With Overvoltage Protective Means Patents (Class 257/355)
  • Patent number: 9659922
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection clamp includes a substrate and a first electrostatic discharge protection device over the substrate. The first electrostatic discharge protection device includes a buried layer over the substrate. The buried layer has a first region having a first doping concentration and a second region having a second doping concentration. The first doping concentration is greater than the second doping concentration. The first electrostatic discharge protection device includes a first transistor over the buried layer. The first transistor has an emitter coupled to a first cathode terminal of the electrostatic discharge protection clamp. The first electrostatic discharge protection device includes a second transistor over the buried layer. The second transistor has an emitter coupled to a first anode terminal of the electrostatic discharge protection clamp. A collector of the first transistor and a collector of the second transistor are over the first region of the buried layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Rouying Zhan, Chai Ean Gill
  • Patent number: 9659923
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a field oxide device in a substrate, wherein the field oxide device is coupled between an input/output (I/O) pad and a first terminal. The field oxide device includes a drain end and a source end having a first type of dopant. The field oxide device includes a field oxide structure between the drain end and the source end. The field oxide structure has a top surface co-planar with a top surface of a substrate. A first doped region having a second type of dopant is adjacent to the drain end. A second doped region having the second type of dopant is adjacent to the source end. The field oxide structure is in a well and the source end and the drain end are separate from the well. The substrate has the second type of dopant and is around the field oxide structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shu-Chuan Lee, Kuo-Ji Chen, Wade Ma
  • Patent number: 9647121
    Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) is disclosed having one or more fins and providing an increased depletion layer as compared to conventional finFETs. The finFET includes the one or more fins and a substrate formed of a first semiconductor material having a first well region formed of a second semiconductor material, a second well region formed of a third semiconductor material and separated from the first well region by the first semiconductor material, and a deep well region formed of a fourth semiconductor material and disposed below the first well region and the second well region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 9640523
    Abstract: A lateral p-n diode in the center of and surrounded by a vertical Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR) forms an Electro-Static-Discharge (ESD) protection structure. The lateral p-n diode has a cross-shaped P+ diode tap with four rectangles of N+ diode regions in each corner of the cross. A P-well under the P+ diode tap is also an anode of a vertical PNPN SCR that has a deep N-well in a P-substrate. The deep N-well surrounds the lateral diode. Triggering MOS transistors are formed just beyond the four ends of the cross shaped P+ diode tap. Each triggering MOS transistor has N+ regions at the edge of the deep N-well and in the P-substrate that act as the cathode terminals. A deep P+ implant region under the N+ region at the edge of the deep N-well decreases a trigger voltage of the vertical SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Xiaowu Cai, Beiping Yan, Zhongzi Chen
  • Patent number: 9640618
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide layer 32 of a first conductivity type, a silicon carbide layer 36 of a second conductivity type, a gate trench 20, a gate electrode 79 provided in the gate trench 20, and a protection trench 10 formed to a greater depth than the gate trench 20. A region in the horizontal direction that includes both the gate trench 20 and a protection trench 10 that surrounds only a part of the gate trench 20 in the horizontal direction is a cell region, and a region in the horizontal direction that includes a protection trench 10 and in which a gate pad 89 or a lead electrode connected to the gate pad 89 is disposed is a gate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuto Inoue, Akihiko Sugai, Shunichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9633990
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with a bidirectional ESD transistor. A base diffusion separates an emitter diffusion and a collector diffusion. Silicide is blocked from the base diffusion, the emitter-base junction, the collector-base junction, and from equal portions of the emitter diffusion and the collector diffusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Akram A. Salman, Farzan Farbiz, Aravind C. Appaswamy, Ann Margaret Concannon
  • Patent number: 9627508
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and an intrinsic replacement channel. A tunneling field effect transistor (TFET) fin may be formed by the intrinsic replacement channel, a p-fin and an n-fin formed upon the substrate. The p-fin may serve as the source of the TFET and the n-fin may serve as the drain of the TFET. The replacement channel may be formed in place of a sacrificial channel of a diode fin that includes the p-fin, the n-fin, and the sacrificial channel at the p-fin and n-fin junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Michael P. Chudzik, Siddarth A. Krishnan, Unoh Kwon, Vijay Narayanan, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 9620498
