Patent ID: 8125781

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising at least one semiconductor module including: a semiconductor element; a first metal plate and a second metal plate placed on respective sides of the semiconductor element and thermally connected to the semiconductor element for transmitting heat from the semiconductor element; and a seal member formed as one body with the semiconductor element and the metal plates for covering and sealing the semiconductor element and the metal plates in such a manner as to expose the heat radiation surface of each of the metal plates; wherein the heat radiation surface of each of the metal plates is cooled by a refrigerant, wherein a part of the seal member is formed as a refrigerant path in which the refrigerant flows, wherein the seal member includes a sealing part for sealing the semiconductor element and the metal plates, and a wall part arranged around the sealing part and having an open end thereof positioned apart from the heat radiation surface of each of the metal plates, wherein an opening of the sealing member is formed as the refrigerant path between each of the metal plates and the wall part, and heat of the semiconductor element is released from a first side of the semiconductor element through the first metal plate to the refrigerant path between the first metal plate and the wall part, and from a second side of the semiconductor element opposite the first side through the second metal plate to the refrigerant path between the second metal plate and the wall part, and wherein the wall part and the sealing part are made of the same material wherein the first metal plate is in fluid contact with the refrigerant, and wherein the second metal plate is in fluid contact with the refrigerant.