Abstract:
A semiconductor apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a semiconductor module having a plurality of semiconductor elements and an external connection terminal for externally connecting electrodes of the semiconductor elements in the semiconductor module, wherein the semiconductor elements in each semiconductor module are connected in parallel and/or in series via the external connection terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a semiconductor apparatus and a production method thereof. Especially, it relates to a semiconductor apparatus and the production method suitable for a device for electric power.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     The semiconductor module indicated in the circuit as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has been conventionally known.  FIG. 1  shows a semiconductor module  100  (so-called 2 in 1) such that two MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors)  101  are mounted on one insulation substrate.  FIG. 2  shows a semiconductor module  200  (so-called 6 in 1) such that six MOSFETs  201  are mounted on one insulation substrate. These semiconductor modules  100  and  200  configure the arm of an inverter apparatus for driving a motor. The semiconductor module  100  is configured in such a way that two MOSFETs  101  are connected in series. Also, the semiconductor module  200  is configured in such a way that three circuits obtained by serially connecting MOSFETs  201  are connected in parallel.  
         [0005]     In the semiconductor module provided with such a semiconductor element (semiconductor switching element) like the above-mentioned conventional MOSFET, only a product provided with an arm configuration can be used so that the use application of this product is limited. Also, in the case where the above-mentioned semiconductor modules are connected in parallel to be used, the derating of an allowable current capacity should be increased, thereby generating many wastes.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) semiconductor module obtained by connecting a plurality of IGBT semiconductor elements via an emitter terminal external connection part, a collector terminal external connection part and a gate terminal external connection part has been known. In addition, an inverter apparatus that uses this IGBT semiconductor module has been known. In this inverter apparatus, these two IGBT semiconductor modules are connected in series. In this series connection, wiring connection using bus bar wiring, etc. is used. This IGBT semiconductor module is obtained by connecting in parallel a plurality of, that is, at least two or more IGBT semiconductor elements in an inside thereof (for example, refer to a patent literature 1).  
         [0007]     Consequently, it is necessary to produce at least several IGBT semiconductor elements even in the case where a semiconductor module with a small current capacity is produced. Therefore, there is a problem such that the production cost of the semiconductor module with a small current capacity becomes comparatively expensive. In addition, there arises a problem when the product is downsized.  
         [0008]     [Patent literature 1] Japanese Patent Laid-open Application Publication No. 10-84077.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In the present invention, the use application of a semiconductor module is increased by connecting in parallel and/or in series semiconductor elements in a semiconductor module.  
         [0010]     When a semiconductor apparatus is produced using the semiconductor module on which a plurality of semiconductor elements are mounted, the semiconductor elements in the semiconductor module can be connected in parallel and/or in series, which is the main characteristic of the present invention.  
         [0011]     The present invention aims at offering a semiconductor apparatus comprising a semiconductor module having a plurality of semiconductor elements and an external connection terminal for externally connecting electrodes of the semiconductor elements in the semiconductor module. Furthermore, this semiconductor apparatus is characterized in that the semiconductor elements in each semiconductor module are connected in parallel and/or in series via an external connection terminal.  
         [0012]     The external connection terminal is characterized in that it comprises a first external connection terminal for externally connecting first electrodes of the semiconductor elements and a second external connection terminal for externally connecting second electrodes of the semiconductor elements.  
         [0013]     The external connection terminal is characterized in that it comprises a third external connection terminal for externally connecting a first electrode of the semiconductor element and a second electrode of another semiconductor element.  
         [0014]     The present invention is characterized in that by externally connecting electrodes of semiconductor elements in two or more semiconductor modules via an external connection terminal, a semiconductor apparatus is produced in such a way that semiconductor elements in the semiconductor modules are connected in parallel and/or in series.  
         [0015]     The present invention is characterized in that first electrodes of the semiconductor elements are externally connected via a first external connection terminal and second electrodes of the semiconductor elements are externally connected via a second external connection terminal.  
         [0016]     The first external connection terminal is characterized in that it is mounted on a surface of the semiconductor module, an insulation part is mounted on the first external connection terminal and the second external connection terminal is mounted at an upper part of the insulation part and on a surface of the semiconductor module.  
