout to output the L signal. The output signal is stored in the register22a.

The presence of the disconnection can be detected by reading the output signal stored in the register22a.When a read value is the H signal, it is determined that the wires40a,40bare not being disconnected, and when the read value is the L signal, it is determined that at least one of the wires40a,40bis disconnected. By adopting a configuration of outputting the presence of the disconnection among the wires40a,40busing the binary signal in the comparator18a,the disconnection among the wires40a,40bcan be easily detected by reading the output signal. Note that the test for detecting disconnection is performed in advance to the semiconductor device110being mounted on a substrate.

The semiconductor device110detected to have no disconnection in the disconnection detection test is subjected to further tests, and when the semiconductor device110is determined to be a non-defective product as a result, it is mounted on the substrate. In using the semiconductor device110in a normal operation after it has been mounted on the substrate, first, the controller24turns on the switches SW1, SW3and turns off the switch SW2. Next, the power supply voltage is applied to the lead terminal30to apply a voltage to the electrode pads12a,12b.Accordingly, the current is supplied to the integrated circuit50via the wires14a,14bfrom the lead terminal30. As above, the controller24switches the switches SW1to SW3in different ways for the case of detecting a disconnection in the wires40a,40band for the case of using the semiconductor device110in the normal operation. Accordingly, when the disconnection of at least one of the wires40a,40bis detected, the induced current12flowing through the closed circuit L1can be suppressed from flowing toward an integrated circuit50side. On the other hand, when the semiconductor device110is used in the normal operation, the current flowing through the integrated circuit50via the wires14a,14bfrom the lead terminal30can be suppressed from flowing into a resistor16aside and a comparator18aside. Therefore, the input voltage Vin1, which is based on a calculated value (that is, the induced electromotive force Ve1), is input to the non-inverting input terminal Vin+ of the comparator18a,as a result of which a precise output signal is output from the output terminal Vout. Accordingly, reliability of the disconnection detection in the wires40a,40bis improved.

In the above semiconductor device110, when neither of the wires40a,40bare disconnected, a voltage (the induced electromotive force) can be generated in the closed circuit L1simply by supplying a current to the lead terminal80. Therefore, there is no need to apply any voltage to the lead terminal30for a purpose of detecting disconnection, and there is no need to prepare a tester for detecting disconnection (a voltage applying module); as a result, the aforementioned tester can be used for other tests. That is, efficient use of the tester is realized. Besides, in the method for detecting wire disconnection in the above semiconductor device110, at a stage of the operation confirmation step, the output signal based on which the presence of a disconnection can be determined is output from the output terminal Vout of the comparator18a.Therefore, it is possible to perform two types of tests at once, allowing to shorten a test time for the semiconductor device110. Further, since whether disconnection is present or not is output from the output terminal Vout of the comparator18a,there is no need to provide an electrode pad for measuring current (so called a test use only pad), resulting in improving a degree of freedom of a layout of a semiconductor chip.

Modification Example 1

Next, a semiconductor chip200of a modification example 1 will be explained with reference toFIG. 2. In the following, differences from the embodiment 1 will be explained mainly, and same reference numerals will be used for configurations that are identical to those of the embodiment 1 with detailed descriptions omitted. A same rule is applied to an embodiment 2. The semiconductor chip200is packaged, with a plurality of lead terminals by the resin11, and thereby composes a semiconductor device210. The semiconductor device210of the modification example 1 differs from the semiconductor device110of the embodiment 1 in that the semiconductor chip200comprises an electrode pad62and a wire68, and the semiconductor device210comprises a lead terminal82. The electrode pad62is provided, adjacent to the electrode pad12a,on an opposite side of the electrode pad12bwith respect to the electrode pad12a(that is, an upper side inFIG. 2). Similarly, the lead terminal82is provided, adjacent to the lead terminal30, on an opposite side of the lead terminal80with respect to the lead terminal30(that is, the upper side inFIG. 2). The electrode pad62is wire-bonded to one end of the lead terminal82with a wire92. The wire68connects the electrode pad62with the integrated circuit50. A current source72is connectable to another end of the lead terminal82. The current source72is a current source to test quality of the semiconductor device210in an operation confirmation step. The current source72supplies the wire92with a current13flowing leftward inFIG. 2at a same time as the current source70supplying the current I1. The current source72supplies the current13increasing at a constant rate during a predetermined time in the operation confirmation step. Note that the current13corresponds to one example of “current generating an induced electromotive force”.