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device supported on a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of transistor cells each having a source and a drain with a gate to control an electric current transmitted between the source and the drain. The semiconductor further includes a gate-to-drain (GD) clamp termination connected in series between the gate and the drain further includes a plurality of back-to-back polysilicon diodes connected in series to a silicon diode includes parallel doped columns in the semiconductor substrate wherein the parallel doped columns having a predefined gap. The doped columns further include a U-shaped bend column connect together the ends of parallel doped columns with a deep doped-well that is disposed below and engulfing the U-shaped bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Yi Su, Anup Bhalla, Daniel Ng
  • Patent number: 9614369
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device is disclosed having two PNP transistors. During a high-voltage ESD event a parasitic NPN transistor couples to one of the two PNP transistors to provide ESD protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Philippe Laine, Patrice Besse
  • Patent number: 9614023
    Abstract: A resistor device includes a resistor body disposed in a substrate and doped with a first type of dopant, an insulating layer disposed above the resistor body, and at least one gate structure disposed above the insulating layer and above the resistor body. A method includes applying a bias voltage to at least a first gate structure disposed above an insulating layer disposed above a resistor body disposed in a substrate and doped with a first type of dopant to affect a resistance of the resistor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventor: Jagar Singh
  • Patent number: 9608129
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a well region of a first-conductivity type disposed in the substrate, a first impurity region of a second-conductivity type and having a plurality of branches disposed in the well region, a second impurity region of the first-conductivity type and having a plurality of branches, and a third impurity region of the first-conductivity type disposed in the well region. The second-conductivity type is opposite to the first-conductivity type. A portion of the first impurity region overlaps a portion of the third impurity region. The plurality of branches of the second impurity region are disposed in the third impurity region, and a portion of the third impurity region is disposed between the first impurity region and the second impurity region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Jui Chang, Cheng-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 9607123
    Abstract: A semiconductor monitoring device includes a substrate, a die seal ring formed on the substrate, a deep n-typed well formed in the substrate under the die seal ring, and a monitoring device electrically connected to the die seal ring. The monitoring device is formed in a scribe line region defined on the substrate. A width of the deep n-typed well is larger than a width of the die seal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Xing Hua Zhang, Chi-Fa Ku, Hong Liao, Ye Chao Li, Hui Yang
  • Patent number: 9576945
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increased holding voltage SCRs. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a first well of the first conductivity type; a second well of a second conductivity type adjacent to the first well, an intersection of the first well and the second well forming a p-n junction; a first diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the first well and coupled to a ground terminal; a first diffused region of the second conductivity type formed at the first well; a second diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the second well and coupled to a pad terminal; a second diffused region of the second conductivity type formed in the second well; and a Schottky junction formed adjacent to the first diffused region of the second conductivity type coupled to a ground terminal. Methods for forming devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jam-Wem Lee, Tzu-Heng Chang, Tsung-Che Tsai, Ming-Hsiang Song
  • Patent number: 9570170
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory cell array having multiple memory cells arranged respectively in regions where first signal lines cross second signal lines. The memory device further includes a decoder having multiple line selection switch units connected respectively to the of first signal lines. Each of the multiple line selection switch units applies a bias voltage to a first signal line corresponding to each of the multiple line selection switch units in response selectively to a first switching signal and a second switching signal, voltage levels of which are different from each other in activated states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Weon Yoon, Hyun-Kook Park, Yeong-Taek Lee, Bo-Geun Kim, Yong-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 9558806
    Abstract: The number of terminals included in a semiconductor device which is included in an electronic device is reduced. The electronic device includes: a first semiconductor device having first and second input terminals; a second semiconductor device having a first output terminal and a first driver circuit to drive the first output terminal; and a wiring substrate over which the first and second semiconductor devices are mounted. The first and second input terminals are commonly coupled to the first output terminal via a first line formed on the wiring substrate. A composite resistance value of first and second termination resistors coupled to the first and second input terminals, respectively, is equivalent to a drive impedance of the first driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoo Suwa, Takafumi Betsui, Masato Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9559094
