Abstract: A structure for the protection of a high-voltage pad includes a lateral bipolar transistor, an N-type diffusion of which, connected to the pad to be protected, is made in an N-type tub with a zone that extends laterally outside the tub in the base. A P-type implantation is made on the entire substrate outside the N-type tub except in the region in which the zone extends.

Abstract: A lateral transistor includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having a major surface; an emitter region of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate on the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; a collector region of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate on the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, spaced from and surrounding the emitter region, and including sides and corners; an electrically insulating layer on the major surface of the semiconductor substrate and including a first penetrating hole extending to the collector region except at a first of the corners and a second penetrating hole extending to the emitter region; a collector electrode contacting the collector region through the first penetrating hole and surrounding the emitter region except at the first corner; an emitter electrode at the same level as the collector electrode and contacting the emitter region through the second penetrating hole; and an emitter wiring laye

Abstract: In a bipolar silicon-on-insulator transistor having a substrate having a major surface, an oxide layer on the major surface, a silicon layer of a first conductivity type on the oxide layer, a base region of a second conductivity type extending into the silicon layer, an emitter region of the first conductivity type extending into the base region, and a collector region of the first conductivity type extending into the silicon layer at a lateral distance from the base region, a plug region of the second conductivity type extends into the silicon layer up to the oxide layer on the opposite side of said emitter region relative to the collector region, a portion of the plug region extends laterally along the surface of the oxide layer under at least part of the emitter region towards the collector region at a distance from the base region, and the plug region is electrically connected to the base region.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device including a silicon substrate, an insulating layer on the silicon substrate, a silicon layer on the insulating layer, the silicon layer being weakly doped with impurities of a first conduction type, a base region extending into the silicon layer from the free surface thereof, the base region being doped with impurities of a second conduction type, an emitter region extending into the base region from the free surface thereof, the emitter region being heavily doped with impurities of the first conduction type, and at least one collector region extending into the silicon layer from the free surface thereof at a lateral distance from the base region, the collector region being doped with impurities of the first conduction type, a floating collector region is provided in the silicon layer between the insulating layer and the base region at a distance from the base region.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor designed to support a substantially uniform current density in base and collector regions to prevent the characteristic early fall-off of bipolar transistor current gain, and to improve the forward safe operating area performance. The advantages of the present invention are achieved by optimally spacing the neighboring emitters in relation to base thickness and further by maintaining a symmetrical topology by the self-aligned formation of emitters and base contacts. The spacing distance between the neighboring emitters does not exceed the base thickness. As a result, the current density below each emitter island is substantially uniform and the transistor as a whole can conduct a higher total current. Moreover, the transistor inhibits formation of current filaments and hot spots because the electric field in the collector region is uniform.

Abstract: The present invention implements a novel emitter scheme that maximizes the emitter perimeter to emitter area ratio of an integrated circuit transistor, thereby achieving improved low noise characteristics over the prior art. Emitter regions are disposed in the transistor in discrete "dotted " segments. The dotted emitter segments may be realized by etching into emitter regions defined by an appropriately formed photoresistive overlay, which can be modified without fabrication process changes. The effect is to reduce the total emitter area by half, while maintaining the total emitter perimeter unchanged. As a result, the noise-capacitance product of the transistor is reduced, improving the overall performance of the transistor.

Abstract: A lateral transistor includes a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate, a first second conductivity type region in the substrate, a second second conductivity type region in the substrate spaced from and partially surrounding the first region including a plurality of sides and corners; an electrically insulating film covering the semiconductor substrate and including respective penetrating holes extending to the first and second regions; a first metal film disposed on the insulating film and contacting the second region through a first of the penetrating holes; and a second metal film disposed on the insulating film and contacting the first region through a second of the penetrating holes wherein the first metal film is missing opposite a first of the corners of the second region and the second metal film extends across the second region at the first corner.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with an expanded range of a recommended condition for an input voltage is disclosed. In embodiment, the semiconductor device having input protection on an input terminal thereto, includes: a semiconductor region having a first conducting type, first and second diffusion regions defined in the semiconductor region and respectively having a second conducting type, and a transistor formed by using the semiconductor region as a base, the first diffusion region as a collector, and the second diffusion region as an emitter. The first diffusion region is connected to one of a high-potential power supply and a low-potential power supply, the second diffusion region is connected to the input terminal, and the semiconductor region is connected to another power supply having a voltage high enough to reverse bias the junction between the semiconductor region and the first diffusion region.

