Lead frame with each lead having a peel generation preventing means and a semiconductor device using same

A lead frame is provided that prevents breaks in bonding wires caused by thermal stress which is applied when mounting a resin semiconductor. A plating layer is applied to the surfaces of internal leads to which bonding wires are to be connected and an insulating tape is adhered the internal lead 1 tips and bonding balls, so as to prevent peeling between the internal leads 1 and the resin, thereby preventing breaking of a bonding wire cause by stress applied during mounting. Additionally, a semiconductor device which makes use of this lead frame structure is provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a lead frame and also to a resin-sealed 
semiconductor device which uses that lead frame. 
2. Description of Related Art 
FIGS. 6(A), (B), (C) and (D) are, respectively, a plan view of an example 
of a lead frame of the past, an expanded plan view of an internal lead 
part thereof, a cross-sectional view of a resin sealed semiconductor 
devices which uses this lead, and a partial enlarged cross-sectional view 
about a connecting portion formed between a bonding wire and a lead. 
In the past, a lead frame, as shown in FIGS. 6(A) and (B), was formed by a 
plating the tip of lead 1, which is made from a 42% Ni-Fe alloy or copper, 
to form a plating layer 2 as a bonding area. This plating layer 2 is 
formed on the tip of the lead 1 to provide an undercoat that assures 
electrical conductivity and joining of the wiring bond. Silver plating is 
usually used as the material for plating layer 2. 
Turning to FIG. 6(C), a semiconductor chip is mounted onto a lead frame 
island 4, the boding wires 8 are made of gold, are connected to terminals 
formed on the chip, and the bonded portion are sealed with an epoxy resin 
7. The connection surfaces formed between the bonding wires 8 and the tip 
portion of the leads 1, as shown in FIG. 6(D), is a flat configuration 
formed only by the plating layer 2. 
The bonding ball portion which is an end portion of the bonding wire and to 
be connected to the lead is connected thereto in a crushed shape, the 
crushed part leaving a shape that is thinner than the wire part. 
FIGS. 7(A), (B), and (C) are, respectively, a cross-sectional view of a 
resin-sealed semiconductor device, which illustrates problems in the prior 
art lead frame, and cross-sectional views which illustrate the mechanism 
whereby peeling occurs at a part a thereof. 
As shown in FIGS. 7(A), (b), and (C), in a prior art resin-sealed 
semiconductor device, when the semiconductor is mounted by the user, if 
the package, has absorbed moisture, by virtue of thermal expansion of 
moisture within the package, caused by thermal stress, expansion of 
moisture content occurs at the boundary between the resin 7 and the 
plating layer 2. This situation leads to the problem of peeling generated 
at a phase formed between the surface of plating layer 2 and the surface 
of the sealing resin, from the tip of the lead 1, along the plating layer 
2. 
The first problem that arises with resin-sealing semiconductor devices in 
the past is that of broken bonding wires leading to an open connection 
failure, which occurs because of expansion of water content within the 
package caused by thermal stress. This happens if the package absorbs 
water at the time the user mounts the device. 
The reason for this is that expansion of the moisture content absorbed 
therein when it is mounted, usually occurs at the lead tip within the 
package. 
The lead tip plated area is a silver plated area, which oxidizes during the 
manufacturing processes before resin sealing of the lead frame. 
As a result, there is a deterioration of the intimate contact at the 
boundary between the resin and the plated area, this leading to generate 
the peeling on the boundary between the resin and the plating layer caused 
by moisture content expansion, the moisture of which was absorbed when the 
device is mounted. 
This peeling progresses from the lead tip along the plating layer in any 
direction, as shown by line P in FIG. 7(C), causing an open connection in 
the bonding wire at the crushed part of the bonding ball, at which the 
wire is thin. 
