Break-down Diode, E.g., Zener Diode, Avalanche Diode (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.355)
  • Patent number: 9024412
    Abstract: A first MOSFET is formed in a first region of a chip, and a second MOSFET is formed in a second region thereof. A first source terminal and a first gate terminal are formed in the first region. In the second region, a second source terminal and a second gate terminal are arranged so as to be aligned substantially parallel to a direction in which the first source terminal and the first gate terminal are aligned. A temperature detection diode is arranged between the first source terminal and the second source terminal. A first terminal and a second terminal of the temperature detection diode are aligned in a first direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the first source terminal and the first gate terminal are aligned or in a second direction substantially perpendicular thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Tonomura, Hideo Ishii, Tsuyoshi Ota
  • Patent number: 8975661
    Abstract: An asymmetrical bidirectional protection component formed in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, including: a first implanted area of the first conductivity type; a first epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type on the substrate and the first implanted area; a second epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type on the first epitaxial layer, the second layer having a doping level different from that of the first layer; a second area of the first conductivity type on the outer surface of the epitaxial layer, opposite to the first area; a first metallization covering the entire lower surface of the substrate; and a second metallization covering the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Benjamin Morillon
  • Patent number: 8785973
    Abstract: In an ultra high voltage lateral GaN structure having a 2DEG region extending between two terminals, an isolation region is provided between the two terminals to provide for reversible snapback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Vladislav Vashchenko
  • Patent number: 8530953
    Abstract: A transistor power switch device comprising an array of vertical transistor elements for carrying current between the first and second faces of a semiconductor body and a vertical avalanche diode electrically in parallel with the array of vertical transistors. The array of transistor elements includes at the first face an array of source regions of a first semiconductor type, at least one p region of a second semiconductor type opposite to the first type interposed between the source regions and the second face, at least one control electrode for switchably controlling flow of the current through the p region, and a conductive layer contacting the source regions and insulated from the control electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Michel Reynes, Beatrice Bernoux, Rene Escoffier, Pierre Jalbaud, Ivana Deram
  • Patent number: 8497167
    Abstract: A high voltage ESD protection diode wherein the p-n junction is defined by a p-well and an n-well and includes a RESURF region, the diode including a field oxide layer formed on top of the p-well and n-well, wherein the parameters of the diode are adjustable by controlling one or more of the junction width, the length of the RESURF region, or the length of the field oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Vladislav Vashchenko, Vladimir Kuznetsov, Peter J. Hopper
  • Patent number: 8492866
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Zener diode having a scalable reverse-bias breakdown voltage (Vb) as a function of the position of a cathode contact region relative to the interface between adjacent cathode and anode well regions. Specifically, cathode and anode contact regions are positioned adjacent to corresponding cathode and anode well regions and are further separated by an isolation region. However, while the anode contact region is contained entirely within the anode well region, one end of the cathode contact region extends laterally into the anode well region. The length of this end can be predetermined in order to selectively adjust the Vb of the diode (e.g., increasing the length reduces Vb of the diode and vice versa). Also disclosed are an integrated circuit, incorporating multiple instances of the diode with different reverse-bias breakdown voltages, a method of forming the diode and a design structure for the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick G. Anderson, Natalie B. Feilchenfeld, David L. Harmon, Richard A. Phelps, Yun Shi, Michael J. Zierak
  • Publication number: 20130082768
    Abstract: Disclosed is a diode. An embodiment of the diode includes a semiconductor body, a first emitter region of a first conductivity type, a second emitter region of a second conductivity type, and a base region arranged between the first and second emitter regions and having a lower doping concentration than the first and second emitter regions. The diode further includes a first emitter electrode only electrically coupled to the first emitter region, a second emitter electrode in electrical contact with the second emitter region, and a control electrode arrangement including a first control electrode section, and a first dielectric layer arranged between the first control electrode section and the semiconductor body. At least one pn junction extends to the first dielectric layer or is arranged distant to the first dielectric layer by less than 250 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Joachim Weyers
  • Patent number: 8236625
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes. In another embodiment, the ESD devices has an asymmetrical, characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu
  • Patent number: 8217419
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device in which on-resistance is largely reduced. In a region (2a) of an N type epitaxial layer (2) of the semiconductor device 20, each region between neighboring trenches (3) is blocked with a depletion layer (14) formed around a trench (3) so that a current passage (12) is interrupted, while a part of the depletion layer (14) formed around the trench (3) is deleted so that the current passage (12) is opened. In a region (2b), a junction portion (8) between the N type epitaxial layer (2) and a P+ type diffusion region (7) makes a Zener diode (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Takaishi
