Semiconductor module

A semiconductor module, comprising:

• a ceramic board having a principal surface;
• a circuit pattern metal plate disposed on the principal surface of the ceramic board, the circuit pattern metal plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and facing the principal surface of the ceramic board, the circuit pattern metal plate including
• a bonding area at said first surface, and
• a stress relaxation portion disposed within the bonding area at said first surface;
• a semiconductor element disposed on the circuit pattern metal plate in a first area;
• an external connection terminal disposed on the circuit pattern metal plate in a second area different from the first area in a plan view of the semiconductor module, the external connection terminal including
• a bonding portion having a bonding surface, the bonding portion having an edge that is located at a position overlapping an area in which the stress relaxation portion is disposed in the plan view, and
• a conductive portion extending upwardly from the bonding portion;
• and
• a solder disposed between the bonding surface and the bonding area, to bond the external connection terminal to the circuit pattern metal plate, wherein
• a part of the solder is embedded in the circuit pattern metal plate at the stress relaxation portion such that a gap in a thickness direction orthogonal to the principal surface of the ceramic board is formed between the solder and the circuit pattern metal plate at the stress relaxation portion.