Abstract: According to a lead-free solder bump bonding structure, by causing the interface (IMC interface) of the intermetallic compound layer at a lead-free-solder-bump side to have scallop shapes of equal to or less than 0.02 [portions/?m] without forming in advance an Ni layer as a barrier layer on the surfaces of respective Cu electrodes of first and second electronic components like conventional technologies, a Cu diffusion can be inhibited, thereby inhibiting an occurrence of an electromigration. Hence, the burden at the time of manufacturing can be reduced by what corresponds to an omission of the formation process of the Ni layer as a barrier layer on the Cu electrode surfaces, and thus a lead-free solder bump bonding structure can be provided which reduces a burden at the time of manufacturing in comparison with conventional technologies and which can inhibit an occurrence of an electromigration.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an interconnector for solar cells, which reduces the stress acting on a solar cell and suppresses warping and cracking of the solar cell. An interconnector for solar cells of the present invention is characterized by comprising an electrically conductive wire part and a surface layer that is formed on at least one wide surface of the electrically conductive wire part. The interconnector for solar cells is also characterized in that the surface layer has a function of reducing the stress that is caused by the difference between the thermal expansion coefficient of the electrically conductive part and the thermal expansion coefficient of a solar cell, said stress being generated when the interconnector is joined to the solar cell.

Abstract: According to a lead-free solder bump bonding structure, by causing the interface (IMC interface) of the intermetallic compound layer at a lead-free-solder-bump side to have scallop shapes of equal to or less than 0.02 [portions/?m] without forming in advance an Ni layer as a barrier layer on the surfaces of respective Cu electrodes of first and second electronic components like conventional technologies, a Cu diffusion can be inhibited, thereby inhibiting an occurrence of an electromigration. Hence, the burden at the time of manufacturing can be reduced by what corresponds to an omission of the formation process of the Ni layer as a barrier layer on the Cu electrode surfaces, and thus a lead-free solder bump bonding structure can be provided which reduces a burden at the time of manufacturing in comparison with conventional technologies and which can inhibit an occurrence of an electromigration.

Abstract: The periphery of a mask (3) is formed higher than a region where a ball holding hole (3a) is formed, a work (1) is arranged at a lower section of the ball holding hole (3a) of the mask (3), and the ball holding hole (3a) and an electrode of the work (1) are aligned with each other. A ball (B) is applied on the mask (3), and in such state, vibration is applied to the mask (3) to move the solder ball (B) on the surface of the mask (3) and drop the solder ball (B) into the ball holding hole (3a). The periphery of the mask (3) is permitted to be lower than the ball holding hole (3a), and an excessive portion of the solder ball (B) is recovered from over the mask (3).

Abstract: A micro-ball (2) remained on a suction plate (11) is removed using a ball removal implement (9) having a wire section that is stretched under tension, by bringing a wire (17) into contact with the micro-ball (2) remained on the suction plate (11), while moving the ball removal implement (9) in relation to the suction plate (11) and moving the wire (17) in the wire section by extending and retracting the wire.

Abstract: The periphery of a mask (3) is formed higher than a region where a ball holding hole (3a) is formed, a work (1) is arranged at a lower section of the ball holding hole (3a) of the mask (3), and the ball holding hole (3a) and an electrode of the work (1) are aligned with each other. A ball (B) is applied on the mask (3), and in such state, vibration is applied to the mask (3) to move the solder ball (B) on the surface of the mask (3) and drop the solder ball (B) into the ball holding hole (3a). The periphery of the mask (3) is permitted to be lower than the ball holding hole (3a), and an excessive portion of the solder ball (B) is recovered from over the mask (3).

Abstract: Disclosed are CMP conditioners which can suppress microscratching of the surface of a semiconductor substrate and can realize stable CMP conditioner properties. The CMP conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a support member and a plurality of hard abrasive grains provided on a surface of the support member, wherein the plurality of hard abrasive grains are regularly arranged on the surface of the support member. The CMP conditioner according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a support member and a plurality of hard abrasive grains provided on the surface of the support member, wherein the plurality of hard abrasive grains are arranged on the surface of the support member regularly and so as for the density of the hard abrasive grains to decrease from the inner side of the support member toward the outer side of the support member.

