With Breakdown Supporting Region For Localizing Breakdown Or Limiting Its Voltage (epo) Patents (Class 257/E29.014)
  • Patent number: 9558940
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon film in grooves formed on a surface of an object to be processed, the method including forming a first silicon film containing impurities so as to embed the first silicon film in the grooves of the object to be processed; doping the impurities in the vicinity of the surface of the first silicon film; expanding opening portions of the grooves by etching the first silicon film thereby forming expanded openings having grooves; and forming a second silicon film so as to embed the second silicon film in the grooves of the expanded openings is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Komori
  • Patent number: 8933531
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a base substrate; a semiconductor layer which is disposed on the base substrate and has a 2-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG) generated within the semiconductor layer; a plurality of first ohmic electrodes which are disposed on the central region of the semiconductor layer and have island-shaped cross sections; a second ohmic electrode which is disposed on edge regions of the semiconductor layer; and a Schottky electrode part has first bonding portions bonded to the first ohmic electrodes, and a second bonding portion bonded to the semiconductor layer. A depletion region is provided to be spaced apart from the 2DEG when the semiconductor device is driven at an on-voltage and is provided to be expanded to the 2DEG when the semiconductor device is driven at an off-voltage, the depletion region being generated within the semiconductor layer by bonding the semiconductor layer and the second bonding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo Cul Jeon, Jung Hee Lee, Young Hwan Park, Ki Yeol Park
  • Patent number: 8907432
    Abstract: An isolated device is formed in a substrate in which is formed a high voltage device. The isolated device includes: an isolated well formed in the substrate by a lithography process and an ion implantation process used in forming the high voltage device; a gate formed on the substrate; a source and a drain, which are located in the isolated well at both sides of the gate respectively; a drift-drain region formed beneath the substrate surface, wherein the gate and the drain are separated by the drift-drain region, and the drain is in the drift-drain region; and a mitigation region, which is formed in the substrate and has a shallowest portion located at least below 90% of a depth of the drift-drain region as measured from the substrate surface, wherein the mitigation region and the drift-drain region are defined by a same lithography process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tsung-Yi Huang, Chien-Wei Chiu
  • Patent number: 8890280
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. The device comprises a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor drift region is on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor drift region comprises a semiconductor region of a first conduction type and a semiconductor region of a second conduction type. The semiconductor region of the first conduction type and the semiconductor region of the second conduction type form a superjunction structure. A high-K dielectric is on the semiconductor substrate. The high-K dielectric is adjacent to the semiconductor region of the second conduction type. An active region is on the semiconductor drift region. A trench gate structure is on the high-K dielectric, the trench gate structure being adjacent to the active region. The semiconductor region of the second conduction type is formed by shallow angle ion implantation, thus its width is narrow and its concentration is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
    Inventors: Xiaorong Luo, Guoliang Yao, Tianfei Lei, Yuangang Wang, Bo Zhang
  • Patent number: 8809961
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit structure includes several diffusion regions and a MOS transistor. The circuit structure includes a first diffusion region of a first type (e.g., P-type or N-type) formed in a first well of the first type, a second diffusion region of the first type formed in the first well of the first type, and a first diffusion region of a second type (e.g., N-type or P-type) formed in a first well of the second type. The first well of the second type is formed in the first well of the first type. The MOS transistor is of the second type and includes a drain formed by a second diffusion region of the second type formed in a second well of the second type bordering the first well of the first type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Che Tsai, Jam-Wem Lee, Yi-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 8759871
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit includes a pad of an IC, circuitry coupled to the pad for buffering data, an RC power clamp on the IC, and first and second silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) circuits. The RC power clamp is coupled between a positive power supply terminal and a ground terminal. The first SCR circuit is coupled between the pad and the positive power supply terminal. The first SCR circuit has a first trigger input coupled to the RC power clamp circuit. The second SCR circuit is coupled between the pad and the ground terminal. The second SCR circuit has a second trigger input coupled to the RC power clamp circuit. At least one of the SCR circuits includes a gated diode configured to selectively provide a short or relatively conductive electrical path between the pad and one of the positive power supply terminal and the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Hsiang Song, Jam-Wem Lee, Tzu-Heng Chang, Yu-Ying Hsu
  • Patent number: 8735997
