Abstract: An method and apparatus for high voltage control of isolation region transistors (320) in an integrated circuit. Isolation region transistors (320) are formed between active devices by selective implantation of channel stop implants (140). Isolation region transistors (320) are those areas with a conductor (130) over an isolation region (120) with no channel stop implant (140). This provides an isolation region transistor (320) with a lower threshold voltage than the areas with channel stop implant (140). The voltage threshold of the isolation region transistors 320 are adjustable to a range of voltages by varying the length of channel stop implant (140). The apparatus may be fabricated using conventional fabrication processes.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor component having a semiconductor body of a first conductivity type is described. In a surface region of the semiconductor body, at least one zone of a second conductivity type, opposite to the first conductivity type, is embedded. Regions of the second conductivity type are provided in the semiconductor body in a plane running substantially parallel to the surface of the surface region. The regions are in this case sufficiently highly doped that they cannot be depleted of charge carriers when a voltage is applied.

Abstract: Expansion promotion means (24) for more efficiently promoting the expansion of the depletion layer (19) than the electrically insulating film (14) having a suppressor electrode layer (20) buried therein is arranged between narrow portions (23b) of the suppressor electrode layer to control the expansion of the depletion layer (19), by which arrangement the spacing s between the narrow portions (23b) can be reduced without decreasing the field reducing effect of the field reduction means, which contains the suppressor electrode layer.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device having an breakdown voltage improving structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A collector region and a base region create a pn junction between them. At least one accelerating region of the same conductivity type as the collector region is formed spaced from the pn junction and at a dose higher than that of the collector region. A field plate overlaps the pn junction and the accelerating region. The field plate has an edge portion that extends past the accelerating region. When a voltage of a reverse direction is applied to the pn junction, an electric field becomes concentrated on the accelerating region as well as on the pn junction and on the edge portion of the field plate. This increases an electric field distribution area and thus also increases the breakdown voltage.

Abstract: An article for de-embedding parasitics and/or acting as an on-wafer calibration standard is disclosed. In particular, some articles in accordance with the present invention provide structures on integrated circuits that mitigate the severity of parasitics Furthermore, some articles in accordance with the present invention are well-suited for use with conductive substrates that operate at high frequencies. In an illustrative embodiment, conductive elements are used to construct structures near and/or around the leads on the integrated circuit. When the structures are grounded, the structures function to (at least) partially shield the leads to and from the DUT in a manner that is analogous to stripline, microstrip and coaxial cable. Because the electric fields emanating from the leads terminate in the grounded structure and not in the conductive substrate of the integrated circuit, the severity of the parasitics in the leads in mitigated.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed that comprises structures that confine, shield and/or manipulate the electric fields generated within the integrated circuit so as to improve the performance of the integrated circuit. Such structures include, but are not limited to, transmission lines, capacitors, inductors, filters, and couplers. Although embodiments of the present invention are advantageous for use on many integrated circuits, they are particularly well suited for use with integrated circuits that are disposed on conductive substrates and that operate at high frequencies.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a carbon-containing region with an advantageous concentration profile is disclosed. The carbon is introduced into a region of the substrate and at a depth below the space-charge layer of the device and at a concentration such that the carbon atoms absorb point defects created in the substrate during device fabrication but do not adversely affect the leakage characteristics of the device.

Abstract: The main characteristic feature of the invention is to prevent a leakage current from flowing when a planar type semiconductor device having a high breakdown voltage is reverse-biased. For example, a semiconductive film is formed on the surface of an n-type Si substrate between a second p-type base layer selectively formed on the surface of the Si substrate and a channel stop layer formed to surround the second p-type base layer at a predetermined interval. The dangling bond density of the semiconductive film is set at 1.25.times.1018 cm.sup.-3. With this structure, the discrete level in the band gap approach a continuum, and the time required to populate the trapping level in the semiconductive film with carriers is shortened.

