The present invention relates to electrostatic protection devices having an ESD protection function and light-emitting modules provided with light-emitting devices such as LEDs or the like.
Various types of light-emitting modules having LEDs as light-emitting sources have been developed. In general, a light-emitting module using such LED is equipped with an electrostatic protection device so as to prevent electrostatic breakdown of the LED.
For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-36238, a light-emitting module having an electrostatic protection function is formed with a structure in which an LED device is mounted on a front surface of a base member and a Zener diode is mounted on a rear surface of the base member. However, it is difficult for this structure to lower the height of the light-emitting module. As such, as a method for lowering the height of the light-emitting module having the electrostatic protection function, a configuration in which a Zener diode serving as an electrostatic protection device is embedded in the base member can be thought of.
To be more specific, a base member whose planar area is substantially the same as that of the LED device is prepared. A first external connecting land and a second external connecting land are formed on a rear surface of the base member, and a first mounting land and a second mounting land are formed on a front surface of the base member. The first external connecting land and the first mounting land are electrically connected to each other, and the second external connecting land and the second mounting land are also electrically connected to each other. External connecting terminals of the LED device are mounted on the first mounting land and the second mounting land, respectively.
Inside the base member, a Zener diode that connects the first external connecting land to the second external connecting land is formed through a semiconductor forming process. For example, a pn junction structure is formed in a region ranging from the rear surface of the base member to a predetermined depth thereof by a doping method from the rear surface side of the base member.
In the structure discussed above, as a structure in which the first external connecting land and the first mounting land are electrically connected to each other and the second external connecting land and the second mounting land are electrically connected to each other, such a structure can be considered that the base member is formed of a low-resistance semiconductor. However, in the case where a low-resistance semiconductor is used as a conductor, an insulation gap to insulate the first external connecting land and first mounting land from the second external connecting land and second mounting land needs to be formed in the base member, but it is difficult to form such an insulation gap.
As such, a structure in which the base member is formed of a high-resistance semiconductor, and a conductive via for electrically connecting the first external connecting land and the first mounting land as well as a conductive via for electrically connecting the second external connecting land and the second mounting land are provided, can be considered.
However, even in the case where the base member is formed of a high-resistance semiconductor, a leak current flows between the first external connecting land and the second external connecting land in some instances. In other words, there is a case where the first external connecting land and the second external connecting land are in a state of not being insulated from each other.
Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrostatic protection device and a light-emitting module capable of more surely suppressing the leak current in a structure using a base member formed of a high-resistance semiconductor.
An electrostatic protection device of the present disclosure includes a base member formed of a semiconductor material and a diode section. The diode section is formed on a first principal surface side of the base member through a semiconductor forming process.
In addition, the base member has such resistivity that causes the formation of a conductivity type inversion layer in the base member by applying a voltage from the exterior, carrying out heat treatment, and so on, and includes a high concentration region configured as follows. That is, the high concentration region is formed in a shape extending from the first principal surface to the interior of the base member so as to enclose the diode section in a plan view of the base member when seen from the first principal surface side, is the same conductivity type as the base member, and has a higher impurity concentration than the base member.
In this configuration, the diode section is isolated by the high concentration region. Accordingly, even if a current flows in the conductivity type inversion layer due to solder being attached to one end surface of the base member or the like, the current will not reach the diode section because the current is blocked by the high concentration region. This makes it possible to suppress the generation of a leak current.
It is preferable for the electrostatic protection device of the present disclosure to be configured as follows. That is, the high concentration region includes an enclosure portion enclosing the diode section and at least one of a first extension portion and a second extension portion. The first extension portion is formed in a shape connected to the enclosure portion and extending to both ends of the first principal surface opposing each other. The second extension portion is formed in a shape connected to the enclosure portion and extending to respective corners of the first principal surface.
In this configuration, even if a current flows in the conductivity type inversion layer due to solder being attached to both end surfaces of the base member in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first extension portion extends, the current is blocked by the high concentration region, thereby making it possible to suppress the generation of a leak current. In other words, the generation of a leak current can be more surely suppressed.
Further, in the electrostatic protection device of the present disclosure, the high concentration region is formed in a ring shape embracing a first external connecting land and a second external connecting land in a plan view of the first principal surface.
In this configuration, even if such a voltage is applied to the base member or such heat treatment is carried out thereon that can cause a conductivity type inversion layer to be formed, the conductivity type inversion layer will not be generated on a surface of the high concentration region. This makes it possible to more surely suppress the generation of a leak current.