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region that has an external profile including at least one corner, and that includes a semiconductor of a first conductivity type, and a first insulation region that surrounds an outer periphery of the first semiconductor region, and that includes an insulator that, at a corner portion corresponding to the corner, has a depth deeper than a depth at a location other than the corner portion. The semiconductor device further includes a second semiconductor region that surrounds an outer periphery of the first insulation region, and that includes a semiconductor of a second conductivity type, and a second insulation region that surrounds an outer periphery of the second semiconductor region, and that includes an insulator that is deeper than the depth of the first insulation region at the location other than the corner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventor: Teruo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9559170
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection including a source, a gate, a drain having a drain diffusion, and a diffusion region extending from, or located under, the drain diffusion. The source, the gate, the drain and the diffusion region are located in or on a substrate. The diffusion region is laterally spaced from at least one of the gate or the outer edge of the drain diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: X-FAB SEMICONDUCTOR FOUNDRIES AG
    Inventor: Paul Ronald Stribley
  • Patent number: 9559098
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device connected to a mutual-inductive load, a voltage dividing diode is provided in series to an ST-MOS circuit so that an anode thereof is connected to a GND terminal and a cathode thereof is connected to the back gate of each of lateral nMOSFETs forming the ST-MOS circuit. This can inhibit parasitic transistors in the lateral nMOSFETs from malfunctioning to enable the voltage at an ST terminal to be reliably maintained at a normal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Iwata
  • Patent number: 9553508
    Abstract: A circuit that includes a first diode-connected dummy device, a second diode-connected dummy device, a third diode-connected dummy device, a fourth diode-connected dummy device, and a first discharge path. The second diode-connected dummy device connected in cascode with the first diode-connected dummy device. The fourth diode-connected dummy device connected in cascode with the third diode-connected dummy device. The first and the second diode-connected dummy devices are formed in a first region. The third and the fourth diode-connected dummy devices are formed in a second region which is outside the first region. The first discharge path configured to discharge charges from at least one of the first and the second diode-connected dummy devices in the first region to a reference voltage terminal of one of the third and the fourth diode-connected dummy devices in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Lin Chu, Chin-Yuan Ko, Hsi-Yu Kuo
  • Patent number: 9553178
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a first emitter zone of a first conductivity type, a second emitter zone of a second conductivity type, a first base zone arranged between the first and second emitter zones and a first control structure. The first control structure includes a control electrode arranged adjacent the first emitter zone, the control electrode being insulated from the first emitter zone by a first dielectric layer and extending in a current flow direction of the semiconductor component. The first control structure includes a first control connection and at least one first connection zone arranged between the first control connection and the control electrode and comprising a semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Anton Mauder, Frank Pfirsch, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 9543425
    Abstract: MOSHFET devices are provided, along with their methods of fabrication. The MOSHFET device can include a substrate; a multilayer stack on the substrate; a ultra-thin barrier layer on the multilayer stack, wherein the ultra-thin barrier layer has a thickness of about 0.5 nm to about 10 nm; a dielectric, discontinuous thin film layer on portions of the ultra-thin barrier layer, wherein the dielectric, discontinuous thin film layer comprises SiO2; a plurality of source electrodes and drain electrodes formed directly on the ultra-thin barrier layer in an alternating pattern such that the dielectric, discontinuous thin film layer is positioned between adjacent source electrodes and drain electrodes; a plurality of gate electrodes on the dielectric, discontinuous thin film layer; and a gate interconnect electrically connecting the plurality of gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Asif Khan, Vinod Adivarahan
  • Patent number: 9543292
    Abstract: One or more Zener diodes and a field effect transistor having a drain connected in series with the one or more Zener diodes are integrally formed by a plurality of doped regions in the same P-type semiconductor substrate and separated by a punch through stop region. An N-type region is formed under the one or more Zener diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Hideaki Tsuchiko
  • Patent number: 9536876
    Abstract: A circuit with a temperature detector includes a first FET and a second FET. Each of the first and second FETs has a channel structure having a non-planar structure. The second FET is in close proximity to the first FET. A gate of the second FET is separated from the first FET, and a source and drain of the second FET are shorted together. A resistance of the gate of the second FET between two terminals on the gate of the second FET varies with a temperature local to the first FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chow Peng, Amit Kundu, Szu-Lin Liu, Jaw-Juinn Horng