         [0017]     It is characterized in that the first electrode of the semiconductor element and the second electrode of another semiconductor element are connected via the third external connection terminal.  
         [0018]     According to the production method of a semiconductor apparatus of the present invention, a semiconductor apparatus of the present invention with the above-mentioned operation and effect can be produced.  
         [0019]     The present invention offers a semiconductor apparatus characterized in that this apparatus comprises first and second semiconductor modules each having at least one semiconductor element; a case for storing the first and second semiconductor modules; and a plurality of terminal conductors for deriving a main electrode of each semiconductor module to an outside of the case so that the terminal conductors of the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module can be connected in parallel and/or in series via an external connection terminal.  
         [0020]     The external connection terminal is characterized in that it comprises the first external connection terminal for externally connecting terminal conductors of the first electrodes of each semiconductor module and the second external connection terminal for externally connecting terminal conductors of the second electrodes of each semiconductor module.  
         [0021]     The external connection terminal is characterized in that it comprises the third external connection terminal for externally connecting the terminal conductor of the first electrode of the first semiconductor module to the terminal conductor of the second electrode of the second semiconductor module.  
         [0022]     Consequently, the present invention can offer circuits in which modules are connected via various external connection terminals that implement the parallel connection and series connection of semiconductor elements, as one package of semiconductor apparatuses. In addition, in a circuit, etc. in which semiconductor elements are connected in parallel, the derating of an electric characteristic such as an allowable current capacity can be decreased by matching electric characteristics of semiconductor elements in the respective semiconductor modules. Furthermore, since only an optional number of the semiconductor elements can be connected in parallel via an external connection terminal, one package of products of many kinds can be offered as one package of semiconductor apparatuses. Accordingly, the production cost of those products can be reduced by the mass-production effect.  
         [0023]     According to the present invention, semiconductor elements in a semiconductor module are configured to be externally connected via an external connection terminal (output to a motor) so that the semiconductor elements are externally connected to the 2 in 1. Therefore, the thus-connected module can be used as one MOS module.  
         [0024]     According to the present invention, the semiconductor modules each having at least one semiconductor element are connected in parallel and/or in series via an external connection terminal to be offered as one package of products. Therefore, a variety of products can be provided as a package of semiconductor apparatuses. In addition, the component (the semiconductor module) can be standardized in each product so that the production cost of each product can be reduced by the mass-production effect. Furthermore, in a product such that semiconductor elements in a plurality of semiconductor modules are connected in parallel via an external connection element, the derating of the electric characteristic of an allowable current, etc. can be reduced in comparison with the conventional product such that individual semiconductor packaged products are connected in parallel. Furthermore, a package of downsized products with different maximum allowable currents can be widely produced so that an abundant product lineup can be offered to a user. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a circuit of a conventional MOS module;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a circuit of another conventional MOS module;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a semiconductor apparatus substrate;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4 ( a ) shows the circuit of a MOS module part  12  and ( b ) shows the circuit of a MOS module part  14 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the semiconductor apparatus that is produced by externally connecting two MOS module parts on the semiconductor apparatus substrate;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a circuit diagram of a semiconductor apparatus of the preferred embodiment 1;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the semiconductor apparatus that is produced from the substrate of a semiconductor apparatus in such a way that an insulation part is provided between a positive electrode external connection terminal and a negative electrode external connection terminal (preferred embodiment 2);  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of the semiconductor apparatus of the preferred embodiment 2 along the line A-A′ in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a top view of another semiconductor apparatus that is produced by externally connecting two MOS module parts on the semiconductor apparatus substrate (preferred embodiment 3); and  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a circuit diagram of a semiconductor apparatus of the preferred embodiment 3; 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0035]     The following is the detailed explanation of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in reference to the drawings.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  shows a preferred embodiment before a semiconductor apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is externally connected. The semiconductor apparatus shown in  FIG. 3  is called a semiconductor apparatus substrate  10  for convenience.  
