Device Protection (e.g., From Overvoltage) Patents (Class 257/173)
  • Patent number: 8772828
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor material disposed in a trench with polysilicon lining at least the bottom of the trench. The semiconductor material includes differently doped regions configured as a PNP or NPN structure formed in the trench with differently doped regions located side by side across a width of the trench. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Hong Chang, John Chen
  • Patent number: 8772086
    Abstract: Pass-through 3D interconnects and microelectronic dies and systems of stacked dies that include such interconnects to disable electrical connections are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system of stacked dies includes a first microelectronic die having a backside, an interconnect extending through the first die to the backside, an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the interconnect, and a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) device electrically isolated from the interconnect. A second microelectronic die has a front side coupled to the backside of the first die, a metal contact at the front side electrically coupled to the interconnect, and a second ESD device electrically coupled to the metal contact. In another embodiment, the first die further includes a substrate carrying the integrated circuit and the first ESD device, and the interconnect is positioned in the substrate to disable an electrical connection between the first ESD device and the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Michael Chaine, Kyle K. Kirby, William M. Hiatt
  • Patent number: 8772880
    Abstract: A high-speed semiconductor integrated circuit device is achieved by adjusting an offset voltage. For example, dummy NMOS transistors MND1 (MND1a and MND1b) and MND2 (MND2a and MND2b) are connected to drain outputs of NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2 operated according to differential input signals Din_p and Din_n, respectively. The MND1 is arranged adjacent to the MN1, and a source of the MND1a and a drain of the MN1 share a diffusion layer. The MND2 is arranged adjacent to the MN2, and a source of the MND2a and a drain of the MN2 share a diffusion layer. The MND1 and the MND2 function as dummy transistors for suppressing variations in process of the MN1 and the MN2 and, and besides, they also function as means for adjusting the offset voltage by appropriately applying an offset-amount setting signal OFST to each gate to provide a capacitor to either the MN1 or the MN2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Fukuda, Hiroki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8759867
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device, has a package constituted by the lamination of a first insulating layer having a pair of positive and negative conductive wires formed on its upper face, an inner-layer wire below the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer below the inner-layer wire; a semiconductor light emitting element that has a pair of positive and negative electrodes on the same face side and that is disposed with these electrodes opposite the conductive wires; and a sealing member that covers the semiconductor light emitting element, wherein part of the conductive wires is formed extending in the outer edge direction of the sealing member from directly beneath the semiconductor light emitting element, on the upper face of the first insulating layer, and is connected to the inner-layer wire via a conductive wire disposed in the thickness direction of the package, and the inner-layer wire is disposed so as to be spaced apart from the outer periphery of the semiconductor light emitting
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Noichi, Yuichi Okada, Takahito Miki
  • Patent number: 8759871
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit includes a pad of an IC, circuitry coupled to the pad for buffering data, an RC power clamp on the IC, and first and second silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) circuits. The RC power clamp is coupled between a positive power supply terminal and a ground terminal. The first SCR circuit is coupled between the pad and the positive power supply terminal. The first SCR circuit has a first trigger input coupled to the RC power clamp circuit. The second SCR circuit is coupled between the pad and the ground terminal. The second SCR circuit has a second trigger input coupled to the RC power clamp circuit. At least one of the SCR circuits includes a gated diode configured to selectively provide a short or relatively conductive electrical path between the pad and one of the positive power supply terminal and the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Hsiang Song, Jam-Wem Lee, Tzu-Heng Chang, Yu-Ying Hsu
  • Patent number: 8753906
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a structure having a textured surface, including a substrate made of mineral glass having a given texture, for an organic-light-emitting-diode device, the method including supplying a rough substrate, having a roughness defined by a roughness parameter Ra ranging from 1 to 5 ?m over an analysis length of 15 mm and with a Gaussian filter having a cut-off frequency of 0.8 mm; and depositing a liquid-phase silica smoothing film on the substrate, the film being configured to smooth the roughness sufficiently and to form the textured surface of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Francois-Julien Vermersch, Hélène Gascon, Sophie Besson
  • Patent number: 8753960
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer including an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protective device, and methods for fabricating the same. In one aspect, the method includes forming a first semiconductor device in a first semiconductor die region on the semiconductor wafer; forming a second semiconductor device in a second semiconductor die region on the semiconductor wafer; and forming a protective device in a scribe line region between (i) the first semiconductor die region and (ii) the second semiconductor die region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuan-Cheng Cheng, Choy Hing Li, Shuhua Yu
  • Patent number: 8748936