  • Patent number: 8198684
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device with drain voltage protection includes a semiconductor substrate, at least a trench gate transistor device and at least a trench ESD protection device. An upper surface of the semiconductor substrate has a first trench and a second trench. The trench gate transistor device is disposed in the first trench and the semiconductor substrate. The trench ESD protection device is disposed in the second trench, and includes a first doped region, a second doped region and a third doped region. The first doped region and the third doped region are respectively electrically connected to a drain and a gate of the trench gate transistor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Chieh Lin, Guo-Liang Yang, Jen-Hao Yeh, Jia-Fu Lin
  • Publication number: 20120064675
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes. In another embodiment, the ESD devices has an asymmetrical, characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu
  • Publication number: 20120061803
    Abstract: An asymmetrical bidirectional protection component formed in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, including: a first implanted area of the first conductivity type; a first epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type on the substrate and the first implanted area; a second epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type on the first epitaxial layer, the second layer having a doping level different from that of the first layer; a second area of the first conductivity type on the outer surface of the epitaxial layer, opposite to the first to area; a first metallization covering the entire lower surface of the substrate; and a second metallization covering the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Benjamin Morillon
  • Patent number: 8110448
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu, Thomas Keena
  • Patent number: 8089095
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes. In another embodiment, the ESD devices has an asymmetrical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu
  • Patent number: 8053808
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device supported on a semiconductor substrate includes 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 source metal connected to the source region, and a gate metal configured as a metal stripe surrounding a peripheral region of the substrate connected to a gate pad wherein the gate metal and the gate pad are separated from the source metal by a metal gap. The semiconductor power device further includes an ESD protection circuit includes a plurality of doped polysilicon regions of opposite conductivity types constituting ESD diodes extending across the metal gap and connected between the gate metal and the source metal on the peripheral region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Su, Anup Bhalla, Daniel Ng, Wei Wang, Ji Pan
  • Publication number: 20110127577
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a transient voltage suppressing (TVS) array substantially following a manufacturing process for manufacturing a vertical semiconductor power device. The method includes a step of opening a plurality of isolation trenches in an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type in a semiconductor substrate followed by applying a body mask for doping a body region having a second conductivity type between two of the isolation trenches. The method further includes a step of applying an source mask for implanting a plurality of doped regions of the first conductivity type constituting a plurality of diodes wherein the isolation trenches isolating and preventing parasitic PNP or NPN transistor due to a latch-up between the doped regions of different conductivity types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Madhur Bobde
  • Publication number: 20110121429
    Abstract: A vertical bidirectional protection diode including, on a heavily-doped substrate of a first conductivity type, first, second, and third regions of the first, second, and first conductivity types, these regions all having a doping level greater than from 2 to 5×1019 atoms/cm3 and being laterally delimited by an insulated trench, each of these regions having a thickness smaller than 4 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Benjamin Morillon
  • Publication number: 20100314660
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes. In another embodiment, the ESD devices has an asymmetrical characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu
  • Publication number: 20100311211
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu, Thomas Keena
  • Patent number: 7812367
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu, Thomas Keena
  • Patent number: 7772600
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light emitting device having a zener diode therein and a method of fabricating the light emitting device. The light emitting device comprises a P-type silicon substrate having a zener diode region and a light emitting diode region. A first N-type compound semiconductor layer is contacted to the zener diode region of the P-type silicon substrate to exhibit characteristics of a zener diode together with the P-type silicon substrate. Further, a second N-type compound semiconductor layer is positioned on the light emitting diode region of the P-type silicon substrate. The second N-type compound semiconductor layer is spaced apart from the first N-type compound semiconductor layer. Meanwhile, a P-type compound semiconductor layer is positioned on the second N-type compound semiconductor layer, and an active layer is interposed between the second N-type compound semiconductor layer and the P-type compound semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Seoul Opto Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Duck Hwan Oh, Sang Joon Lee, Kyung Hae Kim
  • Publication number: 20100193895