    Abstract: A transistor structure that improves ESD withstand voltages is offered. A high impurity concentration drain layer is formed in a surface of an intermediate impurity concentration drain layer at a location separated from a drain-side end of a gate electrode. And a P-type impurity layer is formed in a surface of a substrate between the gate electrode and the high impurity concentration drain layer so as to surround the high impurity concentration drain layer. When a parasitic bipolar transistor is turned on by an abnormal surge, electrons travel from a source electrode to a drain electrode. Here, electrons travel dispersed in the manner to avoid a vicinity X of the surface of the substrate and travel through a deeper path to the drain electrode as indicated by arrows in FIG. 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hachiyanagi, Masafumi Uehara, Katsuyoshi Anzai
  • Patent number: 8710589
    Abstract: An allowable current amount of a ballast resistance is increased without increasing the width of the ballast resistance. At least one of resistances included in a ballast resistance has a first resistance and a second resistance. The first resistance extends in a first direction (X direction in FIG. 1) in which current flows in a protection element. The second resistance element is coupled in parallel to the first resistance element and extends in the first direction. The second resistance element and the first resistance element are located on the same straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Ko Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8698247
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device including a substrate, a deep well, a high-voltage well, and a doped region. The substrate and the high-voltage well have a first conductive type, and the deep well and the doped region have a second conductive type different from the first conductive type. The substrate has a high-voltage region and a low-voltage region, and the deep well is disposed in the substrate in the high-voltage region. The high-voltage well is disposed in the substrate between the high-voltage region and the low-voltage region, and the doped region is disposed in the high-voltage well. The doped region and the high-voltage well are electrically connected to a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Chung Wang, Wei-Lun Hsu, Te-Yuan Wu, Wen-Fang Lee, Ke-Feng Lin, Shan-Shi Huang, Ming-Tsung Lee
  • Patent number: 8686508
    Abstract: Structures and methods are provided for nanosecond electrical pulse anneal processes. The method of forming an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure includes forming an N+ diffusion on a substrate and a P+ diffusion on the substrate. The P+ diffusion is in electrical contact with the N+ diffusion. The method further includes forming a device between the N+ diffusion and the P+ diffusion. A method of annealing a structure or material includes applying an electrical pulse across an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure for a plurality of nanoseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Tom C. Lee, Junjun Li, Souvick Mitra, Christopher S. Putnam, Robert Robison
  • Patent number: 8587071
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit includes a MOS transistor of a first type, a MOS transistor of a second type, an I/O pad, and first, second, and third guard rings of the first, second, and first types, respectively. The MOS transistor of the first type has a source coupled to a first node having a first voltage, and a drain coupled to a second node. The MOS transistor of the second type has a drain coupled to the second node, and a source coupled to a third node having a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The I/O pad is coupled to the second node. The first, second, and third guard rings are positioned around the MOS transistor of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Che Tsai, Jam-Wem Lee, Yi-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 8575694
    Abstract: A high voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor laterally diffused device (HV LDMOS), particularly an insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT), and a method of making it are provided in this disclosure. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure formed on the substrate, a source and a drain formed in the substrate on either side of the gate structure, a first doped well formed in the substrate, and a second doped well formed in the first well. The gate, source, second doped well, a portion of the first well, and a portion of the drain structure are surrounded by a deep trench isolation feature and an implanted oxygen layer in the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ker Hsiao Huo, Chih-Chang Cheng, Ru-Yi Su, Jen-Hao Yeh, Fu-Chih Yang, Chun Lin Tsai
  • Patent number: 8541862
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate including a surface, a drain region in the semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, a well region in the semiconductor substrate on which the drain region is disposed, the well region having the first conductivity type, a buried isolation layer in the semiconductor substrate extending across the well region, the buried isolation layer having the first conductivity type, a reduced surface field (RESURF) region disposed between the well region and the buried isolation layer, the RESURF region having a second conductivity type, and a plug region in the semiconductor substrate extending from the surface of the substrate to the RESURF region, the plug region having the second conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongning Yang, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8471337