  • Patent number: 9524961
    Abstract: In the semiconductor device including the off transistor serving as an ESD protection element and an output element between a first external connection terminal and a second external connection terminal connected to a VSS, a seal ring wire is connected in parallel, by a connection wire, to a first internal wire extending from the second external connection terminal to the source of the off transistor, and a parasitic resistance of the first internal wire is smaller than a parasitic resistance of a second internal wire connecting the source of the off transistor and a source of the output element to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SII Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Hashitani, Hisashi Hasegawa, Takayuki Takashina, Hiroyuki Masuko
  • Patent number: 9520389
    Abstract: A silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) includes a first-type field, a second-type first field and a second-type second field disconnectedly formed in a first-type well; an entire first-type doped region formed within the first-type field; a segmented second-type doped region formed within the second-type first field; and a segmented first-type doped region formed within the second-type second field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: National Chiao Tung University, Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Chun-Yen Chang, Shiang-Shiou Yen, Shao-Chin Chang, Che-Wei Chiang
  • Patent number: 9509136
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for ESD protection with adjustable trigger voltage decoupled from DC breakdown voltage for semiconductor devices including field effect transistors (FETs), and particularly to metal-oxide-semiconductors (MOSFETs) fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (“SOI”) and silicon-on-sapphire (“SOS”) substrates are described. The apparatus and method are configured to change reverse biased drain junctions which in turn can control the DC breakdown voltage and the trigger voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Vadim Kushner, Erica Poole
  • Patent number: 9455689
    Abstract: A Silicon On Insulator current source array includes input control for receiving a control voltage, a first reference input for receiving a first reference voltage, and a second reference input for receiving a second reference voltage. A chain of several Silicon On Insulator MOS transistors, of the same type, have control electrodes all connected to the input control, first conduction electrodes are all connected to the first reference input, and second conduction electrodes are respectively connected to the second reference input through several load circuits respectively configured to be traversed by several currents when the several transistors are ON upon application of the control voltage on the input control. An input bias is coupled to a semiconductor well located below an insulating buried layer located below the chain of transistors for receiving a biasing voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS SA, UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
    Inventors: Andreia Cathelin, Bram Nauta
  • Patent number: 9455348
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for providing access to the body of a FinFET device. In one embodiment, a FinFET device for characterization comprises an active fin comprising a source fin, a depletion fin, and a drain fin; a side fin extending from the depletion fin and coupled to a body contact for providing access for device characterization; and a gate electrode formed over the depletion fin and separated therefrom by a predetermined dielectric layer, wherein the gate electrode and the dielectric layer thereunder have a predetermined configuration to assure the source and drain fins are not shorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hao-Yu Chen, Chang-Yun Chang, Cheng-Chuan Huang, Fu-Liang Yang
  • Patent number: 9455345
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate of a first conductivity type and an epitaxial structure of the first conductivity type disposed on the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a well region having a first doping concentration of a second conductivity type disposed in the epitaxial structure and the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a drain region and a source region respectively formed in the epitaxial structure inside and outside of the well region. The semiconductor device further includes a body region of the first conductivity type disposed under the source region, and a pair of first and second doped regions disposed in the well region between the drain region and the source region. The first and second doped regions extend outside of the well region and toward the body region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shin-Cheng Lin, Shang-Hui Tu, Yu-Hao Ho, Wen-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 9449960
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure including a substrate, a pick-up region, a first MOS device, a second MOS device, a first doped region and a second doped region. The pick-up region is located in the substrate. The first MOS device has a first drain region of a first conductivity type located in the substrate. The second MOS device has a second drain region of the first conductivity type located in the substrate. The first drain region is closer to the pick up region than the second drain region is. The first doped region of a second conductivity type is located under the first doped region. The second doped region of the second conductivity type is located under the second doped region. The area and/or doping concentration of the first doped region is greater than that of the second doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yung-Ju Wen, Chang-Tzu Wang, Tien-Hao Tang