It is preferable in the electrostatic protection device of the present disclosure that a width of the high concentration region be wider as the resistivity of the base member is higher.
In the above configuration, because the width of the high concentration region is determined in accordance with the resistivity of the base member, the generation of a leak current can be suppressed with certainty.
The electrostatic protection device of the present disclosure includes a first external connecting land and a second external connecting land. These lands are formed on the first principal surface of the base member with a predetermined space therebetween along a first direction of the first principal surface. Further, the diode section is formed between the first external connecting land and the second external connecting land on the first principal surface side of the base member. The diode section connects the first external connecting land and the second external connecting land.
In this configuration, the conductivity type inversion layer between the first external connecting land and the diode section is isolated by the high concentration region. Likewise, the conductivity type inversion layer between the second external connecting land and the diode section is also isolated by the high concentration region. Accordingly, even if a current flows in the conductivity type inversion layer due to the solder being attached to the one end surface of the base member or the like, the current does not reach the diode section because the current is blocked by the high concentration region. This makes it possible to suppress the generation of a leak current.
It is preferable for the electrostatic protection device of the present disclosure to be configured as follows. That is, the electrostatic protection device further includes a first mounting land and a second mounting land, and a first via conductor and a second via conductor. The first and second mounting lands are formed on a second principal surface of the base member opposing the first principal surface thereof. The first via conductor connects the first external connecting land and the first mounting land. The second via conductor connects the second external connecting land and the second mounting land.
In the above configuration, an electronic component to be protected against electrostatic charge can be mounted on the second principal surface of the electrostatic protection device.
A light-emitting module of the present disclosure includes the above-mentioned electrostatic protection device and a light-emitting device. A first external terminal of the light-emitting device is mounted on the first mounting land, and a second external terminal thereof is mounted on the second mounting land.
In this configuration, the light-emitting device to be protected against electrostatic charge and the electrostatic protection device are integrally formed, whereby a small and thin light-emitting module can be realized.
According to the present disclosure, in the structure using a base member formed of a high-resistance semiconductor, a leak current can be more surely suppressed by blocking a current path produced in the conductivity type inversion layer.
An electrostatic protection device and a light-emitting device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
An electrostatic protection device 10 includes a base member 20 formed in a rectangular plate shape, an insulation layer 21, external connecting lands 22 and 23, a protection layer 24, a diode section 30, and a high concentration region 40.
The base member 20 is formed of a high-resistance semiconductor. Here, from the viewpoint of semiconductor characteristics, “high-resistance” refers to such resistivity that causes the formation of a conductivity type inversion layer, by applying a voltage from the exterior, carrying out heat treatment, and so on, in a surface of the semiconductor where the voltage has been applied; as an example of a specific numeric value, the resistivity of several tens of Ωcm or more can be cited; as a typical value, the value in a range from no less than 100 Ωcm to approximately several kΩcm can be cited. The base member 20 is formed of, for example, a silicon substrate, which is a p-type semiconductor with small doping amounts.
In an interior portion of the base member 20 on the first principal surface side, the diode section 30 and the high concentration region 40 are formed as shown in
The first polar portion 31 is formed having a predetermined depth on the first principal surface side of the base member 20. The first polar portion 31 is formed to be a reversed conductivity type with respect to the base member 20. For example, in the case where the base member 20 is a p-type, the first polar portion 31 is an n-type.
The second polar portion 32 and the third polar portion 33 are formed inside the first polar portion 31. The second polar portion 32 and the third polar portion 33 are exposed on the first principal surface of the base member 20. The second polar portion 32 and the third polar portion 33 are arranged adjacent to each other along the first direction in a plan view of the base member 20. The second polar portion 32 and the third polar portion 33 are formed to be different conductivity types from each other. For example, in the case where the second polar portion 32 is a p-type, the third polar portion 33 is an n-type.
In the above configuration, there is provided a pn junction between the second polar portion 32 and the third polar portion 33. As such, with the configurations mentioned above, the diode section 30 functions as a Zener diode.
As shown in
The insulation layer 21 is formed on the first principal surface of the base member 20. The insulation layer 21 is formed so as to cover substantially the entirety of the first principal surface of the base member 20, and has a shape exposing at least part of the second polar portion 32 and the third polar portion 33. The insulation layer 21 is formed of a highly insulative material such as SiO2, for example.