In view of the above-noted problem with the prior art, an object of the 
present invention is to provide a highly reliable resin-sealed 
semiconductor device with improved user mounting characteristics. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To achieve the above-noted object of the present invention, a lead frame 
according to the present invention basically has the following technical 
conception in that the lead frame comprising a plurality of leads and 
wherein each one of leads being provided with a peel generation preventing 
means on a surface of a portion of a lead which is formed between a tip 
portion of the lead and a portion thereof to which a bonding wire is 
connected. 
In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by providing a peeling 
generation preventing means 3 which acts as a stopper, on a portion of a 
surface or the tip portion of the lead, formed between the tip of lead 1 
and the bonding portion of the bonding wire, i.e., the bonding ball, the 
peeling which occurs from the tip of the lead 1, stops at the position of 
the peeling generation preventing means 3, so that it does not reach the 
portion on which the bonding wire 8, is bonded. 
As shown in FIG. 5, by coating the bonding ball with dripped resin, the 
peeling generated from the tip of the lead 1 processes along the top side 
of the dripped resin 9 and plating layer 2. By coating the dripped resin 
9, the thin part of the bonding bail is protected, so that the strength of 
peeling part of the bonding wire 8 is great enough that the bonding wire 
is not broken.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Embodiment of the present invention are described below, with reference 
being made to the relevant accompanying drawings. 
FIG. 1(A) through FIG. 1(E) show one embodiment of the lead frame of the 
present invention in which a lead frame 30 comprising a plurality of leads 
1 and wherein each one of leads 1 is provided with a peel generation 
preventing means 3 on a surface of each lead 1 between a tip portion 21 of 
the lead 1 and a portion 20 of the surface. Of the lead 1 to which a 
bonding wire 8 is connected. 
In the present invention, the peel generation preventing means 3 is formed 
so as to be projected from the surface 20 or the lead portion 1 and be 
apart from the bonding wire 8. 
Further, in the present invention, the peel generation preventing means 3 
may be made of a resin material. 
The embodiment of the present invention will be explained more precisely 
hereunder. 
FIG. 1(A) through FIG. 1(E) are a plan view, a partial enlarged plan view, 
a cross-sectional view thereof, and cross-sectional view and a partial 
enlarged cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present 
invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view which illustrates the 
effect of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
As shown in FIG. 1(A) through FIG. 1(c), in a lead frame according to the 
first embodiment of the present invention, the peeling generation 
preventing means 3, for example, an insulating tape 3 of polyamide, is 
adhered to the tip surface 20 of the tip portion 21 of the lead 1 with an 
intervening adhesive 5 of film resin having a thickness of approximately 
10 .mu.m. 
This insulating tape 3, serving as the peeling generation preventing means 
as defined by the present invention, is adhered so as to make connections 
between adjacently arranged loads 1 and to stably fix them to each other. 
To a bonding area 22, formed on a surface of the lead 1 and opposite side 
of the tip end portion 21 of the lead 1. With respect to the peeling 
generation preventing means 3, such as the insulating film tape 3, a 
plating layer 2 is applied. 
The reason why no plating area 2 in applied to the surface area 20 of the 
tip end portion 21 of the lead 1 to which the insulating tape 3 is 
adhered, is to prevent migration from the plating layer 2 in the adhesive 
5 and the insulating tape 8. 
In a semiconductor device which uses a lead frame 30 according to the first 
embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1(D) and FIG. 1(E), 
there is a connection between the plating layer 2 of the bonding areas 22 
of the lead 1 and the semiconductor chip 6, there being is this 
arrangement an insulating tape 3 adhered by the adhesive 5 between the tip 
portion 21 of the lead 1 and the bonding area 22. 
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to prevent the 
occurrence of a break in the bonding wire 8 by preventing the generation 
of the peeling in the tip portion 20 of the lead 1, caused by the 
expansion of moisture content absorbed thereinto when mounting is done by 
the user, and to prevent it from reaching the bonding portion 23. 