         [0037]     A case  11  is provided with a MOS module part  12  (first MOS module part) and a MOS module part  14  (second MOS module part)  
         [0038]     FIGS.  4 ( a ) and ( b ) are the circuit diagrams of the MOS module part  12  and the MOS module part  14 , respectively. As shown in FIGS.  4 ( a ) and ( b ), each of the MOS module parts  12  and  14  is provided with enhancement-shaped MOSFETs (hereinafter, refer to n-MOSFET)  13  (first semiconductor module) and  15  (second semiconductor module) of an n channel in the case  11 .  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the MOS module part  12  is provided with a terminal conductor  16  to be connected to a drain electrode (D) regarding the n-MOSFET  13  and terminal conductors  17 - 1  and  17 - 2  to be connected to a source electrode (S). The MOS module part  14  is provided with terminal conductors  18 - 1  and  18 - 2  to be connected to a drain electrode (D) regarding the n-MOSFET  15  and a terminal conductor  19  to be connected to a source electrode (S). The terminal conductors  16 ,  17 - 1 ,  17 - 2 ,  18 - 1 ,  18 - 2  and  19  extend to the outside of the case  11  and they are orthogonally bent at the outside of the case  11 . Each of the MOS module parts  12  and  14  is provided with a gate electrode (G) which is not shown in  FIG. 3  but shown in FIGS.  4 ( a ) and ( b ).  
         [0040]     Meanwhile, the semiconductor apparatus substrate  10  that is shown in  FIG. 3  is only an example. In the present invention, therefore, the arrangement and the number of terminal conductors that are connected to the drain electrode on a semiconductor apparatus substrate and the terminal conductors that are connected to a source electrode are not limited. In addition, each electrode and terminal conductors can be configured to be integrated.  
       Preferred Embodiment 1  
       [0041]      FIG. 5  shows the method of producing a semiconductor apparatus in which the n-MOSFETs  13  and  15  of each of the MOS module part  12  and the MOS module part  14  are connected in parallel by externally connecting the MOS module  12  and the MOS module  14  of the semiconductor substrate  10  of  FIG. 3  via external connection terminals  22 ,  24 .  
         [0042]     In the semiconductor apparatus  20  that is shown in  FIG. 5 , the terminal conductor  16  that is connected to a drain electrode of the MOS module part  12  is externally connected to the terminal conductors  18 - 1  and  18 - 2  that are connected to the first and second drain electrodes of the MOS module part  14  via a positive electrode external connection terminal  22 . At the same time, the terminal conductors  17 - 1  and  17 - 2  that are connected to the first and second source electrodes of the MOS module part  12  and the terminal conductor  19  that is connected to the source electrode of the MOS module part  14  are connected via a negative electrode external connection terminal  24 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows the circuit of a semiconductor apparatus  20  produced by externally connecting module parts via such external connection terminals  22  and  24 . The semiconductor apparatus  20  is a circuit in which n-MOSFETs  13  and  15  are connected in parallel via external connection terminals  22 ,  24 .  
         [0044]     In this way, the semiconductor apparatus  20  with the current capacity rating twice that of the n-MOSFETs  13  and  15  of each of the MOS module parts  12  and  14  can be produced by externally connecting the MOS module parts  12  and  14 .  
         [0045]     Furthermore, the derating that is usually required can be reduced by making the electric characteristics of the n-MOSFETs  13  and  15  in each of the MOS module parts  12  and  14  approximately the same.  
       Preferred Embodiment 2  
       [0046]      FIG. 7  shows another semiconductor apparatus produced from the semiconductor apparatus substrate  10  of  FIG. 3 . A semiconductor apparatus  30  that is shown in  FIG. 7  is the same as the semiconductor apparatus  20  of the preferred embodiment 1 in circuit and external connection configurations. In this apparatus  30 , however, an external connection terminal  32  includes a rectangle electric conductor flat plate that covers the conductor terminals  16 ,  17 - 1 ,  17 - 2 ,  18 - 1 ,  18 - 2  and  19  while an external connection terminal  34  includes a hexagon electric conductor flat plate that covers conductor terminals  17 - 1 ,  17 - 2  and  19 . By providing an insulation part (sheet, etc.) between the positive electrode connection terminal  32  and the negative electrode external connection terminal  34 , this apparatus  30  can reduce inductance and further decrease derating in comparison with the semiconductor apparatus  20 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is the partial cross-section view of a periphery part of the terminal conductor  17 - 2  along the line A-A′ of the semiconductor apparatus  30  that is shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the negative electrode external connection terminal  34  is provided on the surfaces of the MOS module parts  12  and  14  (not drawn in  FIG. 8 ) like the shape shown in the top view of  FIG. 7  and a sheet-shaped insulation part  36  is further provided so as to cover whole the negative electrode external connection terminal  34 . In addition, a positive electrode external connection terminal  32  is provided on the insulation part  36 . The positive electrode external connection terminal  32  is provided in the shape as shown on the top view of  FIG. 7 . Therefore, a part of the positive electrode external connection terminal  32  is provided on the surfaces of the MOS module parts  12  and  14 . At this time, the insulation part  36  is provided in order that the positive electrode external connection terminal  32  and the negative electrode external connection terminal  34  do not contact to each other.  
