High yield, high density on-chip capacitor design

Abstract

A capacitance circuit assembly mounted on a semiconductor chip, and method for forming the same, comprising a plurality of divergent capacitors in a parallel circuit connection between first and second ports, the plurality comprising at least one Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor and at least one capacitor selected from the group comprising a Vertical Native Capacitor and a Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor. In one aspect, the assembly has vertical orientation, the Metal Oxide Silicon capacitor located at the bottom and defining the footprint, middle Vertical Native Capacitor comprising a plurality of horizontal metal layers comprising a plurality of parallel positive plates alternating with a plurality of parallel negative plates. In another aspect, a vertically asymmetric orientation provides a reduced total parasitic capacitance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various drawings are intended to assist in a complete understanding of the features of the invention, and are not presented as a limitation on the scope thereof.

FIG. 1 is an electrical schematic illustration of different prior art silicon semiconductor chip capacitor structures.

FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic illustration of a prior art by-pass capacitor structure.

FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic illustration of a by-pass capacitor structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a MOS capacitor according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a MIM capacitor according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a VNCAP capacitor according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a capacitor structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 8( a) is a perspective illustration of the capacitor structure of FIG. 7.

FIG. 8( b) is an electrical schematic illustration of the capacitor structure of FIG. 8(a).

FIG. 8( c) is perspective view of a VNCAP element according to the present invention.

FIG. 8( d) is an electrical schematic illustration of the VNCAP of FIG. 8(c).

FIG. 9 is an electrical schematic illustration of a capacitor structure according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art by-pass capacitor structure 200, wherein a MOSCAP 210 is configured to bypass AC noise signals 203 from a noisy power signal 202 from a power supply 201 prior to supply of power to a circuit structure 205. The bypass MOSCAP 210 flows AC noise signals 203 into ground G, thus providing a clean DC power signal 204 to the circuit 205. Some of the noisy power signal 202 current is also lost as leakage 206 by the MOSCAP 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates a by-pass capacitor structure 300 according to the present invention with a multicapacitor circuit element 310, the multicapacitor element 310 comprising three capacitors 312, 314 and 316 arranged in parallel between a noisy power signal 302 and ground G. The multicapacitor element 310 bypasses AC noise signals 303 from the noisy power signal 302 from the power supply 301 into ground G prior to supply of power to a circuit structure 305, thus providing a clean DC power signal 304 to the circuit 305. Some of the noisy power signal 302 current is also lost as leakage 307 by the multicapacitor element 310.

In one aspect, the multicapacitor element 310 requires less semiconductor chip real estate than a prior art single capacitor element 210, thereby proportionally reducing chip production costs. In another aspect, the multicapacitor element 310 provides for a reduction in the amount of current 307 lost to leakage relative to a prior art single capacitor element 210 current leakage 206, thereby increasing performance yield relative to component size as compared to the prior art single capacitor element 210.

In one example, the multicapacitor element 310 comprises a MOSCAP, or CMOS, 312 in parallel with a metal-insulator-metal capacitor (CMIM) 314, and a vertical native capacitor (CVNCAP) 316. These elements will provide design advantages as described presently, but it will be apparent that other capacitor structures may be practiced with the present invention. In one aspect, a parallel CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310 may achieve bypass capacitor functions with a CMOS 312 chip footprint of about, or less than, one-half that of a prior art single CMOS element 210. And, furthermore, where the parallel CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310 is configured in a vertical structure having a total footprint no greater than that of the CMOS 312, then the chip footprint of the entire parallel CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310 may also be about, or less than, one-half that of a prior art single CMOS element 210.

In another aspect, independent of the vertical nature of the element 310, the amount of parasitic leakage current 307 of the parallel CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310 may be about one-half that of the amount of the prior art single CMOS element 210 leakage current 306. Thus, although chip real estate concerns may indicate a preference for a vertical structure 310, other embodiments (not shown) may have a horizontal on-chip structure.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a top plan view of a CMOS 400 on a chip is illustrated. A bottom substrate (not shown) is covered with a silicon layer RX 402 upon which a plurality of source 404, gate 408 and drain regions 406 are disposed. The silicon layer RX 402 has an overall length dimension LR. Each of the polysilicon gate regions 408 has a common width L1412 and a common length 408, wherein the length 408 also defines the effective width W1414 of the CMOS 400. Accordingly, the CMOS 400 has an effective footprint area defined by W1*LR.

In one aspect, the capacitance density CD_MOS of a single CMOS capacitor may be defined according to Equation 2:

CD _MOS =C _MOS/(W1*L1*n);   Equation 2

wherein n is the number of gate regions 408.