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first well region of a first conductivity type, a second well region of a second conductive type within the first well region. A first region of the first conductivity type and a second region of the second conductivity type are disposed within the second well region. A third region of the first conductivity type and a fourth region of the second conductivity type are disposed within the first well region, wherein the third region and the fourth region are separated by the second well region. The semiconductor device also includes a switch device coupled to the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Yu Wang, Chia-Ling Lu, Yan-Yu Chen, Yu-Lien Liu, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20140151745
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is provided. A proper trigger voltage is determined by providing an ESD doped injection layer into a PNPN structure and adjusting the injection energy and dosage of the ESD doped injection layer; a proper holding voltage is obtained by adjusting the size of the ESD doped injection layer, thus preventing the latch-up. The self-isolation effect of the electrostatic discharge protection device is formed on the basis of an epitaxial wafer high voltage process or a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer high voltage process, the ESD protective device of the present invention can prevent the device from being falsely triggered due to noise interference. Compared with other known ESD protection devices, the device has the same electrostatic protection ability, much smaller area, and much lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Meng Dai
  • Publication number: 20140138740
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection structure includes: substrate of a first type of conductivity, well region of a second type of conductivity, substrate contact region in the substrate and of the first type of conductivity, well contact region in the well region and of the second type of conductivity, substrate counter-doped region between the substrate contact region and the well contact region and of the second type of conductivity, well counter-doped region between the substrate contact region and the well contact region and of the first type of conductivity, communication region at a lateral junction between the substrate and the well region, first isolation region between the substrate counter-doped region and the communication region, second isolation region between the well counter-doped region and the communication region, oxide layer having one end on the first isolation region and another end on the substrate, and field plate structure on the oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Yonghai Hu, Meng Dai, Zhongyu Lin, Guangyang Wang
  • Patent number: 8723220
    Abstract: A reverse conducting semiconductor device having an IGBT element region and a diode element region in one semiconductor substrate is provided. An electric current detection region is arranged adjacent to the IGBT element region, and a collector region of the IGBT element region is extended to connect with a collector region of the electric current detection region. Instability in the IGBT detection current caused by a boundary portion between the IGBT and the diode can be suppressed. In the same way, an electric current detection region is arranged adjacent to the diode element region, and a cathode region of the diode element region is extended to connect with a cathode region of the electric current detection region. Instability in the diode detection current caused by the boundary portion between the IGBT and the diode can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akitaka Soeno
  • Patent number: 8717724
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection diode that is formed on an input/output pad of an integrated circuit (IC), the ESD protection diode including: an N-type semiconductor that constitutes a first diode and is connected to a pad for a power supply voltage; a P-type semiconductor that constitutes the first diode and is connected to a signal line; an N-type semiconductor that constitutes a second diode and is connected to the signal line; a P-type semiconductor that constitutes the second diode and is connected to a pad for grounding; and a third diode that is formed by contacting the N-type semiconductor of the first diode and the P-type semiconductor of the second diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Soongsil University research Consortium techno-Park
    Inventors: Joon Young Park, Jong Hoon Park, Chang Kun Park
  • Patent number: 8716801
    Abstract: Provided is a metal oxide semiconductor device, including a substrate, a gate, a first-type first heavily doped region, a first-type drift region, a second-type first heavily doped region, a contact, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The gate is disposed on the substrate. The first-type first heavily doped region is disposed in the substrate at a side of the gate. The first-type drift region is disposed in the substrate at another side of the gate. The second-type first heavily doped region is disposed in the first-type drift region. The contact is electrically connected to the second-type first heavily doped region. The contact is the closest contact to the gate on the first-type drift region. The first electrode is electrically connected to the contact, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the first-type first heavily doped region and the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Lu-An Chen, Chang-Tzu Wang, Tai-Hsiang Lai, Tien-Hao Tang
  • Patent number: 8710544
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an isolated SCR ESD device, comprising: a substrate; a first well located in the substrate, which is floating and has a first conductivity type; a first high density doped region located in the first well and having a second conductivity type; a second well nearby the first well and having the second conductivity type; a second high density doped region located in the second well and having the second conductivity type; and a third high density doped region located in the second well and having the first conductivity type, wherein the first high density doped region is for electrical connection with a pad, and wherein the first well is not provided with a high density doped region having the first conductivity type for connection with the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 8710545