FIG. 3(A) through FIG. 3(E) are a plan view of a lead frame of the second 
embodiment of the present invention, a partial enlarged plan view thereof, 
a cross-sectional view thereof, and a cross-sectional view and a partial 
enlarged cross-sectional thereof. 
In a lead frame according to the second embodiment of the present 
invention, as shown in FIG. 3(A) through FIG. 3(E), the peeling generation 
preventing means 3, for example, an insulation tape made of polyimide, is 
adhered to the surface area 20 of a tip portion 21 of the lead 1 in such a 
manner as to keep the leads 1 separate, using an intervening adhesive 5 of 
film resin having a thickness of approximately 10 .mu.m. 
By forming the lead frame in the above noted manner, because the peeling 
generation preventing means 3 does not exist between the leads 1, it is 
possible to prevent the dissolving out of impurities into the adhesive 5 
and the occurrence of migration from the plating layer, thereby preventing 
short circuit failures between leads 1. 
Therefore, the problem is eliminated, regardless of whether or not there 
exists a plating layer 2 in the area in which the insulating resin 
material serving as the peeling generation preventing means is adhered to 
the lead 1 by the adhesive 5. 
Another feature of this arrangement is that it is not necessary to have the 
peel generation preventing means 3 of an insulating material. 
In this case, the construction of this lead frame can be made by adhering 
the insulating tape 3 after the formation of the plating layer 2, and then 
by pressing the lead 1 simultaneously with the insulating tape 3. 
By forming the lead frame in the above-noted manner, as shown in FIG. 3 (D) 
and FIG. 3(E), it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a break in the 
bonding wire 8 by preventing the generation of the peeling of the lead 1 
over a surface of the tip end portion 21 of the lead 1, caused by moisture 
content expansion when mounting is done by the user, from reaching the 
bonding portion, i.e., bonding ball, in the same manner as is done in the 
first embodiment of the present invention. 
An mentioned above, in the present invention, even when peeling occurs at a 
tip end portion 21 of the lead, the peeling can be stopped by the peel 
generation preventing means 3 so that the progress of the peeling is 
prevented from extending over the peel generation preventing means 3 to 
the bonding portion 23. 
Further in the present invention, the peel generation preventing means 3 is 
preferably fixed to the surface of the lead portion 1 with an adhesive 
material 5, and more over, the surface of the lead portion 1 to which the 
peel generation preventing means 3 is provided, may be covered with a 
plating layer. 
On the other hand, in the present invention, the surface of the lead 
portion 1 to which the peel generation preventing means 3 is provided, may 
not be covered with a plating layer and in this case, the peel generation 
preventing means 3 is preferably made of an insulating material. 
In one embodiment of the present invention, the peel generation preventing 
means 3 is formed in a cape-like configuration and is arranged so as to 
bridge over a plurality of leads 1 leading these plurality of leads to be 
in a fixed condition so as to make the bonding operation easy. 
FIG. 4(A) through FIG. 4(C) are a partial enlarged plan view of a lead of a 
lead frame of according to the third embodiment of the present invention, 
the cross sectional view thereof, and the cross-sectional view of a 
resin-sealed semiconductor device which uses this lead frame. 
In a lead frame according to the present invention and a resin-sealed 
semiconductor device which uses the above-noted lead frame, as shown in 
FIG. 4 (A) through FIG. FIG. 4(C), after connecting the handing wire 8 to 
the lead frame 1 as in the prior art, protection is provided to the 
bonding portion, i.e., bonding ball, by means of dripped resin 9. 
This dripped resin 9 is applied by dripping fluid polyimide resin or 
acrylic resin, and in the case of polyimide resin, by additionally 
performing curing of the resin using UV light, thereby forming a 
protective layer. It is sufficient that the amount of dripped resin 9 be 
enough to cover the bonding ball. After that is done, the package is 
sealed using resin 7. 
