Semiconductor package cooled by grounded cooler

A semiconductor device comprising:

• a semiconductor package including a semiconductor element, a metal member, and a molding member for encapsulating the semiconductor element and the metal member therein, the metal member having a metal portion thermally connected to the semiconductor element, an electrically insulating layer on the metal portion, and an electrically conducting layer on the insulating layer, the conducting layer being at least partially exposed outside the molding member and serving as a radiation surface for radiating heat of the semiconductor element;
• a cooler having a coolant passage through which a coolant circulates, the conducting layer and the cooler being electrically connected together, and the cooler being configured to cool the conducting layer and absorb the heat from the radiating surface of the semiconductor element by circulating the coolant within the cooler;
• a viscous member having a viscosity and both heat conducting and electrical insulating properties filling a clearance between the radiation surface of the semiconductor package and the cooler, and the viscous member contacting both the radiation surface and the cooler and conducting heat exchange between the radiation surface and the cooler;
• and
• a terminal member having a first end located inside the molding member and electrically connected to the conducting layer and a second end located outside the molding member and electrically connected to the cooler, the conducting layer and the cooler being electrically connected together through the terminal member.