Abstract: Apparatus and program product for designing vertical parallel plate (VPP) capacitor structures in which the capacitor plates in different conductive layers of the capacitor stack have a different physical spacing. The methodology optimizes the physical spacing of the plates in each conductive layer to achieve a targeted electrostatic discharge protection level and, thereby, supply electrostatic discharge robustness.

Abstract: A far subcollector, or a buried doped semiconductor layer located at a depth that exceeds the range of conventional ion implantation, is formed by ion implantation of dopants into a region of an initial semiconductor substrate followed by an epitaxial growth of semiconductor material. A reachthrough region to the far subcollector is formed by outdiffusing a dopant from a doped material layer deposited in the at least one deep trench that adjoins the far subcollector. The reachthrough region may be formed surrounding the at least one deep trench or only on one side of the at least one deep trench. If the inside of the at least one trench is electrically connected to the reachthrough region, a metal contact may be formed on the doped fill material within the at least one trench. If not, a metal contact is formed on a secondary reachthrough region that contacts the reachthrough region.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip comprises low voltage complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sectors and high voltage lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) sectors and at least one transistor within at least one of the low voltage CMOS sectors. The transistor has a semiconducting channel region within a substrate. A gate conductor is above the top layer of substrate, and the gate conductor is positioned above the channel region. A source/drain region is included in the substrate on a first side of the gate conductor and a lateral source/drain region is included in the substrate on a second side of the gate conductor opposite the first side. The lateral source/drain region is positioned a greater distance from the gate conductor than the source/drain region is positioned from the gate conductor. The embodiments herein also include a source/drain ballast resistor in the substrate between the lateral source/drain region and the gate conductor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming a trench in a back side of a substrate; depositing a dopant on surfaces of the trench; forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure in a top side of the substrate opposite the trench; forming a deep well in the substrate; out-diffusing the dopant into the deep well and the substrate; forming an N-well and a P-well in the substrate; and filling the trench with a conductive material.

Abstract: Design structures, structures and methods of manufacturing structures for providing latch-up immunity for mixed voltage integrated circuits. The structure includes a diffused N-Tub structure embedded in a P-wafer and provided below a retrograde N-well to a non-isolated CMOS logic.

Abstract: A design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design. The design structure includes a high resistivity substrate and a buried inductor formed directly in the high resistivity substrate and devoid of an insulating layer therebetween.

Abstract: A disposable structure displaced from an edge of a gate electrode and a drain region aligned to the disposable structure is formed. Thus, the drain region is self-aligned to the edge of the gate electrode. The disposable structure may be a disposable spacer, or alternately, the disposable structure may be formed simultaneously with, and comprise the same material as, a gate electrode. After formation of the drain regions, the disposable structure is removed. The self-alignment of the drain region to the edge of the gate electrode provides a substantially constant drift distance that is independent of any overlay variation of lithographic processes.

Abstract: An electrostatic-discharge protection circuit having a low level of current leakage from a first power supply to a second power supply. An example protection circuit includes a timing element that electrically decouples the first and second power supplies. Another example protection circuit includes two transistors connected via a node that is electrically decoupled from the second power supply.

Abstract: A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process. The design structure includes a first sub-collector formed in an upper portion of a substrate and a lower portion of a first epitaxial layer, and a second sub-collector formed in an upper portion of the first epitaxial layer and a lower portion of a second epitaxial layer. The design structure additionally includes a reach-through structure connecting the first and second sub-collectors, and an N-well formed in a portion of the second epitaxial layer and in contact with the second sub-collector and the reach-through structure. Also, the design structure includes N+ diffusion regions in contact with the N-well, a P+ diffusion region within the N-well, and shallow trench isolation structures between the N+ and P+ diffusion regions.

Abstract: Method and semiconductor structure to avoid latch-up. Method includes identifying at least one high voltage device on a semiconductor chip, identifying a circuit on the semiconductor chip separated from the identified at least one high voltage device by a guard ring, evaluating the circuit for a latch-up condition, and when the latch-up condition occurs, adjusting the contact-circuit spacing in the circuit.