The external connecting lands 22 and 23 are formed on the first principal surface of the base member 20 covered with the insulation layer 21. The external connecting lands 22 and 23 are rectangular conductor lands in plan view. The external connecting lands 22 and 23 are arranged along the first direction of the base member 20 with a space therebetween. The external connecting land 22 is connected to the second polar portion 32 via a through-hole formed in the insulation layer 21. The external connecting land 23 is connected to the third polar portion 33 via a through-hole formed in the insulation layer.
The protection layer 24 is formed, as shown in
Having the configuration discussed above, the electrostatic protection device 10 is configured such that a Zener diode is connected between the external connecting lands 22 and 23, as shown in
In the electrostatic protection device 10 configured as described above, the following effects can be achieved.
The base member 20 has high resistivity. To rephrase, impurities in small amounts are doped into the base member 20, and the high resistivity is realized while carrying out compensation control on impurity concentrations of both polarities. Therefore, in the case where heat treatment is applied in the semiconductor forming process in which impurities are doped from the first principal surface side in order to form the diode section 30, balance of the impurity compensation is likely to be lost substantially across the entirety of the first principal surface. This causes a conductivity type inversion layer 200 to be formed in a surface layer of the first principal surface of the base member 20, as shown in
Here, as shown in
At this time, as shown in
Here, in a configuration where the high concentration region 40 of the electrostatic protection device 10 of the present embodiment is not present, in other words, in a conventional configuration, the current flows in the conductivity type inversion layer 200 and reaches the diode section 30, whereby a leak current that flows from the land pattern 902 to the third polar portion 33 of the diode section 30, as indicated by a dotted wide arrow in
However, like the electrostatic protection device 10 in the present embodiment, in the case where the high concentration region 40 is formed so as to enclose the diode section 30, the conductivity type inversion layer 200 is not formed in the high concentration region 40 because the high concentration region 40 is a region where large amounts of impurities have been doped. As such, an electron barrier is formed at a boundary between an inner side area of the high concentration region 40 (area including the diode section 30) and the high concentration region 40, and an electron barrier is also formed at a boundary between an outer side area of the high concentration region 40 (area on the end surface side of the base member 20) and the high concentration region 40, in a plan view of the first principal surface. In other words, the conductivity type inversion layer 200 in the inner side area of the high concentration region 40 and the conductivity type inversion layer 200 in the outer side area of the high concentration region 40 are isolated from each other by the electron barriers.
With this, as indicated by a bold wide arrow in
As shown in
On the other hand, as shown in
Further, as shown in
As discussed thus far, the generation of a leak current can be suppressed if the high concentration region 40 is formed in the manner as shown in the electrostatic protection device 10 of the present embodiment. Further, the generation of a leak current can be suppressed with certainty by appropriately setting the width of the high concentration region 40 in accordance with the resistivity of the base member 20. To be more specific, the generation of a leak current can be suppressed with certainty by widening the width of the high concentration region 40 as the resistivity of the base member 20 is larger.
The electrostatic protection device 10 configured as discussed above can be formed through a manufacturing process described hereinafter.
First, as shown in
Next, n-type impurities (carriers) are injected from the first principal surface side of the base member 20. With this, as shown in
Next, p-type impurities (carriers) are injected from the first principal surface side of the base member 20 in a carrier concentration of 1.0×1017 cm−3 to form the second polar portion 32 inside the first polar portion 31 and form the high concentration region 40 so as to enclose the first polar portion 31, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Using the above-described manufacturing process makes it possible to form the electrostatic protection device 10 discussed above. Further, in the electrostatic protection device 10 of the present embodiment, since the second polar portion 32 and the high concentration region 40 are the same conductivity type, the second polar portion 32 and the high concentration region 40 can be formed, as shown in
The above-discussed electrostatic protection device 10 can be used in a light-emitting module described hereinafter.
A light-emitting module 101 includes an electrostatic protection device 100 and a light-emitting device 90. The light-emitting device 90 is, for example, an LED (light-emitting diode) device. The light-emitting device 90 includes a main body 91 that emits light when supplied with a current, and external terminals 92 and 93. The structure of the light-emitting device 90 is such that the external terminals 92 and 93 are arranged on a mount surface of the main body 91 while other constituent elements thereof are well-known. As such, descriptions of the other constituent elements are omitted herein. The light-emitting device 90 emits light being driven by a current supplied thereto through the external terminals 92 and 93.
The electrostatic protection device 100 has a configuration in which mounting lands 220, 230 and via conductors 221, 231 are added to the electrostatic protection device 10 discussed before.
The mounting lands 220 and 230 are formed on a second principal surface of the base member 20, or a surface on the opposite side to the first principal surface of the base member 20. The mounting land 220 is arranged so that at least part thereof opposes the external connecting land 22. The mounting land 230 is arranged so that at least part thereof opposes the external connecting land 23.
