Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a workpiece having a buried layer disposed beneath a top portion of the workpiece. An isolation ring structure is disposed within the top portion of the workpiece extending completely through at least a portion of the buried layer, the isolation ring structure comprising a ring having an interior region. A diffusion confining structure is disposed within the interior region of the isolation ring structure. A conductive region is disposed within the top portion of the workpiece within a portion of the interior of the isolation ring structure, the conductive region comprising at least one dopant element implanted and diffused into the top portion of the workpiece. The diffusion confining structure defines at least one edge of the conductive region, and the conductive region is coupled to the buried layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a workpiece having a buried layer disposed beneath a top portion of the workpiece. An isolation ring structure is disposed within the top portion of the workpiece extending completely through at least a portion of the buried layer, the isolation ring structure comprising a ring having an interior region. A diffusion confining structure is disposed within the interior region of the isolation ring structure. A conductive region is disposed within the top portion of the workpiece within a portion of the interior of the isolation ring structure, the conductive region comprising at least one dopant element implanted and diffused into the top portion of the workpiece. The diffusion confining structure defines at least one edge of the conductive region, and the conductive region is coupled to the buried layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a workpiece having a buried layer disposed beneath a top portion of the workpiece. An isolation ring structure is disposed within the top portion of the workpiece extending completely through at least a portion of the buried layer, the isolation ring structure comprising a ring having an interior region. A diffusion confining structure is disposed within the interior region of the isolation ring structure. A conductive region is disposed within the top portion of the workpiece within a portion of the interior of the isolation ring structure, the conductive region comprising at least one dopant element implanted and diffused into the top portion of the workpiece. The diffusion confining structure defines at least one edge of the conductive region, and the conductive region is coupled to the buried layer.

Abstract: Method and systems for producing a semiconductor circuit arrangement are disclosed. In one implementation, after a formation of a first electrically conductive layer at the surface of a semiconductor substrate for the purpose of realizing a base connection layer and a first split gate layer, an implantation mask is formed for the purpose of carrying out a first collector implantation for the purpose of forming a collector connection zone. After the formation of a hard mask layer and a first etching mask, the hard mask layer is patterned and an emitter window is uncovered using the patterned hard mask layer. Using the patterned hard mask layer a second collector implantation is effected for the purpose of forming a collector zone, a base layer being formed in the region of the emitter window.

Abstract: For the integration of an npn bipolar transistor with a hetero bipolar transistor, a placeholder layer is generated in a base region of the hetero bipolar transistor after structuring a collector structure for both types of transistors, wherein the placeholder layer is not present in a base region of the bipolar transistor. After generating the base of the bipolar transistor, the base of the bipolar transistor is covered, whereupon the placeholder layer is removed and the base of the hetero bipolar transistor is generated in the places where the placeholder layer has been removed. The emitter structure is again generated equally for both types of transistors so that an integrated circuit results which includes bipolar transistors and hetero bipolar transistors whose collector structures and/or whose emitter structures consist of identical production layers. Thus, space-saving and cost-effective integrated circuits may be produced benefiting from the advantages of both types of transistors.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a workpiece having a buried layer disposed beneath a top portion of the workpiece. An isolation ring structure is disposed within the top portion of the workpiece extending completely through at least a portion of the buried layer, the isolation ring structure comprising a ring having an interior region. A diffusion confining structure is disposed within the interior region of the isolation ring structure. A conductive region is disposed within the top portion of the workpiece within a portion of the interior of the isolation ring structure, the conductive region comprising at least one dopant element implanted and diffused into the top portion of the workpiece. The diffusion confining structure defines at least one edge of the conductive region, and the conductive region is coupled to the buried layer.

Abstract: Method and systems for producing a semiconductor circuit arrangement are disclosed. In one implementation, after a formation of a first electrically conductive layer at the surface of a semiconductor substrate for the purpose of realizing a base connection layer and a first split gate layer, an implantation mask is formed for the purpose of carrying out a first collector implantation for the purpose of forming a collector connection zone. After the formation of a hard mask layer and a first etching mask, the hard mask layer is patterned and an emitter window is uncovered using the patterned hard mask layer. Using the patterned hard mask layer a second collector implantation is effected for the purpose of forming a collector zone, a base layer being formed in the region of the emitter window.

Abstract: For the integration of an npn bipolar transistor with a hetero bipolar transistor, a placeholder layer is generated in a base region of the hetero bipolar transistor after structuring a collector structure for both types of transistors, wherein the placeholder layer is not present in a base region of the bipolar transistor. After generating the base of the bipolar transistor, the base of the bipolar transistor is covered, whereupon the placeholder layer is removed and the base of the hetero bipolar transistor is generated in the places where the placeholder layer has been removed. The emitter structure is again generated equally for both types of transistors so that an integrated circuit results which includes bipolar transistors and hetero bipolar transistors whose collector structures and/or whose emitter structures consist of identical production layers. Thus, space-saving and cost-effective integrated circuits may be produced benefiting from the advantages of both types of transistors.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of a DMOS transistor structure provides the advantage that, through the use of a protective layer, the DMOS transistor structure, which has already been substantially completed, is protected from the adverse effects of further process steps. The DMOS gate electrode is not, as is customary in the prior art, patterned using a single lithography step, but, rather, the patterning of the DMOS gate electrode is split between two lithography steps. In a first lithography step, substantially only the source region of the DMOS transistor structure is opened. Therefore, the electrode layer that is still present can be used as a mask for the subsequent fabrication of the body region.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of a DMOS transistor structure provides the advantage that, through the use of a protective layer, the DMOS transistor structure, which has already been substantially completed, is protected from the adverse effects of further process steps. The DMOS gate electrode is not, as is customary in the prior art, patterned using a single lithography step, but, rather, the patterning of the DMOS gate electrode is split between two lithography steps. In a first lithography step, substantially only the source region of the DMOS transistor structure is opened. Therefore, the electrode layer that is still present can be used as a mask for the subsequent fabrication of the body region.