Abstract: Balls are sucked onto a carrier board so as to be temporarily arranged in a ball arrangement region of the board, and then the balls are transferred and bonded onto an objective substance with their positions being adjusted. Gas blow is applied to the temporarily arranged balls or alternatively the temporarily arranged balls are sucked, so as to remove excess balls other than balls that have been exactly sucked onto the ball arrangement region. Cooperation with application of fine vibration to the carrier board makes the removal of the excess balls more efficient.

Abstract: Balls are sucked onto a carrier board so as to be temporarily arranged in a ball arrangement region of the board, and then the balls are transferred and bonded onto an objective substance with their positions being adjusted. Gas blow is applied to the temporarily arranged balls or alternatively the temporarily arranged balls are sucked, so as to remove excess balls other than balls that have been exactly sucked onto the ball arrangement region. Cooperation with application of fine vibration to the carrier board makes the removal of the excess balls more efficient.

Abstract: Disclosed are CMP conditioners which can suppress microscratching of the surface of a semiconductor substrate and can realize stable CMP conditioner properties. The CMP conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a support member and a plurality of hard abrasive grains provided on a surface of the support member, wherein the plurality of hard abrasive grains are regularly arranged on the surface of the support member. The CMP conditioner according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a support member and a plurality of hard abrasive grains provided on the surface of the support member, wherein the plurality of hard abrasive grains are arranged on the surface of the support member regularly and so as for the density of the hard abrasive grains to decrease from the inner side of the support member toward the outer side of the support member.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (1) comprising electrodes formed on a semiconductor chip (2) and bumps (3) which consist of a low melting point metal ball spherically formed and having a given size and which are adhesive bonded to the electrodes (5). The electrodes (5) are formed from an electrode material of Cu or a Cu alloy, Al or an Al alloy, or Au or a Au alloy. When the electrode material is composed of Al or an Al alloy, the electrodes contain, on the electrode material layer of Al or an Al alloy, at least one layer (6) composed of a metal or metal alloy (preferably a metal selected form Ti, W, Ni, Cr, Au, Pd, Cu, Pt, Ag, Sn or Pb, or an alloy of these metals) having a melting point higher than the electrode material. The low melting point metal balls (3) are adhesive bonded to the electrodes (5) preferably with a flux. The low melting point metal balls (3) adhesive bonded to the respective electrodes (3) may also be reflowed to form semispherical bumps (10) before use.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (1) comprising electrodes formed on a semiconductor chip (2) and bumps (3) which consist of a low melting point metal ball spherically formed and having a given size and which are adhesive bonded to the electrodes (5). The electrodes (5) are formed from an electrode material of Cu or a Cu alloy, Al or an Al alloy, or Au or a Au alloy. When the electrode material is composed of Al or an Al alloy, the electrodes contain, on the electrode material layer of Al or an Al alloy, at least one layer (6) composed of a metal or metal alloy (preferably a metal selected form Ti, W, Ni, Cr, Au, Pd, Cu, Pt, Ag, Sn or Pb, or an alloy of these metals) having a melting point higher than the electrode material. The low melting point metal balls (3) are adhesive bonded to the electrodes (5) preferably with a flux. The low melting point metal balls (3) adhesive bonded to the respective electrodes (3) may also be reflowed to form semispherical bumps (10) before use.

Abstract: Balls are sucked onto a carrier board so as to be temporarily arranged in a ball arrangement region of the board, and then the balls are transferred and bonded onto an objective substance with their positions being adjusted. Gas blow is applied to the temporarily arranged balls or alternatively the temporarily arranged balls are sucked, so as to remove excess balls other than balls that have been exactly sucked onto the ball arrangement region. Cooperation with application of fine vibration to the carrier board makes the removal of the excess balls more efficient.

