SYMMETRIC BLOCKING TRANSIENT VOLTAGE SUPPRESSOR (TVS) USING BIPOLAR NPN AND PNP TRANSISTOR BASE SNATCH
A symmetrical blocking transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit for suppressing a transient voltage includes an NPN transistor having a base electrically connected to a common source of two transistors whereby the base is tied to a terminal of a low potential in either a positive or a negative voltage transient. The two transistors are two substantially identical transistors for carrying out a substantially symmetrical bi-directional clamping a transient voltage. These two transistors further include a first and second MOSFET transistors having an electrically interconnected source. The first MOSFET transistor further includes a drain connected to a high potential terminal and a gate connected to the terminal of a low potential and the second MOSFET transistor further includes a drain connected to the terminal of a low potential terminal and a gate connected to the high potential terminal.
This Patent Application is a Divisional Application and claim the Priority Date of a co-pending application Ser. No. 13/136,738 filed on Aug. 8, 2011. Application Ser. No. 13/136,738 is a Continuation Application and claim the Priority Date of application Ser. No. 12/456,948 filed on Jun. 25, 2009 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,000,124. The application Ser. No. 12/456,948 is a Divisional Application and claims the Priority Date of another application Ser. No. 11/541,370 filed on Sep. 30, 2006 by common Inventors of this Application now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,554,839. The Disclosures made in the patent application Ser. Nos. 13/136,738, 12/456,948 and 11/541,370 are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a circuit configuration and method of manufacturing a transient voltage suppressor (TVS). More particularly, this invention relates to an improved circuit configuration and method of manufacturing a symmetrical bi-directional blocking transient voltage suppressor (TVS) implemented with bipolar transistor base snatch to connect the base to a low potential terminal.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
The conventional technologies for designing and manufacturing a bi-directional blocking transient voltage suppressor (TVS) is still confronted with a technical difficulty that the base of a TVS device is connected to a terminal of floating potential. Typically, the bi-directional blocking TVS is implemented with symmetric NPN/PNP configuration with identical emitter-base and collector-base breakdown voltage. However, such implementation often leads to a floating base that further leads to difficulties of voltage variations over time, i.e., the dV/dt. The voltage variation over time further leads to the leakage current concerns due to the facts that when the base is floating, the voltage change dV/dt causes the equivalent capacitor generating charging and discharging currents that increase the leakage current.
The transient voltage suppressors (TVS) are commonly applied for protecting integrated circuits from damages due to the inadvertent occurrence of an over voltage imposed onto the integrated circuit. An integrated circuit is designed to operate over a normal range of voltages. However, in situations such as electrostatic discharge (ESD), electrical fast transients and lightning, an unexpected and an uncontrollable high voltage may accidentally strike onto the circuit. The TVS devices are required to serve the protection functions to circumvent the damages that are likely to occur to the integrated circuits when such over voltage conditions occur. As increasing number of devices are implemented with the integrated circuits that are vulnerable to over voltage damages, demands for TVS protection are also increased. Exemplary applications of TVS can be found in the USB power and data line protection, Digital video interface, high speed Ethernet, Notebook computers, monitors and flat panel displays.
With the advancement of electronic technologies, there are increasingly more devices and applications that require bi-directional TVS protections. Devices for audio, ADSL, multiple-mode transceivers, and other electronic devices are required to provide the bi-directional TVS protections as these electronic devices are manufactured with components more vulnerable to transient voltages and operated under more different kinds of conditions that the transient voltage may occur either as positive or negative transient voltages. Currently, the most effective technique to provide the bi-directional TVS is to implement a symmetric NPN/PNP configuration with identical Emitter-Base and Collector-Base breakdown voltage. However, as discussed above, in a conventional bi-directional TVS device as that shown in
Therefore, a need still exists in the fields of circuit design and device manufactures for providing a new and improved circuit configuration and manufacturing method to resolve the above-discussed difficulties. Specifically, a need still exists to provide new and improved TVS circuits that can provide bi-directional symmetrical blocking of transient current to achieve TVS protection by implementing NPN/PNP transistors where the base is always connected to the terminal with a potential such that the above discussed problems and difficulties are resolved.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONIt is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a bi-directional symmetrical blocking TVS with a base that is connected to a lower potential such that the above-discussed difficulties and limitations encountered by the conventional bi-directional blocking TVS caused by a floating base can be overcome.