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed having a semiconductor component comprising a first p-type region and a first n-type region adjoining the first p-type region, which together form a first pn junction having a breakdown voltage. A further n-type region adjoining the first p-type region or a further p-type region adjoining the first n-type region is provided, the first p-type or n-type region and the further n-type or p-type region adjoining the latter together forming a further pn junction having a further breakdown voltage, the first pn junction and the further pn junction being connected or connectable to one another in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component, on account of a current loading of the first pn junction, first of all the further pn junction breaks down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Nils Jensen, Marie Denison
  • Patent number: 8264015
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a first insulated gate field effect transistor (1) is connected in series with a second field effect transistor, FET, (2), wherein the second field effect transistor (2) has a heavily doped source region (19A) which is electrically connected to a heavily doped drain contact region (191) of the first insulated gate field effect transistor, and further that the breakthrough voltage of the first insulated gate field effect transistor (1) is higher than the pinch voltage, Vp, of the second field effect transistor (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Klas-Håkan Eklund
  • Patent number: 8232601
    Abstract: The present invention relates a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) for directional ESD protection. The TVS includes: a conductivity type substrate; a first type lightly doped region, having a first type heavily doped region arranged therein; a second type lightly doped region, having a second type heavily doped region and a third type heavily doped region arranged therein; a third type lightly doped region, having a fourth type heavily doped region arranged therein; a plurality of closed isolation trenches, arranged on the conductivity type substrate, wherein at least one of the plurality of closed isolation trenches is neighbored one of the type lightly doped regions; and a first pin. Accordingly, the TVS of present invention may adaptively provide effective ESD protection under positive and negative ESD stresses, improve the efficiency of ESD protection within the limited layout area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Amazing Microelectronic Corp.
    Inventors: Kun-Hsien Lin, Che-Hao Chuang, Ryan Hsin-Chin Jiang
  • Patent number: 8217462
    Abstract: The present invention relates a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) for directional ESD protection. The TVS includes: a conductivity type substrate; a first type lightly doped region, having a first type heavily doped region arranged therein; a second type lightly doped region, having a second type heavily doped region and a third type heavily doped region arranged therein; a third type lightly doped region, having a fourth type heavily doped region arranged therein; a plurality of closed isolation trenches, arranged on the conductivity type substrate, wherein at least one of the plurality of closed isolation trenches is neighbored one of the type lightly doped regions; and a first pin. Accordingly, the TVS of present invention may adaptively provide effective ESD protection under positive and negative ESD stresses, improve the efficiency of ESD protection within the limited layout area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Amazing Microelectronic Corp.
    Inventors: Kun-Hsien Lin, Che-Hao Chuang, Ryan Hsin-Chin Jiang
  • Patent number: 8134210
    Abstract: A master having a substrate including displaying units and an ESD protection structure including an adjacent first region and a second region is provided. The displaying units have a predetermined-cutting region therebetween. Each displaying unit includes a peripheral circuit region and a display region having pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Pei-Ming Chen, Chih-Hung Shih
  • Patent number: 8124981
    Abstract: A wide bandgap silicon carbide device has an avalanche control structure formed in an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type above a substrate that is connected to a first electrode of the device. A first region of a second conductivity type is in the upper surface of the epitaxial layer with a connection to a second electrode of the device. A second region of the first conductivity type lies below the first region and has a dopant concentration greater than the dopant concentration in the epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher L. Rexer, Gary M. Dolny, Richard L. Woodin, Carl Anthony Witt, Joseph Shovlin
  • Patent number: 8093676
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body having a first side, a second side, an edge delimiting the semiconductor body in a lateral direction, an inner region and an edge region. A first semiconductor zone of a first conduction type is arranged in the inner region and in the edge region. A second semiconductor zone of a second conduction type is arranged in the inner region and adjacent to the first semiconductor zone. A trench is arranged in the edge region and has first and second sidewalls and a bottom, and extends into the semiconductor body. A doped first sidewall zone of the second conduction type is adjacent to the first sidewall of the trench. A doped second sidewall zone of the second conduction type is adjacent to the second sidewall of the trench. A doped bottom zone of the second conduction type is adjacent to the bottom of the trench. Doping concentrations of the sidewall zones are lower than a doping concentration of the bottom zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8063412
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region, a plurality of gate electrodes formed on the active region with a gate insulating film therebetween, and a dummy pattern formed on the active region in at least a part thereof between the gate electrodes. The dummy pattern is formed so that a spacing between gate electrodes adjacent to each other, and a spacing between the dummy pattern and the gate electrodes adjacent to the dummy pattern, are within predetermined ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Tsuno
