Embodiments of a semiconductor device including a floating bond pad are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, the semiconductor device is a power semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate that includes an active area and a control contact area, a first bond pad on the active area, a floating control bond pad on the control contact area and laterally extending over a portion of the first bond pad, and a dielectric between the portion of the first bond pad and the floating control bond pad. The floating control bond pad enables the active area to extend below the floating control bond pad, which in turn decreases a size of the power semiconductor device for a particular rated current or, conversely, increases a size of the active area and thus a rated current for a particular semiconductor die size.

Embodiments of a semiconductor device including a floating bond pad are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, the semiconductor device is a power semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate that includes an active area and a control contact area, a first bond pad on the active area, a floating control bond pad on the control contact area and laterally extending over a portion of the first bond pad, and a dielectric between the portion of the first bond pad and the floating control bond pad. The floating control bond pad enables the active area to extend below the floating control bond pad, which in turn decreases a size of the power semiconductor device for a particular rated current or, conversely, increases a size of the active area and thus a rated current for a particular semiconductor die size.

An amplifier circuit including a semiconductor element is formed on a substrate. A protection circuit formed on the substrate includes a plurality of protection diodes that are connected in series with each other, and the protection circuit is connected to an output terminal of the amplifier circuit. A pad conductive layer at least partially includes a pad for connecting to a circuit outside the substrate. The pad conductive layer and the protection circuit at least partially overlap each other in plan view.

A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a solid-state imaging device photoelectrically converting light taken by a lens; and a light shielding member shielding part of light incident on the solid-state imaging device from the lens, wherein an angle made between an edge surface of the light shielding member and an optical axis direction of the lens is larger than an incident angle of light to be incident on an edge portion of the light shielding member.

A semiconductor device is provided with: a semiconductor substrate; a first electrode disposed on a surface of the semiconductor device and configured to be soldered to a conductive member; and a second electrode disposed on the surface of the semiconductor device and configured to be wire-bonded to a conductive member. The first electrode includes first, second and third metal layers. The second metal layer is located between the first and third metal layers. A metallic material of the second metal layer is greater in tensile strength than a metallic material of each one of the first metal layer and the third metal layer. The second electrode includes a layer made of a same metallic material as one of the first metal layer and the third metal layer, and does not include any layers made of a same metallic material as the second metal layer.

A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section having a light-receiving portion for receiving light from an object to image the object; and a substrate on which the imaging section is disposed, wherein a predetermined member provided on the substrate in the neighborhood of the light receiving portion is partially or entirely coated in black.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die having a first main face, a second main face and side faces connecting the first main face and the second main face. The semiconductor device also includes a conductive column arranged on the first main face of the semiconductor die and electrically coupled to the semiconductor die, and an insulating body arranged on the first main face of the semiconductor die. The insulating body has an upper main face and side faces. The upper main surface of the insulating body is coplanar with a top face of the conductive pillar. The semiconductor device further includes a metal layer arranged on the top face of the conductive pillar. The side faces of the semiconductor die and the side faces of the insulating body are coplanar.

A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an electrode pad provided above a semiconductor substrate; and a wire bonded on the electrode pad and including copper. The electrode pad includes an electrode layer including aluminum and a support layer harder than the wire and the electrode layer. The wire is in contact with the electrode layer and the support layer.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interconnection for extending high-temperature use in sensors and other electronic devices. The interconnection includes a semiconductor layer; an ohmic contact layer disposed on a first region of the semiconductor layer; an insulating layer disposed on a second region of the semiconductor layer, where the second region differs from the first region; a metal layer disposed above at least the insulating layer and the ohmic contact layer; and a connecting conductive region disposed on the metal layer and in vertical alignment with a third region of the semiconductor layer. The third region differs from the first region and is offset from the ohmic contact layer at the first region. The offset is configured to extend an operational lifetime of the interconnection apparatus, particularly when the interconnection apparatus is exposed to high temperature environments.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of wire bonds formed on a surface of the semiconductor device by bonding each of a plurality of copper wires onto corresponding ones of a plurality of aluminum pads; a protective material is applied around the plurality of wire bonds, the protective material having a first pH; and at least a portion of the semiconductor device and the protective material are encapsulated with an encapsulating material having a second pH, wherein the first pH of the protective material is for neutralizing the second pH of the encapsulating material around the plurality of wire bonds.