Patent ID: 7222773

Claim:
A semiconductor bonding apparatus which bonds a semiconductor chip to a mounting substrate, the semiconductor bonding apparatus comprising: a pressing-force adjusting section which includes (i) a holding section which holds the semiconductor chip, (ii) a translatory gas bearing which is connected to the holding section, and which is connected to the holding section, and which is capable of moving the semiconductor chip in a bonding direction with respect to the mounting substrate, and (iii) a voice coil motor connected to the translatory gas bearing, the pressing-force adjusting section generating a pressing force by using thrust generated by the voice coil motor weights of the holding section and the translatory gas bearing; at least one load cell which detects a pressing force generated by the pressing-force adjusting section; a driving section which generates a driving signal in accordance with the pressing force detected by the load cell to drive the voice coil motor; and a moving section which moves the pressing-force adjusting section in the bonding direction after the pressing force generated by the pressing-force adjusting section; wherein the moving section is controlled based on variation of the pressing force detected by the load cell, to deform an elastic member located between the semiconductor chip and the mounting substrate, whereby the semiconductor chip and the mounting substrate are bonded to each other, while being kept separated from each other by a desired distance.