Abstract: An embodiment integrated circuit (e.g., diode) and method of making the same. The embodiment integrated circuit includes a well having a first doping type formed over a substrate having the first doping type, the well including a fin, a source formed over the well on a first side of the fin, the source having a second doping type, a drain formed over the well on a second side of the fin, the drain having the first doping type, and a gate oxide formed over the fin, the gate oxide laterally spaced apart from the source by a back off region of the fin. The integrated circuit is compatible with a FinFET fabrication process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include body contacts on a finFET device for ESD protection. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor fin, a source/drain region and a body contact. The source/drain region and the body contact are in the semiconductor fin. A portion of the fin is laterally between the source/drain region and the body contact. The semiconductor fin is on a substrate.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and an insulation region extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. The device further includes a first node and a second node, and an Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) device coupled between the first node and the second node. The ESD device includes a semiconductor fin adjacent to and over a top surface of the insulation region. The ESD device is configured to, in response to an ESD transient on the first node, conduct a current from the first node to the second node.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a substrate including a metal oxide device. The metal oxide device includes first and second doped regions disposed within the substrate and interfacing in a channel region. The first and second doped regions are doped with a first type dopant. The first doped region has a different concentration of dopant than the second doped region. The metal oxide device further includes a gate structure traversing the channel region and the interface of the first and second doped regions and separating source and drain regions. The source region is formed within the first doped region and the drain region is formed within the second doped region. The source and drain regions are doped with a second type dopant. The second type dopant is opposite of the first type dopant.

Abstract: A P-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (PMOSFET) includes a gate, a first source/drain region connected to the gate, and a second source/drain region on an opposite side of the gate than the first source/drain region. A first Schottky diode includes a first anode connected to the first source/drain region, and a first cathode connected to a body of the PMOSFET. A second Schottky diode includes a second anode connected to the second source/drain region, and a second cathode connected to the body of the PMOSFET.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a substrate, a semiconductor device supported by the substrate, and a guard ring structure disposed around the semiconductor device, the guard ring structure forming a Schottky junction. In an embodiment, the Schottky junction is formed from a p-type metal contact and an n-type guard ring. In an embodiment, the guard ring structure is electrically coupled to a positive or negative supply voltage.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit structure includes several diffusion regions and a MOS transistor. The circuit structure includes a first diffusion region of a first type (e.g., P-type or N-type) formed in a first well of the first type, a second diffusion region of the first type formed in the first well of the first type, and a first diffusion region of a second type (e.g., N-type or P-type) formed in a first well of the second type. The first well of the second type is formed in the first well of the first type. The MOS transistor is of the second type and includes a drain formed by a second diffusion region of the second type formed in a second well of the second type bordering the first well of the first type.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increased holding voltage SCRs. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a first well of the first conductivity type; a second well of a second conductivity type adjacent to the first well, an intersection of the first well and the second well forming a p-n junction; a first diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the first well and coupled to a ground terminal; a first diffused region of the second conductivity type formed at the first well; a second diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the second well and coupled to a pad terminal; a second diffused region of the second conductivity type formed in the second well; and a Schottky junction formed adjacent to the first diffused region of the second conductivity type coupled to a ground terminal. Methods for forming devices are disclosed.

Abstract: High voltage diodes are disclosed. A semiconductor device is provided having a P well region; an N well region adjacent to the P well region and forming a p-n junction with the P well region; a P+ region forming an anode at the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the P well region; an N+ region forming a cathode at the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the N well region; and an isolation structure formed over the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate between the anode and the cathode and electrically isolating the anode and cathode including a first dielectric layer overlying a portion of the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a second dielectric layer overlying a portion of the first dielectric layer and a portion of the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. Methods for forming the devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a substrate including a metal oxide device. The metal oxide device includes first and second doped regions disposed within the substrate and interfacing in a channel region. The first and second doped regions are doped with a first type dopant. The first doped region has a different concentration of dopant than the second doped region. The metal oxide device further includes a gate structure traversing the channel region and the interface of the first and second doped regions and separating source and drain regions. The source region is formed within the first doped region and the drain region is formed within the second doped region. The source and drain regions are doped with a second type dopant. The second type dopant is opposite of the first type dopant.

Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure comprises a p-type region in a substrate; a first n-type well in the p-type region; a first p-type well in the p-type region; and a second p-type well in the first p-type well. A concentration of a p-type impurity in the first p-type well is less than a concentration of a p-type impurity in the second p-type well. Additional embodiments further comprise further n-type and p-type wells in the substrate. A method for forming a semiconductor structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device includes a high-voltage well (HVW) region of a first conductivity type; a first heavily doped region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type over the HVW region; and a doped region of the first conductivity type contacting the first heavily doped region and the HVW region. The doped region is under the first heavily doped region and over the HVW region. The doped region has a first impurity concentration higher than a second impurity concentration of the HVW region and lower than a third impurity concentration of the first heavily doped region. The ESD device further includes a second heavily doped region of the second conductivity type over the HVW region; and a third heavily doped region of the first conductivity type over and contacting the HVW region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a substrate including a metal oxide device. The metal oxide device includes first and second doped regions disposed within the substrate and interfacing in a channel region. The first and second doped regions are doped with a first type dopant. The first doped region has a different concentration of dopant than the second doped region. The metal oxide device further includes a gate structure traversing the channel region and the interface of the first and second doped regions and separating source and drain regions. The source region is formed within the first doped region and the drain region is formed within the second doped region. The source and drain regions are doped with a second type dopant. The second type dopant is opposite of the first type dopant.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit includes a MOS transistor of a first type, a MOS transistor of a second type, an I/O pad, and first, second, and third guard rings of the first, second, and first types, respectively. The MOS transistor of the first type has a source coupled to a first node having a first voltage, and a drain coupled to a second node. The MOS transistor of the second type has a drain coupled to the second node, and a source coupled to a third node having a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The I/O pad is coupled to the second node. The first, second, and third guard rings are positioned around the MOS transistor of the second type.

Abstract: An SCR includes a first doped region of a first type having a first doping concentration. A first well of the first type and a first well of a second type are disposed in upper areas of the first doped region of the first type such that the first well of the second type is laterally spaced from the first well of the first type by a non-zero distance. A second doped region of the first type has a second doping concentration that is greater than the first doping concentration and is disposed in the first well of the second type to form an anode of the SCR. A first doped region of the second type is disposed in the first well of the first type and forms a cathode of the SCR.

Abstract: A diode includes an anode of a first conductivity type; a first cathode of the first conductivity type; and a second cathode of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. A lightly-doped region of the first conductivity type is under and vertically overlaps the anode and the first and the second cathodes. The portion of the lightly-doped region directly under the second cathode is fully depleted at a state when no bias voltage is applied between the anode and the second cathode.

Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor device comprising a receiver circuit comprising fin field effect transistors (FinFETs), a transceiver circuit comprising FinFETs, and a transmit bus electrically coupling the receiver circuit and the transceiver circuit, wherein the receiver circuit and the transceiver circuit each further comprises an electrostatic discharge protection circuit comprising planar transistors electrically coupled to the transmit bus. Other embodiments may further comprise a power clamp electrically coupling a first power bus and a first ground bus, a power clamp electrically coupling a second power bus and a second ground bus, or at least two diodes electrically cross-coupling the first ground bus and the second ground bus. Also, the planar transistors of the transceiver circuit and the receiver circuit may each comprise a planar PMOS transistor and a planar NMOS transistor.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit includes a MOS transistor of a first type, a MOS transistor of a second type, an I/O pad, and first, second, and third guard rings of the first, second, and first types, respectively. The MOS transistor of the first type has a source coupled to a first node having a first voltage, and a drain coupled to a second node. The MOS transistor of the second type has a drain coupled to the second node, and a source coupled to a third node having a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The I/O pad is coupled to the second node. The first, second, and third guard rings are positioned around the MOS transistor of the second type.

Abstract: To limit or prevent current crowding, various HV-MOSFET embodiments include a current diversion region disposed near a drain region of an HV-MOSFET and near an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. In some embodiments, the current diversion region is disposed near a field plate of the HV-MOSFET, wherein the field plate can also help to reduce or “smooth” electric fields near the drain to help limit current crowding. In some embodiments, the current diversion region is a p-doped, n-doped, or intrinsic region that is at a floating voltage potential. This current diversion region can push current deeper into the substrate of the HV-MOSFET (relative to conventional HV-MOSFETs), thereby reducing current crowding during ESD events. By reducing current crowding, the current diversion region makes the HV-MOSFETs disclosed herein more impervious to ESD events and, therefore, more reliable in real-world applications.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include body contacts on a finFET device for ESD protection. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor fin, a source/drain region and a body contact. The source/drain region and the body contact are in the semiconductor fin. A portion of the fin is laterally between the source/drain region and the body contact. The semiconductor fin is on a substrate.