Abstract: An integrated digital circuit is protected from reverse engineering by fabricating all transistors of like conductivity with a common size and geometric layout, providing a common layout for different logic cells, connecting doped circuit elements of like conductivity with electrically conductive doped implants in the substrate rather than metalized interconnections, and providing non-functional apparent interconnections that are interrupted by non-discernable channel stops so that all cells falsely appear to have a common interconnection scheme. The camouflage is enhanced by providing a uniform pattern of metal leads over the transistor array, with a uniform pattern of heavily doped implant taps from the transistors for connection to the leads; undesired tap-lead connections are blocked by channel stops.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate including a first conductivity type first semiconductor layer and a second conductivity type second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer. A unit cell for controlling current flowing between a source electrode and a drain electrode is formed in the semiconductor substrate. A trench is formed in a peripheral region of the unit cell to form mesa structure. A field relaxing layer is formed between an insulating film on a side face of the second trench and both the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer in order to relax concentration of an electric field in the insulating film.

Abstract: A surface voltage sustaining structure around an n.sup.+ (or p.sup.+)-type region on a p.sup.- (or n.sup.-)-type substrate for high-voltage devices is made by a combination of n-type regions and/or p-type regions and produces an effective surface density of donor (or acceptor) decreasing with the distance to the n.sup.+ (or p.sup.+)-type region on the surface, when all of the regions are depleted under reverse breakdown voltage. The surface voltage sustaining structure can make the breakdown voltage of the n.sup.+ -p.sup.- (or p.sup.+ -n.sup.-)-junction reach more than 90% of that one-sided parallel plane junction with the same substrate doping concentration. High-voltage vertical devices as well as high-voltage lateral devices with fast response, low on-voltage and high current density can be made by using this invention.

Abstract: A checking transistor for checking selected regions a semiconductor substrate containing radiation-hardened semiconductor circuitry having a plurality of transistors according to the present invention comprises a source region of the other conductivity type and a drain region of the other conductivity type formed on the semiconductor substrate through the same fabrication steps as those used to fabricate usual transistors, a second impurity region of the one conductivity type formed between the source region and the drain region through the same fabrication steps as those used to fabricate the first impurity region, an oxide film formed on the source region, the drain region and the second impurity region, the oxide film having the same thickness as that of the second field oxide film, an insulating film provided on the oxide film, the insulating film having the same thickness as that of the interlayer insulating film and a gate. electrode provided on the insulating film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a MOS field effect transistor comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type; source/drain regions of a second conductivity type; lightly doped regions covering the bottom of the source/drain regions and surrounding the source/drain regions, the lightly doped regions having the second conductivity type and a lower impurity concentration than an impurity concentration of the source/drain regions; an off-set region surrounding the lightly doped regions, the off-set region having the first conductivity type, the off-set region having a lower impurity concentration than the impurity concentration of the lightly doped regions; and a channel stopper region having the first conductivity type, the channel stopper region having a higher impurity concentration than the impurity concentration of the off-set region, the channel stopper region surrounding the off-set region, the channel stopper region having projected portions under a gate electrode, the projected por

Abstract: Region forming steps or interconnect-forming steps through which low voltage CMOS devices are formed in a semiconductor wafer are also employed to simultaneously form one or more regions or layers at selected sites of a substrate where high voltage devices are to be formed. Such selective modification of an already existing mask set designed for low voltage CMOS typography allows additional doping of the substrate or provision of further overlay material to accommodate the effects of high voltage operation of selected areas of the wafer and thereby effectively performs precursor tailoring or modification of those portions of the wafer where a high voltage condition will be encountered.