In one example for 65 nanometer node circuitry, the capacitance density C_MOS of prior art single MOS capacitor structure may be determined by Equation 2 as equal to 10 fF/um². However, the actual effective capacitance density CD_MOS—REAL may be defined as a function of the effective CMOS 400 footprint area defined by W1*LR by Equation 3:

CD _{MOS — REAL} =C _MOS/(W1*LR)

Accordingly, for 65 nanometer node circuitry where the capacitance density CDMOS of CMOS 400 is 10 fF/um², the actual effective capacitance density CDMOS_REAL determined by Equation 3 is 4 fF/um².

Referring now to FIG. 5, a plan view of a MIM capacitor structure 500 on a chip is illustrated. For a top plate 502 width W2510 and length L2512, wherein the top plate 502 has a smaller footprint area than the bottom plate 504, the capacitance density CD_MIM may be defined as a function of the top plate 502 footprint according to Equation 4:

CD _MIM =C _MIM/(W2*L2)   Equation 4

Accordingly, in one example for 65 nanometer node circuitry, the capacitance density CDMIM of the MIM capacitor structure 500 may be determined by Equation 4 as 2 fF/um².

Referring now to FIG. 6, a perspective view of a VNCAP capacitor structure 600 is illustrated. For overall capacitor width W3602 and overall capacitor length L3604, the capacitance density CD_VNCAP may be defined according to Equation 5:

CD _VNCAP =C _VNCAP/(W3*L3)   Equation 5

Accordingly, in one example for 65 nanometer node circuitry, the capacitance density CD_VNCAP of the VNCAP capacitor structure 600 may be determined by Equation 5 as 2 fF/um².

Referring now to FIG. 7, a multilayer perspective illustration is provided of an embodiment of a parallel CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310 discussed above. Although the present example is described with respect to specified numbers of metal layers within designated capacitor groupings, as well as overall metal layer totals, it is to be understood that the inventions described herein are not restricted to the specific embodiments: it will be readily apparent that more or less metal layers may be practiced within the teachings herein, and one skilled in the art may readily form alternative embodiments with different metal layer numbers and combinations. A CMOS 312 functions as a FEOL capacitor and comprises a first solid substrate 702 layer; a second silicon layer 703, the silicon layer comprising source 704, drain 706 and gate regions 708; and a third conductive polysilicon contact layer 705 comprising discrete contact regions disposed on each of the source 704, drain 706 and gate regions 708. A fourth layer of CA 712 provides a contact interface between the polysilicon contacts 705 and BEOL CMIM 314 and CVNCAP 316 capacitor structures.

The CVNCAP 316 is defined by three groups of progressively larger metal layers. A first bottom group 716 of four metal layers 718 (M1 through M4, respectively the 1st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th metal layers from the bottom of the multicapacitor element 310) are each separated by an insulator (or dielectric) material layer 720, the first metal layer M1 in circuit connection with the polysilicon contact layer 712. A second middle group of larger metal layers 726 (M5 and M6, respectively the 5^th and 6^th metal layers) are mounted on the first group of layers 716 and separated by a dielectric material layer 728 from each other. Lastly, a third largest top group 740 of metal layers 742 (M7 and M8, respectively the 7^th and 8^th metal layers) are mounted atop the second metal layer group 724 and separated by a dielectric material layer 734 from each other.

In another aspect each of the three CVNCAP metal levels 718, 726 and 742 further comprise parallel “−” signed and “+” signed metal plates. More particularly, the CVNCAP first level metal layers M1 through M4718 further each comprise a plurality of “+” signed metal plates 820 in an alternative horizontal parallel relationship with a plurality of “−” signed metal plates 822. CVNCAP second middle level metal layers M5 and M6 further each comprise a plurality of “+” signed metal plates 830 in an alternative horizontal parallel relationship with a plurality of “−” signed metal plates 832. And CVNCAP third top level metal layers M7 and M8742 further each comprise a plurality of “+” signed metal plates 840 in an alternative horizontal parallel relationship with a plurality of “−” signed metal plates 842.

The MIMCAP 314 is also a part of the BEOL and has a top plate 752 and a bottom plate 754 and a dielectric 756 therebetween, with the MIMCAP 314 interfaced to the CVNCAP top metal layers 732, as will be described presently.

FIG. 8( a) shows a representation of the multicapacitor chip element 310 as described in FIG. 7 including the connection of circuit ports Port 1801 and Port 2802 (for clarity the CVNCAP middle metal layers 726 and dielectric layer 728 are omitted). A simplified electrical schematic of the element 310 of FIG. 8(a) is shown in FIG. 8(b). FIG. 8(c) is another perspective view of the CVNCAP 316 of element 310 and further illustrating the parallel metal plate and composite capacitance structure, and FIG. 8(d) is a schematic electrical illustration of the composite capacitor characteristic of the CVNCAP 316.