Abstract: Modifying a layout of an integrated circuit (IC) based on a function of an interconnect therein and a related circuit and design structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a function of an interconnect in the layout from data of the layout embodied in a computer readable medium; and modifying the layout to form another layout that accommodates the function of the interconnect. A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process, according to one embodiment, may include a circuit including a high voltage interconnect positioned in a dielectric layer, the high voltage interconnect positioned such that no fill is above or below the high voltage interconnect.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip comprises low voltage complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sectors and high voltage lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) sectors and at least one transistor within at least one of the low voltage CMOS sectors. The transistor has a semiconducting channel region within a substrate. A gate conductor is above the top layer of substrate, and the gate conductor is positioned above the channel region. A source/drain region is included in the substrate on a first side of the gate conductor and a lateral source/drain region is included in the substrate on a second side of the gate conductor opposite the first side. The lateral source/drain region is positioned a greater distance from the gate conductor than the source/drain region is positioned from the gate conductor. The embodiments herein also include a source/drain ballast resistor in the substrate between the lateral source/drain region and the gate conductor.

Abstract: An SOI integrated circuit includes ESD protection on an SOI chip. A first power domain and a second power domain are provided in the SOI chip. In one embodiment, a charge modulation network in the SOI chip between the first power domain and the second power domain mitigates accumulation of electrical charge in an electrically isolated region of the SOI chip. In another embodiment, an ESD protection device in the SOI chip electrically connects the first power domain and the second power domain via a low metal layer to provide a discharge path for accumulated charge.

Abstract: A design structure is disclosed for a circuit optimizing guard ring design by optimizing the path resistance value between the components of the parasitic lateral bipolar transistors in a CMOS circuit and the power supply or ground. By comparing the calculated path resistance value to a maximum resistance number derived from specifications, elements that need further redesign are identified. Repeated redesign with several redesign options eventually lead to an optimized guard ring structure that provides area-efficient and sufficient latchup protection for the CMOS circuit. A design structure employing such an optimized guard ring is also provided.

Abstract: Multiple emitter-base regions arc formed on a single contiguous collector. The multiple emitter-base regions are cascoded such that the base of one emitter-base region is directly wired to the emitter of an adjacent emitter-base region. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection unit, comprising a single collector and multiple emitter-base regions, provides protection against an ESD event of one type, i.e., a positive or negative voltage surge. The inventive ESD protection structure comprises a parallel connection of two ESD protection units, each providing a discharge path for electrical charges of opposite types, and provides ESD protection for both types of voltage swing in the circuit.

Abstract: A structure, method and a design structure for preventing latchup in a gate array. The design structure including: a NFET gate array and a PFET gate array in a substrate; an electrically conductive through via extending from a bottom surface of the substrate toward a top surface of the substrate the NFET gate array and PFET gate array, the through via electrically contacting the P-well.

Abstract: A structure and a method for preventing latchup. The structure including: an I/O cell and an ESD protection circuit in a region of an integrated circuit chip containing logic circuits; an electrically conductive through via extending from a bottom surface of the substrate toward a top surface of the substrate between the I/O cell and an ESD protection circuit and at least one of the logic circuits.

Abstract: A design structure for electrostatic discharge protection comprises a first data representing a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit and a second data representing a second ESD protection circuit. A parallel connection of two ESD protection units, each providing a discharge path for electrical charges of opposite types, provides ESD protection circuit for positive and negative voltage swings in the circuit. Each of the multiple emitter-base regions are cascoded such that the base of one emitter-base region is directly wired to the emitter of an adjacent emitter-base region. The first data represents a first ESD protection unit providing protection on one type of voltage swing, and the second data represents a second ESD protection unit providing protection on the other type of voltage swing.

Abstract: A design structure including: an I/O cell and an ESD protection circuit in a region of an integrated circuit chip containing logic circuits; an electrically conductive through via extending from a bottom surface of the substrate toward a top surface of the substrate between the I/O cell and an ESD protection circuit and at least one of the logic circuits.

Abstract: A design methodology is disclosed for optimizing guard ring design by optimizing the guard ring to power supply path resistance value between physical and/or virtual injection sources in a CMOS circuit and the corresponding power supply. By comparing the calculated guard ring to power supply path resistance value to resistance criteria derived from specifications, elements that need further redesign are identified. Repeated redesign with several redesign options eventually lead to an optimized guard ring structure that provides area-efficient and sufficient latchup protection for the CMOS circuit.