Abstract: An electronic device can include different vertical conductive structures that can be formed at different times. The vertical conductive structures can have the same or different shapes. In an embodiment, an insulating spacer can be used to help electrically insulate a particular vertical conductive structure from another part of the workpiece, and an insulating spacer may not be used to electrically isolate a different vertical conductive structure. The vertical conductive structures can be tailored for particular electrical considerations or to a process flow when formation of other electronic components may also be formed within either or both of the particular vertical conductive structures.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a capacitor structure. In an embodiment, the electronic device can include a buried conductive region, a semiconductor layer having a primary surface, a horizontally-oriented doped region adjacent to the primary surface, an insulating layer overlying the horizontally-oriented doped region, and a conductive electrode overlying the insulating layer. The capacitor structure can include a first capacitor electrode including a vertical conductive region electrically connected to the horizontally-oriented doped region and the buried conductive region. The capacitor structure can further include a capacitor dielectric layer and a second capacitor electrode within a trench. The capacitor structure can be spaced apart from the conductive electrode.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer overlying the semiconductor layer, and a conductive electrode. In an embodiment, a first conductive electrode member overlies the insulating layer, and a second conductive electrode member overlies and is spaced apart from the semiconductor layer. The second conductive electrode member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein each of the semiconductor layer and the first conductive electrode member are closer to the first end of the second conductive electrode member than to the second end of the second conductive electrode member. In another embodiment, the conductive electrode can be substantially L-shaped. In a further embodiment, a process can include forming the first and second conductive electrode members such that they abut each other. The second conductive electrode member can have the shape of a sidewall spacer.

Abstract: A circuit can include a pair of switching elements that have terminals electrically connected to terminals of a power supply and have other terminals electrically connected to an output terminal. The circuit can include rectifying elements and one or more charge storage elements. The circuit may be used as a Buck converter. The rectifying element(s) and charge storage element(s) may help to reduce ringing at an output terminal of the circuit during normal operation and reduce the likelihood of exceeding a breakdown voltage between current-carrying electrodes of a switching element within the circuit during a switching operation.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a transistor having a drain region, a source region, a dielectric layer, and a gate electrode. The dielectric layer can have a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is relatively thicker and closer to the drain region; the second portion is relatively thinner and closer to the source region. The gate electrode of the transistor can overlie the first and second portions of the dielectric layer. In another aspect, an electronic device can be formed using two different dielectric layers having different thicknesses. A gate electrode within the electronic device can be formed over portions of the two different dielectric layers. The process can eliminate masking and doping steps that may be otherwise used to keep the drain dopant concentration closer to the concentration as originally formed.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a semiconductor layer having a primary surface, and a Schottky contact comprising a metal-containing member in contact with a horizontally-oriented lightly doped region within the semiconductor layer and lying adjacent to the primary surface. In an embodiment, the metal-containing member lies within a recess in the semiconductor layer and contacts the horizontally-oriented lightly doped region along a sidewall of the recess. In other embodiment, the Schottky contact may not be formed within a recess, and a doped region may be formed within the semiconductor layer under the horizontally-oriented lightly doped region and have a conductivity type opposite the horizontally-oriented lightly doped region. The Schottky contacts can be used in conjunction with power transistors in a switching circuit, such as a high-frequency voltage regulator.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer over the buried conductive region. The electronic device can further include a horizontally-oriented doped region and a vertical conductive region, wherein the vertical conductive region is electrically connected to the horizontally-oriented doped region and the buried conductive region. The electronic device can still further include an insulating layer overlying the horizontally-oriented doped region, and a first conductive electrode overlying the insulating layer and the horizontally-oriented doped region, wherein a portion of the vertical conductive region does not underlie the first conductive electrode. The electronic device can include a Schottky contact that allows for a Schottky diode to be connected in parallel with a transistor. Processes of forming an electronic device allow a vertical conductive region to be formed after a conductive electrode, a gate electrode, a source region, or both.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a semiconductor layer overlying a substrate and having a primary surface and a thickness, wherein a trench extends through at least approximately 50% of the thickness of semiconductor layer to a depth. The electronic device can further include a conductive structure within the trench, wherein the conductive structure extends at least approximately 50% of the depth of the trench. The electronic device can still further include a vertically-oriented doped region within the semiconductor layer adjacent to and electrically insulated from the conductive structure; and an insulating layer disposed between the vertically-oriented doped region and the conductive structure. A process of forming an electronic device can include patterning a semiconductor layer to define a trench extending through at least approximately 50% of the thickness of the semiconductor layer and forming a vertically-oriented doped region after patterning the semiconductor layer to define the trench.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a substrate including an underlying doped region and a semiconductor layer overlying the substrate. A trench can have a sidewall and extend at least partly through the semiconductor layer. The electronic device can further include a first conductive structure adjacent to the underlying doped region, an insulating layer, and a second conductive structure within the trench. The insulating layer can be disposed between the first and second conductive structures, and the first conductive structure can be disposed between the insulating layer and the underlying doped region. Processes of forming the electronic device may be performed such that the first conductive structure includes a conductive fill material or a doped region within the semiconductor layer. The first conductive structure can allow the underlying doped region to be farther from the channel region and allow RDSON to be lower for a given BVDSS.