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device comprising a diode and a method of making an integrated circuit device comprising a diode are provided. The diode can comprise an island of a first conductivity type, a first region of a second conductivity type formed in the island, and a cathode diffusion contact region doped to the second conductivity type disposed in the first region. The diode can also comprise a cathode contact electrically contacting the cathode diffusion contact region, an anode disposed in the island, an anode contact electrically contacting the anode, and a first extension region doped to the first conductivity type disposed at a surface junction between the first region and the island.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: James Douglas Beasom
  • Patent number: 7719029
    Abstract: A single-photon avalanche detector is disclosed that is operable at wavelengths greater than 1000 nm and at operating speeds greater than 10 MHz. The single-photon avalanche detector comprises a thin-film resistor and avalanche photodiode that are monolithically integrated such that little or no additional capacitance is associated with the addition of the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Princeton Lightwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allen Itzler
  • Patent number: 7642599
    Abstract: A semiconductor device disclosed herein comprises: a first base region which is of a first conductivity type; a second base region which is of a second conductivity type and which is selectively formed on a major surface of the first base region; a stopper region which is of a first conductivity type and which is formed on the major surface of the first base region, the stopper region being a predetermined distance away from the second base region and surrounding the second base region; and a ring region which is of a second conductivity type which is formed on the major surface of the first base region between the second base region and the stopper region, the ring region being spirally around the second base region and electrically connected to the second base region and the stopper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideaki Ninomiya, Tomoki Inoue
  • Patent number: 7612431
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method of manufacturing a trench transistor. The method includes forming a substrate of a first conductivity type and implanting a dopant of a second conductivity type, forming a body region of the substrate. The method further includes forming a trench in the body region and depositing an insulating layer in the trench and over the body region wherein the insulating layer lines the trench. The method further includes filling the trench with polysilicon forming a top surface of the trench and forming a diode in the body region wherein a portion of the diode is lower than the top surface of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Vishay-Siliconix
    Inventors: Qufei Chen, Robert Xu, Kyle Terrill, Deva Pattanayak
  • Patent number: 7544545
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method of manufacturing a trench polysilicon diode. The method includes forming a N?(P?) type epitaxial region on a N+(P+) type substrate and forming a trench in the N?(P?) type epitaxial region. The method further includes forming a insulating layer in the trench and filling the trench with polysilicon forming a top surface of the trench. The method further includes forming P+(N+) type doped polysilicon region and N+(P+) type doped polysilicon region in the trench and forming a diode in the trench wherein a portion of the diode is lower than the top surface of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Vishay-Siliconix
    Inventors: Qufei Chen, Robert Xu, Kyle Terrill, Deva Pattanayak
  • Publication number: 20090020818
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for operating the same. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes first, second, third, and fourth doped semiconductor regions. The second doped semiconductor region is in direct physical contact with the first and third doped semiconductor regions. The fourth doped semiconductor region is in direct physical contact with the third doped semiconductor region. The first and second doped semiconductor regions are doped with a first doping polarity. The third and fourth doped semiconductor regions are doped with a second doping polarity. The method further includes (i) electrically coupling the first and fourth doped semiconductor regions to a first node and a second node of the semiconductor structure, respectively, and (ii) electrically charging the first and second nodes to first and second electric potentials, respectively. The first electric potential is different from the second electric potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 7199403
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor arrangement having a MOSFET structure and an active zener function. A n+-doped zone and a p+-doped zone are provided at the bottom of a trench for the purpose of forming zener diodes, the n+-doped zone being directly connected to the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Jenö Tihanyi
  • Patent number: 6791161
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel semiconductor device, which can be efficiently fabricated for use in Zener diode applications. Precision Zener diodes and the method for manufacturing the same are provided. The Zener diodes of the present invention are made from a semiconductor substrate layer having a range or resistivity, on which is grown an epitaxial layer. The epitaxial layer has a resistivity greater than that of the substrate. The diode also has an interior region of doped semiconductor material of the same conductivity type as the substrate. The interior region extends through the epitaxial layer and into the substrate layer. The diode also has a junction layer of a conductivity type different from the substrate. The junction layer is formed in the epitaxial surface, and the junction layer forms an interior P/N junction with the interior region and a peripheral P/N junction with a peripheral portion of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: FabTech, Inc.
    Inventor: Roman J. Hamerski