  • Patent number: 9449961
    Abstract: A display device includes a substrate, at least one signal circuit, a ground protection circuit, and an auxiliary protection circuit. The substrate has a first surface, wherein the first surface includes an active area and a frame area surrounding the active area. The at least one signal circuit is disposed and extending along the frame area and electrically coupled to the active area. The ground protection circuit is disposed and extending along the frame area, wherein the ground protection circuit is positioned at a side of the signal circuit facing an edge of the substrate. The auxiliary protection circuit is disposed and extending along the frame area. The auxiliary protection circuit is disposed between the signal circuit and the ground protection circuit, wherein the auxiliary protection circuit respectively has a gap with the signal circuit and the ground protection circuit, and is electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsiao-Ying Hou, Wen-Chi Chuang, Yi-Ling Lin
  • Patent number: 9425793
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit for generating a bias voltage for a high speed input/output pad. To this end, a bias voltage generator according to an embodiment of the present invention is to supply at least one bias voltage to a buffer circuit connected to the pad, which includes: a bias generation part for generating a first bias voltage; and a reference voltage generation part for generating a voltage proportional to the pad voltage applied to the pad as a reference voltage, wherein the first bias voltage may be the sum of the reference voltage and a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHACHIPS Corp.
    Inventors: Jaewoo Park, Ook Kim
  • Patent number: 9419091
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device may include receiving a device substrate comprising a channel layer and a source or drain layer, forming a gate trench within the source or drain layer of the device substrate, depositing a gate dielectric layer and one or more additional gate layers onto the bottom and sidewalls of the gate trench, and removing a substantial portion of at least the gate dielectric layer from the sidewalls of the gate trench to form a left and a right sidewall airgap adjacent to the sidewalls of the gate trench. A corresponding semiconductor device may include a device substrate comprising a channel layer and a source or drain layer, a gate trench formed within the source or drain layer of the device substrate and a sidewall airgap formed adjacent to the sidewalls of the gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Effendi Leobandung
  • Patent number: 9406627
    Abstract: A system interconnect includes a first resistor-capacitor (RC) clamp having a first RC time constant. The system interconnect also includes second RC clamps having a second RC time constant. The first and second RC clamps are arranged along the system interconnect. In addition, the first RC time constant is different from the second RC time constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eugene Robert Worley, Reza Jalilizeinali, Sreeker Dundigal
  • Patent number: 9397088
    Abstract: In order to provide a semiconductor device having high ESD tolerance, a plurality of source wirings (22) are formed of metal films having the same shape and electrically connect a plurality of sources (12) to a ground voltage wiring (22a), respectively, a plurality of drain wirings (23) are formed of metal films having the same shape and electrically connect a plurality of drains (12) to an input voltage wiring (23a), respectively, and a plurality of gate wirings (21) are formed of metal films having the same shape and electrically connect a plurality of gates (11) to the ground voltage wiring (22a), respectively. Further, a back gate wiring (24) is formed of a metal film and electrically connects a back gate (14) to the ground voltage wiring (22a), and the back gate wiring (24) is separated from the source wiring (22) formed on the source (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SII Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Shimazaki, Yoshitsugu Hirose
  • Patent number: 9397217
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact structure of a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a semiconductor device comprises an insulation region over a substrate; a gate electrode layer over the insulation region comprising a gate middle line; a first contact structure over the insulation region adjacent to the gate electrode layer comprising a first middle line, wherein the first middle line and the gate middle line has a first distance; and a second contact structure over the insulation region on a side of the gate electrode layer opposite to the first contact structure comprising a second middle line, wherein the second middle line and the gate middle line has a second distance greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Jen Tseng, Ting-Wei Chang, Wei-Yu Chen, Kuo-Nan Yang, Ming-Hsiang Song, Ta-Pen Guo
  • Patent number: 9397085
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with a bidirectional ESD transistor. A base diffusion separates an emitter diffusion and a collector diffusion. Silicide is blocked from the base diffusion, the emitter-base junction, the collector-base junction, and from equal portions of the emitter diffusion and the collector diffusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Akram A. Salman, Farzan Farbiz, Aravind C. Appaswamy, Ann Margaret Concannon
  • Patent number: 9391064