When the current13flows through the wire92leftward by the current source72, magnetic field generated around the wire92penetrates the closed circuit L1in a direction from a lower surface to an upper surface of the semiconductor chip200. Accordingly, in a case where neither of the wires40a,40bare disconnected, an induced electromotive force Ve2is generated in the closed circuit L1by electromagnetic induction. The direction in which magnetic field generated around the wire92penetrates the closed circuit L1is same as the direction in which the magnetic field generated around the wire90by the current I1penetrates the closed circuit L1. Therefore, voltage of Ve1+Ve2is applied across the both ends of the resistor16aand thus an input voltage Vin1, with a value of Ve1+Ve2being input to the non-inverting input terminal Vin+ of the comparator18a.

This configuration also realizes similar effects to those of the embodiment 1. Besides, by supplying current to two wires90,92positioned on both sides of the closed circuit L1as explained above, it becomes possible to increase magnetic flux density penetrating the closed circuit L1as well as the induced electromotive force generated in the closed circuit L1. Therefore, even in a situation where a sufficient induced electromotive force cannot be generated due to a limitation on a current amount that can flow in each wire and the like, a sufficiently large induced electromotive force can be generated in the closed circuit L1, and a precise output signal can be obtained from the output terminal Vout of the comparator18a.Note that a number of wires for supplying current is not limited to two, but may be more than or equal to three.

Next, a semiconductor chip300of an embodiment 2 will be explained with respect toFIG. 3. The semiconductor chip300is packaged by resin11with a plurality of lead terminals, and thereby composes a semiconductor device310. The semiconductor chip300of the embodiment 2 differs from the semiconductor chip100of the embodiment 1 in that the semiconductor chip300comprises an electrode pad12c,a wire14c,a resistor16b,a comparator18b,and switches SW4, SW5in addition to each component which the semiconductor chip100comprises.

The electrode pad12cis provided between the electrode pad12band the electrode pad60. The electrode pad12cis wire-bonded to one end of the lead terminal30with a wire40c.That is, the electrode pads12a,12b,12care triple-bonded to the common lead terminal30. The wire14cconnects the electrode pad12cwith the integrated circuit50. Accordingly, when a power supply voltage is applied to the lead terminal30, a current even larger than the current in the double-bonding configuration can be supplied to the integrated circuit50via wires14a,14b,14c.The wire14cjoins the wire14aat the point B1to form one wire. Note that the electrode pad12ccorresponds to one example of “forth electrode pad”.

The resistor16bis a resistor with resistance R2, and is connected between a point B4of the wire14aand a point B5of the wire14c.The comparator18bis a comparator with a threshold value, and is configured to compare a voltage on a higher potential side and a voltage on a lower potential side of the resistor16band to output a comparison result as a binary signal. One end of the resistor16bis connected to a non-inverting input terminal Vin+ of the comparator18b,and another end is connected to an inverting input terminal Vin−. An output terminal Vout of the comparator18bis connected to a register22binside of the semiconductor chip300. A voltage Vin2across both ends of the resistor16b(hereinafter also called as “input voltage Vin2”) is input to the non-inverting input terminal Vin+. In a case where the input voltage Vin2exceeds the threshold value, the output terminal Vout outputs an H signal, while in a case where the input voltage Vin2falls below the threshold value, the output terminal Vout outputs an L signal. An output signal is stored in the register22b.Note that the resistor16bcorresponds to one example of “second resistor”, and the comparator18bcorresponds to one example of “second comparator”.

The switch SW4is provided, adjacent to the resistor16b,between the point B4and the point B5. While the switch SW4is on, a closed circuit L2is formed in which the lead terminal30, the electrode pad12a,the resistor16b,the switch SW4, and the electrode pad12cwith wires40a,40cand wires14a,14care connected. The switch SW5is provided between the point Bland the point B5of the wire14c.Besides, in the present embodiment, the point B4is positioned on the integrated circuit50side from the point B2in the wire14a.In this case, the switch SW1is connected between the point B1and the point B4. The controller24controls on and off of the switches SW4, SW5in addition to the switches SW1to SW3. Specifically, the controller24controls the switches SW1to SW5to switch to either of the following three cases of circuits. That is, in a case 1, the switch SW2is on and the switches SW1, SW3, SW4, SW5are off. In a case 2, the switch SW4is on and the switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW5are off. In a case 3, the switches SW1, SW3, SW5are on and the switches SW2, SW4are off. Accordingly, in the case 1, the closed circuit L1is formed while the closed circuit L2is not formed, and the electrode pads12ato12care electrically disconnected from the integrated circuit50. In the case 2, the closed circuit L2is formed while the closed circuit L1is not formed, and the electrode pads12ato12care electrically disconnected from the integrated circuit50. In the case 3, the closed circuits L1, L2are not formed while the electrode pads12ato12care connected to the integrated circuit50. Note that the closed circuit L2corresponds to one example of “second closed circuit”.

