Abstract: A protection circuit can include a first clamping sub-circuit, a first switching sub-circuit and a first resistive sub-circuit coupled in series between a first and second node. The protection circuit can also include a second clamping sub-circuit, a second switching sub-circuit and a second resistive sub-circuit coupled in series between the second and first nodes. The first and second clamping sub-circuits and the first and second resistive sub-circuits can be configured to bias a switching shunt sub-circuit. The switching shunt sub-circuit can be configured to short the first and second nodes together in response to a bias potential from the first and second clamping sub-circuits and the first and second resistive sub-circuits indicative of an over-voltage, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) or similar event. The first and second switching sub-circuits can be configured to prevent the occurrence of a current path through the first and second resistive sub-circuits at the same time.

Abstract: A multi-gate High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) can include a Two-Dimension Electron Gas (2DEG) channel between the drain and the source. A first gate can be disposed proximate the 2DEG channel between the drain and source. The first gate can be configured to deplete majority carriers in the 2DEG channel proximate the first gate when a potential applied between the first gate and the source is less than a threshold voltage associated with the first gate. A second gate can be disposed proximate the 2DEC channel, between the drain and the first gate. The second gate can be electrically coupled to the drain. The second gate can be configured to deplete majority carriers in the 2DEG channel proximate the second gate when a potential applied between the second gate and the 2DEG channel between the second gate and the first gate is less than a threshold voltage associated with the second gate.

Abstract: A protection circuit can include a first clamping sub-circuit, a first switching sub-circuit and a first resistive sub-circuit coupled in series between a first and second node. The protection circuit can also include a second clamping sub-circuit, a second switching sub-circuit and a second resistive sub-circuit coupled in series between the second and first nodes. The first and second clamping sub-circuits and the first and second resistive sub-circuits can be configured to bias a switching shunt sub-circuit. The switching shunt sub-circuit can be configured to short the first and second nodes together in response to a bias potential from the first and second clamping sub-circuits and the first and second resistive sub-circuits indicative of an over-voltage, Electrostatic Discharge (ESO) or similar event. The first and second switching sub-circuits can be configured to prevent the occurrence of a current path through the first and second resistive sub-circuits at the same time.

Abstract: An MOS device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and first and second source/drain regions of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The first and second source/drain regions are spaced apart relative to one another. A gate is formed above and electrically isolated from the semiconductor layer, at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. At least a given one of the first and second source/drain regions is configured having an effective width that is substantially greater than a width of a junction between the semiconductor layer and the given source/drain region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region having a first floating charge control structure and a termination region having a second floating charge control structure. The second floating charge control structure is at least twice as long as the first floating control structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region having a first floating charge control structure and a termination region having a second floating charge control structure. The second floating charge control structure is at least twice as long as the first floating control structure.

Abstract: An MOS device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and first and second source/drain regions of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The first and second source/drain regions are spaced apart relative to one another. A gate is formed above and electrically isolated from the semiconductor layer, at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. At least a given one of the first and second source/drain regions is configured having an effective width that is substantially greater than a width of a junction between the semiconductor layer and the given source/drain region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source region, a drain region, a gate region, and a drift region. The drift region further includes an active drift region and inactive floating charge control (FCC) regions. The active drift region conducts current between the source region and the drain region when voltage is applied to the gate region. The inactive FCC regions, which field-shape the active drift region to improve breakdown voltage, are vertically stacked in the drift region and are separated by the active drift region. Vertically stacking the inactive FCC regions reduce on-resistance while maintaining higher breakdown voltages.

Abstract: An MOS device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and first and second source/drain regions of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The first and second source/drain regions are spaced apart relative to one another. A gate is formed above and electrically isolated from the semiconductor layer, at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. At least a given one of the first and second source/drain regions is configured having an effective width that is substantially greater than a width of a junction between the semiconductor layer and the given source/drain region.

Abstract: In a metal-oxide semiconductor device including first and second source/drain regions of a first conductivity type formed in a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, a drift region formed in the semiconductor layer proximate the upper surface of the semiconductor layer and at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions, an insulating layer formed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the semiconductor layer, and a gate formed on the insulating layer and at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions, a method for controlling an amount of hot carrier injection degradation in the device includes the steps of: forming a shielding structure on the insulating layer above at least a portion of the drift region and substantially between the gate and the second source/drain region; and adjusting an amount of coverage of the shielding structure over an upper surface of the drift region so as to minimiz

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source region, a drain region, a gate region, and a drift region. The drift region further includes an active drift region and inactive floating charge control (FCC) regions. The active drift region conducts current between the source region and the drain region when voltage is applied to the gate region. The inactive FCC regions, which field-shape the active drift region to improve breakdown voltage, are vertically stacked in the drift region and are separated by the active drift region. Vertically stacking the inactive FCC regions reduce on-resistance while maintaining higher breakdown voltages.