By configuring a semiconductor device in the above-noted manner, as shown 
in FIG. 5, even, if peeling P occurs, this peeling P is prevented from 
reaching the bonding wire 8 because of the dripped resin 9 protection at 
the thin, crushed part of the bonding ball. 
As apparent from the above mentioned explanation of the third embodiment of 
the present invention, the peel generation preventing means 3 is formed by 
dripping resin material 9 over a portion of the lead 1 and to which a 
bonding wire 8 was connected after wire-bonding operation had been 
completed, so that a part of the resin material 25 exists between the tip 
portion 21 of the lead 1 and a bonding portion 23 of the lead 1 to which 
the bonding wire 8 is connected. 
The table 1 below shows comparative experimental data of the lead frames 
made by a conventional method as mentioned in this specification and by a 
method of the present invention. 
In this comparative experiments, four kinds of lead frames each having the 
same lead pattern to each other and the same type of chips had been 
mounted on each one of the samples. 
While, for the sample of the present invention, the first embodiment as 
shown in FIG. 1(A) to FIG. 1(E) was applied thereto. 
These four bonded lead frames A to D had been evaluated under the condition 
of holding same in an atmosphere of 30.degree. C., 70% RH for 168 hours 
absorption and applying thereto mounting stress of 240.degree. C. at peak 
value. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
occurrence rate of opened wiring 
after mounting stress had been applied 
rots to each samples 
______________________________________ 
Prior art A 17/20 = 85% 
B 11/20 = 55% 
C 20/20 = 100% 
Present invention D 0/20 = 0% 
______________________________________ 
As apparent from this comparative data, the present invention can provide 
sophisticated character over the wire bonding portion in lead frame 
comparing with those of the conventional method. 
The present invention can also provide a semiconductor device in which the 
above-mentioned lead frame is used therein and thus the semiconductor 
device of the present invention is such that the device comprises a 
semiconductor chip, and a lead frame comprising a plurality of leads and 
wherein each one of leads being provided with a peel generation preventing 
means on a surface of a portion of a lead which is formed between a tip 
portion of the lead and a portion thereof to which a bonding wire is 
connected, and wherein the semiconductor chip being mounted onto the lead 
frame and sealed with resin. 
On the other hand, in the present invention can also provide a method for 
making the lead frame and a method for making the wire holdings portion as 
follows; 
A method for making a lead frame of the present invention which comprises a 
plurality of leads wherein the method comprises the steps of; preparing 
lead frame; forming a plating layer on a surface of a portion close to a 
tip end portion of the lead to define a wire bonding area; and providing a 
peel generation preventing means on a surface of a portion of the lead and 
formed between the tip end portion of the lead and the wire bonding area. 
And further a method for making a wire bonding on a lead frame comprising a 
plurality of leads wherein the method comprises the steps of; preparing 
lead frame; forming a plating layer on a surface of a portion close to a 
tip end portion of the lead to define a wire bonding area; forming a wire 
bonding by connecting an end of a wire to be bonded to the wire bonding 
area; and dripping resin material over the bonded portion to cover the 
bonded portion therewith so that a part of the resin material exists 
between the tip end portion of the lead and a portion thereof to which the 
bonding wire is connected. 
The first effect of the present invention is that peeling of the lead tip 
surface which occurs because of water content expansion happening by user 
mounting of a device is prevented from reaching the bonding wire, thereby 
preventing a break in the bonding wire. 
The reason for this is that the peeling P from the lead tip surface 20 
which occurs because of thermal stress applied to mounting, is stopped by 
the insulating tape before the bonding ball. 
The second effect of the present invention is that it is possible to 
minimize open circuit failures of bonding wires caused by peeling due to 
water content expansion caused by user mounting of tile device, by 
applying protection to the bonding ball. The reason for this is that, by 
protecting the bonding ball at the location at which the bonding wire is 
crushed and made thin, although peeling of the lead tip normally occurs at 
the bonding wire part, it tends not to case a short in the bonding wire.