Abstract: A voltage clamping circuit that protects integrated circuits having multiple separate power supply voltage terminals from damage when an ESD event causes excessive differential voltages between the multiple separate power supply voltage terminals. The voltage clamping circuit has two subgroups of Darlington connected clamping transistors. The first subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors is connected between the first power supply voltage terminal and the second power supply voltage terminal. If the differential voltage exceeds the first clamping voltage level, the first subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors turn on and restore the first differential voltage to a level less than the first clamping voltage level. The second subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors connected between the second power supply terminal and the first power supply terminal.

Abstract: Circuits, device structures and methods are disclosed which protect CMOS semiconductor devices, having oxides as thin as 32 Angstrom, from electrostatic discharge (ESD) by utilizing a parasitic silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), intrinsic to the semiconductor device. The protection is afforded by providing low voltage triggering of the parasitic SCR in the order of 1.2 Volt. Triggering at such low voltages is made possible by means of a displacement current trigger which causes components of the SCR (parasitic npn and pnp bipolar transistors) to conduct, i.e., to trigger the SCR. The displacement current is realized by a junction capacitance, which is connected on one side to the pad to be protected and on the other side to terminals of the aforementioned parasitic bipolar transistors. Two ways of realizing the junction capacitance are disclosed.

Abstract: Circuits, device structures and methods are disclosed which protect CMOS semiconductor devices, having oxides as thin as 32 Angstrom, from electrostatic discharge (ESD) by utilizing a parasitic silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), intrinsic to the semiconductor device. The protection is afforded by providing low voltage triggering of the parasitic SCR in the order of 1.2 Volt. Triggering at such low voltages is made possible by means of a displacement current trigger which causes components of the SCR (parasitic npn and pnp bipolar transistors) to conduct, i.e., to trigger the SCR. The displacement current is realized by a junction capacitance, which is connected on one side to the pad to be protected and on the other side to terminals of the aforementioned parasitic bipolar transistors. Two ways of realizing the junction capacitance are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of placing and routing metal wires for integrated circuit. In the method, a grid pattern is constructed by a plurality of floors with metal wires The grid size is set to be equal to a metal pitch. However, each via placed in the grid pattern has to be constrained by a checkerboard-like pattern. The checkerboard-like pattern consists of potential via sites and forbidden sites, wherein the potential via sites and the forbidden sites are intervened each other so that each potential via site in a comer of the grid has forbidden sites at its nearest neighbor corners. Furthermore, the connection cells is constructed and placed in a defined via site for connecting the metal wires in individually floor.

Abstract: A conductive interconnection for an integrate circuit between a protected node and a protecting node and its method are disclosed. The conductive interconnection comprises a stacking connector, a routing connector and a top conductive line. The stacking connector is formed to connect the protected node, which is constructed by at least one inner conductive line and at least one conductive plug, alternately. The inner conductive line has a length lower than a threshold value constrained by antenna effect. Moreover, the routing connector, extending toward the stacking connector, is formed to connect the protecting node. The top conductive line is used to connect the stacking connector and the routing connector. Accordingly, the protected node is disconnected from the protecting node prior to the formation of the top conductive line.

Abstract: A process is described for forming a buried, or pocket, ion implant in a semiconductor device. In particular, said pocket is limited to only the drain side of a field effect transistor. To achieve this the photoresist that is used to protect the source and drain regions during ion implantation is located at different distances from the gate pedestal. The photoresist on the source side is placed closer to the gate pedestal than it is on the drain side. As a result, when ions arrive at the surface at a sufficiently shallow angle to be able to penetrate the semiconductor regions immediately beneath the gate oxide, photoresist at the source side blocks the beam while the photoresist on the drain side is far enough away from the gate not to intercept the beam. Thus, a single asymmetrically located pocket is formed in a single step.

Abstract: An Integrated Circuit Design which adds, to the standard conducting lines of the bulk metal layer, a pattern of a support structure which supports subsequent deposition in such a way that it eliminates previously experienced concavity or dishing of the subsequent deposition within areas which have a low density or absence of conducting lines. The dummy pattern enhances the deposition of filler material between conducting lines of the Integrated Circuit such that planarization of the bulk metal results in a smoother surface of the areas of the signal lines of the integrated circuit and within large open areas. Concurrently the present invention provides a means of successfully collecting data that are needed for Damascene processing.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protective circuit for reducing the electron-tunneling phenomena in NMOS devices. Several complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices act as an ESD protective circuit from being destroyed. The CMOS devices are connected to an internal circuit and a power line provide a bias voltage for the devices. The drains of the CMOS devices are connected to a pad to output a driving current. A NMOS device is connected between the internal circuit and the ESD protective circuit for protecting the NMOS devices in the circuit. As an ESD pulse is input into the ESD protective circuit, the NMOS device is then turned on by the pulse. Thus, positive charges on the gate of the NMOS devices in the ESD circuit is conducted into ground. Therefore, the NMOS device between the internal circuit and the ESD circuit can prevent the gate oxide of the NMOS device in the circuit from damage.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolated FET LDD structure that has a low probability of short circuiting at the silicon to trench interface or between the source or drain and the gate (because of a titanium silicide bridge) is described. It is based on an isolation trench having a top portion with vertical sides and a lower portion with sloping sides. With the filled trench in place, along with a polysilicon gate and gate oxide, the thinner, lightly doped, N type layer is formed using ion implantation. Spacers are then formed on the gate but, prior to the second ion implant step, a few hundred Angstroms of silicon is selectively removed from the surface. This causes the trench filler material to extend above the wafer surface and the spacers to extend above the gate. A deeper, more strongly N-type, layer is then formed in the usual way, followed by the standard SALICIDE process for making contact to source, gate, and drain.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolated FET LDD structure that has a low probability of short circuiting at the silicon to trench interface or between the source or drain and the gate (because of a titanium silicide bridge) is described. It is based on an isolation trench having a top portion with vertical sides and a lower portion with sloping sides. With the filled trench in place, along with a polysilicon gate and gate oxide, the thinner, lightly doped, N type layer is formed using ion implantation. Spacers are then formed on the gate but, prior to the second ion implant step, a few hundred Angstroms of silicon is selectively removed from the surface. This causes the trench filler material to extend above the wafer surface and the spacers to extend above the gate. A deeper, more strongly N-type, layer is then formed in the usual way, followed by the standard SALICIDE process for making contact to source, gate, and drain.

Abstract: An equivalent circuit for a synthetic inductor is disclosed. The circuit in this invention utilizes a plurality of N-channel and P-channel FET devices, resistors and capacitors that can be easily fabricated using standard integrated circuit processing. The inductances that can be fabricated are on the order of 100 .mu.H to 100 mH with a frequency response achievable to greater than 10 Mhz.