Trenched MOSFETS with part of the device formed on a (110) crystal plane
This invention discloses an improved MOSFET devices manufactured with a trenched gate by forming part of the trench on a (110) crystal orientation of a semiconductor substrate. The trench is covering with a dielectric oxide layer along the sidewalls and the bottom surface or the termination of the trench formed along different crystal orientations of the semiconductor substrate. Special manufacturing processes such as oxide annealing process, special mask or SOG processes are implemented to overcome the limitations of the non-uniform dielectric layer growth.
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the semiconductor power devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel and improved manufacture method and device configuration for a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) trenched power device manufactured with part of trench oriented on a (110) crystal plane of a silicon wafer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Even though the techniques to provide improved carrier mobility for a P-channel MOSFET, i.e., metal oxide silicon field effect transistors, by forming the transistor on a (110) crystal plane is known, the difficulties of high interface state density is still a limitation for practical implementation of such configurations. Specifically, Sze disclosed in “Physics of Semiconductor Devices” (Wiley-Interscience, 1969, pp. 16, pp. 473) and B. Goebel, D. Schumann, E. Bertagnolli disclosed in IEEE Trans. Electronics Devices, Vol. 48, No. 5, May 2001, pp. 897-906 that there is a thicker oxidation and higher interface state density along a (110) crystal plane. The thicker oxidation thus results in a thick gate oxide layer and lead to an adversely affected higher threshold voltage.
Historically, the MOS devices are formed on the silicon wafer along a crystal orientation of a (100) plane because the oxide layer grown on a (100) plane has the lowest fixed charge and interface state density. For these reasons, the trench walls of the N-channel and P-channel of the trenched MOSFETs are typically oriented along the (100) plane as well. Specifically, for a N-channel device, the channel formed along the (100) orientation has the benefit for achieving higher channel mobility. In contrast, the oxide layer grown along the (110) plane has greater thickness and higher interface state density. A thicker oxide layer often leads to a higher threshold voltage and lower transconductance. Furthermore, measured data also provide some evidence that thicker oxide layer also causes a degradation of channel mobility. Due to these concerns, forming the MOSFET power devices using a (100) crystal orientation has become a common rule in the conventional design methods. However, there are potential benefits of forming the power MOSFET devices or at least part of the transistors on the (110) plane. These potential benefits are often ignored due to the common practice as typically carried out by those of ordinary skill in the art without further exploration. Furthermore, even when there are several U.S. patents and patent applications that explored the techniques of building the MOS devices on a semiconductor substrate having a (110) crystal orientation, these disclosures are still limited by several technique difficulties due to different practical configuration and manufacture constraints due to the oxide layer thickness variations along different crystal orientations as will be discussed below.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,298, entitled “Method of making high speed semiconductor device having a silicon-on-insulator structure”, Hasegawa discloses a CMOS silicon-on-insulation structure fabricated by first forming an insulating SiO2 layer on a silicon substrate having a (110) plane. Openings are then formed in the SiO2 layer to expose a part of the substrate, and a polycrystalline or an amorphous silicon layer is deposited on the SiO2 layer and in the openings. The deposited silicon layer is divided into islands so that a first island includes one of the openings and a second island does not include any openings. A laser beam is then irradiated onto the islands so as to melt the islands, and when the laser light irradiation is discontinued, the melted islands recrystallize so that the first island forms a (110) plane and the second island forms a (100) plane. A p-channel MOSFET is fabricated on the first island, and an n-channel MOSFET is fabricated on the second island. The thus paired CMOS operates at high speeds, because the p-channel MOSFET using positive holes as the carrier is fast in a (110) crystal, and the n-channel MOSFET using electrons as the carrier is fast in a (100) crystal. Hasegawa disclose the benefits of building a p-channel MOSFET in a (110) crystal plane, however the configurations and method as disclosed would be too complicate and costly with limited merits for practical application to build a commercial MOSFET product.
In another U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,615 entitled “Method and apparatus on (110) surfaces of silicon structures with conduction in the (110) direction” Noble et al. disclosed methods and structures that are lateral to surfaces with a (110) crystal plane orientation such that an electrical current of such structures is conducted in the (110) direction for the purposed of achieving improvements in hole carrier mobility. The structure's channel is oriented in a (110) plane such that the electrical current flow is in the (110) direction. A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming a trench in a silicon wafer with the trench wall oriented to have a (110) crystal plane orientation. A semiconductor device is also formed lateral to the trench wall such that the semiconductor device is capable of conducting an electrical current in a (110) direction. The method disclosed by Noble et al. provides for forming an integrated circuit including an array of MOSFETs and another method includes forming an integrated circuit including a number of lateral transistors. The disclosure also includes structures as well as systems incorporating such structures all formed according to the methods provided in this application. Noble's disclosures are however for a lateral device. A vertical trench MOS device would require different considerations.
