Diode Only (epo) Patents (Class 257/E27.051)
  • Patent number: 7417265
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a Schottky diode structure comprises a Schottky barrier layer in contact with a semiconductor material through a Schottky contact opening. A conductive ring is formed adjacent the Schottky contact opening and is separated from the semiconductor material by a thin insulating layer. Another insulating layer is formed overlying the structure, and a contact opening is formed therein. The contact opening is wider than the Schottky contact opening and exposes portions of the conductive ring. A Schottky barrier metal is formed in contact with the semiconductor material through the Schottky contact opening, and is formed in further+contact with the conductive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Antonin Rozsypal
  • Patent number: 7410860
    Abstract: Apparatus and Methods for the self-alignment of separated regions in a lateral MOSFET of an integrate circuit. In one embodiment, a method comprising, forming a relatively thin dielectric layer on a surface of a substrate. Forming a first region of relatively thick material having a predetermined lateral length on the surface of the substrate adjacent the relatively thin dielectric layer. Implanting dopants to form a top gate using a first edge of the first region as a mask to define a first edge of the top gate. Implanting dopants to form a drain contact using a second edge of the first region as a mask to define a first edge of the drain contact, wherein the distance between the top gate and drain contact is defined by the lateral length of the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Beasom
  • Patent number: 7405445
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of diodes disposed in the substrate. These diodes are electrically coupled in series. At least one insertion region is disposed in the substrate between two of the diodes and a supply voltage node electrically coupled to the insertion region. Preferably, a guard ring surrounds the diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shao-Chang Huang, Jian-Hsing Lee
  • Patent number: 7381997
    Abstract: A structure and method of fabricating lateral diodes. The diodes include Schottky diodes and PIN diodes. The method of fabrication includes forming one or more doped regions and more trenches in a silicon substrate and forming metal silicides on the sidewalls of the trenches. The fabrication of lateral diodes may be integrated with the fabrication of field effect, bipolar and SiGe bipolar transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Duane Coolbaugh, Jeffrey Bowman Johnson, Xuefeng Liu, Bradley Alan Orner, Robert Mark Rassel, David Charles Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20080122323
    Abstract: High-efficiency Schottky diodes (HED) and rectifier systems having such semiconductor devices are provided, which Schottky diodes (HED) are composed of at least one Schottky diode combined with an additional semiconductor element, e.g., with magnetoresistors (TMBS) or with pn diodes (TJBS), and have trenches. Such high-efficiency Schottky diodes make it possible to construct rectifiers which are suitable for higher temperatures and can therefore be used in motor vehicle generators, without particular cooling measures such as heat sinks being required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Spitz, Alfred Goerlach, Gert Wolf, Markus Mueller
  • Publication number: 20080079110
    Abstract: There is a problem that a reverse off-leak current becomes too large in a Schottky barrier diode. A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a P-type first anode diffusion layer formed in an N-type epitaxial layer, a second anode diffusion layer which is formed so as to surround the first anode diffusion layer, and which has an impurity concentration lower than that of the first anode diffusion layer, N-type cathode diffusion layers formed in the epitaxial layer, and a Schottky barrier metal layer formed on the first and second anode diffusion layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Shuichi KIKUCHI, Shigeaki OKAWA, Kiyofumi NAKAYA, Shuji TANAKA
  • Patent number: 7339186
    Abstract: Arrangement of nanowires with PN junctions between bit lines and word lines are arranged as a ROM memory cell array. A number of the nanowires have dielectric regions and are present only as a dummy. The connections between word and bit lines may also exist as transistors which turn on or turn off only when a gate voltage is applied. A number of these transistors are constructed in complementary fashion and/or have insulating regions built in and serve as a dummy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hannes Mio, Franz Kreupl
  • Patent number: 7335927
    Abstract: A structure and method of fabricating lateral diodes. The diodes include Schottky diodes and PIN diodes. The method of fabrication includes forming one or more doped regions and more trenches in a silicon substrate and forming metal silicides on the sidewalls of the trenches. The fabrication of lateral diodes may be integrated with the fabrication of field effect, bipolar and SiGe bipolar transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Internatioanl Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Duane Coolbaugh, Jeffrey Bowman Johnson, Xuefeng Liu, Bradley Alan Orner, Robert Mark Rassel, David Charles Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20080042206
    Abstract: There is provided an integrated circuit device having an input/output electrostatic discharge (I/O ESD) protection cell. The integrated circuit device includes an I/O ESD protection cell comprising a VDD ESD protection element connected between an I/O pad and a VDD line, a ground voltage (VSS) ESD protection element connected between the I/O pad and a VSS line, and a power clamp element connected between the VDD line and the VSS line, and wherein the VDD ESD protection element, the power clamp element, and the VSS ESD protection element in the I/O ESD protection cell are adjacent to each other so they can be connected in a straight line or are arranged to partially overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-gu Kim, Ki-tae Lee, Jae-hyok Ko, Woo-sub Kim, Sung-Pil Jang