The external connecting land 22 and the mounting land 220 are connected to each other by the via conductor 221 penetrating the base member 20 in a thickness direction (a direction orthogonal to both the first direction and a second direction). The external connecting land 23 and the mounting land 230 are connected to each other by the via conductor 231 penetrating the base member 20 in the thickness direction.
The configuration described above makes it possible for the electrostatic protection device 100 to mount an electronic component on the second principal surface. Then, by mounting the electrostatic protection device 100, on which the above electronic component is mounted, on another substrate (not shown), a current and a voltage can be supplied from the external substrate to the electronic component.
Therefore, the light-emitting device 90 is mounted on this electrostatic protection device 100. The external terminal 92 of the light-emitting device 90 is connected to the mounting land 220 with solder 923 interposed therebetween. The external terminal 93 of the light-emitting device 90 is connected to the mounting land 230 with solder 924 interposed therebetween.
In the light-emitting module 101 configured as described above, in the case where the light-emitting device 90 is an LED, the light-emitting device 90 emits light when a current is flowed so as to bias the light-emitting device 90 in a forward direction. In the case where a large bias is applied to the light-emitting module 101, a current flows through the diode section 30 so as to prevent an overcurrent from flowing in the light-emitting device 90. With this, the light-emitting 90 can be prevented from being damaged.
Furthermore, by adopting the configuration of the present embodiment, a leak current is hardly generated even if solder or the like is attached to the end surface of the base member 20 in the electrostatic protection device 100, whereby the current can be stably supplied to the light-emitting device 90. Accordingly, a problem of decrease in brightness or the like can be prevented from arising.
The light-emitting module 101 configured as discussed above can be formed through a manufacturing process described hereinafter.
In this manufacturing process, the processing from the start to a stage in which the insulation layer 21 is formed in the electrostatic protection device 100 of the light-emitting module 101 is the same as the corresponding processing in the aforementioned manufacturing process of the electrostatic protection device 10, and therefore description thereof is omitted herein.
By adopting the above-mentioned manufacturing method, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
The light-emitting module 101 is formed through the above-described manufacturing process.
Next, an electrostatic protection device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
An electrostatic protection device 10A of the present embodiment differs from the electrostatic protection device 10 discussed in the first embodiment in that the shape of a high concentration region 40A is different from the shape of the high concentration region in the first embodiment, while other constituent elements are the same as those of the electrostatic protection device 10 discussed in the first embodiment. As such, only the different points will be described herein.
The high concentration region 40A of the electrostatic protection device 10A includes a ring-shaped portion 400A and a first extension portion 401A. The shape of the ring-shaped portion 400A is the same as that of the high concentration region 40 discussed in the first embodiment. There are two first extension portions 401A. The first extension portions 401A are formed in a shape such that each one end of the first extension portions 401A is connected to the ring-shaped portion 400A while the respective other ends thereof reach both end surfaces of the base member 20 in the second direction (direction orthogonal to the first direction) in a plan view of the base member 20.
With this, the conductivity type inversion layer is divided into an inner side area of the ring-shaped portion 400A, a one end surface side area at the outside of the ring-shaped portion 400A in the first direction of the base member 20, and the other end surface side area at the outside of the ring-shaped portion 400A in the first direction of the base member 20.
The following effects can be achieved by adopting the electrostatic protection device 10A configured as described above.
As shown in
Here, in a configuration where the high concentration region 40A of the electrostatic protection device 10A of the present embodiment is not present, in other words, in a conventional configuration, the current flows in the conductivity type inversion layer 200 and reaches the diode section 30. As such, as indicated by dotted wide arrows in
However, like the electrostatic protection device 10A in the present embodiment, in the case where the high concentration region 40A is formed, as indicated by bold wide arrows in
As discussed thus far, by adopting the configuration of the present embodiment, the generation of a leak current can be suppressed with certainty even if the solder 921 for mounting of the external connecting land 22 is attached to the one end surface of the base member 20 and the solder 922 for mounting of the external connecting land 23 is attached to the other end surface of the base member 20.
Next, an electrostatic protection device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
An electrostatic protection member 10B of the present embodiment differs from the electrostatic protection device 10 discussed in the first embodiment in that the shape of a high concentration region 40B is different from the shape of the high concentration region in the first embodiment, while other constituent elements are the same as those of the electrostatic protection device 10 discussed in the first embodiment. As such, only the different points will be described herein.