A method for detecting disconnection of at least one of the wires40a,40b,40cwill be explained A case where the controller24switches to the circuit of the above case 1 in the operation confirmation step is same as the case where the controller24turns on the switch SW2in the embodiment 1. The disconnection of at least one of the wires40a,40bcan be detected by using the circuit of the case 1. On the other hand, when the controller24switches to the circuit of the above case 2, the current source70supplies the lead terminal80with the current I1increasing at a constant rate.

In a case where neither of the wires40a,40care disconnected, an induced electromotive force Ve3with a constant value is generated in the closed circuit L2by electromagnetic induction. With this configuration, an induced current14(=Ve3/R2) flows through the closed circuit L2in the clockwise direction. Since an area of the closed circuit L2is larger than that of the closed circuit L1, the induced electromotive force Ve3is larger than the induced electromotive force Ve1. Since a voltage that is equal to the induced electromagnetic force Ve3is applied across the both ends of the resistor16b,the input voltage Vin2is equal to the induced electromagnetic force Ve3. The threshold value of the comparator18bis preset so as to be larger than 0 and smaller than Ve3. Accordingly, the input voltage Vin2(=Ve3) exceeds the threshold value, resulting in the output terminal Vout of the comparator18boutputting the H signal. The output signal is stored in the register22b.On the other hand, in a case where at least one of the wires40a,40cis disconnected, no induced electromotive force is generated in the closed circuit L2. Therefore, no electric potential difference is generated across the both ends of the resistor16b,and thus the input voltage Vin2becomes 0 [V]. Accordingly, Vin2(=0) falls below the threshold value, which causes the output terminal Vout to output the L signal. The output signal is stored in the register22b.

The presence of the disconnection can be detected by reading the output signal stored in the register22b.When a read value is the H signal, it is determined that the wires40a,40care not being disconnected, and when the read value is the L signal, it is determined that at least one of the wires40a,40cis disconnected.

The semiconductor device310detected to have no disconnection in the disconnection detection test is subjected to further tests, and when the semiconductor device310is determined to be a non-defective product as a result, it is mounted on the substrate. In using the semiconductor device310in a normal operation after it has been mounted on the substrate, first, the controller24switches to the circuit of the above case3. Next, the power supply voltage is applied to the lead terminal30to apply a voltage to the electrode pads12ato12c.Accordingly, the current is supplied to the integrated circuit50via the wires14ato14cfrom the lead terminal30.

The configuration explained above also realizes similar effects to that of the embodiment 1. Besides, since the controller24does not turn on the switch SW2and the switch SW4at a same time, a situation where the closed circuit L1and the closed circuit L2are formed at a same time never occurs. Accordingly, mutual interference caused by the induced currents12,14flowing through both of the closed circuits L1, L2, respectively by electromagnetic induction (for example, a phenomenon in which an induced electromotive force is newly generated by a magnetic field generated around the induced current12flowing through the wire40bpenetrates the closed circuit L2) can be avoided. Thus, a disconnection among the wires40ato40ccan be properly detected. In addition, the controller24switches the switches SW1to SW5in different ways for the cases of detecting disconnection among the wires40ato40c(the cases 1, 2) and for the case of using the semiconductor device310in the normal operation (the case 3). Accordingly, when the disconnection among the wires40ato40cis detected, the induced current flowing through the closed circuit L1or the closed circuit L2can be suppressed from flowing toward the integrated circuit50side. On the other hand, when the semiconductor device310is used in the normal operation, the current flowing through the integrated circuit50via the wires14ato14cfrom the lead terminal30can be suppressed from flowing into the resistors16a,16bsides and the comparator18a,18bsides. Therefore, a precise output signal is output from the output terminal Vout of each of the comparators18a,18b.Accordingly, reliability of detecting the disconnection among the wires40ato40cis improved.

The embodiments disclosed by the present description were explained in detail above, but these embodiments are mere examples, and the semiconductor chip and the method for detecting disconnection of a wire bonded to the same disclosed by the present description include various modifications of the above mentioned embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiments and the modification example, the magnetic field is generated by supplying the current to the lead terminal adjacent to the closed circuit. However, a configuration for generating the magnetic field is not limited thereto. For instance, a wire may be disposed in a vicinity of a semiconductor device, and magnetic flux may be applied to a closed circuit by supplying a current to the wire. Alternatively, magnetic flux may be applied to a closed circuit by disposing a magnet in a vicinity of a semiconductor device. Note that in the above embodiments and the modification example, the lead terminals for supplying current need not to be adjacent to the closed circuit as long as the magnetic field is configured to penetrate the closed circuit.