  • Publication number: 20080036047
    Abstract: A semiconductor junction device includes a substrate of low resistivity semiconductor material having a preselected polarity. A tapered recess extends into the substrate and tapers inward as it extends downward from an upper surface of the substrate. A semiconductor layer is disposed within the recess and extends above the upper surface of the substrate. The semiconductor layer has a polarity opposite from that of the substrate. A metal layer overlies the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Sheng-Huei Dai, Ya-Chin King, Hai-Ning Wang, Ming-Tai Chiang
  • Patent number: 7279725
    Abstract: A method of making a vertical diode structure is provided, the vertical diode structure having associated therewith a diode opening extending through an insulation layer and contacting an active region on a silicon wafer. A titanium silicide layer covers the interior surface of the diode opening and contacts the active region. The diode opening is initially filled with an amorphous silicon plug that is doped during deposition and subsequently recrystallized to form large grain polysilicon. The silicon plug has a top portion that is heavily doped with a first type dopant and a bottom portion that is lightly doped with a second type dopant. The top portion is bounded by the bottom portion so as not to contact the titanium silicide layer. For one embodiment of the vertical diode structure, a programmable resistor contacts the top portion of the silicon plug and a metal line contacts the programmable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Gonzalez, Tyler A. Lowrey, Trung Tri Doan, Raymond A. Turi, Graham R. Wolstenholme
  • Publication number: 20070170510
    Abstract: A diode disposed on a substrate is provided. The diode includes a semiconductor pattern, a first conductor pattern, a second conductor pattern, an insulating layer, and a top conductor pattern. The first conductor pattern and the second conductor pattern are respectively disposed on a portion of the semiconductor pattern. The insulating layer is disposed on the first conductor layer, the second conductor layer, and the semiconductor pattern. Moreover, the top conductor pattern is disposed on the insulating layer above the semiconductor pattern and electrically connected to the first conductor pattern. In the diode mentioned above, no circuit belonging to the diode is disposed under the semiconductor pattern. Therefore, when the aforementioned diode and other devices are integrated, layout of the devices can adopt the space under the diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventor: Ta-Wen Liao
  • Patent number: 7170103
    Abstract: A method of making a vertical diode is provided, the vertical diode having associated therewith a diode opening extending through an insulation layer and contacting an active region on a silicon wafer. A titanium silicide layer covers the interior surface of the diode opening and contacts the active region. The diode opening is initially filled with an amorphous silicon plug that is doped during deposition and subsequently recrystallized to form large grain polysilicon. The silicon plug has a top portion that is heavily doped with a first type dopant and a bottom portion that is lightly doped with a second type dopant. The top portion is bounded by the bottom portion so as not to contact the titanium silicide layer. For one embodiment of the vertical diode, a programmable resistor contacts the top portion of the silicon plug and a metal line contacts the programmable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Gonzalez, Tyler A. Lowrey, Trung Tri Doan, Raymond A. Turi, Graham R. Wolstenholme
  • Publication number: 20070018208
    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: January 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventor: James Beasom
  • Patent number: 7145255
    Abstract: A programmable element includes a diode and a programmable structure formed in a polysilicon layer isolated from a semiconductor substrate by a dielectric layer. The diode includes a first region and a second region of opposite conductivity types. The programmable structure includes a third region and a fourth region of opposite conductivity types. The first region of the diode and the third region of the programmable structure are electrically connected. In operation, the programmable structure is programmed to a low impedance state when a voltage exceeding a first breakdown voltage of the programmable structure is applied to reverse bias the programmable structure. The programmable element can be used to form a programmable array having very low parasitic capacitance, enabling the realization of a large and ultra fast programmable logic array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Micrel, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert C. Lutz, Thomas S. Wong
  • Patent number: 6967363
    Abstract: Various circuit devices, including diodes, and methods manufacturing therefor are provided. In one aspect, a method manufacturing is provided that includes forming a gate structure on a semiconductor portion of a substrate. The semiconductor portion has a first conductivity type. First and spacer structures are formed on opposite sides of the gate structure. A first impurity region of a second conductivity type is formed proximate the first spacer structure while the semiconductor portion lateral to the second spacer structure is masked. The first impurity region and the semiconductor portion define a junction. A width of the second spacer structure is reduced while the second spacer structure and the first impurity region are masked. A second impurity region of the first conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor portion proximate the second spacer structure. The method provides a diode with reduced series resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Buller