  • Publication number: 20110233714
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are related to a semiconductor device including a first conductivity type n-type drift layer, a second conductivity type VLD region which is formed on a chip inner circumferential side of a termination structure region provided on one principal surface of the n-type drift layer and which is higher in concentration than the n-type drift layer, and a second conductivity type first clip layer which is formed on a chip outer circumferential side of the VLD region so as to be separated from the VLD region and which is higher in concentration than the n-type drift layer. The invention can also include a first conductivity type channel stopper layer which is formed on a chip outer circumferential side of the first clip layer so as to be separated from the first clip layer and which is higher in concentration than the n-type drift layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC SYSTEMS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Hong-fei LU
  • Patent number: 8013393
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. According to this method, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode are formed overlying a first portion of a silicon substrate, and ions of a first conductivity-type are implanted into a second portion of the silicon substrate to define a first conductivity-type diode region within the silicon substrate. Ions of a second conductivity-type are implanted into a third portion of the silicon substrate to define a second conductivity-type diode region within the silicon substrate. During one of the steps of implanting ions of the first conductivity-type and implanting ions of the second conductivity-type, ions are also implanted into at least part of the first portion to define a separation region within the first portion. The separation region splits the first portion into a first well device region and a second well device region. The separation region is formed in series between the first well device region and the second well device region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Akram Salman, Stephen Beebe
  • Patent number: 7964931
    Abstract: A semiconductor device 1 includes a square substrate 2, first RESURF structures 3 in the shape of planar stripes on an element area 10 of a main surface of the substrate 2, a transistor T arranged between the first RESURF structures 3, a first high withstand voltage section 11 constituted by second RESURF structures 3a in the shape of planar strips on a periphery of the main surface of the substrate 2, and a second high withstand voltage section 12 constituted by third RESURF structures 3b which are symmetrically arranged at corners of the substrate 2 with respect to a diagonal line D of the main surface of the substrate 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironori Aoki
  • Patent number: 7944017
    Abstract: An n type impurity region is continuously formed on the bottom portion of a channel region below a source region, a gate region and a drain region. The n type impurity region has an impurity concentration higher than the channel region and a back gate region, and is less influenced by the diffusion of p type impurities from the gate region and the back gate region. Moreover, by continuously forming the impurity region from a portion below the source region to a portion below the drain region, the resistance value of a current path in the impurity region is substantially uniformed. Therefore, the IDSS is stabilized, the forward transfer admittance gm and the voltage gain Gv are improved, and the noise voltage Vno is decreased. Furthermore, the IDSS variation within a single wafer is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hatamoto, Yoshiaki Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 7936020
    Abstract: A two-terminal ESD protection structure formed by an arrangement of five adjacent semiconductor regions (112, 114, 116, 118, and 120) of alternating conductivity type provides protection against both positive and negative ESD voltages. The middle semiconductor region electrically floats. When the two terminals (A and K) of the ESD protection structure are subjected to an ESD voltage, the structure goes into operation by triggering one of its two inherent thyristors (170 and 180) into a snap-back mode that provides a low impedance path through the structure for discharging the ESD current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Z. H. Wang, Chen H. Tsay, Peter Deane
  • Patent number: 7915676
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit having a semiconductor component (10) comprising a first p-type region (12) and a first n-type region (11) adjoining the first p-type region (12), which together form a first pn junction having a breakdown voltage. According to the invention, a further n-type region adjoining the first p-type region or a further p-type region (13) adjoining the first n-type region (11) is provided, the first p-type or n-type region (11) and the further n-type or p-type region (13) adjoining the latter together forming a further pn junction having a further breakdown voltage, the first pn junction and the further pn junction being connected or connectable to one another in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component, on account of a current loading of the first pn junction, first of all the further pn junction breaks down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Nils Jensen, Marie Denison
  • Patent number: 7846800