Table 1 shows the measured data that summarizes the characteristics of two identical P-channel MOSFETs next to each other on the same wafer, with the channel formed on (100) and (110) interfaces respectively on a (100) wafer. An (110) orientation on the trench sidewall where the channel is formed is achieved by simply rotating the FETs by 45 degrees as can be seen from
It is clear from those measured data that there is a significant increase in threshold voltage, i.e., Vth, caused by the thicker oxide for (110) oriented device. However, there is a marked improvement in on-resistance, especially at higher gate bias, showing that there must have been a large improvement in the hole-channel mobility.
Therefore, a need still exists in the art of MOSFET device design and manufacture to provide new design method and device configuration in forming the MOSFET channel along the (110) plane to achieve device performances.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new design and manufacturing methods and device configuration for the power MOSFET devices to take advantages of building the devices on planes of different crystal orientations such that the limitations of the conventional methods can be overcome.
Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved MOSFET devices manufactured with a trenched gate by forming part of the trench on a (110) crystal orientation of a semiconductor substrate. The trench is covering with a dielectric oxide layer along the sidewalls and the bottom surface or the termination of the trench formed along different crystal orientations of the semiconductor substrate. Special manufacturing processes such as oxide annealing process, special mask or SOG processes are implemented to overcome the limitations of the non-uniform dielectric layer growth. In a special preferred embodiment, forming the trenches with a stripe configuration, and choosing a different orientation of the seed crystal can produce an orientation of the trench with both sidewalls and bottom surface align along a (110) crystal orientation of the semiconductor substrate.
Briefly in a preferred embodiment this invention discloses a trenched MOSFET power transistor that includes a gate disposed in a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate. The trench further includes sidewalls and a trench bottom surface all formed along a (110) crystal orientation of the semiconductor substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the MOSFET power transistor is a P-channel MOSFET power transistor. In a different preferred embodiment, this invention further discloses a trenched MOSFET power transistor comprising a gate disposed in a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate. The trench further includes sidewalls formed along a first crystal orientation of the semiconductor substrate and a trench bottom surface formed along a second crystal orientation of the semiconductor substrate different from the first crystal orientation. The trench further includes an oxide layer covering the sidewalls having a substantially the same thickness as an oxide layer covering the bottom surface of the trench.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For P-channel implementations,
Referring to
In order to overcome the technical difficulties caused by a non-uniform thickness of the gate dielectric layer when part of the device is formed along different crystal orientations, the thickness of oxide layer around (100) plane is enhanced to provide a gate oxide layer with uniform thickness or even thicker at the trench bottom or at the trench termination. Numerous oxide thickening techniques may be used to achieve the above design goal. Several measures are disclosed in this invention.
Other techniques and any of combinations of these techniques including those mentioned above can be used to increase the thickness of thin dielectric layer portion in the trench when part of the device is formed along different crystal orientations. This will improve the device rating without deteriorating the performance.
After the gate dielectric layer is formed in the trench, standard trench MOSFET processes are carried out to complete the fabrication of a MOSFET device 400 as that shown in
Referring to
Thus this invention discloses a N-channel MOSFET device having a trench wherein a sidewall of the trench is oriented along a different crystal orientation than a bottom of the sidewall. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the trench is oriented along a (110) crystal plane. In another preferred embodiment, the sidewall is oriented along a (100) crystal plane. In yet another embodiment, the trench and gate is formed before the formation of body or source. In yet another embodiment, the trench and gate is formed after the formation of body or source.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alterations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A trenched semiconductor power device comprising a gate disposed in a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate wherein:
- said trench further comprising sidewalls formed along a first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a carrier mobility in a channel disposed near said sidewalls in an active cell region of said substrate and said trench further comprising a trench bottom surface formed along a second crystal orientation different from said first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate and said trench further comprising a gate oxide layer covering said sidewalls and said bottom surface having a substantially same gate oxide thickness.
