Abstract: A method includes forming a material over a substrate, oxidizing the material, and separately from the oxidizing, converting at least a portion of the oxidized material to a perovskite-type crystalline structure. The material can include an alloy material containing at least two metals. The method can further include retarding interdiffusion of the two metals. Such methods exhibit substantial advantage when at least two of the metals exhibit a substantial difference in chemical affinity for oxygen. A passivation layer against carbon and nitrogen reaction can be provided over the material. The passivation layer can be oxidized into a dielectric layer. The perovskite-type material can also be a dielectric layer.

Abstract: Methods are provided for forming a transistor for use in an active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD). In one aspect a method is provided for processing a substrate including providing a glass substrate, depositing a conductive seed layer on a surface of the glass substrate, depositing a resist material on the conductive seed layer, patterning the resist layer to expose portions of the conductive seed layer, and depositing a metal layer on the exposed portions of the conductive seed layer by an electrochemical technique.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ferroelectric memory device includes a step of forming a first region (24) having surface characteristics allowing the material for the members of a ferroelectric capacitor section to be preferentially deposited, and a second region (26) having surface characteristics allowing the material for the capacitor section to be less deposited than the first region (24), and a step of providing the material on the base (10) to form a first electrode (32), a ferroelectric film (34), and a second electrode (36) in the first region (24) of the base (10).

Abstract: A semiconductor capacitor device has two pairs of first and second MIM capacitors on a semiconductor substrate. The paired first and second MIM capacitors include respective capacitor dielectric films having different compositions. Also, the paired first and second MIM capacitors are connected in inverse parallel fashion, with an upper electrode of the first MIM capacitor being connected with a lower electrode of the second MIM capacitor and with a lower electrode of the first MIM capacitor being connected with an upper electrode of the second MIM capacitor. Furthermore, the two first MIM capacitors are electrically connected in inverse parallel with each other, and the two second MIM capacitors are also electrically connected in inverse parallel with each other. This arrangement facilitates mutual counteraction of the voltage dependences of the two pairs of first and second MIM capacitors so as to make the voltage dependence of the capacitance of the capacitor device small.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device according to an embodiment of the present invention has an MIM structure capacitor connected between a power source potential electrode wiring and a ground potential electrode wiring each via at least one interlayer connection wiring.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for preparing the same that can solve crack of a semiconductor film, capacitance electrodes and the like due to stress when forming a source electrode and a drain electrode in a semiconductor device having a thin film transistor and a holding capacitance with three or more capacitance electrodes is provided. Before forming the source electrode and the drain electrode, a crystalline silicon film for relaxing the stress is formed, then a contact hole connecting to the semiconductor film of the thin film transistor is opened, and a metal film to be the source electrode and the drain electrode is formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and field effect transistors (FETs) formed on a semiconductor substrate. The FETs are formed in Front End of Line (FEOL) levels below the MIM capacitors which are formed in upper Back End of Line (BEOL) levels. An insulator layer is selectively formed to encapsulate at least a top plate of the MIM capacitor to protect the MIM capacitor from damage due to process steps such as, for example, reactive ion etching. By selective formation of the insulator layer on the MIM capacitor, openings in the inter-level dielectric layers are provided so that hydrogen and/or deuterium diffusion to the FETs can occur.

Abstract: Dopant deactivation, particularly at the Si/silicide interface, is avoided by forming deep source/drain implants after forming silicide layers on the substrate and activating the source/drain regions by laser thermal annealing. Embodiments include forming source/drain extensions, forming metal silicide layers on the substrate surface and gate electrode, forming preamorphized regions under the metal silicide layers in the substrate, ion implanting to form deep source/drain implants overlapping the preamorphized regions and extending deeper into the substrate then the preamorphized regions, and laser thermal annealing to activate the deep source/drain regions.

Abstract: On a substrate, there are provided a lower electrode, a capacitance insulating film, a passivation insulating film, and a first partial film of an upper electrode to be filled in a second aperture (capacitance determining aperture) formed in the passivation insulating film. The lower electrode, the capacitance insulating film, and the first partial film constitute a capacitance element. The upper electrode has the first partial film which is in contact with the capacitance insulating film and a second partial film which is not in contact with the capacitance insulating film. Since a second electrode wire consisting of a lower-layer film composed of titanium and an upper-layer film composed of an aluminum alloy film is in contact with the second partial film distinct from the first partial film of the upper electrode, titanium or the like encroaching from the second electrode wire can be prevented from diffusing into the capacitance insulating film.