    Abstract: A circuit having a circuit control terminal, a primary circuit and a protection circuit is provided. The primary circuit includes a primary control terminal and a primary gate oxide of a thickness T1. The primary control terminal is coupled to the circuit control terminal. The protection circuit having a protection control terminal is coupled to the primary circuit. The protection circuit includes a protection gate oxide of a second thickness T2 which is less than T1. The protection gate oxide reduces plasma induced damage in the primary circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Foong Tan, Jae Gon Lee, Lee Wee Teo, Elgin Quek, Chunshan Yin
  • Patent number: 7829898
    Abstract: In a MOSFET using SiC a p-type channel is formed by epitaxial growth, so that the depletion layer produced in the p-type region right under the channel is reduced, even when the device is formed in a self-aligned manner. Thus, a high breakdown voltage is obtained. Also, since the device is formed in a self-aligned manner, the device size can be reduced so that an increased number of devices can be fabricated in a certain area and the on-state resistance can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Ootsuka, Tetsuya Takami, Tadaharu Minato
  • Patent number: 7816688
    Abstract: An upper part of a SIC substrate 1 is oxidized at a temperature of 800 to 1400° C., inclusive, in an oxygen atmosphere at 1.4×102 Pa or less, thereby forming a first insulating film 2 which is a thermal oxide film of 20 nm or less in thickness. Thereafter, annealing is performed, and then a first cap layer 3, which is a nitride film of about 5 nm in thickness, is formed thereon by CVD. A second insulating film 4, which is an oxide film of about 130 nm in thickness, is deposited thereon by CVD. A second cap layer 5, which is a nitride film of about 10 nm in thickness, is formed thereon. In this manner, a gate insulating film 6 made of the first insulating film 2 through the second cap layer 5 is formed, thus obtaining a low-loss highly-reliable semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenya Yamashita, Makoto Kitabatake, Kunimasa Takahashi, Osamu Kusumoto, Masao Uchida, Ryoko Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 7714407
    Abstract: A high voltage/power semiconductor device has a semiconductor layer having a high voltage terminal end and a low voltage terminal end. A drift region extends between the high and low voltage terminal ends. A dielectric layer is provided above the drift region. An electrical conductor extends across at least a part of the dielectric layer above the drift region, the electrical conductor being connected or connectable to the high voltage terminal end. The drift region has plural trenches positioned below the electrical conductor. The trenches extend laterally across at least a part of the drift region in the direction transverse the direction between the high and low voltage terminal ends of the semiconductor layer, each trench containing a dielectric material. The trenches improve the distribution of electric field in the device in the presence of the electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Florin Udrea, Cerdin Lee
  • Patent number: 7667254
    Abstract: Wiring is routed to assure insulation between wiring traces in a semiconductor integrated circuit device. The device includes a first wiring trace to which a prescribed voltage is supplied; a second wiring trace that takes on a voltage that exceeds the prescribed voltage; and a third wiring trace that only takes on a voltage less than the prescribed voltage. Alternatively, the device includes a first wiring trace to which a prescribed voltage is supplied; a second wiring trace that takes on a voltage less than the prescribed voltage; and a third wiring trace that takes on a voltage equal to or greater than the prescribed voltage. The wiring traces are routed at a certain wiring space in such a manner that the first wiring trace is interposed between the second and third wiring traces. The first wiring trace for which the potential difference is known to be small beforehand is routed so as to always be adjacent to the second wiring trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100032685
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a drift layer having a first conductivity type, a buffer layer having a second conductivity type, opposite the first conductivity type, on the drift layer and forming a P—N junction with the drift layer, and a junction termination extension region having the second conductivity type in the drift layer adjacent the P—N junction. The buffer layer includes a step portion that extends over a buried portion of the junction termination extension. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Anant K. Agarwal
  • Patent number: 7649223
    Abstract: An n-type drift region includes an active element region and a peripheral region. A p-type base region is formed at least in the active element region. A trench-type gate electrode is formed in each of the active element region and the peripheral region. An n-type source region formed in the base region. A plurality of p-type column regions is selectively formed separately from one another in each of the active element region and the peripheral region. In a peripheral region, a p-type guard region is formed below the gate electrode. In the active element region, the p-type guard region is not formed below the gate electrode. As a result, it is possible to hold the breakdown voltage in the peripheral region at a higher level than in the active element region while maintaining the low ON resistance due to a superjunction structure and to raise the breakdown voltage performance of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiya Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7638848
