Semiconductor device having die pad locking to substantially reduce package cracking

Abstract

A semiconductor device package (10) comprises plastic encapsulation (20) around a die pad (14) and a semiconductor chip (12). The semiconductor chip (12) is electrically interconnected to lead fingers (18) by conductive wires (16). The die pad (14) has at least one ear or tab (26) extending outward from die pad (14). In one embodiment of the invention, at least one hole (34) is formed through each ear or tab (26). In another embodiment of the invention, each ear or tab (26) is bent or curved away from the horizontal plane of the die pad. In yet another embodiment of the invention, at least one hole (34) is formed through each ear or tab (26) and ear or tab (26) is bent or curved away from the horizontal plane of the die pad (14). Ear or tab (26), having at least one hole (34), bent or curved away from the horizontal plane of the die pad (14), or having at least one hole (34) and bent or curved away from the horizontal plane of the die pad (14) helps prevent cracks from occurring in the plastic encapsulation (20) due to differences in the thermal expansion rates of the die pad (14) and the plastic encapsulation (20).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.