Abstract: Balls are sucked onto a carrier board so as to be temporarily arranged in a ball arrangement region of the board, and then the balls are transferred and bonded onto an objective substance with their positions being adjusted. Gas blow is applied to the temporarily arranged balls or alternatively the temporarily arranged balls are sucked, so as to remove excess balls other than balls that have been exactly sucked onto the ball arrangement region. Cooperation with application of fine vibration to the carrier board makes the removal of the excess balls more efficient.

Abstract: A spherical semiconductor device includes a spherical semiconductor element having one or more electrodes on its surface. Spherical conductive bumps are formed at the positions of the electrodes. The electrodes are so arranged as to contact a common plane. Spherical bumps constituting a group to be connected to the outside protrude above the spherical semiconductor element such that a predetermined gap is formed between a plane or a spherical surface capable of contacting the spherical bumps and the surface of the spherical semiconductor element. The spherical semiconductor device is connected to various circuit boards or another semiconductor device through the spherical bumps. This affords easy and accurate electrical connections to the outside.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a free and precise control of the plating amount while easily determining a selected portion to be plated. Small balls 24 are arranged at, and adhered or bonded to, via holes 22 of a TAB tape 21 and the small balls 24 are then melted so that a copper wiring 23 exposed at the via holes 22 of the TAB tape 21 can be selectively plated with a different metal to enable selected portions of a substrate for electronic devices to be partially plated easily and precisely.

Abstract: Disclosed are CMP conditioners which can suppress microscratching of the surface of a semiconductor substrate and can realize stable CMP conditioner properties. The CMP conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a support member and a plurality of hard abrasive grains provided on a surface of the support member, wherein the plurality of hard abrasive grains are regularly arranged on the surface of the support member. The CMP conditioner according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a support member and a plurality of hard abrasive grains provided on the surface of the support member, wherein the plurality of hard abrasive grains are arranged on the surface of the support member regularly and so as for the density of the hard abrasive grains to decrease from the inner side of the support member toward the outer side of the support member.

Abstract: A spherical semiconductor device includes a spherical semiconductor element having one or more electrodes on its surface. Spherical conductive bumps are formed at the positions of the electrodes. The electrodes are so arranged as to contact a common plane. Spherical bumps constituting a group to be connected to the outside protrude above the spherical semiconductor element such that a predetermined gap is formed between a plane or a spherical surface capable of contacting the spherical bumps and the surface of the spherical semiconductor element. The spherical semiconductor device is connected to various circuit boards or another semiconductor device through the spherical bumps. This affords easy and accurate electrical connections to the outside.

Abstract: A ball-arranging substrate comprising a substrate with a main surface, a plurality of ball-arranging holes formed on the main surface for sucking and holding minute electroconductive balls at the locations corresponding to those of electrodes formed on a semiconductor device or a printed circuit board, wherein when light illuminates the ball-arranging surface to allow optical recognition of the arrangement of the minute electroconductive balls by means of the light reflected by the minute electroconductive balls and by the main surface, the wave length of the light of the light source is set in the range of 300 to 900 nm, and the reflectivity is made not more than 50% based on the light source. A reflective mirror should be provided on the rear surface of the substrate opposite to the light source, in the case when the substrate is transparent to the irradiated light.

Abstract: An optical imaging system with a flexible cable having a first end and a second end. The cable has a central core element including a flexible optical conduit, with a number of wires surrounding the core element to form a tube concentric with an axis defined by the center of the core. The cable has a conductive shield layer surrounding the wires and uniformly spaced apart from the wires An electronic instrument is connected to the first end of the cable and has an illuminator coupled with the optical conduit and a display device connected to the wires. An image transducer is connected to the second end of the cable and is connected to the wires. The wires may be twisted pairs evenly spaced apart from each other, and evenly spaced apart from an axis defined by the core.