Moreover, in the above embodiments and the modification example, disconnection of at least one of the wires is detected by making use of the resistor and the comparator. However, a configuration is not limited thereto. For example, disconnection among the wires may be detected by making use of an ammeter. Moreover, a number of wires bonded to a common lead terminal may be more than or equal to four. That is, a technique the present description discloses can be used for detecting disconnection among multi-bonded wires. Moreover, the test for detecting disconnection may be performed after the semiconductor device has been mounted on the substrate. Moreover, a semiconductor chip may be packaged with ceramic instead of resin.

Further, in the semiconductor chip300of the embodiment2, a resistor may be connected between the wire14band the wire14c,and a comparator with a threshold value (hereinafter called as a comparator18c) which is configured to compare voltages of both ends of the resistor may be connected to the both ends of the resistor. A switch (hereinafter called as a switch SW6) may be connected adjacent to the resistor. A closed circuit (hereinafter called as a closed circuit L3) may be formed, the closed circuit L3being formed by the lead terminal30, the electrode pad12b,the switch SW6, the resistor and the electrode pad12cbeing connected with the wires40b,40cand the wires14b,14c.The controller24may control the switches SW1to SW6not to form two of the three closed circuits L1to L3when one of the closed circuits L1to L3is formed, and to electrically disconnect the electrode pads12ato12cfrom the integrated circuit50. According to this configuration, it is possible to identify which wire of the wires40ato40cis disconnected. For example, assume a case where the L signal is output from the comparator18awhen the closed circuit L1is formed, the L signal is output from the comparator18bwhen the closed circuit L2is formed, and the H signal is output from the comparator18cwhen the closed circuit L3is formed. In this case, with the output signals from the comparators18a,18balone, it is impossible to identify which of the wires40ato40cis disconnected although disconnection of one or more of the wires40ato40ccan be detected. However, since the output signal from the comparator18cis H, it becomes possible to identify that only the wire40ais disconnected. Conventionally, disconnection was visually inspected by stripping off the resin packaging the semiconductor chip in order to identify a wire with disconnection among the triple bonded wires. However, according to the above configuration, it is possible to identify a wire with disconnection without stripping off the resin.

Further configurations of semiconductor chips that the present description discloses are listed in the following.

The semiconductor chip may further comprise a group of switches configured to switch between at least following states (1) and (2):

the state (1) where the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad are electrically disconnected from a circuit in the semiconductor chip so as to configure the first closed circuit; and

the state (2) where the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad are connected to the circuit in the semiconductor chip and not configuring the first closed circuit.

According to this configuration, the group of switches electrically disconnect the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad from the circuit in the semiconductor chip when the first closed circuit is configured. Therefore, the induced current flowing through the first closed circuit by electromagnetic induction can be suppressed from flowing toward a circuit side. Moreover, the group of switches connects the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad to the circuit in the semiconductor chip when the closed circuit is not configured. Therefore, the current flowing through each of the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad by the application of the power supply voltage to the first lead terminal is properly supplied to the circuit side, and the current is suppressed from flowing into a first current detector side. Hence, the disconnection among the wires is properly detected.

In one aspect of the semiconductor chip the present description discloses, the first current detector comprises a first resistor and a first comparator. The first resistor is connected between the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad. The first comparator is configured to compare a voltage on a higher potential side and a voltage on a lower potential side of the first resistor. According to this configuration, by setting a threshold value of the first comparator to be larger than 0 and smaller than a voltage that is applied across the first resistor of when an induced electromotive force is generated in the first closed circuit, the first comparator is configured to exhibit different outputs depending on whether an induced current flows through the first closed circuit (that is, a case where none of the wires is disconnected) or the induced current does not flow through the first closed circuit (that is, a case where at least one of the wires is disconnected). Therefore, the disconnection of at least one of the wires can be easily detected by checking the output from the first comparator.