Abstract: Obtained is a semiconductor device which can effectively prevent a gate oxide film from deterioration or breaking caused by plasma charged particles which are accumulated in a wiring layer in plasma etching thereof, even if an antenna ratio is increased. In this semiconductor device, an impurity diffusion layer forming a resistor and a diode is interposed between a gate electrode layer of a field-effect transistor of an internal circuit other than an initial input stage circuit and a first wiring layer for transmitting a circuit signal to the gate electrode layer. Thus, plasma charged particles which are accumulated in the first wiring layer in plasma etching thereof are absorbed by the impurity diffusion layer, whereby no surge voltage is applied to the gate electrode layer which is connected with the first wiring layer. Thus, the gate oxide film which is positioned under the gate electrode layer is prevented from breaking or deterioration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an input protection circuit for a semiconductor device, which includes a first node, a second node, a power supply line, an input terminal connected to directly said first node, a first resistor connected between said first node and second node for decreasing surge voltage to said internal circuit from said input terminal, a first discharge circuit connected between said second node and said power supply line, and a second discharge circuit connected between said first node and said power supply line. The second node is in turn connected to an internal circuit having a MOS transistor to be protected.

Abstract: A semiconductor device implemented using a transistor (Q1) including at least one emitter (E1) and a transistor (Q2) which is larger than the transistor (Q1) including n emitters (E21 to E2n) each having the same area as the emitter (E1) of the transistor (Q1). The emitter (E1) of the transistor (Q1) is disposed between the emitters (E21 to E2n) of the transistor (Q2). When there is deflection of a substrate due to a stress to cause distortion in shape of the emitters, the emitter (E1) has much less distortion in shape than the emitters located on the end portions of the row region in the longitudinal direction. Since the transistor (Q2) has a number of emitters, the distortion in shape of the emitters (E21 to E2n) of the transistor (Q2), if any, has little effect on the whole.

Abstract: A circuit construction for biasing near a pocket containing a power supply potential circuit element in a junction-isolated circuit. In normal operation if the polarity of the supply voltage is reversed from that intended the pocket is disconnected. To achieve this, in one embodiment the emitter of a transistor is connected to the positve supply voltage. The collector of that transistor is used to bias the pocket, containing a circuit element, which in normal operation should receive the supply voltage. When the supply voltage is reversed, the emitter-base junction is reverse biased and the collector-base junction is turned off. The pocket is thus disconnected from the supply during supply reversal. The transistor may also have a second collector to handle reinjection of carriers when it is saturated. This second collector can be connected to the base or used by other circuits to detect when saturation occurs.

Abstract: A high-voltage bipolar transistor and fabrication method that comprises a shield electrode (or field-termination electrode) located between bond pads and underlying semiconductor material. The shield electrode is sandwiched between two isolating dielectric layers. High-voltage applied to the bond pad establishes an electric field between the bond pad and the shield electrode), preventing field penetration into and inversion of the underlying semiconductor material. Using this overlapping field-termination structure, low leakage current and high breakdown voltage is maintained in the transistor. The present overlapping field-termination structure provides an effective field termination underneath the bond pads, and because of its overlapping design, provides for a more compact transistor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses method for fabricating, and the structure of, a unique and novel bipolar transistor. The bipolar transistor of the present invention has a substantially uniform current density in base and collector regions. This uniform current density prevents the characteristic early fall-off of bipolar transistor current gain, and improves the forward safe operating area performance. As such, the bipolar transistor of the invention increases current gain at high collector currents, and expands the current and voltage region over which the device may safely operated. The advantages of the present invention are achieved by optimally spacing the neighboring emitters in relation to base thickness and further by maintaining a symmetrical topology by the self-aligned formation of emitters and base contacts.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, a desired bipolar transistor formed in the semiconductor layer. First and second parasitic elements are formed in the integrated circuit. An element is provided which detects when the second parasitic element becomes active or which prevents increase of the collector-to-emitter voltage of the desired bipolar transistor in response to current flowing through the second parasitic transistor. This element may be a semiconductor region formed in the semiconductor layer. The transistor may be an npn or pnp type transistor manufactured according to a complementary bipolar process or other process which results in a transistor with first and second parasitic elements. The present invention is also well-suited for use in the output stage of an operational amplifier.