Abstract: A capacitive structure is made with thin film capacitor plates substantially surrounding an opening cavity for accommodating a chip. The capacitive structure includes at least one capacitor and is mounted around the periphery of a ball grid array (BGA) having a flip chip in the opening. The capacitive structure provides a high capacitance with a low parasitic inductance.

Abstract: A method and structure for an integrated circuit chip has a logic core which includes a plurality of insulating and conducting levels, an exterior conductor level and passive devices having a conductive polymer directly connected to the exterior conductor level. The passive devices contain RF devices which also includes resistor, capacitor, and/or inductor. The resistors can be serpentine resistors and the capacitors can be interdigitated capacitors.

Abstract: A mixed-signal integrated circuit includes a metal-insulator-metal or polysilicon-insulator-polysilicon capacitor. The electrical path from one electrode of the capacitor passes through a first interconnecting line, then through multiple via holes to a second interconnecting line. During the fabrication process, the capacitor is first charged during a plasma deposition process used to deposit an interlayer dielectric film between the first and second interconnecting lines, then abruptly discharged during a plasma etching process that forms the via holes. The discharge does not damage the floors of the via holes, however, because each of the multiple via holes carries only part of the discharge current.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a fabrication method thereof in which the semiconductor device includes capacitors having a metal/insulator/metal (MIM) structure are disclosed. The method includes forming an interlayer insulating film on a structure of a semiconductor substrate that exposes lower wiring and a lower insulating film; selectively etching the interlayer insulating film to form a first electrode opening that exposes the lower wiring; forming a first electrode in the first electrode opening such that the first electrode opening is filled; selectively etching the interlayer insulating film at a region of the same adjacent to the first electrode to thereby form a second electrode opening; forming a dielectric layer along inner walls that define the second electrode opening; forming a second electrode on the dielectric layer in such a manner to fill the second electrode opening; and forming upper wiring on at least a portion of the second electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device in which the capacitive element of MIMC structure has a low parasitic capacity. A process for fabrication of said semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has a capacitive element of MIMC structure, a PN photodiode, and a vertical NPN bipolar transistor which are mounted together on the same semiconductor substrate. The lower wiring layer connected to the TiN lower electrode layer of the capacitive element of MIMC structure is formed on the insulating film and the first interlayer insulating film. Between this insulating film and the p-type semiconductor substrate is the p−-type low-concentration semiconductor layer whose impurity concentration is lower than that of the p-type semiconductor substrate. This construction suppresses the parasitic capacity of the capacitive element of the MIMC structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having capacitors. The configuration of the device includes: capacitor upper electrodes 14a, 14b formed via a dielectric film 13 on plate lines 12a that become capacitor lower electrodes; a conductive connecting sections 12b that are connected to one ends of the plate lines 12a and have contact regions; upper conductive patterns 14c that are formed between the contact regions and the edge of plate lines 12a on the dielectric film 13 on the conductive connecting sections 12b and are in the same layer as the capacitor upper electrodes 14a, 14b.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a plurality of capacitors. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitor arranged on a substrate and including first upper and lower electrode layers between which a first capacitor insulation film is interposed, and a second capacitor arranged on the substrate and including second upper and lower electrode layers between which a second capacitor insulation film is interposed, the second upper and lower electrode layers having a same structure as that of the first upper and lower electrode layers, and the second capacitor having a per-unit-area capacity different from that of the first capacitor.

