Abstract: Novel anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) sensor architectures and techniques for fabricating same are described. In at least one embodiment, an AMR sensor is provided that includes barber pole structures having upper and low metal layers that are formed of different materials. The metal material closer to the AMR element is formed of a material that can be etched using an etching process that does not attack the AMR material. In some other embodiments, AMR sensors having segmented AMR sensing elements are described.

Abstract: In one aspect, a vertical Hall effect sensor includes a semiconductor wafer having a first conductivity type and a plurality of semiconductive electrodes disposed on the semiconductor wafer. The plurality of semiconductive electrodes have the first conductivity type and include a source electrode, a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode, arranged such that the source electrode is between the first sensing electrode and the sensing electrode and a first drain electrode and a second drain electrode, arranged such that the first sensing electrode, second sensing electrode, and source electrode are between the first drain electrode and the second drain electrode. The vertical Hall effect sensor also includes a plurality of semiconductor fingers disposed on the semiconductor wafer and interdigitated with the plurality of semiconductive electrodes, the semiconductor fingers having a second conductivity type.

Abstract: A Hall effect transducer in a semiconductor wafer comprises a first layer of semiconducting material, a second layer of semiconducting material, and a contact structure configured to provide a path for electrical current to pass through the second layer. The second layer has higher electron hole mobility than the first layer, and is epitaxially grown atop the first layer.

Abstract: A Hall effect transducer in a semiconductor wafer comprises a first layer of semiconducting material, a second layer of semiconducting material, and a contact structure configured to provide a path for electrical current to pass through the second layer. The second layer has higher electron hole mobility than the first layer, and is epitaxially grown atop the first layer.

Abstract: An ESD protection device with a low trigger voltage includes a semiconductor layer, a lightly doped well region formed in the semiconductor layer, a highly doped anode region formed in the well region, a highly doped cathode region formed in the semiconductor layer, a highly doped bridging region bridging a junction between the semiconductor layer and the well region, and a highly doped channel stop region of formed in semiconductor layer between the cathode region and the bridging region. The trigger voltage may be adjusted over a range of voltages, and the ESD protection devices may be connected in parallel in order to be effective in very high current situations.

Abstract: A spacer for a lightly-doped drain MOSFET includes a first spacer layer adjacent to and in contact with a gate region and a lightly-doped region, a second spacer layer adjacent to and in contact with the first layer and a third spacer layer adjacent to and in contact with the second layer.

Abstract: An emitter window for a bipolar junction transistor includes a first emitter window layer adjacent to and in contact with a base region, a second emitter window layer adjacent to and in contact with the first layer and a third emitter window layer adjacent to and in contact with the second layer.