    Abstract: An ESD module having a first portion (FP) and a second portion (SP) in a substrate is presented. The FP includes a FP well of a second polarity type and first and second FP contact regions. The first FP contact region is of a first polarity type and the second FP contact region is of a second polarity type. The SP includes a SP well of a first polarity type and first and second SP contact regions. The first SP contact region is of a first polarity type and the second SP contact region is of a second polarity type. An intermediate portion (IP) is disposed in the substrate between the FP and SP in the substrate. The IP includes a well of the second polarity type. The IP increases trigger current and holding voltage of the module to prevent latch up during normal device operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Da-Wei Lai, Handoko Linewih
  • Patent number: 8710590
    Abstract: In a method for producing an electronic component, a substrate is doped by introducing doping atoms. In the doped substrate, at least one connection region of the electronic component is formed by doping with doping atoms. Furthermore, at least one additional doped region is formed at least below the at least one connection region by doping with doping atoms. Furthermore, at least one well region is formed in the substrate by doping with doping atoms in such a way that the well region doping is blocked at least below the at least one additional doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Philipp Riess, Henning Feick, Martin Wendel
  • Patent number: 8703547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for electrostatic discharge and the method of manufacturing thereof. P-well is formed on the substrate, and a first N+ doped region, a second N+ doped region and a P+ doped region are formed in the P-well; both ends of each doped region adopt shallow trench isolation for isolation. A lightly doped source-drain region portion is formed between the first N+ doped region and the shallow trench isolation connected thereto. Under the source-drain region, a halo injection with an inverse type is formed. The reverse conduction voltage of the collector of the bipolar transistor is lowered through the introduction of special doped region and the adoption of lightly doped source-drain technology for manufacturing the source-drain region as well as the manufacturing of halo injection with inverse type under the source-drain region, thus reducing the trigger voltage of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Shan, Jun He
  • Patent number: 8697506
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heterostructure device is provided that includes implantation of ions into a portion of a surface of a multi-layer structure. Iodine ions are implanted between a first region and a second region to form a third region. A charge is depleted from the two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel in the third region to form a reversibly electrically non-conductive pathway from the first region to the second region. On applying a voltage potential to a gate electrode proximate to the third region allows electrical current to flow from the first region to the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vinayak Tilak, Alexei Vertiatchikh, Kevin Sean Matocha, Peter Micah Sandvik, Siddharth Rajan
  • Patent number: 8698196
    Abstract: A low capacitance transient voltage suppressor with reduced clamping voltage includes an n+ type substrate, a first epitaxial layer on the substrate, a buried layer formed within the first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, and an implant layer formed within the first epitaxial layer below the buried layer. The implant layer extends beyond the buried layer. A first trench is at an edge of the buried layer and an edge of the implant layer. A second trench is at another edge of the buried layer and extends into the implant layer. A third trench is at another edge of the implant layer. Each trench is lined with a dielectric layer. A set of source regions is formed within a top surface of the second epitaxial layer. The trenches and source regions alternate. A pair of implant regions is formed in the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Lingpeng Guan, Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Jun Hu, Wayne F. Eng
  • Patent number: 8692290
    Abstract: Device structures and design structures for a silicon controlled rectifier, as well as methods for fabricating a silicon controlled rectifier. The device structure includes first and second layers of different materials disposed on a top surface of a device region containing first and second p-n junctions of the silicon controlled rectifier. The first layer is laterally positioned on the top surface in vertical alignment with the first p-n junction. The second layer is laterally positioned on the top surface of the device region in vertical alignment with the second p-n junction. The material comprising the second layer has a higher electrical resistivity than the material comprising the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kiran V. Chatty, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Junjun Li, Alain Loiseau
  • Patent number: 8692291
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A device structure is formed that includes a well of a first conductivity type in a device region and a doped region of a second conductivity in the well. The device region is comprised of a portion of a device layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The doped region and a first portion of the well define a junction. A second portion of the well is positioned between the doped region and an exterior sidewall of the device region. Another portion of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Junjun Li
  • Patent number: 8686428
    Abstract: A device with an external surface, the device including: a substrate including first mono-crystal transistors; a second layer including second mono-crystal transistors, the second mono-crystal transistors overlaying the first mono-crystal transistors; and a plurality of thermal conduction paths from a plurality of the second layer locations to the external surface, wherein at least one of the thermal conduction paths includes an electrically nonconductive contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Monolithic 3D Inc.