Abstract: An electronic device, including an integrated circuit, can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer overlying the buried conductive region, wherein the semiconductor layer has a primary surface and an opposing surface lying closer to the buried conductive region. The electronic device can also include a first doped region and a second doped region spaced apart from each other, wherein each is within the semiconductor layer and lies closer to primary surface than to the opposing surface. The electronic device can include current-carrying electrodes of transistors. A current-carrying electrode of a particular transistor includes the first doped region and is a source or an emitter and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region. Another current-carrying electrode of a different transistor includes the second doped region and is a drain or a collector and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a semiconductor layer overlying a substrate and having a primary surface and a thickness, wherein a trench extends through at least approximately 50% of the thickness of semiconductor layer to a depth. The electronic device can further include a conductive structure within the trench, wherein the conductive structure extends at least approximately 50% of the depth of the trench. The electronic device can still further include a vertically-oriented doped region within the semiconductor layer adjacent to and electrically insulated from the conductive structure; and an insulating layer disposed between the vertically-oriented doped region and the conductive structure. A process of forming an electronic device can include patterning a semiconductor layer to define a trench extending through at least approximately 50% of the thickness of the semiconductor layer and forming a vertically-oriented doped region after patterning the semiconductor layer to define the trench.

Abstract: An electronic device, including an integrated circuit, can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer overlying the buried conductive region, wherein the semiconductor layer has a primary surface and an opposing surface lying closer to the buried conductive region. The electronic device can also include a first doped region and a second doped region spaced apart from each other, wherein each is within the semiconductor layer and lies closer to primary surface than to the opposing surface. The electronic device can include current-carrying electrodes of transistors. A current-carrying electrode of a particular transistor includes the first doped region and is a source or an emitter and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region. Another current-carrying electrode of a different transistor includes the second doped region and is a drain or a collector and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a substrate including an underlying doped region and a semiconductor layer overlying the substrate. A trench can have a sidewall and extend at least partly through the semiconductor layer. The electronic device can further include a first conductive structure adjacent to the underlying doped region, an insulating layer, and a second conductive structure within the trench. The insulating layer can be disposed between the first and second conductive structures, and the first conductive structure can be disposed between the insulating layer and the underlying doped region. Processes of forming the electronic device may be performed such that the first conductive structure includes a conductive fill material or a doped region within the semiconductor layer. The first conductive structure can allow the underlying doped region to be farther from the channel region and allow RDSON to be lower for a given BVDSS.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a semiconductor layer, and a trench extending into the semiconductor layer and having a tapered shape. In an embodiment, the trench includes a wider portion and a narrower portion. The electronic device can include a doped semiconductor region that extends to a narrower portion of the trench and has a dopant concentration greater than a dopant concentration of the semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, the electronic device can include a conductive structure within a relatively narrower portion of the trench, and a conductive electrode within a relatively wider portion of the trench. In another embodiment, a process of forming the electronic device can include forming a sacrificial plug and may allow insulating layers of different thicknesses to be formed within the trench.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a semiconductor layer, and a trench extending into the semiconductor layer and having a tapered shape. In an embodiment, the trench includes a wider portion and a narrower portion. The electronic device can include a doped semiconductor region that extends to a narrower portion of the trench and has a dopant concentration greater than a dopant concentration of the semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, the electronic device can include a conductive structure within a relatively narrower portion of the trench, and a conductive electrode within a relatively wider portion of the trench. In another embodiment, a process of forming the electronic device can include forming a sacrificial plug and may allow insulating layers of different thicknesses to be formed within the trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor component and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor component that reduces parasitic elements. A semiconductor chip is coupled to a semiconductor chip receiving area of a support structure. The semiconductor chip has at least two power semiconductor devices. A drain contact of a first power semiconductor device is coupled to a source contact of a second power semiconductor device and the drain and source contacts of the first and second power semiconductor devices are joined to the semiconductor chip receiving area. Another semiconductor chip may be bonded to a second semiconductor chip receiving area of the support structure. An energy storage element may be coupled between the source contact of the first power semiconductor device and the drain contact of the second semiconductor device. A protective structure may be formed over the semiconductor chips and the energy storage element.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a transistor structure including a semiconductor layer overlying a substrate and a trench extending into the semiconductor layer having a tapered shape. In an embodiment, the tapered shape includes a facet. The transistor structure can include a source region and a drain region wherein different portions of the drain regions are disposed adjacent to the primary surface and within the trench. In another embodiment, different facets may be spaced apart from each other. Processes of forming the tapered etch can be tailored based on the needs or desires of a fabricator.

Abstract: An electronic device including an integrated circuit can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer overlying the buried conductive region, and a vertical conductive structure extending through the semiconductor layer and electrically connected to the buried conductive region. The integrated circuit can further include a doped structure having an opposite conductivity type as compared to the buried conductive region, lying closer to an opposing surface than to a primary surface of the semiconductor layer, and being electrically connected to the buried conductive region. The integrated circuit can also include a well region that includes a portion of the semiconductor layer, wherein the portion overlies the doped structure and has a lower dopant concentration as compared to the doped structure. In other embodiment, the doped structure can be spaced apart from the buried conductive region.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a transistor, wherein the electronic device can include a semiconductor layer having a primary surface, a channel region, a gate electrode, a source region, a conductive electrode, and an insulating layer lying between the primary surface of the semiconductor layer and the conductive electrode. The insulating layer has a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is thinner than the second region. The channel region, gate electrode, source region, or any combination thereof can lie closer to the first region than the second region. The thinner portion can allow for faster switch of the transistor, and the thicker portion can allow a relatively large voltage difference to be placed across the insulating layer. Alternative shapes for the transitions between the different regions of the insulating layer and exemplary methods to achieve such shapes are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is formed in a body of semiconductor material. The semiconductor device includes a charge compensating trench formed in proximity to active portions of the device. The charge compensating trench includes a trench filled with various layers of semiconductor material including opposite conductivity type layers.