2. The trenched semiconductor power device of claim 1 wherein:
- said semiconductor power device is a P-channel MOSFET power device and said sidewalls formed along a (110) crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a P-type carrier mobility whereby said P-channel MOSFET power device having a reduced on-resistance.
3. The trenched semiconductor power device of claim 1 wherein:
- said sidewalls of said trench formed along a (110) crystal orientation and said bottom surface of said trench having a round-shaped surface and formed along a (100) crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate wherein said round-shaped bottom surface is covered with a gate oxide layer substantially of same thickness as a gate oxide layer covering said sidewalls.
4. The trenched semiconductor power device of claim 2 wherein:
- said sidewalls and said bottom surface of said trench are covered with an annealed gate oxide layer having substantially a same gate oxide layer thickness.
5. A trenched MOSFET power transistor comprising a gate disposed in a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate wherein:
- said trench further comprising sidewalls formed along a first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a carrier mobility in a channel disposed near said sidewalls in an active cell region of said substrate and a trench bottom surface formed along a second crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate different from said first crystal orientation; and
- said trench further comprising an dielectric layer having different thickness formation rates on said sidewalls and said trench bottom covering said sidewalls having a substantially a same thickness as an dielectric layer covering said bottom surface of said trench.
6. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 5 wherein:
- said sidewalls are formed along a (110) crystal orientation and said bottom surface is formed along a (100) crystal orientation wherein said dielectric layer having a higher thickness formation rate on said sidewalls than on said bottom surface.
7. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 5 wherein:
- said MOSFET power transistor is a P-channel MOSFET power transistor and said sidewalls are formed along a (110) crystal orientation and said bottom surface is formed along a (100) crystal orientation.
8. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 5 wherein:
- at least one of sidewalls is formed along a (100) crystal orientation having a round sidewall surface and said bottom surface is formed along a (110) crystal orientation wherein said dielectric layer having a lower thickness formation rate on said sidewalls than on said bottom surface.
9. An N-channel trenched MOSFET power transistor includes a trenched gate disposed in a trench wherein:
- sidewalls of said trench are formed along a (100) crystal orientation and a trench bottom surface is formed along a (110) crystal orientation whereby said trench bottom surface having a thicker layer surface for reducing a gate-to-drain capacitance.
10. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 5 wherein:
- said dielectric layer is an oxide layer having substantially a same thickness covering said sidewalls and said bottom surface of said trench wherein said oxide layer having a higher thickness formation rate on said sidewalls than on said bottom surface.
11. A trenched MOSFET power transistor comprising a gate disposed in a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate wherein:
- said trench disposed in an active cell area further comprising two sidewalls formed along a first crystal orientation and two other sidewalls formed along a second crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate and a trench bottom surface formed along said second crystal orientation different from said first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate; and
- said trench further comprising a dielectric layer covering said sidewalls having a substantially same thickness as an dielectric layer covering said bottom surface of said trench.
12. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 11 wherein:
- said MOSFET power transistor is a P-channel MOSFET power transistor having an enhanced P-type carrier mobility along sidewalls of (110) crystal orientation whereby said P-channel MOSFET power transistor having a reduced on-resistance.
13. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 11 wherein:
- said dielectric layer is an oxide layer having substantially a same thickness covering said sidewalls and said bottom surface of said trench wherein two of said sidewalls formed along said second crystal orientation having a round sidewall surface in order to form said oxide layer to have said substantially a same thickness covering said two sidewalls formed along said first crystal orientation.
14. A trenched MOSFET power transistor comprising a gate disposed in a trench formed in an active cell area of a semiconductor substrate wherein:
- said trench constituting an elongated stripe further comprising sidewalls along an elongated direction formed along a first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for improving a device performance of said MOSFET power transistor and a trench termination end surface at terminal ends of said elongated stripe along a second crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate different from said first crystal orientation.
15. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 14 wherein
- said termination end surface having a curved surface whereby said termination end surface only having a small tip portion formed along said second crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate different from said first crystal orientation whereby device performance improvements along said sidewalls formed in said first crystal orientation along said elongated direction may be increased and device performance differences arising from said second crystal orientation on said small tip portion are reduced.
16. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 14 wherein:
- said sidewall are formed along a (110) crystal orientation and said termination end surface is formed along a (100) crystal orientation for increasing a device performance improvement because of sidewalls formed along said (110) crystal orientation and device performance differences arising from said end surface formed along said (100) crystal orientation may are reduced.
17. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 14 wherein:
- said MOSFET power transistor is a P-channel MOSFET power transistor and said sidewalls formed along a (110) crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a P-type carrier mobility whereby said P-channel MOSFET power device having a reduced on-resistance.
18. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 14 wherein:
- said MOSFET power transistor is a N-channel MOSFET power transistor and said sidewalls along said elongated direction are formed along a (100) crystal orientation and said termination end surface is formed along a (110) crystal orientation.
19. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 14 wherein:
- said MOSFET power transistor is a N-channel MOSFET power transistor and said trench having a bottom surface formed along a (110) crystal orientation to form a thick oxide layer thereon to reduce a gate-to-drain capacitance.
20. A trenched MOSFET power transistor comprising a gate disposed in a trench formed in an active cell area of a semiconductor substrate wherein:
- said trench constituting an elongated stripe further comprising sidewalls along an elongated direction of said elongated stripe formed along a first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for improving a device performance of said MOSFET power transistor and a trench termination end surface at terminal ends of said elongated stripe having a significantly less areas than said sidewalls along said elongated direction formed along a second crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate different from said first crystal orientation; and
- said trench further comprising an dielectric layer covering said sidewalls and said termination end surface wherein said dielectric layer having different formation growth rates along said first crystal orientation and said second crystal orientation.
21. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 20 wherein:
- said sidewall are formed along a (110) crystal orientation and said termination end surface is formed along a (100) crystal orientation for increasing a device performance improvement because of sidewalls formed along said (110) crystal orientation and device performance differences arising from said end surface formed along said (100) crystal orientation may are reduced.
22. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 20 wherein:
- said MOSFET power transistor is a P-channel MOSFET power transistor and said sidewalls formed along a (110) crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a P-type carrier mobility whereby said P-channel MOSFET power device having a reduced on-resistance.
23. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 20 wherein:
- said MOSFET power transistor is a N-channel MOSFET power transistor and said sidewall along said elongated direction are formed along a (100) crystal orientation and said termination end surface is formed along a (110) crystal orientation.
24. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 20 wherein:
- said MOSFET power transistor is a N-channel MOSFET power transistor and said trench having a bottom surface formed along a (110) crystal orientation to form a thick oxide layer thereon to reduce a gate-to-drain capacitance.
25. The trenched MOSFET power transistor of claim 20 wherein:
- said dielectric layer is an oxide layer having a substantially a same thickness covering said sidewalls and said termination end surface of said trench wherein termination end surface formed along said second crystal orientation having a round sidewall surface in order to form said oxide layer to have said substantially a same thickness covering said termination end surface formed along said first crystal orientation.
26. A method for manufacturing a trenched MOSFET power transistor by forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate and then forming a gate in said trench wherein:
- said step of forming said trench further comprising a step of forming said trench with sidewalls along a first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a carrier mobility in a channel disposed near said sidewalls in an active cell region of said substrate and forming a trench bottom surface along a second crystal orientation different from said first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate; and
- forming a gate oxide layer covering said sidewalls and said bottom surface having a substantially same gate oxide thickness.
27. The method of claim 26 further comprising a step of:
- manufacturing said MOSFET power transistor as a P-channel MOSFET power transistor with said sidewalls surface along a (110) crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a P-type carrier mobility whereby said P-channel MOSFET power device a a reduced on-resistance.
28. A method for manufacturing a trenched MOSFET power transistor by forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate and then forming a gate in said trench wherein:
- said step of forming said trench further comprising a step of forming said trench with sidewalls along a first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a carrier mobility in a channel disposed near said sidewalls in an active cell region of said substrate and a trench bottom surface along a second crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate different from said first crystal orientation; and
- covering said sidewalls and said bottom surface with an dielectric layer having different formation rates on said side wall and said trench bottom having substantially a same thickness on said sidewalls and said bottom surface.
29. The method of claim 28 further comprising a step of:
- forming at least one of said sidewall along a (110) crystal orientation and said bottom surface along a (100) crystal orientation having a round bottom surface wherein said dielectric layer having a lower thickness formation rate on said bottom surface than said sidewall surface.
30. The method of claim 28 further comprising a step of:
- manufacturing said MOSFET power transistor as a P-channel MOSFET power transistor and forming said sidewalls surface along a (110) crystal orientation and said bottom surface along a (100) crystal orientation.
