Abstract: An open-loop switch-mode boost converter includes a switching signal generator circuit that receives a time-varying input signal and outputs a switching signal. A duty-cycle of the switching signal has a first non-linear relationship to an amplitude of the time-varying input signal. An amplifier receives the switching signal and outputs a time-varying output signal, an amplitude of which has a second non-linear relationship to the duty-cycle of the switching signal. The time-varying output signal has a linear relationship to the time-varying input signal based on the first non-linear relationship and the second non-linear relationship. A filter circuit receives the time-varying output signal and outputs a filtered time-varying output signal which has a maximum frequency component that is substantially the same as a maximum frequency component of the time-varying input signal. The switching signal generator circuit is communicatively isolated from the voltage output node and the filter output node.

Abstract: Conductive clip connection arrangements for semiconductor packages are disclosed. Some examples provide electrically conductive clip connection arrangements for semiconductor packages that improve electrical performance and fabrication reliability while maintaining compatibility with existing quality control processes. Some examples provide innovative conductive clip structures and die pad arrangements that broaden the range of options available for tailoring the physical configurations of one or more of the constituent conductive clips and/or die pads to achieve specific electrical performance targets.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a leadframe having an electrically conductive paddle, electrically conductive perimeter package leads, a first electrically conductive clip electrically connected to a first set of the package leads, and a second electrically conductive clip electrically connected to a second set of the package leads. The semiconductor package includes a single semiconductor die. The die includes a front-side active layer having an integrated power structure of two or more transistors. The die includes a backside portion having a backside contact electrically coupled to at least one of the two or more transistors and to the paddle. One or more first front-side contacts of the die are electrically coupled to at least one of the transistors and to the first clip, and one or more second front-side contacts of the die are electrically coupled to at least one of the transistors and to the second clip.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device is formed in a semiconductor layer having a first surface, a second surface and background doping. A first doped region, doped to a conductivity type opposite that of the background, is formed at the second surface of the semiconductor layer. A second doped region of the same conductivity type as the background is formed at the second surface of the semiconductor layer, inside the first doped region. A portion of the semiconductor layer is removed at the first surface, exposing a new third surface. A third doped region is formed inside the semiconductor layer at the third surface. Electrical contact is made at least to the second doped region (via the second surface) and the third doped region (via the new third surface). In this way, vertical DMOS, IGBT, bipolar transistors, thyristors, and other types of devices can be fabricated in thinned semiconductor, or SOI layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a leadframe having perimeter package leads and electrical connectors, a single semiconductor die having a back-side electrical contact and front-side electrical contacts, an electrically conductive clip (“clip”), and a top semiconductor die having a frontside and a backside. The single semiconductor die includes two or more transistors. Two or more of the front-side electrical contacts of the semiconductor die are electrically coupled to and physically mounted to respective electrical contacts of the leadframe. An electrical contact surface of the clip is electrically coupled to and physically mounted to an electrical connector of the leadframe. Another electrical contact surface of the clip is physically mounted to and electrically coupled to the back-side electrical contact of the semiconductor die. The backside of the top semiconductor die is physically mounted to yet another surface of the electrically conductive clip.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a leadframe having an electrically conductive paddle, electrically conductive perimeter package leads, a first electrically conductive clip electrically connected to a first set of the package leads, and a second electrically conductive clip electrically connected to a second set of the package leads. The semiconductor package includes a single semiconductor die. The die includes a front-side active layer having an integrated power structure of two or more transistors. The die includes a backside portion having a backside contact electrically coupled to at least one of the two or more transistors and to the paddle. One or more first front-side contacts of the die are electrically coupled to at least one of the transistors and to the first clip, and one or more second front-side contacts of the die are electrically coupled to at least one of the transistors and to the second clip.

Abstract: In an active layer over a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor device has a first lateral diffusion field effect transistor (LDFET) that includes a source, a drain, and a gate, and a second LDFET that includes a source, a drain, and a gate. The source of the first LDFET and the drain of the second LDFET are electrically connected to a common node. A first front-side contact and a second front-side contact are formed over the active layer, and a substrate contact electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate is formed. Each of the first front-side contact, the second front-side contact, and the substrate contact is electrically connected to a different respective one of the drain of the first LDFET, the source of the second LDFET, and the common node.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a leadframe, having perimeter package leads and a ground voltage lead, a bottom semiconductor die flip-chip mounted to the leadframe, and a top semiconductor die. The bottom semiconductor die has a first frontside active layer with first frontside electrical contacts electrically connected to the leadframe, a first backside portion, and a buried oxide layer situated between the first frontside active layer and the first backside portion. The top semiconductor die is mounted to the first backside portion. The first frontside active layer includes a circuit electrically connected to the first backside portion by a backside electrical connection through the buried oxide layer. The first backside portion of the bottom semiconductor die is electrically connected to the ground voltage lead through a first electrical contact of the first frontside electrical contacts to minimize crosstalk.

Abstract: Conductive clip connection arrangements for semiconductor packages are disclosed. Some examples provide electrically conductive clip connection arrangements for semiconductor packages that improve electrical performance and fabrication reliability while maintaining compatibility with existing quality control processes. Some examples provide innovative conductive clip structures and die pad arrangements that broaden the range of options available for tailoring the physical configurations of one or more of the constituent conductive clips and/or die pads to achieve specific electrical performance targets.