    Abstract: In order to provide a semiconductor device having high ESD tolerance, a semiconductor device (IC) is formed so that: a ground voltage wiring (22a) is electrically connected at one end in a wiring direction thereof to a wiring (22b) extending from a ground voltage pad used for external connection; an input voltage wiring (23a) is electrically connected at one end in a wiring direction thereof to a wiring (23b) extending from an input voltage pad used for external connection; and the one end of the ground voltage wiring (22a) and the one end of the input voltage wiring (23a) are substantially opposed to each other across a center of an NMOS transistor (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SII Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Shimazaki, Yoshitsugu Hirose
  • Patent number: 9385220
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a substrate, a fin-shaped structure on the substrate, and a dummy fin-shaped structure on the substrate and adjacent to the fin-shaped structure. Preferably, the fin-shaped structure includes a gate structure thereon and a first epitaxial layer adjacent to two sides of the gate structure, and the dummy fin-shaped structure includes a second epitaxial layer thereon. A contact plug is disposed on the first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: En-Chiuan Liou
  • Patent number: 9385116
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device on a semiconductor substrate and a method for making the same. The device has an active region. The active region includes a gate. The active region also includes a source including a silicide portion having a source contact. The active region further includes a drain including a silicide portion having a drain contact. The source and drain each extend away from the gate along a device axis. The drain contact is laterally offset with respect to the source contact along a direction orthogonal to the device axis whereby current flow between the source contact and the drain contact has a lateral component. The device further comprises a non-silicide region located laterally between the drain contact and the source contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Dolphin Abessolo Bidzo, Bart van Velzen
  • Patent number: 9379027
    Abstract: A method of forming a logic cell utilizing a TS gate cross-couple construct and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming active fins and dummy fins on a substrate, the dummy fins adjacent to each other and between the active fins; forming STI regions between and next to the active and dummy fins; forming gate structures in parallel across the active and dummy fins; forming a gate cut region by cutting the gate structures between the dummy fins; forming a TS layer between the gate structures, the TS layer crossing the gate cut region; and forming a contact connecting a gate structure and the TS layer on a first side of the gate cut region and forming a contact connecting a gate structure and the TS layer on a second side of the gate cut region, the TS layer and contacts cross coupling the gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventor: Ryan Ryoung-han Kim
  • Patent number: 9379176
    Abstract: An integrated circuit containing a well resistor has STI field oxide and resistor dummy active areas in the well resistor. STI trenches are etched and filled with trench fill dielectric material. The trench fill dielectric material is removed from over the active areas by a CMP process, leaving STI field oxide in the STI trenches. Subsequently, dopants are implanted into a substrate in the well resistor area to form the well resistor. An integrated circuit containing a polysilicon resistor has STI field oxide and resistor dummy active areas in an area for the polysilicon resistor. A layer of polysilicon is formed and planarized by a CMP process. A polysilicon etch mask is formed over the CMP-planarized polysilicon layer to define the polysilicon resistor. A polysilicon etch process removes polysilicon in areas exposed by the polysilicon etch mask, leaving the polysilicon resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen Keith Heinrich-Barna, Douglas P. Verret, Alwin J. Tsao
  • Patent number: 9379022
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a depletion mode GaN FET and an integrated driver/cascode IC. The integrated driver/cascode IC includes an enhancement mode cascoded NMOS transistor which is connected in series to a source node of the GaN FET. The integrated driver/cascode IC further includes a driver circuit which conditions a gate input signal and provides a suitable digital waveform to a gate node of the cascoded NMOS transistor. The cascoded NMOS transistor and the driver circuit are formed on a same silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sameer Pendharkar, Naveen Tipirneni
  • Patent number: 9379099
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit is cooperated with a high-frequency circuit and includes a silicon-controlled rectifier element and an inductive element. The silicon-controlled rectifier element is formed by the sequential connection of a first P-type semiconductor material, a first N-type semiconductor material, a second P-type semiconductor material and a second N-type semiconductor material. The silicon-controlled rectifier element has a first end and a second end, and the first end is electrically coupled with the first P-type semiconductor material while the second end is electrically coupled with the second N-type semiconductor material. One end of the inductive element is electrically coupled with the first end and the other end thereof is electrically coupled with the first N-type semiconductor material, or one end of the inductive element is electrically coupled with the second end and the other end thereof is electrically coupled with the second P-type semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Chun-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 9373616