    Inventors: Deepak Sekar, Zvi Or-Bach, Brian Cronquist
  • Patent number: 8686470
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device provides electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. In connection with various example embodiments, an ESD protection circuit includes a diode-type circuit having a p-n junction that exhibits a low breakdown voltage. Connected in series with the diode between an internal node susceptible to an ESD pulse and ground, are regions of opposite polarity having junctions therebetween for mitigating the passage of leakage current via voltage sharing with the diode's junction. Upon reaching the breakdown voltage, the diode shunts current to ground via another substrate region, bypassing one or more junctions of the regions of opposite polarity and facilitating a low clamping voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventor: Hans-Martin Ritter
  • Patent number: 8686508
    Abstract: Structures and methods are provided for nanosecond electrical pulse anneal processes. The method of forming an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure includes forming an N+ diffusion on a substrate and a P+ diffusion on the substrate. The P+ diffusion is in electrical contact with the N+ diffusion. The method further includes forming a device between the N+ diffusion and the P+ diffusion. A method of annealing a structure or material includes applying an electrical pulse across an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure for a plurality of nanoseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Tom C. Lee, Junjun Li, Souvick Mitra, Christopher S. Putnam, Robert Robison
  • Patent number: 8686536
    Abstract: An embodiment is a fuse structure. In accordance with an embodiment, a fuse structure comprises an anode, a cathode, a fuse link interposed between the anode and the cathode, and cathode connectors coupled to the cathode. The cathode connectors are each equivalent to or larger than about two times a minimum feature size of a contact that couples to an active device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shien-Yang Wu, Wei-Chan Kung
  • Patent number: 8680621
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuitry arranged to provide ESD protection to an external terminal of the integrated circuit. The ESD protection circuitry comprises: a thyristor circuit comprising a first bipolar switching device operably coupled to the external terminal and a second bipolar switching device operably coupled to another external terminal, a collector of the first bipolar switching device being coupled to a base of the second bipolar switching device and a base of the first bipolar switching device being coupled to a collector of the second bipolar switching device. A third bipolar switching device is also provided and operably coupled to the thyristor circuit and has a threshold voltage for triggering the thyristor circuit, the threshold voltage being independently configurable of the thyristor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrice Besse, Jean Philippe Laine
  • Patent number: 8674510
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) structure having improved power and thermal management is described. The 3D IC structure includes at least first and second dies. Each of the first and second dies has at least one power through silicon via (TSV) and one signal TSV. The at least one power and signal TSVs of the first die are connected to the at least one power and signal TSVs of the second die, respectively. The 3D IC structure also includes one or more peripheral TSV structures disposed adjacent to one or more sides of the first and/or the second die. The peripheral TSV structures supply at least power and/or signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Oscar M. K. Law, Kuo H. Wu
  • Publication number: 20140070839
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, two series connections are arranged to be connected between respective split emitter electrodes and a gate electrode with Zener diode units connected in series to respective resistors, with the cathode sides thereof directed to the gate electrode side. The numbers of the Zener diodes in the Zener diode units in the respective series connections are different between the respective Zener diode units. Thus, a semiconductor device can be provided which is capable of detecting an open failure of a bonding wire regardless of the number of a plurality of the bonding wires connected in parallel, by a simple electrical test to make it possible to reliably sort out a semiconductor device with a wire open failure at an early stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigemi MIYAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20140049313
    Abstract: An approach for providing a latch-up robust PNP-triggered SCR-based device is disclosed. Embodiments include providing a silicon control rectifier (SCR) region; providing a PNP region having a first n-well region proximate the SCR region, a first N+ region and a first P+ region in the first n-well region, and a second P+ region between the SCR region and the first n-well region; coupling the first N+ region and the first P+ region to a power rail; and coupling the second P+ region to a ground rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Da-Wei LAI, Mahadeva Iyer Natarajan
  • Patent number: 8653557