Abstract: A new capacitor architecture includes a front plate of the capacitor formed form a first polysilicon layer. The front plate is surround by first and second dielectric layers. The back plate of the capacitor is formed from one layer of a first two-layer conductive structure which surrounds the first and second dielectric layer. The two layer structure is an equal potential structure and includes a conductive coupling between the two layers. In one embodiment, the back plate of the capacitor is formed from a metal layer. A third and fourth dielectric layers surround the first two-layer conductive structure. A second two-layer equal potential conductive structure surrounds the third and fourth dielectric layers. In one embodiment, the second two-layer equal potential conductive structure comprise an interconnect between a metal layer and the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biochip for capacitive stimulation and/or detection of biological tissue. The biochip includes a support structure, at least one stimulation and/or sensor device, which is arranged in or on the support structure, and at least one dielectric layer, one layer surface of which is arranged on the stimulation and/or sensor device and the opposite layer surface forms a stimulation and/or sensor surface for the capacitive stimulation and/or detection of biological tissue. The dielectric layer includes (Tix, Zr1-x)O2, with 0.99≧x≧0.5, or a TiO2 and ZrO2 layer arrangement.

Abstract: The invention is directed to unique high-surface area BEOL capacitor structures with high-k dielectric layers and methods for fabricating the same. These high-surface area BEOL capacitor structures may be used in analog and mixed signal applications. The capacitor is formed within a trench with pedestals within the trench to provide additional surface area. The top and bottom electrodes are created using damascene integration scheme. The dielectric layer is created as a multilayer dielectric film comprising for instance Al2O3, Al2O3/Ta2O5, Al2O3/Ta2O5/Al2O3 and the like. The dielectric layer may be deposited by methods like atomic layer deposition or chemical vapor deposition. The dielectric layer used in the capacitor may also be produced by anodic oxidation of a metallic precursor to yield a high dielectric constant oxide layer.

Abstract: A capacitor structure within a microelectronic product employs at least one of: (1) an oxidation barrier layer formed upon a second capacitor plate within the capacitor structure; and (2) a spacer formed adjoining a sidewall of the second capacitor plate, where the spacer is formed with an “L” shape. The foregoing features of the capacitor structure provide a capacitor formed therein with enhanced performance.

Abstract: Ferroelectric device structures are provided comprising a ferroelectric capacitor, first and second circuit elements, and first and second contacts. The ferroelectric capacitor residing over the first and second circuit elements, and first and second contacts, has a conductive plate that may be used as a local interconnect layer. The conductive plate extends between and electrically couples first and second circuit elements directly through first and second contacts of the ferroelectric memory device. Methods are also provided for forming the local interconnect layer within the conductive plate of the ferroelectric capacitor.

Abstract: A spiral inductor comprising: a substrate; a protruding portion which is formed on the top face of the substrate and the top of which serves as a dummy element for controlling a chemical mechanical polishing process; and a conductive layer which is formed on the substrate so as to have a spiral shape and which serves as an induction element, wherein the protruding portion is formed in a region other than a region directly below the conductive layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) device structure inserted in a low-k material and the method for forming same. The low-k material has a first low-k material layer at the bottom of the MIM device structure and a second low-k material layer on top thereof. The structure further comprises a first sealing layer on top of the first low-k material layer; an out gas sealing layer on top of the first sealing layer; and a device such as a capacitor formed on top of the out gas sealing layer, the capacitor having a dielectric layer, a top plate, and a bottom plate, wherein the dielectric layer has a center portion having the same width as the top plate, and two extended portions, each with a predetermined minimum thickness.

Abstract: A system to package high performance microelectronic devices, such as processors, responds to component transients. In one embodiment, the system includes a decoupling capacitor that is disposed between a Vcc electrical bump and a Vss electrical bump. The decoupling capacitor has Vcc and Vss terminals. The Vcc and Vss terminals share electrical pads with the Vcc electrical bump and the Vss electrical bump. A simple current loop is created that improves the power delivery for the system.

Abstract: An integrated capacitor including a semiconductor substrate is disclosed. An outer vertical plate is laid over the semiconductor substrate. The outer vertical plate of a plurality of first conductive slabs connected vertically using multiple first via plugs. The outer vertical plate defines a grid area. An inner vertical plate is laid over the semiconductor substrate in parallel with the outer vertical plate and is encompassed by the grid area defined by the outer vertical plate. The inner vertical plate consists of a plurality of second conductive slabs connected vertically using multiple second via plugs. A horizontal conductive plate is laid under the outer vertical plate and inner vertical plate over the semiconductor substrate for shielding the outer vertical plate from producing a plate-to-substrate parasitic capacitance thereof. The inner vertical plate is electrically connected with the horizontal conductive plate using at least one third via plug.