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus having an outer ESD protective circuit corresponding to each external connection terminal, the outer ESD protective circuit being formed in a peripheral region around the external connection terminals. The outer ESD protective circuit discharges electrostatic voltage from the external connection terminal and avoids the damaging of an internal circuit of the semiconductor apparatus. Accordingly, the ESD withstanding voltage of the semiconductor apparatus is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Miho Okazaki
  • Patent number: 7615826
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device with adjustable single-trigger or multi-trigger voltage is provided. The semiconductor structure has multi-stage protection semiconductor circuit function and adjustable discharge capacity. The single-trigger or multi-trigger semiconductor structure may be fabricated by using the conventional semiconductor process, and can be applied to IC semiconductor design and to effectively protect the important semiconductor devices and to prevent the semiconductor devices from ESD damage. In particular, the present invention can meet the requirements of high power semiconductor device and has better protection function compared to conventional ESD protection circuit. In the present invention, a plurality of N-wells or P-wells connected in parallel are used to adjust the discharge capacity of various wells in the P-substrate so as to improve the ESD protection capability and meet different power standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Feng Huang, Tuo-Hsin Chien, Jenn-Yu G. Lin, Ta-yung Yang
  • Publication number: 20090261379
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region with a vertical drift path of a first conduction type and with a near-surface lateral well of a second, complementary conduction type. In addition, the semiconductor device has an edge region surrounding the active region. This edge region has a variable lateral doping material zone of the second conduction type, which adjoins the well. A transition region in which the concentration of doping material gradually decreases from the concentration of the well to the concentration at the start of the variable lateral doping material zone is located between the lateral well and the variable lateral doping material zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Elmar FALCK, Josef Bauer, Gerhard Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20090236680
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with a semiconductor body and method for its production is provided. The semiconductor body includes drift zones of epitaxially grown semiconductor material of a first conduction type. The semiconductor body further includes charge compensation zones of a second conduction type complementing the first conduction type, which are arranged laterally adjacent to the drift zones. The charge compensation zones are provided with a laterally limited charge compensation zone doping, which is introduced into the epitaxially grown semiconductor material. The epitaxially grown semiconductor material includes 20 to 80 atomic % of the doping material of the drift zones and a doping material balance of 80 to 20 atomic % introduced by ion implantation and diffusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Armin Willmeroth, Franz Hirler
  • Patent number: 7579632
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a P-N diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu, Sudhama C. Shastri, Thomas Keena, Gordon M. Grivna, John Michael Parsey, Jr., Francine Y. Robb, Ki Chang
  • Publication number: 20090079001
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a P-N diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu, Sudhama C. Shastri, Thomas Keena, Gordon M. Grivna, John Michael Parsey, JR., Francine Y. Robb, Ki Chang
  • Patent number: 7508038
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) transistor structure includes a self-aligned outrigger less than 0.4 microns from a gate electrode that is 50 microns wide. The outrigger is fabricated on ordinary logic transistors of an integrated circuit without severely affecting the performance of the transistors. The outrigger is used as an implant blocking structure to form first and second drain regions on either side of a lightly doped region that underlies the outrigger. The self-aligned outrigger and the lightly doped region beneath it are used to move the location of avalanche breakdown upon an ESD event away from the channel region. Durability is extended when fewer “hot carrier” electrons accumulate in the gate oxide. A current of at least 100 milliamperes can flow into the drain and then through the ESD transistor structure for a period of more than 30 seconds without causing a catastrophic failure of the ESD transistor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Ransom, Brett D. Lowe, Michael J. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20090072326
    Abstract: An ultra high voltage MOS transistor device includes a substrate; a source region formed in the substrate; a first doping region formed in the substrate and bordering upon the source region; a first ion well encompassing the source region and the first doping region; a gate oxide layer formed on the source region and on the first ion well; a field oxide layer connected with the gate oxide layer and formed on a semiconductor region; a dielectric layer stacked on the field oxide layer; a drain region formed at one side of the field oxide layer and being spaced apart from the source region; a second ion well encompassing the drain region; and a gate disposed on the gate oxide layer and laterally extending to the field oxide layer and onto the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Ching-Hung Kao
  • Publication number: 20090008723
