Abstract: A method for forming power semiconductor devices having an inter-electrode dielectric (IPD) layer inside a trench includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a trench, lining the sidewalls and bottom of the trench with a first layer of dielectric material, filling the trench with a first layer of conductive material to form a first electrode, recessing the first layer of dielectric material and the first layer of conductive material to a first depth inside the trench, forming a layer of polysilicon material on a top surface of the dielectric material and conductive material inside the trench, oxidizing the layer of polysilicon material, and forming a second electrode inside the trench atop the oxidized layer and isolated from trench sidewalls by a second dielectric layer. The oxidation step can be enhanced by either chemically or physically altering the top portion polysilicon such as by implanting impurities.

Abstract: A semiconductor power device includes a drift region of a first conductivity type, a well region extending above the drift region and having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, an active trench extending through the well region and into the drift region. The active trench, which includes sidewalls and bottom lined with dielectric material, is substantially filled with a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The second conductive layer forms a gate electrode and is disposed above the first conductive layer and is separated from the first conductive layer by an inter-electrode dielectric material. The device also includes source regions having the first conductivity type formed inside the well region and adjacent the active trench and a charge control trench that extends deeper into the drift region than the active trench and is substantially filled with material to allow for vertical charge control in the drift region.

Abstract: A power transistor includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type extending over and in contact with a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type. Gate trenches extend into the first semiconductor region. Well regions of a second conductivity type extend over the first semiconductor region and between adjacent gate trenches. A sinker trench extends through the first semiconductor region and terminates within the second semiconductor region, and is laterally spaced from an outer one of the gate trenches with no well regions abutting sidewalls of the sinker trench. Source regions of the first conductivity type extend over the well regions. A conductive material in the sinker trench makes electrical contact with the second semiconductor region along the bottom of the sinker trench and with a drain interconnect layer extending along the top of the sinker trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor power device includes a drift region of a first conductivity type, a well region extending above the drift region and having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, an active trench extending through the well region and into the drift region, source regions having the first conductivity type formed in the well region adjacent the active trench, and a first termination trench extending below the well region and disposed at an outer edge of an active region of the device. The sidewalls and bottom of the active trench are lined with dielectric material, and substantially filled with a first conductive layer forming an upper electrode and a second conductive layer forming a lower electrode, the upper electrode being disposed above the lower electrode and separated therefrom by inter-electrode dielectric material.

Abstract: A semiconductor power device includes a substrate of a first conductivity type and an epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type over and in contact with the substrate. A first trench extends into and terminates within the epitaxial layer. A sinker trench extends from the top surface of the epitaxial layer through the epitaxial layer and terminates within the substrate. The sinker trench is laterally spaced from the first trench, and is wider and extends deeper than the first trench. The sinker trench is lined with an insulator only along the sinker trench sidewalls so that a conductive material filling the sinker trench makes electrical contact with the substrate along the bottom of the trench and makes electrical contact with an interconnect layer along the top of the trench.

Abstract: A quick punch-through integrated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a drift region and a gate. The drift region has a drift region dopant concentration and a drift region thickness. The gate has a gate capacitance. The drift region dopant concentration, drift region thickness and gate capacitance are adjusted dependent at least in part upon the PNP gain of the IGBT to maintain the potential difference between the gate and emitter at a level greater than the IGBT threshold voltage when the collector voltage reaches the bus voltage. This insures that the hole carrier concentration remains approximately equal to or greater than the drift region dopant concentration when the depletion layer punches through to the buffer region during the turn-off delay. Thus, the collector voltage overshoot and the rate of change of voltage and current are controlled, and electromagnetic interference is reduced, during turn off.

Abstract: In a power semiconductor device 10, a continuous trench has an outer circumferential portion 58 that includes a field plate and inner portions 28 that carry include one or more gate runners 34 to that the gate runners and the field plate are integral with each other. The trench structure 58, 28 is simpler to form and takes up less surface space that the separate structures of the prior art. The trench is lined with an insulator and further filled with conductive polysilicon and a top insulator.

Abstract: A power MOSFET 100 has a source metal 112 that contacts silicided source regions 114 through vias 160 etched in an insulating layer 200. The silicide layer 225 provides for a relatively small but highly conductive contact and thus reduces RDSON. The insulating material may be any suitable material including and not limited to one or a combination of materials such as BPSG, PSG, silicon dioxide and silicon nitride.

Abstract: In a power semiconductor device 10, a continuous trench has an outer circumferential portion 58 that includes a field plate and inner portions 28 that carry include one or more gate runners 34 to that the gate runners and the field plate are integral with each other. The trench structure 58, 28 is simpler to form and takes up less surface space that the separate structures of the prior art. The trench is lined with an insulator and further filled with conductive polysilicon and a top insulator.

Abstract: An MOS power device a substrate comprises an upper layer having an upper surface and an underlying drain region, a well region of a first conductance type disposed in the upper layer over the drain region, and a plurality of spaced apart buried gates, each of which comprises a trench that extends from the upper surface of the upper layer through the well region into the drain region. Each trench comprises an insulating material lining its surface, a conductive material filling its lower portion to a selected level substantially below the upper surface of the upper layer, and an insulating material substantially filling the remainder of the trench. A plurality of highly doped source regions of a second conductance type are disposed in the upper layer adjacent the upper portion of each trench, each source region extending from the upper surface to a depth in the upper layer selected to provide overlap between the source regions and the conductive material in the trenches.