Abstract: A thin film field effect transistor (1) is formed by an insulating substrate (2,3) carrying a semiconductor layer (4) having a polycrystalline channel region (5) which is passivated to reduce the density of charge carrier traps. Source and drain electrodes (6 and 7) contact opposite ends (5a,5b) of the channel region (5), and a gate electrode (8) is provided at one major surface (4a) of the semiconductor layer (4) for controlling a conduction channel of one conductivity type in the polycrystalline channel region (5) to provide a gateable connection between the source and drain electrodes (6 and 7). An area (50) of the polycrystalline channel region (5) spaced from the electrodes (6,7,8) of the transistor (1) and lying adjacent to the other major surface (4b) of the semiconductor layer (4) is doped with impurities of the opposite conductivity type for suppressing formation of a conduction channel of the one conductivity type adjacent to the other major surface (4b).

Abstract: A photo sensor comprises a semiconductor substrate, a bipolar photo transistor having an emitter region, a base region and a collector region which is formed in the surface region of the semiconductor substrate, a silicon dioxide formed on the bipolar phototransistor, and a film having a smaller diffusion coefficient of hydrogen than the silicon dioxide formed all over the silicon dioxide.

Abstract: Low resistance contacts for establishing an electrical pathway to an integrated surface substrate are provided. The pathway is formed by the connection of a p+ doped channel stop region with a p+ doped extrinsic layer. P+ doped polysilicon contacts are positioned on the substrate surface. In one embodiment, a metal silicide layer connects the polysilicon contacts and overlies the p+ doped extrinsic layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor component, including a semiconductor body having an edge, a surface, a substrate of a first given conductivity type, at least one zone being embedded in a planar manner in the substrate at the surface and being of a second conductivity type opposite the first given type, and insulating layer disposed on the surface, an electrode being in contact with the at least one zone, a channel stopper disposed on the insulating layer outside the at least one zone and in vicinity of the edge of the semiconductor body, the channel stopper being electrically connected to the substrate, and a field plate beind disposed on the insulating layer between the at least one zone and the channel stopper and being electrically connected to the at least one zone, the channel stopper being disposed at an increasing distance from the edge and the surface of the semiconductor body, as seen in direction toward the at least one zone.

Abstract: Semiconductor components having planar structures such as MOSFETs, bipolar transistors, and isolated gate bipolar transistors are provided with field plates (5) and, potentially, with guard rings for increasing the blocking bias. A further improvement can be achieved when the zone adjoining the surface of the semiconductor body has its surface outside the planar zones (3) provided with a region (9) that has the same conductivity type as the zone and a higher doping concentration than this zone.

Abstract: A power switching metal oxide semiconductor (PSMOS) transistor comprises a plurality of vertical double-diffused MOS (VDMOS) transistors formed on a semiconductive substrate of a first type conductivity and a device for bypassing avalanche carriers generated at the time of turning OFF the vertical double-diffused MOS transistors. The bypass device includes a first semiconductive region, which is spaced from the MOS transistor, of a second type conductivity formed on the semiconductor substrate and a conductive line for connecting the first semiconductive region to a source electrode of the MOS transistor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing interconnection capacitance. A lightly doped buried layer is provided in or on a substrate below a field oxide region. The capacitance of an interconnect on the field oxide is significantly reduced by the lightly doped buried layer. When using a p-type substrate, the lightly doped buried layer may, for example, be a lightly doped (10.sup.13 /cm.sup.3) n-type region. Junction capacitance of, for example, a bipolar transistor is also reduced.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention is disclosed which includes a semiconductor device of a predetermined conductivity type having a predetermined impurity concentration, a source/drain area formed on the upper surface portion of the semiconductor substrate and a guard ring formed around the source/drain area and having the same conductivity as that of the semiconductor substrate. A gate oxide film is formed on the source/drain area and guard ring and an interconnection layer, such as polysilicon, is formed on the gate oxide film. The guard ring has its impurity concentration set to be higher than that of the semiconductor substrate. The guard ring per se has a portion intersecting with the interconnection layer through a thicker portion of a gate oxide film disposed over the intersecting portion of the guard ring, and a remaining portion, the intersecting portion of the guard ring being higher in impurity concentration than the remaining portion of the guard ring.