Lead frame and semiconductor device using same

Claim 2

A multi-layer lead frame for at least one semiconductor chip comprising: a lead frame body made of a metal strip and having a first opening and a plurality of inner leads, said inner leads having respective tips which define at least a part of said first opening; a first metal plane being independent from said lead frame body and having first top and first bottom planar surfaces, said first metal plane having a second opening which is smaller than and concentric with said first opening, said first metal plane having first wire bonding areas for connection to the semiconductor chip and first inner holes formed in said first metal plane and located beside said first wire bonding areas within said first opening; a first insulative adhesive layer adhering said inner leads to said first top planar surface; a second metal plane being independent from said lead frame body and from said first metal plane and having second top and second bottom planar surfaces, said second metal plane having second wire bonding areas for connection to the semiconductor chip and second inner holes located beside said second wire bonding areas within said first opening; and a second insulative adhesive layer adhering said second top planar surface to said first bottom plane surface.

Claim 3

A multi-layer lead frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first opening has a peripheral portion thereof, and at least a part of said peripheral portion is covered by said first metal plane and said second opening is covered by said second metal plane.

Claim 4

A multi-layer lead frame as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first metal plane is provided with said first wire bonding areas within said first opening; and said second metal plane is provided, within said second opening and at a central portion thereof, with a stage portion and at a peripheral portion thereof with said second wire bonding areas.

Claim 5

A multi-layer lead frame as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said inner holes of said second metal plane is a through hole which penetrates both said first and said second metal planes.

Claim 6

A multi-layer lead frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first and said second openings are rectangular.

Claim 7

A multi-layer lead frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner leads include at least power supply lines, ground lines, and signal lines, and said first metal plane is a power supply metal plane which is electrically connected to said power supply lines, and said second metal plane is a ground metal plane which is electrically connected to said ground lines.

Claim 8

A multi-layer lead frame according to claim 1, further comprising: first bonding wires bonded to said first metal plane at said first wire bonding areas and connectable to provide one of power supply and ground connections for the semiconductor device; and second bonding wires bonded to said second metal plane at said second wire bonding areas and connectable to provide one of power supply and ground connections for the semiconductor device.

Claim 9

A multi-layer lead frame according to claim 1, wherein said first metal plane has first outer holes formed therein along an outer periphery of said first metal plane, wherein said second metal plane has second outer holes formed therein along an outer periphery of said second metal plane and wherein the location of the first outer holes in said first metal plane corresponding to the location of the second outer holes in said second metal plane.

Claim 10

A multi-layer lead frame according to claim 8, wherein said first and second outer holes comprise round holes.

Claim 11

A multi-layer lead frame according to claim 1, further comprising molded resin filled within each inner hole and encapsulating the semiconductor device.

Claim 12

A multi-layer lead frame according to claim 1, wherein said inner holes comprise slit-like through holes.

Claim 13

A multi-layer lead frame according to claim 1, wherein said inner holes comprise L-shaped through holes.

Claim 14

A multi-layer lead frame according to claim 1, wherein said inner holes comprise one of U, V and C-shaped through holes.

Claim 15

A semiconductor device comprising: (a) a multi-layer lead frame for a semiconductor device comprising: a lead frame body made of a metal strip and having a first opening and a plurality of inner leads, said inner leads having respective tips which define at least a part of said first opening; a first metal plane being independent from said lead frame body and having first top and first bottom planar surfaces, said first metal plane having a second opening which is smaller than and concentric with said first opening, said first metal plane having first wire bonding areas within said first opening and first through holes located beside said first wire bonding areas; a first insulative adhesive layer adhering said inner leads to said first top planar surface; a second metal plane being independent from said lead frame body and from said first metal plane and having second top and second bottom planar surfaces, said second metal plane having a stage portion within said second opening and at a central portion thereof, second wire bonding areas at a peripheral portion of said stage portion and second through holes located beside said second wire bonding areas; and a second insulative adhesive layer adhering said second top planar surface to said first bottom planar surface; (b) a semiconductor chip mounted on said stage portion; (c) bonding-wires electrically connecting said semiconductor chip to said first and said second wire bonding areas; and (d) a resin hermetically and integrally molding at least a part of said multi-layer lead frame, said semiconductor chip, and said bonding-wires, so that said first and said second through holes are also filled with said resin.

Claim 16

A semiconductor device comprising: (a) a multi-layer lead frame for a semiconductor device comprising: a lead frame body made of a metal strip and having a first opening and a plurality of inner leads, said inner leads having respective tips which define at least a part of said first opening; a first metal plane being independent from said lead frame body and having first top and first bottom planar surfaces, said first metal plane having a second opening which is smaller than and concentric with said first opening, said first metal plane having first wire bonding areas within said first opening and first through holes located beside said first wire bonding areas; a first insulative adhesive layer adhering said inner leads to said first top planar surface; a second metal plane being independent from said lead frame body and from said first metal plane and having second top and second bottom planar surfaces, said second metal plane having a stage portion within said second opening and at a central portion thereof, second wire bonding areas at a peripheral portion of said stage portion and second through holes located beside said second wire bonding areas; and a second insulative adhesive layer adhering said second top planar surface to said first bottom planar surface; (b) a semiconductor chip mounted on said stage portion; (c) bonding-wires electrically connecting said semiconductor chip to said first and said second wire bonding areas; and (d) a resin hermetically and integrally molding at least a part of said multi-layer lead frame, said semiconductor chip, and said bonding-wires, so that said first and said second through holes are also filled with said resin.

Claim 17

A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first opening has a peripheral portion thereof, and at least a part of said peripheral portion is covered by said first metal plane and said second opening is covered by said second metal plane.

Claim 18

A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 14, wherein each of said through holes of said second metal plane is a through hole which penetrates both said first and said second metal planes.

Claim 19

A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 14, wherein each of said first and said second openings are rectangular.

Claim 20

A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 17, wherein said inner leads include at least power supply lines, ground lines, and signal lines, said first metal plane is a power supply metal plane which is electrically connected to said power supply lines, and said second metal plane is a ground metal plane which is electrically connected to said ground lines.

Claim 21

A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first and said second metal planes are provided with a plurality of third through holes penetrating therethrough at a position at which said first and said second metal planes are covered by said inner leads, and said plurality of third through holes are also filled with said resin.