In another aspect of the semiconductor chip the present description discloses, the semiconductor chip further comprises a fourth electrode pad and a second current detector. The fourth electrode pad is to be wire-bonded to the first lead terminal to which the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad are wire-bonded. The second current detector is connected between the first electrode pad and the fourth electrode pad. A second closed circuit is configured by the first lead terminal, the first electrode pad, the second current detector, and the fourth electrode pad. An induced current flows through the second closed circuit when a current generating an induced electromotive force is applied to the third electrode pad. The second current detector is configured to output different values depending on whether the induced current exceeds a threshold value or not. In the above semiconductor chip, the second closed circuit is formed by the first lead terminal, the first electrode pad, the second current detector and the fourth electrode pad when the fourth electrode pad is wire-bonded to the first lead terminal. Therefore, by changing magnetic flux that penetrates the second closed circuit by the application of the current generating the induced electromotive force to the third electrode pad, the disconnection of at least one of the wires composing the second closed circuit (that is, wires bonding each of the first and the fourth electrode pads to the first lead terminal) can be detected. That is, disconnection in not only the wires composing the first closed circuit but also in the wires composing the second closed circuit can be detected.

In another aspect of the semiconductor chip the present description discloses, the semiconductor chip further comprises a group of switches configured to switch among at least following states (1), (2), and (3):

the state (1) where the first electrode pad, the second electrode pad, and the fourth electrode pad are electrically disconnected from a circuit in the semiconductor chip so as to configure the first closed circuit but not to configure the second closed circuit;

the state (2) where the first electrode pad, the second electrode pad, and the fourth electrode pad are electrically disconnected from the circuit in the semiconductor chip so as to configure the second closed circuit but not to configure the first closed circuit; and

the state (3) where the first electrode pad, the second electrode pad, and the fourth electrode pad are connected to the circuit in the semiconductor chip and configuring neither the first closed circuit nor the second closed circuit.

According to this configuration, the second closed circuit is not formed when the first closed circuit is formed, whereas the first closed circuit is not formed when the second closed circuit is formed. Therefore, the electromagnetic induction does not occur in the first closed circuit and the second closed circuit at the same time. Accordingly, a situation where two induced currents with opposite directions of each other flow into a wire which composes both of the first and the second closed circuits can be avoided from occurring. Besides, the mutual interference caused by the induced current flows through both of the first and the second closed circuits can be prevented. Specifically, a following situation can be avoided from occurring. That is, when magnetic field generated by an induced current flowing through one of the two closed circuits penetrates another of the two closed circuits, new induced current flows through another closed circuit by a new electromagnetic induction, causing interference with an induced current which have been already flowing through another closed circuit. With the above configuration, such a situation can be avoided from occurring. Therefore, disconnection of at least one of the wires of each of the first and the second closed circuits can be properly detected. Moreover, according to the configuration, the group of switches electrically disconnects the first, the second and the fourth electrode pads from the circuit in the semiconductor chip when either of the first or the second closed circuit is formed. Therefore, the induced current flowing through either of the first or the second closed circuit can be suppressed from flowing toward the circuit side. Further, the group of the switches connects the first, the second and the fourth electrode pads to the circuit in the semiconductor chip when both of the first or the second closed circuits are not formed. Therefore, when the power supply voltage is applied to the first lead terminal, current flowing through each of the first, the second, and the fourth electrode pads is properly supplied to the circuit side, enabling to suppress the current from flowing into the first and the second current detectors side.

In another aspect of the semiconductor chip the present description discloses, the first current detector comprises a first resistor and a first comparator. The first resistor is connected between the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad. The first comparator is configured to compare a voltage on a higher potential side and a voltage on a lower potential side of the first resistor. Further, the second current detector comprises a second resistor and a second comparator. The second resistor is connected between the first electrode pad and the fourth electrode pad. The second comparator is configured to compare a voltage on a higher potential side and a voltage on a lower potential side of the second resistor. According to this configuration, by setting a threshold value of the first comparator to be larger than 0 and smaller than a voltage that is applied across the first resistor of when an induced electromotive force is generated in the first closed circuit, the first comparator exhibits different outputs depending on whether the induced current flows through the first closed circuit or not. Likewise, by setting a threshold value of the second comparator to be larger than 0 and smaller than a voltage that is applied across the second resistor of when an induced electromotive force is generated in the second closed circuit, the second comparator exhibits different outputs depending on whether the induced current flows through the second closed circuit or not. Therefore, disconnection among the wires can be easily detected by checking an output from each of the first and the second comparators.

Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail, however, these are mere exemplary indications and thus do not limit the scope of the claims The art described in the claims includes modifications and variations of the specific examples presented above. Technical features described in the description and the drawings may technically be useful alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations as originally claimed. Further, the art described in the description and the drawings may concurrently achieve a plurality of aims, and technical significance thereof resides in achieving any one of such aims.