Abstract: An MOS device includes first and second source/drain regions of a first conductivity type formed in a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, the first and second source/drain regions being spaced apart relative to one another. A non-uniformly doped channel region of the first conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor layer proximate the upper surface of the semiconductor layer and at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. An insulating layer is formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor layer. A first gate is formed on the insulating layer at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions and above at least a portion of the channel region, and at least a second gate formed on the insulating layer above at least a portion of the channel region and between the first gate and the second source/drain region.

Abstract: According to the present invention, semiconductor device breakdown voltage can be increased by embedding field shaping regions within a drift region of the semiconductor device. A controllable current path extends between two device terminals on the top surface of a planar substrate, and the controllable current path includes the drift region. Each field shaping region includes two or more electrically conductive regions that are electrically insulated from each other, and which are capacitively coupled to each other to form a voltage divider dividing a potential between the first and second terminals. One or more of the electrically conductive regions are isolated from any external electrical contact. Such field shaping regions can provide enhanced electric field uniformity in current-carrying parts of the drift region, thereby increasing device breakdown voltage.

Abstract: A method for forming a MOS device includes the steps of forming a gate proximate an upper surface of a semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer including a substrate of a first conductivity type and a second layer of a second conductivity type; forming first and second source/drain regions of the second conductivity type in the second layer proximate the upper surface of the second layer, the first source/drain region being spaced laterally from the second source/drain region, the gate being formed at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions; and forming at least one electrically conductive trench in the second layer between the gate and the second source/drain region, the trench being formed proximate the upper surface of the semiconductor layer and extending substantially vertically through the second layer to the substrate.

Abstract: An MOS device includes first and second source/drain regions of a first conductivity type formed in a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, the first and second source/drain regions being spaced apart relative to one another. A non-uniformly doped channel region of the first conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor layer proximate the upper surface of the semiconductor layer and at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. An insulating layer is formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor layer. A first gate is formed on the insulating layer at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions and above at least a portion of the channel region, and at least a second gate formed on the insulating layer above at least a portion of the channel region and between the first gate and the second source/drain region.

Abstract: An MOS device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a source region of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer, and a drain region of the second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer and spaced apart from the source region. A gate is formed proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer and at least partially between the source and drain regions. The MOS device further includes a buried LDD region of the second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer between the gate and the drain region, the buried LDD region being spaced laterally from the drain region, and a second LDD region of the first conductivity type formed in the buried LDD region and proximate the upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The second LDD region is self-aligned with the gate and spaced laterally from the gate such that the gate is non-overlapping relative to the second LDD region.

Abstract: An MOS device is formed including a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, and first and second source/drain regions of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, the first and second source/drain regions being spaced apart relative to one another. A drift region is formed in the semiconductor layer proximate the upper surface of the semiconductor layer and at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. An insulating layer is formed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the semiconductor layer and above at least a portion of the drift region. A gate is formed on the insulating layer and at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. The MOS device further includes a shielding structure formed on the insulating layer above at least a portion of the drift region.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a circuit from an ESD event, the ESD protection circuit comprises a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) device including a gate terminal, a first source/drain terminal, a second source/drain terminal and a bulk terminal, the bulk and first source/drain terminals being operatively coupled across the circuit to be protected, the gate and second source/drain terminals being coupled together; and a voltage generation circuit coupled between the bulk and gate terminals of the MOS device. The voltage generation circuit is configured to generate a voltage difference between the bulk and gate terminals of the MOS device during at least a portion of the ESD event. In this manner, a current handling capability of the MOS device is increased, thereby advantageously enabling a smaller sized device having a significantly smaller capacitance associated therewith to be employed in the ESD protection circuit.

Abstract: An MOS device comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and source and drain regions of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer, the source and drain regions being spaced apart from one another. A drift region is formed in the semiconductor layer proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer and between the source and drain regions, and a insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor layer above at least a portion of the drift region. A gate is formed on the insulating layer and at least partially between the source and drift regions. The MOS device further includes a conductive structure comprising a first end formed on the insulating layer and spaced apart from the gate, and a second end formed on the insulating layer and extending laterally toward the drain region above at least a portion of the drift region.

Abstract: An MOS device is formed including a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a first source/drain region of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer, and a second source/drain region of the second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer and spaced apart from the first source/drain region. A gate is formed proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer and at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. The MOS device further includes at least one contact, the at least one contact including a silicide layer formed on and in electrical connection with at least a portion of the first source/drain region, the silicide layer extending laterally away from the gate. The contact further includes at least one insulating layer formed directly on the silicide layer.