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrostatic protective device structure, which comprises a CMOS transistor that is disposed entirely above a P-type silicon substrate and arranged into a multi-finger-pattern structure, wherein on the outermost side on both sides of this electrostatic protective device structure is the source region of the MOS transistor, an active region of other drain region or source region in addition to the outermost source region on both sides is arranged in comb teeth pattern and in pairwise intersection, between the active regions of the adjacent drain region or source region is a field oxide region isolation, and on the drain region or source region is disposed a contact hole connecting metal with the active region, wherein the contact hole on the comb-tooth-pattern and pairwise intersected active region is located at the top of the comb-tooth-pattern active region, i.e. close to a side of the field oxide region isolation far away from the polysilicon gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Shanghai Huahong Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Qing Su
  • Patent number: 9368209
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Each memory cell includes a program/read portion and an erase portion that share an electrically floating layer of conductive material defining a first capacitive coupling with the program/read portion and a second capacitive coupling with the erase portion. The first capacitive coupling defines a first capacitance greater than a second capacitance defined by the second capacitive coupling. The erase portion is configured so that an electric current extracts charge carriers from the electrically floating layer to store a first logic value in the memory cell. The program/read portion is further configured so that an electric current injects charge carriers in the electrically floating layer to store a second logic value in the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca Milani, Fabrizio Torricelli, Anna Richelli, Luigi Colalongo, Zsolt Miklos KovĂ cs-Vajna
  • Patent number: 9362265
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for precision mixed-signal electronic circuit protection are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a p-well, an n-well, a poly-active diode structure, a p-type active region, and an n-type active region. The poly-active diode structure is formed over the n-well, the p-type active region is formed in the n-well on a first side of the poly-active diode structure, and the n-type active region is formed along a boundary of the p-well and the n-well on a second side of the poly-active diode structure. During a transient electrical event the apparatus is configured to provide conduction paths through and underneath the poly-active diode structure to facilitate injection of carriers in the n-type active region. The protection device can further include another poly-active diode structure formed over the p-well to further enhance carrier injection into the n-type active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Javier Alejandro Salcedo, Srivatsan Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 9356584
    Abstract: A level shifter for high-speed level shifting includes a first P-channel transistor, comprising a gate coupled to a drain, and a source coupled to a system voltage; a second P-channel transistor, comprising a gate coupled to the gate of the first P-channel transistor, and a source coupled to the system voltage; a first N-channel transistor, comprising a drain coupled to the drain of the first P-channel transistor, and a source coupled to a ground level; and a second N-channel transistor, comprising a drain coupled to a drain of the second P-channel transistor, and a source coupled to the ground level; wherein the first N-channel transistor and the second N-channel transistor are low-threshold-voltage transistors or native transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Chi Li
  • Patent number: 9356013
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including: a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type adjacent to the first region; third and fourth semiconductor regions of the second conductivity type over or at least partially within the first semiconductor region; a fifth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type between the third and fourth semiconductor regions; a first gate over the fifth semiconductor region; sixth and seventh semiconductor regions of the first conductivity type over or at least partially within the second semiconductor region; an eighth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type between the sixth and seventh semiconductor regions; a second gate over the eighth semiconductor region; the third and seventh semiconductor regions coupled to first and second regions of the first gate, respectively, and the fourth and sixth semiconductor regions coupled to first and second regions of the second gate, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Mayank Shrivastava, Christian Russ
  • Patent number: 9356019
    Abstract: An electrical circuit, planar diode, and method of forming a diode and one or more CMOS devices on the same chip. The method includes electrically isolating a portion of a substrate in a diode region from other substrate regions. The method also includes recessing the substrate in the diode region. The method further includes epitaxially forming in the diode region a first doped layer above the substrate and epitaxially forming in the diode region a second doped layer above the first doped layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Pranita Kerber, Ghavam G. Shahidi