FLEXIBLE SINTER TOOL FOR BONDING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

An apparatus having a seal plate which includes rigid hard portions and one or more flexible soft portions located between the hard portions is used for bonding at least one semiconductor device onto a substrate that is supported on a platform. The seal plate is movable between a first position which is spaced from the substrate and a second position whereat a first side of the seal plate is configured to be in contact with the substrate. A diaphragm covers a second side of the seal plate opposite to the first side. A fluid pressure generator exerts a fluid pressure onto the diaphragm to actuate the diaphragm to compress the one or more soft portions to transmit a bonding force onto the at least one semiconductor device during bonding.