Abstract: A decoupling capacitor is provided for a semiconductor device and may include a first low dielectric insulator layer and a low resistance conductor formed into at least two interdigitized patterns on the surface of the first low dielectric insulator in a single interconnect plane. A high dielectric constant material may be provided between the two patterns. A circuit for testing a plurality of these capacitors is also provided which includes a charge monitoring circuit, a coupling circuit and a control circuit.

Abstract: A partially embedded decoupling capacitor is provided as an integral part of a semiconductor chip for reducing delta-I noise. The semiconductor chip includes a plurality of embedded metal layers, a passivation layer formed above the plurality of embedded metal layers as a topmost layer of the semiconductor chip, and a plurality of bonding pads disposed on the passivation layer. A surface planar metal pattern is formed on the passivation layer and electrically connected to one of the plurality of embedded metal layers through one of the plurality of bonding pads or a via hole opened on the passivation layer. For example, the surface planar metal pattern may be connected to a power layer or a ground layer of the semiconductor chip. Therefore, the partially embedded decoupling capacitor is made up of the surface planar metal pattern as an electrode, others of the plurality of embedded metal layers as opposite electrodes, and the passivation layer sandwiched therebetween as a dielectric layer.

Abstract: A programmable capacitor in an integrated circuit (IC) comprises a conductive line located parallel to an interconnect. When a bias voltage is applied to the conductive line, a parasitic capacitance is created between the interconnect and the conductive line. By properly sizing and locating the conductive line, a desired capacitance can be coupled to the interconnect. A bias control circuit can apply or remove the bias voltage from the conductive line, thereby enabling the capacitance to be coupled or decoupled, respectively, from the interconnect. Because of its simple construction, multiple capacitive structures can be formed around a single interconnect to provide capacitive adjustment capability. By changing the number of conductive lines to which the bias voltage is applied, the total capacitance provided by the multiple capacitive structures can be varied. A feedback loop can be incorporated to provide adjustment during IC operation.

Abstract: In a semiconductor chip, conductive tracks run in a rewiring layer from contact pads to contact elevations. The contact pads are formed as vias. The conductive tracks are constructed in sections as bottom electrodes of trimming capacitors. The top electrode of the trimming capacitors is formed by a metal plane of the rewiring layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device system for coupling with external circuitry. The system includes a control signal on a carrier substrate. A semiconductor device is attached to the carrier substrate with an impedance matching device coupled to the control signal.

Abstract: A capacitor construction includes an inner electrode, an inner dielectric layer over the inner electrode, an outer dielectric layer over the inner dielectric layer, and an outer electrode over the outer dielectric layer. The inner dielectric layer can include an oxidized alloy of at least two metals in a perovskite-type crystalline structure. The outer dielectric layer can include an oxide of a material wherein the material exhibits passivation against carbon and nitrogen reaction. As an example, the capacitor construction can further include a middle dielectric layer between the inner and outer dielectric layers. The middle dielectric layer can include an oxidized alloy of at least two metals in a perovskite-type crystalline structure.

Abstract: The semiconductor device with its primary bit line and secondary bit lines, according to the present invention, is capable of being accessed at a high speed. In this semiconductor device, any one of a plurality of secondary bit lines is selectively connected to the primary bit line. The primary bit line 1 and secondary bit lines 3 are all formed on the same insulating film 26. A lined layer of wiring 15 for a memory cell selection word line 8 is formed on an insulating film 27.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a thin-film electronic component and a motherboard in which coupling strength of an external terminal to a supporting substrate is improved. The thin-film electronic component comprising: a supporting substrate; a lower electrode formed on part of the supporting substrate; an insulation layer formed on the lower electrode; an upper electrode formed on the insulation layer; a connection electrode which is formed on part of the supporting substrate located on a bottom surface of a through hole formed on the insulation layer, and is electrically connected to the lower electrode; and an external terminal disposed on the connection electrode within the through hole.