Abstract: In an active layer over a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor device has a first lateral diffusion field effect transistor (LDFET) that includes a source, a drain, and a gate, and a second LDFET that includes a source, a drain, and a gate. The source of the first LDFET and the drain of the second LDFET are electrically connected to a common node. A first front-side contact and a second front-side contact are formed over the active layer, and a substrate contact electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate is formed. Each of the first front-side contact, the second front-side contact, and the substrate contact is electrically connected to a different respective one of the drain of the first LDFET, the source of the second LDFET, and the common node.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is formed with first and second semiconductor wafers and a redistribution layer. The first semiconductor wafer is formed with a first active layer and a first interconnect layer. The second semiconductor wafer is formed with a second active layer and a second interconnect layer. The second semiconductor wafer is inverted and bonded to the first semiconductor wafer, and a substrate is removed from the second semiconductor wafer. The redistribution layer redistributes electrical connective pad locations on a side of the second semiconductor wafer. The redistribution layer also electrically contacts the first interconnect layer through a hole in the second active layer and the second interconnect layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for the application of strain inducing layers to enhance the mobility of transistors formed on semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a first step, active circuitry is formed in an active layer of a SOI wafer. In a second step, substrate material is removed from a substrate layer disposed on a back side of the SOI wafer. In a third step, insulator material is removed from the back side of the SOI wafer to form an excavated insulator region. In a fourth step, a strain inducing material is deposited on the excavated insulator region. The strain inducing material interacts with the pattern of excavated insulator such that a single layer provides both tensile and compressive stress to p-channel and n-channel transistors, respectively. In alternative embodiments, the entire substrate is removed before forming the strain inducing material.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device (e.g. a vertical power device, an IGBT device, a vertical bipolar transistor, a UMOS device or a GTO thyristor) is formed with an active semiconductor region, within which a plurality of semiconductor structures have been fabricated to form an active device, and below which at least a portion of a substrate material has been removed to isolate the active device, to expose at least one of the semiconductor structures for bottom side electrical connection and to enhance thermal dissipation. At least one of the semiconductor structures is preferably contacted by an electrode at the bottom side of the active semiconductor region.

Abstract: A metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) power device includes an active region formed on a bulk semiconductor substrate, the active region having a first conductivity type formed on at least a portion of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A first terminal is formed on an upper surface of the structure and electrically connects with at least one other region having the first conductivity type formed in the active region. A buried well having a second conductivity type is formed in the active region and is coupled with a second terminal formed on the upper surface of the structure. The buried well and the active region form a clamping diode which positions a breakdown avalanche region between the buried well and the first terminal. A breakdown voltage of at least one of the power devices is a function of characteristics of the buried well.

Abstract: A quasi-lateral diffusion transistor is formed in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafer by forming a gate region, a body region, a drift region, and a source region and bonding a handle wafer to the SOI wafer at a first side (e.g., top side) of the SOI wafer; and removing a semiconductor substrate of the SOI wafer, forming a hole in a buried insulator layer of the SOI wafer, and forming a drain region for the transistor at a second side (e.g., bottom side) of the SOI wafer. The body region and the drift region physically contact the buried insulator layer. The drain region is formed in a bottom portion of the drift region exposed by the hole and is laterally offset from the source region. In operation of the quasi-lateral diffusion transistor, a current flow direction through the semiconductor layer is diagonal between the source region and the drain region.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device (e.g. a vertical power device, an IGBT device, a vertical bipolar transistor, a UMOS device or a GTO thyristor) is formed with an active semiconductor region, within which a plurality of semiconductor structures have been fabricated to form an active device, and below which at least a portion of a substrate material has been removed to isolate the active device, to expose at least one of the semiconductor structures for bottom side electrical connection and to enhance thermal dissipation. At least one of the semiconductor structures is preferably contacted by an electrode at the bottom side of the active semiconductor region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly includes a first substrate and a second substrate, with active layers formed on the first surfaces of each substrate, and with the second surfaces of each substrate coupled together. A method of fabricating an integrated circuit assembly includes forming active layers on the first surfaces of each of two substrates, and coupling the second surfaces of the substrates together.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip is formed with an active layer and a trap rich layer. The active layer is formed with an active device layer and a metal interconnect layer. The trap rich layer is formed above the active layer. In some embodiments, the active layer is included in a semiconductor wafer, and the trap rich layer is included in a handle wafer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly comprises an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a handle layer, a metal interconnect layer, and transistors. The insulating layer has a first surface, a second surface, and a hole extending from the first surface to the second surface. The semiconductor layer has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the semiconductor layer contacting the first surface of the insulating layer. The handle layer is coupled to the second surface of the semiconductor layer. The metal interconnect layer is coupled to the second surface of the insulating layer, the metal interconnect layer being disposed within the hole in the insulating layer. The transistors are located in the semiconductor layer. The hole in the insulating layer extends to at least the first surface of the semiconductor layer. The metal interconnect layer electrically couples a plurality of the transistors to each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for the enhancement of transistors in a semiconductor structure using a strain layer. The structure comprises a patterned layer consisting of an excavated region and a pattern region, a strain layer located in the excavated region and on the pattern region, an active layer located above the strain layer, a field effect transistor formed in the active layer, and a handle layer located above the active layer. The field effect transistor comprises a source, a drain, and a channel. The channel lies completely within a lateral extent of the pattern region. The source and the drain each lie only partially within the lateral extent of the pattern region. The strain layer alters a carrier mobility of the channel. In some embodiments, the strain layer is introduced to the back side of a semiconductor-on-insulator structure.