    Abstract: A high holding voltage (HV) electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit comprises a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) device and compensation regions located within the length between the anode and cathode (LAC) of the SCR device which increase the holding voltage of the SCR device. The compensation regions may introduce negative feedback mechanisms into the SCR device which may influence the loop gain of the SCR and cause it to reach regenerative feedback at a higher holding voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Sven Van Wijmeersch, Olivier Marichal
  • Patent number: 8648386
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and manufacturing method for the same, and an ESD circuit are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first doped region, a second doped region, a third doped region and a resistor. The first doped region has a first type conductivity. The second doped region has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity. The third doped region has the first type conductivity. The first doped region and the third doped region are separated by the second doped region. The resistor is coupled between the second doped region and the third doped region. An anode is coupled to the first doped region. A cathode is coupled to the third doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Liang Chen, Wing-Chor Chan, Shyi-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 8643112
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of dissipating heat, which has been produced in an ESD protection element, to the exterior of the device rapidly and efficiently includes an ESD protection element having a drain region, a source region and a gate electrode, and a thermal diffusion portion. The thermal diffusion portion, which has been formed on the drain region, has a metal layer electrically connected to a pad, and contacts connecting the drain region and metal layer. The metal layer has a first wiring trace extending along the gate electrode, and second wiring traces intersecting the first wiring trace perpendicularly. The contacts are connected to intersections between the first wiring trace and the second wiring traces. Heat that has been produced at a pn-junction of the ESD protection element and transferred through a contact is diffused simultaneously in three directions through the first wiring trace and second wiring trace in the metal layer and is released into the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Mototsugu Okushima
  • Patent number: 8637900
    Abstract: A structure includes first and second silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs) formed in a substrate. The first and the second SCRs each include at least one component commonly shared between the first and the second SCRs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Junjun Li, Ankit Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8637899
    Abstract: A high voltage isolation protection device for low voltage communication interface systems in mixed-signal high voltage electronic circuit is disclosed. According to one aspect, the protection device includes a semiconductor structure configured to provide isolation between low voltage terminals and protection from transient events. The protection device includes a thyristor having an anode, a cathode, and a gate, and a thyristor cathode-gate control region that is built into the protection device. The protection device is configured to provide multiple built-in path-up to power-high terminals and path-down to power-low terminals at different voltage levels. The protection device also includes independently built-in discharge paths to the common substrate that is connected to a different power-low voltage reference. The conduction paths may be built into a single structure with dual isolation regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Javier A. Salcedo
  • Patent number: 8633543
    Abstract: An electro-static discharge protection circuit includes: a PNPN junction, a P-type side of the PNPN junction being coupled to a terminal, an N-type side of the PNPN junction being coupled to ground; and a P-type metal oxide semiconductor transistor, a source and a gate of the P-type metal oxide semiconductor transistor being coupled to an N-type side of a PN junction whose P-type side coupled to the ground, and a drain of the P-type metal oxide semiconductor transistor being coupled to the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Ohta, Kenji Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20140015008
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) circuit, and a diode device therefor and a manufacturing method thereof. The TVS circuit is for coupling to a protected circuit to limit amplitude of a transient voltage which is inputted to the protected circuit. The TVS circuit includes a suppressor device and at least a diode device. The diode device is formed in a substrate, which includes: a well formed in the substrate; a separation region formed beneath the upper surface; a anode region and a cathode region, which are formed at two sides of the separation region beneath the upper surface respectively, wherein the anode region and the cathode region are separated by the separation region; and a buried layer, which is formed in the substrate below the well with a higher impurity density and a same conductive type as the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Tsung-Yi Huang, Jin-Lian Su