Abstract: A semiconductor device implemented using a transistor (Q1) including at least one emitter (E1) and a transistor (Q2) which is larger than the transistor (Q1) including n emitters (E21 to E2n) each having the same area as the emitter (E1) of the transistor (Q1). The emitter (E1) of the transistor (Q1) is disposed between the emitters (E21 to E2n) of the transistor (Q2). When there is deflection of a substrate due to a stress to cause distortion in shape of the emitters, the emitter (E1) has much less distortion in shape than the emitters located on the end portions of the row region in the longitudinal direction. Since the transistor (Q2) has a number of emitters, the distortion in shape of the emitters (E21 to E2n) of the transistor (Q2), if any, has little effect on the whole.

Abstract: n type epitaxial layers are formed on the main surface of a p type semiconductor substrate. A field oxide film is selectively formed in the surface of n type epitaxial layers. An n type diffusion region is formed in n type epitaxial layers positioned directly under field oxide film. A base region and a collector region are respectively formed in the surface of n type epitaxial layer positioned between field oxide films. As a result, a semiconductor device having an IIL circuit is obtained which can suppress the parasitic bipolar operation between base regions, reduce the junction capacitance between the base region and the emitter region and which can be reduced in size.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has protective devices formed in a P-type semiconductive region maintained at a ground potential and disposed adjacent to bonding pads connected to internal circuitry through respective signal lines. A plurality of first N+ diffusion regions connected to respective signal lines and a second diffusion region connected to a ground line are disposed in the P-type semiconductive region. A separating region having a thick insulating layer is disposed between the first diffusion regions and the second diffusion region. The protective devices formed as NPN transistors have a common emitter at the second N+ diffusion region, which has enough area for storing and discharging electric charges to the ground, while the occupied area of the protective devices is maintained small. The protective devices can be formed as so-called field MOS transistors having a common source.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, a desired bipolar transistor formed in the semiconductor layer. First and second parasitic elements are formed in the integrated circuit. An element is provided which detects when the second parasitic element becomes active or which prevents increase of the collector-to-emitter voltage of the desired bipolar transistor in response to current flowing through the second parasitic transistor. This element may be a semiconductor region formed in the semiconductor layer. The transistor may be an npn or pnp type transistor manufactured according to a complementary bipolar process or other process which results in a transistor with first and second parasitic elements. The present invention is also well-suited for use in the output stage of an operational amplifier.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor is provided in which the base-emitter junctions do not traverse the base but terminate inside the top surface of the base. The transistor has long emitter perimeter available for current flow and more than two emitter sides (e.g., three sides) available for current flow, which allows obtaining a low base resistance, a low emitter resistance, a low collector resistance, a low base-collector capacitance, and a small size.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, first and second bipolar transistors formed at the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, a Schottky-barrier diode formed on a predetermined area of each of the first and second bipolar transistors, a capacitor formed on each of the first and second bipolar transistors, each capacitor including an insulating layer covering a surface of a respective one of the first and second bipolar transistors, a polysilicon layer formed on the insulating layer in a pattern that extends around the predetermined area, a dielectric film formed covering the polysilicon layer, and a conductive film covering the dielectric film.

Abstract: An improved bipolar transistor is provided which can be formed using a number of process steps which are similar to those used for forming MOSFETs. As such, the bipolar transistor is particularly useful in BiCMOS device arrangements. In accordance with one embodiment, a bipolar transistor is formed so that at least one of the emitter and collector regions has a high impurity region and a low impurity region. The collector and emitter regions of the device are formed in the base region to be spaced apart from one another, and the base electrode is arranged to cover the area of the base region between them. In an alternative embodiment, two collector regions can be provided in a base region on opposite sides of an emitter which is also formed in the base region. Two base electrodes can then be respectively provided in the areas between the two collectors and the emitter region. The bipolar transistors are particularly useful for forming a horizontal bipolar transistor structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a lateral transistor which has emitter regions (7) and collector regions (8) of a first conductivity type laterally spaced apart and included in a region (4, 5) of a second conductivity type opposed to the first. The lateral space (4) of the region (4, 5) of the second type situated between the emitter (7) and collector (8) regions forms the base of the transistor, with the emitter region (7) having a depth and a doping level which are such that the diffusion length of the minority carriers injected vertically therein is greater than or equal to the width of the region, which region has an elongate shape in at least a longitudinal direction, while the lateral transistor has its contour surrounded by a deep insulating layer (12).