Abstract: A capacitor comprises a first conducting film 12 formed on a substrate 10, a first dielectric film 14 formed on the first conducting film, a second conducting film 18 formed on the first dielectric film, a second dielectric film 22 formed above the second conducting film, covering the edge of the second conducting film, a third conducting film 34 formed above the second dielectric film, covering a part of the second dielectric film covering the edge of the second conducting film. The capacitor further comprises an insulation film 28 covering the edge of the second conducing film or the part of the second dielectric film. An effective thickness of the insulation film between the second conducting film and the third conducing film in the region near the edge of the second conducting film can be increased, whereby concentration of electric fields in the region near the edge of the second conducting film. Consequently, the capacitor can have large capacitance without lowering voltage resistance.

Abstract: A precision high-frequency capacitor includes a dielectric layer formed on the front side surface of a semiconductor substrate and a first electrode on top of the dielectric layer. The semiconductor substrate is heavily doped and therefore has a low resistivity. A second electrode, insulated from the first electrode, is also formed over the front side surface. In one embodiment, the second electrode is connected by a metal-filled via to a layer of conductive material on the back side of the substrate. In alternative embodiments, the via is omitted and the second electrode is either in electrical contact with the substrate or is formed on top of the dielectric layer, yielding a pair of series-connected capacitors. ESD protection for the capacitor can be provided by a pair of oppositely-directed diodes formed in the substrate and connected in parallel with the capacitor.

Abstract: A precision high-frequency capacitor includes a dielectric layer formed on the front side surface of a semiconductor substrate and a first electrode on top of the dielectric layer. The semiconductor substrate is heavily doped and therefore has a low resistivity. A second electrode, insulated from the first electrode, is also formed over the front side surface. In one embodiment, the second electrode is connected by a metal-filled via to a layer of conductive material on the back side of the substrate. In alternative embodiments, the via is omitted and the second electrode is either in electrical contact with the substrate or is formed on top of the dielectric layer, yielding a pair of series-connected capacitors. ESD protection for the capacitor can be provided by a pair of oppositely-directed diodes formed in the substrate and connected in parallel with the capacitor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first insulating film comprising an opening, a capacitor formed at a selected position in the opening, a second insulating film formed at least in the opening, and a third insulating film formed on the second insulating film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for the same can be obtained wherein a semiconductor substrate of a high resistance that can enhance the Q value of a passive circuit element is used and leak current due to the impurity fluctuation that easily occurs in this high resistance semiconductor substrate, and whereby noise resistance of an active element in the high resistance semiconductor substrate is increased. A semiconductor device including a bipolar transistor formed in the main surface of a semiconductor substrate is provided wherein the bipolar transistor includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductive type at a bottom portion thereof and this semiconductor device is provided with a buried layer of a second conductive type, which is located in the semiconductor substrate so as to face the semiconductor layer of the first conductive type.

Abstract: A mesh capacitor structure in an integrated circuit can be made up by arranging at least a unit capacitor module in a coupling way, thereby enhancing its total capacitance by coupling capacitance. The unit capacitor module includes a plurality of first conductive strips extending in parallel with each other in a lateral direction and a plurality of second conductive strips formed over the plurality of first conductive strips and extending in parallel with each other in a longitudinal direction. In addition, a plurality of conductive plugs are formed at intersections between the odd-numbered second conductive strips and the odd-numbered or even-numbered first conductive strips, thereby forming a first electrode, and between the even-numbered second conductive strips and the even-numbered or odd-numbered first conductive strips, thereby forming a second electrode with an electrical polarity opposite to that of the first electrode.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures formed using redeposition of an etchable layer. A starting material is etched and redeposited during the etch on a sidewall of a foundation. The foundation may be removed or may form an integral part of the structure. The starting material may contain one or more layers of material. The structures are adapted for a variety of capacitor structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode that are formed in this order on a semiconductor substrate with an insulating layer interposed between the first and second electrodes. A contact hole is provided for connecting the second electrode to a wiring layer formed above the second electrode, the contact hole being formed at a position above a separated region of the first electrode formed separately from a main region of the first electrode.

Abstract: A ceramic condenser module includes at least one first multi-layered ceramic condenser and at least one second multi-layered ceramic condenser, which are mounted to a front surface and a back surface of a substrate, respectively. When a total surface area of the outside surfaces of the mounted first and second multi-layered ceramic condensers excluding surfaces thereof opposing the substrate is defined as S2, and a total equal to S2 and a surface area of the outside surface of the substrate excluding the area covered by the first and second multi-layered ceramic condensers is defined as S1, S1 is equal to or greater than about 1.3 times S2. With this arrangement, the ceramic condenser module is suitable for use with large amounts of current, has excellent heat-dissipation effect, is much smaller and much less expensive.