31. The method of claim 28 further comprising a step of:
- forming at least one of said sidewalls along a (100) crystal orientation having a round sidewall surface and said bottom surface along a (110) crystal orientation with said dielectric layer having a lower thickness formation rate on said sidewalls than on said bottom surface.
32. A method for manufacturing an N-channel MOSFET power device having a trench comprising:
- forming sidewalls of said trench along a (100) crystal orientation and a trench bottom surface along a (110) crystal orientation whereby said trench bottom surface having a thicker layer surface for reducing a gate-to-drain capacitance.
33. A method for manufacturing a trenched MOSFET power transistor by forming a trench in an active cell area of a semiconductor substrate and then forming a gate in said trench wherein:
- said step of forming said trench further comprising a step of forming said trench as an elongated stripe with sidewalls along an elongated direction along a first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for improving a device performance of said MOSFET power transistor and a trench termination end surface at terminal ends of said elongated stripe having a curved surface whereby said termination end surface only having a small tip portion formed along a second crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate different from said first crystal orientation whereby device performance improvements along said sidewalls formed in said first crystal orientation along said elongated direction may be increased and device performance differences arising from said second crystal orientation on said small tip portion are reduced.
34. The method of claim 33 further comprising a step of:
- forming said sidewall along a (110) crystal orientation and said termination end surface along a (100) crystal orientation for increasing a device performance improvement because of sidewalls formed along said (110) crystal orientation and device performance differences arising from said end surface formed along said (100) crystal orientation may are reduced.
35. The method of claim 33 further comprising a step of:
- manufacturing said MOSFET power transistor as a P-channel MOSFET power transistor and forming said sidewalls along a (110) crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a P-type carrier mobility whereby said P-channel MOSFET power device having a reduced on-resistance.
36. The method of claim 33 further comprising a step of:
- forming said MOSFET power device as an N-channel device and forming said sidewall along said elongated direction along a (100) crystal orientation and said termination end surface along a (110) crystal orientation.
37. The method of claim 33 further comprising a step of:
- manufacturing said MOSFET power transistor as a N-channel MOSFET power transistor and forming said trench bottom surface along a (110) crystal orientation for increasing a oxide layer thickness thereon to reduce a gate-to-drain capacitance.
38. A method for manufacturing a trenched MOSFET power transistor by forming a trench in an active cell area of a semiconductor substrate and then forming a gate in said trench wherein:
- said step of forming said trench further comprising a step of forming said trench as an elongated stripe with sidewalls along an elongated direction of said stripe along a first crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for improving a device performance of said MOSFET power transistor and a trench termination end surface at terminal ends of said elongated stripe having a significantly less areas than said sidewalls along said elongated direction along a second crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate different from said first crystal orientation; and
- forming an dielectric layer covering said sidewalls and said termination end surface wherein said dielectric layer having different formation growth rates along said first crystal orientation and said second crystal orientation.
39. The method of claim 38 further comprising a step of:
- forming said sidewall along a (110) crystal orientation and said termination end surface along a (100) crystal orientation for increasing a device performance improvement because of sidewalls formed along said (110) crystal orientation and device performance differences arising from said end surface formed along said (100) crystal orientation may are reduced.
40. The method of claim 38 further comprising a step of:
- manufacturing said MOSFET power transistor as a P-channel MOSFET power transistor and forming said sidewalls along a (110) crystal orientation of said semiconductor substrate for enhancing a P-type carrier mobility whereby said P-channel MOSFET power device having a reduced on-resistance.
41. The method of claim 38 further comprising a step of:
- forming said MOSFET power transistor as an N-channel MOSFET power transistor and forming said sidewall along said elongated direction along a (100) crystal orientation and said termination end surface along a (110) crystal orientation.
42. The method of claim 38 further comprising a step of:
- manufacturing said MOSFET power transistor as a N-channel MOSFET power transistor and forming said trench with a bottom surface formed along a (110) crystal orientation to form a thick oxide layer thereon to reduce a gate-to-drain capacitance.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 23, 2004
Publication Date: May 25, 2006
Applicant:
Inventors: Anup Bhalla (Santa Clara, CA), Sik Lui (Sunnyvale, CA), Sung-Shan Tai (San Jose, CA)
Application Number: 10/996,561
International Classification: H01L 31/113 (20060101);