The high concentration region 40B of the electrostatic protection device 10B includes a ring-shaped portion 400B and a second extension portion 401B. The shape of the ring-shaped portion 400B is the same as that of the high concentration region 40 discussed in the first embodiment. There are four second extension portions 401B. The second extension portions 401B are formed in a shape such that each one end of the second extension portions 401B is connected to the ring-shaped portion 400B while the respective other ends thereof reach the corners of the base member 20 in a plan view of the base member 20.
With this, the conductivity type inversion layer is divided into an inner side area of the ring-shaped portion 400B, a one end surface side area at the outside of the ring-shaped portion 400B in the first direction of the base member 20, the other end surface side area at the outside of the ring-shaped portion 400B in the first direction of the base member 20, a one end surface side area at the outside of the ring-shaped portion 400B in the second direction of the base member 20, and the other end surface side area at the outside of the ring-shaped portion 400B in the second direction of the base member 20.
The following effects can be achieved by adopting the electrostatic protection device 10B configured as discussed above.
The length along the second direction of land patterns 902B and 903B of a substrate shown in
In this case, it can be thought of that the solder 922 for mounting the external connecting land 23 is attached to the one end surface in the second direction.
Here, in a configuration where the high concentration region 40B of the electrostatic protection device 10B of the present embodiment is not present, in other words, in a conventional configuration, the current flows in the conductivity type inversion layer 200 and reaches the diode section 30. Because of this, as indicated by dotted wide arrows in
However, like the electrostatic protection device 10B in the present embodiment, in the case where the high concentration region 40B is formed, as indicated by bold wide arrows in
As discussed thus far, by adopting the configuration of the present embodiment, the generation of a leak current can be suppressed with certainty even if the solder 921 for mounting the external connecting land 22 is attached to the one end surface of the base member 20 in the first direction and the solder 922 for mounting the external connecting land 23 is attached to the one end surface of the base member 20 in the second direction.
Next, an electrostatic protection device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
An electrostatic protection device 10C of the present embodiment differs from the electrostatic protection device 10 discussed in the first embodiment in that the shape of a high concentration region 40C is different from the shape of the high concentration region in the first embodiment, while other constituent elements are the same as those of the electrostatic protection device 10 discussed in the first embodiment. As such, only the different points will be described herein.
Like the high concentration region 40 discussed in the first embodiment, the high concentration region 40C is formed in a ring shape. In a plan view of the base member 20, the high concentration region 40C is formed in the shape enclosing not only the diode section 30 but also external connecting lands 22C and 23C. In this case, the high concentration region 40C is arranged being distanced from each end side of the base member 20 by a gap of GAP in a plan view of the base member 20.
The following effects can be achieved by adopting the above-described configuration. That is, since the high concentration region 40C contains large amounts of impurities, a conductivity type inversion layer is generally not formed. However, there is a possibility of generation of a conductivity type inversion layer in the case where a voltage is applied through the external connecting lands 22C and 23C.
Here, the high concentration region 40C described in the present embodiment is arranged at a position where it does not overlap with the external connecting lands 22C or 23C in a plan view of the base member 20. Accordingly, even if a voltage is applied to the external connecting lands 22C or 23C, a conductivity type inversion layer will not be formed in the high concentration region 40C. This makes it possible to suppress the generation of a leak current with certainty.
Moreover, since the high concentration region 40C of the present embodiment is distanced from the end side of the base member 20, the solder will not be directly attached to the high concentration region 40C. As such, the generation of a leak current that flows through the high concentration region 40C can be prevented as well.
Note that the configurations discussed in the above embodiments are typical examples, and such configurations can be appropriately combined and used. For example, the configuration of the ring-shaped portion 400A and the first extension portions 401A discussed in the second embodiment and the configuration of the second extension portions 401B discussed in the third embodiment may be combined together. In addition, the high concentration region 40 discussed in the first embodiment and the high concentration region 40C discussed in the fourth embodiment may be combined together. In other words, the ring-shaped high concentration regions may be provided in a superimposed manner.
Although a case in which the electrostatic protection device 10 having the configuration of the first embodiment is used in the light-emitting module is given in the above description, another electrostatic protection device having the configuration according to any one of the other embodiments may be used to configure the light-emitting module in a mounting mode similar to that of the first embodiment.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-098349 | May 2013 | JP | national |
This application claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-098349 filed May 8, 2013, and to International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2014/058720 filed Mar. 27, 2014, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2014/058720 | Mar 2014 | US |
Child | 14936256 | US |