Abstract: A multilayer capacitor comprises separate terminals on at least three sides, and on as many as six sides. The capacitor can be fabricated in a large number of different configurations, types, and sizes, depending upon the target application. The separate terminals that are disposed on different sides of the capacitor can be readily coupled to a variety of different adjacent conductors, such as die terminals (including bumpless terminals or bars), IC package terminals (including pads or bars), and the terminals of adjacent discrete components. Methods of fabrication, as well as application of the capacitor to an electronic assembly, are also described.

Abstract: A P well region formed on a buried N well region and a n+ active region that are connected each other through a lead wire, serve as one terminal T1, and a gate electrode and a buried N well region that are connected each other through a leading N well region and a lead wire, serve as the other terminal T2. Thereby, the voltage dependence of capacitance C1 formed between the gate electrode and the n+ active region is canceled out with the voltage dependence of capacitance C2 formed between the P well region and the buried N well region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip is provided having both a conventional DRAM vertical transfer device and an integrated vertical storage capacitor or anti-fuse that can be accessed directly without having to turn on a transfer gate. The mechanism for accessing the integrated capacitor or anti-fuse directly can be a modified doping profile within the vertical cell that provides a low resistance punch-through FET. Alternatively, the mechanism can be a pair of overlapping or nearly overlapping diffusions within the vertical cell.

Abstract: On a substrate, there are provided a lower electrode, a capacitance insulating film, a passivation insulating film, and a first partial film of an upper electrode to be filled in a second aperture (capacitance determining aperture) formed in the passivation insulating film. The lower electrode, the capacitance insulating film, and the first partial film constitute a capacitance element. The upper electrode has the first partial film which is in contact with the capacitance insulating film and a second partial film which is not in contact with the capacitance insulating film. Since a second electrode wire consisting of a lower-layer film composed of titanium and an upper-layer film composed of an aluminum alloy film is in contact with the second partial film distinct from the first partial film of the upper electrode, titanium or the like encroaching from the second electrode wire can be prevented from diffusing into the capacitance insulating film.

Abstract: A first metal plug is formed in the first layer of dielectric. A freestanding second metal plug is created that aligns with and makes contact with the first metal plug, extending the first metal plug. The second metal plug is surrounded by an opening that has been created in layers of etch stop and dielectric. A layer of capacitor dielectric is deposited over the exposed surfaces of the first and second metal plugs and the inside surfaces of the opening that surrounds the second plug. A layer of metal is created over the capacitor dielectric inside the opening in the layers of etch stop and dielectric.

Abstract: In order to provide an electronic circuit board capable of preventing the breakdown voltage of a capacitor element from dropping and excellent in high frequency performance, a positive type photoresist is spin-coated over the surface of an alumina substrate and is exposed to light and developed to form an insulating layer partially, followed by formation of a capacitor element by successively stacking a lower electrode, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode over this insulating layer, further followed by formation of a resistance element, an inductor element and a transmission line, each in a filmy state, over the surface of the alumina substrate.

Abstract: A contact structure for semiconductor devices which are integrated on a semiconductor layer is provided. The structure comprises at least one MOS device and at least one capacitor element where the contact is provided at an opening formed in an insulating layer which overlies at least in part the semiconductor layer. Further, the opening has its surface edges, walls and bottom coated with a metal layer and filled with an insulating layer.

Abstract: A precision high-frequency capacitor includes a dielectric layer formed on the front side surface of a semiconductor substrate and a first electrode on top of the dielectric layer. The semiconductor substrate is heavily doped and therefore has a low resistivity. A second electrode, insulated from the first electrode, is also formed over the front side surface. In one embodiment, the second electrode is connected by a metal-filled via to a layer of conductive material on the back side of the substrate. In alternative embodiments, the via is omitted and the second electrode is either in electrical contact with the substrate or is formed on top of the dielectric layer, yielding a pair of series-connected capacitors. ESD protection for the capacitor can be provided by a pair of oppositely-directed diodes formed in the substrate and connected in parallel with the capacitor.