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body having a first side, a second side, an edge delimiting the semiconductor body in a lateral direction, an inner region and an edge region. A first semiconductor zone of a first conduction type is arranged in the inner region and in the edge region. A second semiconductor zone of a second conduction type is arranged in the inner region and adjacent to the first semiconductor zone. A trench is arranged in the edge region and has first and second sidewalls and a bottom, and extends into the semiconductor body. A doped first sidewall zone of the second conduction type is adjacent to the first sidewall of the trench. A doped second sidewall zone of the second conduction type is adjacent to the second sidewall of the trench. A doped bottom zone of the second conduction type is adjacent to the bottom of the trench. Doping concentrations of the sidewall zones are lower than a doping concentration of the bottom zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7473973
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon-controlled rectifier to protect an internal circuit from electrostatic discharge damage and a first metal-oxide-silicon field-effect transistor to apply a trigger voltage to the silicon-controlled rectifier. The first metal-oxide-silicon field-effect transistor including a gate electrode and a substrate which are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 7449751
    Abstract: A high voltage operating electrostatic discharge protection device is provided. The high voltage operating electrostatic discharge protection device includes: a first gate structure and a second gate structure disposed on a substrate of a first conductive type with a predetermined distance; a well of the first conductive type formed in a first region of the substrate such that the well contacts one bottom portion of the first gate structure; a source region of a second conductive type formed within in the well; a counter pocket source region of the first conductive type formed within the well encompassing the source region; and a drift region of the second conductive type contacting a bottom surface of the second gate structure and formed in a second region of the substrate such that the drift region contacts the other bottom portion of the first gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kil-Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20080265326
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor power device includes a top surface and a bottom surface of a semiconductor substrate constituting a vertical current path for conducting a current there through. The semiconductor power device further includes an over current protection layer composed of a material having a resistance with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) and the over current protection layer constituting as a part of the vertical current path connected to a source electrode and providing a feedback voltage a gate electrode of the vertical semiconductor power device for limiting a current passing there through for protecting the semiconductor power device at any voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Francois Hebert
  • Patent number: 7427800
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a field shield region that is doped opposite to the conductivity of the substrate and is bounded laterally by dielectric sidewall spacers and from below by a PN junction. For example, in a trench-gated MOSFET the field shield region may be located beneath the trench and may be electrically connected to the source region. When the MOSFET is reverse-biased, depletion regions extend from the dielectric sidewall spacers into the “drift” region, shielding the gate oxide from high electric fields and increasing the avalanche breakdown voltage of the device. This permits the drift region to be more heavily doped and reduces the on-resistance of the device. It also allows the use of a thin, 20 ? gate oxide for a power MOSFET that is to be switched with a 1V signal applied to its gate while being able to block over 30V applied across its drain and source electrodes, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventor: Hamza Yilmaz
  • Publication number: 20080197441
    Abstract: A semiconductor component with vertical structures having a high aspect ratio and method. In one embodiment, a drift zone is arranged between a first and a second component zone. A drift control zone is arranged adjacent to the drift zone in a first direction. A dielectric layer is arranged between the drift zone and the drift control zone wherein the drift zone has a varying doping and/or a varying material composition at least in sections proceeding from the dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Helmut Strack, Armin Willmeroth, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20080191306
    Abstract: A semiconductor system for voltage limitation includes a first cover electrode, a highly p-doped semiconductor layer that is connected to the first cover electrode, a slightly n-doped semiconductor layer that is connected to the highly p-doped semiconductor layer and a second cover electrode. At least one p-doped semiconductor layer and two highly n-doped semiconductor layers are provided next to one another in an alternating sequence between the slightly n-doped semiconductor layer and the second cover electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Alfred Goerlach
  • Publication number: 20080128798
    Abstract: One aspect is a semiconductor component including a terminal zone; a drift zone of a first conduction type, which is doped more weakly than the terminal zone; a component junction between the drift zone and a further component zone; and a charge carrier compensation zone of the first conduction type, which is arranged between the drift zone and the terminal zone and whose doping concentration is lower than that of the terminal zone, and whose doping concentration increases at least in sections in the direction of the terminal zone from a minimum doping concentration to a maximum doping concentration, the minimum doping concentration being more than 1016 cm?3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Josef Lutz