  • Patent number: 8610251
    Abstract: A bi-directional protection device includes a bi-directional NPN bipolar transistor including an emitter/collector formed from a first n-well region, a base formed from a p-well region, and a collector/emitter formed from a second n-well region. P-type active regions are formed in the first and second n-well regions to form a PNPNP structure, which is isolated from the substrate using dual-tub isolation consisting of an n-type tub and a p-type tub. The dual-tub isolation prevents induced latch-up during integrated circuit powered stress conditions by preventing the wells associated with the PNPNP structure from injecting carriers into the substrate. The size, spacing, and doping concentrations of active regions and wells associated with the PNPNP structure are selected to provide fine-tuned control of the trigger and holding voltage characteristics to enable the bi-directional protection device to be implemented in high voltage applications using low voltage precision interface signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Javier A Salcedo
  • Patent number: 8610169
    Abstract: The invention discloses an ESD protection circuit, comprising a P-type substrate; an N-well formed on the P-type substrate; a P-doped region formed on the N-well, wherein the P-doped region is electrically connected to an input/output terminal of a circuit under protection; a first N-doped region formed on the P-type substrate, the first N-doped region is electrically connected to a first node, and the P-doped region, the N-well, the P-type substrate, and the first N-doped region constitute a silicon controlled rectifier; and a second N-doped region formed on the N-well and electrically connected to a second node, wherein a part of the P-doped region and the second N-doped region constitute a discharging path, and when an ESD event occurs at the input/output terminal, the silicon controlled rectifier and the discharging path bypass electrostatic charges to the first and second nodes respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Wei-Fan Chen
  • Patent number: 8604512
    Abstract: A bidirectional switch includes a semiconductor element and a substrate potential stabilizer. The semiconductor element includes a first ohmic electrode and a second ohmic electrode, and a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode, which are sequentially formed on the first ohmic electrode between the first ohmic electrode and the second ohmic electrode. The substrate potential stabilizer sets a potential of the substrate lower than higher one of a potential of the first ohmic electrode or a potential of the second ohmic electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Morita
  • Patent number: 8604515
    Abstract: A bidirectional protection component formed in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type including a first implanted area of the first conductivity type, an epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type on the substrate and the first implanted area, a second area of the first conductivity type on the external side of the epitaxial layer, in front of the first area, and implanted with the same dose as the first area, a first metallization covering the entire lower surface of the substrate, and a second metallization covering the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Benjamin Morillon
  • Publication number: 20130320396
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a bidirectional ESD device which has a plurality of parallel switch legs. Each switch leg includes a first current switch and a second current switch in a back-to-back configuration. A first current supply node of each first current switch is coupled to a first terminal of the ESD device. A second current supply node of each second current switch is coupled to a second terminal of the ESD device. A first current collection node of each first current switch is coupled to a second current collection node of the corresponding second current switch. The first current collection nodes in each first current switch is not coupled to any other first current collection node, and similarly, the second current collection node in each instance second current switch is not coupled to any other second current collection node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Akram A. SALMAN, Farzan FARBIZ, Ann Margaret CONCANNON, Gianluca BOSELLI
  • Patent number: 8598625
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Jam-Wem Lee, Yi-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 8592860
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for electronic circuit protection under high stress operating conditions are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate having a first p-well, a second p-well adjacent the first p-well, and an n-type region separating the first and second p-wells. An n-type active area is over the first p-well and a p-type active area is over the second p-well. The n-type and p-type active areas are electrically connected to a cathode and anode of a high reverse blocking voltage (HRBV) device, respectively. The n-type active area, the first p-well and the n-type region operate as an NPN bipolar transistor and the second p-well, the n-type region, and the first p-well operate as a PNP bipolar transistor. The NPN bipolar transistor defines a relatively low forward trigger voltage of the HRBV device and the PNP bipolar transistor defines a relatively high reverse breakdown voltage of the HRBV device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier A Salcedo, David Hall Whitney