Another aspect of the present invention to provide a bi-directional symmetrical blocking TVS with a base connected to a lower potential and the TVS is implemented with either lateral or vertical configurations by applying the integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing processes.
Briefly in a preferred embodiment this invention discloses a symmetrical blocking transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit for suppressing a transient voltage. The symmetrical blocking transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit includes a bipolar transistor having a base electrically connected to a common source of two MOS transistors whereby the base of bipolar is tied to an emitter potential of the bipolar transistor in either a positive or a negative voltage transient. In another preferred embodiment, the two MOS transistors are two substantially identical transistors for carrying out a substantially symmetrical bi-directional clamping a transient voltage. These two MOS transistors further include a first and second MOSFET transistors having an electrically interconnected source. The first MOSFET transistor further includes a drain connected to a high potential terminal and a gate connected to the terminal of a low potential and the second MOSFET transistor further includes a drain connected to the terminal of a low potential terminal and a gate connected to the high potential terminal. In one embodiment, the symmetrical blocking transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit includes a NPN bipolar transistor having a base electrically connected to a common source of two MOS transistors, a collector connected to the high potential terminal and an emitter connected to the terminal of a low potential. In another embodiment, the symmetrical blocking transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit includes a PNP bipolar transistor having a base electrically connected to a common source of two MOS transistors, a collector connected to the low potential terminal and an emitter connected to the terminal of a high potential.
In another embodiment the first MOSFET transistor and the second MOSFET transistor further include two lateral MOSFET transistors extended laterally along a first direction of a semiconductor substrate and disposed laterally on two opposite sides of a doped region functioning as a base of the NPN transistor extending along a second direction over the semiconductor substrate perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second MOSFET transistors are encompassed in two N-well regions disposed laterally on two opposite sides of the doped region functioning as the base of the NPN bipolar transistor wherein the two N-well regions functioning as an emitter and a collector of the NPN transistor. The first MOSFET transistor and the second MOSFET transistor and the NPN bipolar transistor are manufactured by applying a CMOS manufacturing process.
In another preferred embodiment, the present invention further discloses an electronic device formed as an integrated circuit (IC) wherein the electronic device further includes a symmetrical blocking transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit. The first MOSFET transistor and the second MOSFET transistor of the TVS circuit further includes two lateral MOSFET transistors sharing a common source region encompassed in a P-body region functioning as the base of the NPN transistor. The NPN transistor further includes a vertical NPN transistor with the common source region functioning as a cathode terminal disposed above the P-body region functioning as the base region and a doped substrate layer disposed below the P-body region as an anode terminal of the NPN transistor. The first and second MOSFET transistors further include two lateral MOSFET transistors and the NPN transistor further includes a vertical NPN transistor manufactured by applying a DMOS manufacturing process.