Abstract: A power MOSFET 100 has a source metal 112 that contacts silicided source regions 114 through vias 160 etched in an insulating layer 200. The silicide layer 225 provides for a relatively small but highly conductive contact and thus reduces RDSON. The insulating material may be any suitable material including and not limited to one or a combination of materials such as BPSG, PSG, silicon dioxide and silicon nitride. The insulating layer is relatively thin and does not extend deeply into the gate trench, thereby reducing capacitance.

Abstract: A power MOSFET 100 has a source metal 112 that contacts silicided source regions 114 through vias 160 etched in an insulating layer 200. The silicide layer 225 provides for a relatively small but highly conductive contact and thus reduces RDSON. The insulating material may be any suitable material including and not limited to one or a combination of materials such as BPSG, PSG, silicon dioxide and silicon nitride. The insulating layer is relatively thin and does not extend deeply into the gate trench, thereby reducing capacitance.

Abstract: A quick punch-through integrated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a drift region and a gate. The drift region has a drift region dopant concentration and a drift region thickness. The gate has a gate capacitance. The drift region dopant concentration, drift region thickness and gate capacitance are adjusted dependent at least in part upon the PNP gain of the IGBT to maintain the potential difference between the gate and emitter at a level greater than the IGBT threshold voltage when the collector voltage reaches the bus voltage. This insures that the hole carrier concentration remains approximately equal to or greater than the drift region dopant concentration when the depletion layer punches through to the buffer region during the turn-off delay. Thus, the collector voltage overshoot and the rate of change of voltage and current are controlled, and electromagnetic interference is reduced, during turn off.

Abstract: An MOS power device a substrate comprises an upper layer having an upper surface and an underlying drain region, a well region of a first conductance type disposed in the upper layer over the drain region, and a plurality of spaced apart buried gates, each of which comprises a trench that extends from the upper surface of the upper layer through the well region into the drain region. Each trench comprises an insulating material lining its surface, a conductive material filling its lower portion to a selected level substantially below the upper surface of the upper layer, and an insulating material substantially filling the remainder of the trench. A plurality of highly doped source regions of a second conductance type are disposed in the upper layer adjacent the upper portion of each trench, each source region extending from the upper surface to a depth in the upper layer selected to provide overlap between the source regions and the conductive material in the trenches.

Abstract: An MOS power device a substrate comprises an upper layer having an upper surface and an underlying drain region, a well region of a first conductance type disposed in the upper layer over the drain region, and a plurality of spaced apart buried gates, each of which comprises a trench that extends from the upper surface of the upper layer through the well region into the drain region. Each trench comprises an insulating material lining its surface, a conductive material filling its lower portion to a selected level substantially below the upper surface of the upper layer, and an insulating material substantially filling the remainder of the trench. A plurality of highly doped source regions of a second conductance type are disposed in the upper layer adjacent the upper portion of each trench, each source region extending from the upper surface to a depth in the upper layer selected to provide overlap between the source regions and the conductive material in the trenches.

Abstract: In an active matrix electroluminescent display, a pixel containing a grounded conductive electric field shield between an EL cell and the switching electronics for the EL cell. In a method of fabricating the pixel, first, an EL cell switching circuit is formed, then an insulating layer is formed over the switching circuit and a conductive layer (the field shield) is formed over the insulating layer. A through hole is provided in the field shield such that an electrical connection can be made between the switching circuit and an EL cell. The EL cell is then conventionally formed on top of the shield layer. Consequently, the shield isolates the switching circuit from the EL cell and ensures that any electric fields produced in the EL cell do not interfere with the operation of the switching electronics. Furthermore, the switching circuitry for each cell contains two transistors; a low voltage MOS transistor and a high voltage MOS transistor.

Abstract: The present invention is a complementary-symmetry COMFET pair consisting of an N-channel lateral COMFET and a P-channel lateral COMFET interconnected in parallel on the same chip. The device is formed in a layer of single-crystalline silicon of one conductivity type with one of the pair of COMFETs being formed directly in this layer. A well of opposite conductivity type is disposed in the layer and the other of the pair of COMFETs is disposed in the well. The two COMFETs are isolated from each other by a highly doped region which extends from the surface of the layer to the substrate and is of the same conductivity type as that of the substrate.

Abstract: A vertical MOSFET in a silicon wafer having opposing major surfaces includes a source electrode on one surface, a drain electrode on the second surface, and an internally disposed insulated gate. The silicon between the insulated gate and each of the major surfaces is of first conductivity type and the silicon that is laterally adjacent to the insulated gate is of second conductivity type, such that a predetermined voltage on the insulated gate creates an inversion channel extending a predetermined distance into the laterally adjacent silicon. That portion of the laterally adjacent silicon where the inversion channel is formed is of relatively lightly doped material, whereas other areas of the laterally adjacent silicon is relatively heavily doped.

Abstract: A vertical MOSFET in a silicon wafer having opposing major surfaces includes a source electrode on one surface, a drain electrode on the second surface, and an internally disposed insulated gate. The silicon between the insulated gate and each of the major surfaces is of first conductivity type and the silicon that is laterally adjacent to the insulated gate is of second conductivity type, such that a predetermined voltage on the insulated gate creates an inversion channel extending a predetermined distance into the laterally adjacent silicon. That portion of the laterally adjacent silicon where the inversion channel is formed is of relatively lightly doped material, whereas other areas of the laterally adjacent silicon is relatively heavily doped.