  • Patent number: 8592910
    Abstract: A semiconductor body includes a protective structure. The protective structure (10) includes a first and a second region (11, 12) which have a first conductivity type and a third region (13) that has a second conductivity type. The second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. The first and the second region (11, 12) are arranged spaced apart in the third region (13), so that a current flow from the first region (11) to the second region (12) is made possible for the limiting of a voltage difference between the first and the second region (11, 12). The protective structure includes an insulator (14) that is arranged on the semiconductor body (9) and an electrode (16) that is constructed with floating potential and is arranged on the insulator (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventor: Hubert Enichlmair
  • Publication number: 20130307020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thyristor component, wherein a p-conductive trough (30) adjoins an n-conductive trough (20) at two opposite sides. Highly n-conductive areas (21, 23) and highly p-conductive areas (22) are disposed in the n-trough in alternating sequence, such that outer n-areas (23) are spaced apart at a smaller distance from the p-trough than the p-areas. Further n-areas (35) and further p-areas (36) are disposed in the p-trough on both sides of the n-trough, wherein the further n-area is disposed in each case at a smaller distance from the n-trough than the further p-area. Connection contacts (41, 42) are present on the n-areas and on the p-areas of the n-trough, except for the outermost n-areas nearest to the p-trough. The connection contacts are electrically conductively connected to each other. Further connection contacts (45, 46) are present on the further n-areas and on the further p-areas, wherein the further connection contacts are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: AMS AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Reinprecht
  • Patent number: 8587071
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Che Tsai, Jam-Wem Lee, Yi-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 8569780
    Abstract: A trench semiconductor power device integrated with a Gate-Source and a Gate-Drain clamp diodes without using source mask is disclosed, wherein a plurality source regions of a first conductivity type of the trench semiconductor device and multiple doped regions of the first conductivity type of the clamp diodes are formed simultaneously through contact open areas defined by a contact mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fu-Yuan Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20130277712
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an SCR ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body, and a plurality of first device regions of the first conductivity type disposed on a second device region of the second conductivity type, where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. Also included is a plurality of third device regions having a sub-region of the first conductivity type and a sub-region of the second conductivity type disposed on the second device region. The first regions and second regions are distributed such that the third regions are not directly adjacent to each other. A fourth device region of the first conductivity type adjacent to the second device region and a fifth device region of the second conductivity type disposed within the fourth device region are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Krzysztof Domanski, Cornelius C. Russ, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 8564127
    Abstract: To provide a technique capable of reducing the chip size of a semiconductor chip and particularly, a technique capable of reducing the chip size of a semiconductor chip in the form of a rectangle that constitutes an LCD driver by devising a layout arrangement in a short-side direction. In a semiconductor chip that constitutes an LCD driver, input protection circuits are arranged in a lower layer of part of a plurality of input bump electrodes and on the other hand, in a lower layer of the other part of the input bump electrodes, the input protection circuits are not arranged but SRAMs (internal circuits) are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Suzuki, Kiichi Makuta
  • Patent number: 8558276
    Abstract: A low voltage transient voltage suppressing (TVS) device supported on a semiconductor substrate supporting an epitaxial layer thereon. The TVS device further includes a bottom-source metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (BS-MOSFET) comprises a trench gate surrounded by a drain region encompassed in a body region disposed near a top surface of the semiconductor substrate wherein the drain region interfaces with the body region constituting a junction diode and the drain region encompassed in the body region on top of the epitaxial layer constituting a bipolar transistor with a top electrode disposed on the top surface of the semiconductor functioning as a drain/collector terminal and a bottom electrode disposed on a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate functioning as a source/emitter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Madhur Bobde