The present invention further discloses a method for manufacturing an electronic device with an integrated symmetrical blocking transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit. The method includes a step of electrically connecting a base of an NPN transistor to a common source of two transistors to tie the base to a terminal of a low potential in either a positive or a negative voltage transient. The method further includes a step of manufacturing the two transistors as two substantially identical transistors for carrying out a substantially symmetrical bi-directional clamping a transient voltage. In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes a step of manufacturing the two transistors as a first and second MOSFET transistors having an electrically interconnected source for electrically connecting to the base of the NPN transistor. In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes a step of connecting a drain of the first MOSFET transistor to a high potential terminal and connecting a gate of the first transistor to the terminal of a low potential. The method further includes connecting a drain of the second MOSFET transistor to the terminal of a low potential terminal and connecting a gate of the second MOSFET transistor to the high potential terminal. In another preferred embodiment, the method further includes a step of extending laterally the first MOSFET transistor and the second MOSFET transistor along a first direction of a semiconductor substrate on two opposite sides of a doped region; and extending the doped region along a second direction over the semiconductor substrate perpendicular to the first direction for functioning as a base of the NPN transistor. In another embodiment, the method further includes a step of encompassing the first and second MOSFET transistors in two N-well regions disposed laterally on two opposite sides of the doped region as the base of the NPN transistor; whereby the two N-wells functioning as an anode and a cathode for the NPN transistor. In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes a step of applying a CMOS manufacturing process to manufacture the first and second MOSFET transistors and the NPN transistor.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various drawing figures.
Referring to
During a positive ESD event when Vcc>GND, the second transistor 120 is turned on while the first transistor 110 is turned off and the base of NPN transistor 140 is grounded through the resistor 130. During a negative ESD event when Vcc<GND, the second transistor 120 is turned off while the first transistor 110 is turned on and the NPN transistor 140 is connected to the main voltage terminal Vcc through the resistor 130. In either case the NPN base is connected to the terminal with lower potential. The PN junction breaks down when the transient voltage exceed the designated breakdown voltage thus clamp the voltage at the designated level. A symmetrical bi-directional block is achieved. Unlike the floating base as that implemented in a conventional TVS, the base is connected to a terminal lower potential through the resistor 130 and greatly reduce the charging and discharging current.
The bi-directional symmetrical-blocking TVS as shown in
Referring to
Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alterations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a symmetrical blocking transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit comprising:
- implanting a first and second wells of a first conductivity type in an epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type constituting a third well of the second conductivity type between the first and second wells supported on a substrate of the second conductivity type;
- forming a first and second gates padded with a gate insulation layer on a top of the third well laterally opposite from the first and second doped wells; and
- applying an implant mask to carry out a source and drain implant with dopant of the first conductivity type for forming a source region and a drain region on two opposite sides of the first and second gates to form two transistors with interconnecting source regions.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
- removing the implant mask followed by covering a top surface with an insulation layer and opening a body contact open; and
- carrying out a body contact implant through the body contact opening followed by depositing and patterning a metal layer to complete interconnections of the symmetrical blocking TVS circuit.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
- the step of implanting the first and second wells further comprising a step of implanting a first and second N-wells in a P-type epitaxial layer supported on a P-type substrate.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein:
- the step of implanting the source and drain region further comprising a step of implanting an N type dopant to form the source and drain regions on the two opposite sides of the first and second gates, the source region disposed along a side of the first gate extending across a gap between the first and second gates to a region along a side of the second gate.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein:
- the step of forming the first and second transistors further comprising a step of forming the two transistors as two substantially identical transistors for carrying out a substantially symmetrical bi-directional clamping a transient voltage.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein:
- the step of forming the first and second transistors further comprising a step of forming said two transistors as a first and a second MOSFET transistors having with said interconnecting source regions.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein:
- said step of forming said source and drain regions by implanting the N-type dopant in the third well of the P type laterally opposite from the first and second wells of the N-type further comprising a step of forming a NPN bipolar transistor across the first and second wells and the P-type epitaxial layer.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein:
- the step of forming the NPN transistor further comprising forming said first and second wells of the N-type as an emitter and a collector respectively and said third well of the P-type as a base for said bipolar transistor.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein:
- said step of forming said first and second transistors further comprising a step of forming the first and second transistors as two lateral MOSFET transistors with interconnecting source regions and forming said first and second MOSFET transistors in an area on top of the third well of a P-type conductivity type functioning as a base of a NPN transistor.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 5, 2013
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2014
Inventor: Madhur Bobde (San Jose, CA)
Application Number: 13/857,146
International Classification: H01L 27/02 (20060101);