         [0049]     Each of the semiconductor apparatuses  20  and  30  of the above-mentioned preferred embodiments 1 and 2 has the circuit configuration such that two semiconductor elements are connected in parallel. The circuit configuration of the semiconductor apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this configuration and the number of the semiconductor elements that are connected in parallel can be optional.  
       Preferred Embodiment 3  
       [0050]      FIG. 9  shows still another semiconductor apparatus produced from the semiconductor apparatus substrate  10  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0051]     A semiconductor apparatus  40  is configured in such a way that the MOS module parts  12  and  14  are externally connected via an intermediate external connection terminal  48  in addition to the positive electrode external connection terminal  42  and the negative electrode external connection terminal  44 .  FIG. 10  is the circuit diagram of the semiconductor apparatus  40 .  
         [0052]     In the semiconductor apparatus  40 , the terminal conductor  17 - 1  that is connected to the first source electrode of the n-MOSFET  13  of the MOS module part  12  is externally connected to the terminal conductor  18 - 2  that is connected to the second drain electrode of the n-MOSFET  15  of the MOS module part  14 , via the intermediate external connection terminal  48 . Meanwhile, the positive electrode external connection terminal  42  for the terminal conductor  16  that is connected to the drain electrode of the n-MOSFET  13  of the MOS module part  12  and the negative electrode external connection terminal  44  for the terminal conductor  19  that is connected to the source electrode of the n-MOSFET  15  of the MOS module part  14  are used for, for example, the series connection between module parts.  
         [0053]     By externally connecting the semiconductor apparatus substrate  10 , the n-MOSFET  13  of the MOS module part  12  and the n-MOSFET  15  of the MOS module part  14  are serially connected. Then, a semiconductor apparatus  40  of an arm configuration is produced by externally connecting modules via an external terminal. In this semiconductor apparatus  40 , two n-MOSFETs  13  and  15  are serially connected. In the present invention, however, the number of n-MOSFETs that are serially connected is not limited and the number is optional.  
         [0054]     In the present invention, not only a circuit in which n-MOSFETs are connected in parallel like the semiconductor apparatuses  20  and  30  of the preferred embodiments 1 and 2 but also a circuit in which n-MOSFETs are connected in series like the semiconductor apparatus  40  of the preferred embodiment 3 can be configured. In addition, it is possible to produce the semiconductor apparatus  20  or the semiconductor apparatus  30  and the semiconductor apparatus  40  as one package of semiconductor apparatuses. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to produce as one package of semiconductor apparatuses a circuit in which n-MOSFETs are connected in parallel and in series.  
         [0055]     Meanwhile, the semiconductor apparatus of each preferred embodiment uses the semiconductor module that is provided with an n-MOSFET as a semiconductor element. The semiconductor module that is used in the present invention can be provided with a semiconductor element other than an n-MOSFET. The semiconductor element of the present invention may include, for example, an FET, an IGBT, an SIT (Static Induction Transistor) such as a p-MOSFET, a CMOS-FET (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET), etc., a transistor such as a bipolar transistor and a thyristor etc., such as a GTO (Gate Turn-off Thyristor).  
         [0056]     Meanwhile, the number of the semiconductor elements that are mounted on the semiconductor module is not limited to one and an optional number can be adopted. Furthermore, the numbers of the respective semiconductor elements that are mounted on all the semiconductor modules need not be the same so that the numbers of semiconductor elements mounted on the respective semiconductor modules can be different. In addition, the types of the semiconductor elements that are mounted on the respective semiconductor modules can be different.