In accordance with established practices, capacitor(s) in the BEOL of the chip assembly are connected with the design capacitance and the negative parasitic capacitances connected in series with one another and in parallel with the positive parasitic capacitance. Accordingly, Port 1801 is connected electrically to the MOSCAP 312 gate 708, the “−” signed CVNCAP first metal level plates 822, the “−” signed VNCAP second metal level plates 832, the “−” signed third top metal level plates 842 and to the CMIM top plate 752. Port 2802 is connected electrically to the “+” signed CVNCAP first metal level plates 820, the “+” signed CVNCAP second metal level plates 830, the “+” signed third top metal level plates 842 and to the CMIM bottom plate 754.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8(c) and 8(d), in one aspect the three divergently sized CVNCAP 316 bottom 716, middle 724 and top 740 metal layers each define a capacitor region. More particularly, the CVNCAP 316 bottom metal levels M1 through M4 together define a capacitor region 860; the CVNCAP 316 middle levels M5 and M6 together define a capacitor region 862; and the CVNCAP 316 top metal levels M7 and M8 together define a capacitor region 864. The CVNCAP element 316 capacitance value, and parasitic capacitance nature, is thus that of parallel capacitor elements 860, 862 and 864.

In one aspect, two passive capacitors (CMIM 314 and CVNCAP 316) and an active capacitor (CMOS 312) in a parallel circuit arrangement thus function as one on-chip capacitor between Port 1801 and Port 2802, and thus in a circuit incorporating CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310.

In another aspect, the CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310 comprises a vertical connection between a BEOL capacitor (CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316) and an FEOL capacitor (CMOS 312), providing space saving advantages over other prior art structures, increasing capacitance density on an IC by a factor of 2 over a single CMOS on-chip capacitor, and thus providing improved manufacturing cost efficiencies.

In another aspect, by using a CVNCAP 316 to connect between a MIM capacitor 314 and a MOS capacitor 312, performance is increased over other prior art structures. In one aspect, a new parasitic boost structure is accomplished through asymmetrical capacitor geometry according to the present invention.

As is well known in the design of on-chip capacitor structures, each on-chip capacitor inherently comprises two components: a main capacitor structure and at least one parasitic capacitor structure formed through proximity to at least one other capacitor or other electrically similar element. More particularly, FIG. 9 provides an electrical schematic diagram illustrating the parasitic capacitance properties of CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310. Parasitic capacitors Cp₁ through Cp₆ (606 to 610) are effectively generated in each of Port 1801 and Port 2802 and, thus, there are two parasitic capacitors Cp for each main capacitor, wherein:

Cp₁ 606 and Cp₄ 607 are the parasitic capacitors for the CMOS capacitor 312;

CP₂ 608 and Cp₅ 609 are the parasitic capacitors for CVNCAP capacitor 316.

Cp₃ 610 and Cp₆ 611 are the parasitic capacitors for MIMCAP capacitor 314.

However, due to the asymmetrical, parallel and vertical structure of CMOS 312/CMIM 314/CVNCAP 316 element 310 as described above and illustrated in the figures filed herewith, inherent parasitic capacitance is reduced. More particularly, total element 310 capacitance C_TOTAL and total element 310 parasitic capacitance C_PAR may be derived as follows from Equation Set 6:

C _TOTAL =C _MOS //C _VNCAP //V _MIM //V _PAR

C _TOTAL =C _MOS +C _VNCAP +V _MIM +V _PAR

C _PAR =Cp ₁ +Cp ₂ +Cp ₃   Equation Set 6

Thus, design leakage current reduction to one-half of the expected parasitic capacitance is achieved, thereby providing savings in chip power consumption, such as, for example, during the chipboard circuit's idle mode.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it is to be understood that variations may be made without departing from the scope thereof, and such variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art represented herein, as well as to those skilled in other arts. The materials identified above are by no means the only materials suitable for the manufacture of the MOS, VNCAP and MIMCAP capacitor structures, and substitute materials will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A capacitance circuit assembly mounted on a semiconductor chip and comprising a plurality of divergent capacitors in a parallel circuit connection between first and second ports, the plurality of parallel divergent capacitors comprising at least one Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor and at least one capacitor selected from the group comprising a Vertical Native Capacitor and a Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor.

2. The capacitance circuit assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of parallel divergent capacitors has a vertical structure orientation with respect to the semiconductor chip; and wherein the at least one Metal Oxide Silicon capacitor is located at a bottom of the vertical structure and defines a footprint area of the capacitance circuit assembly on the semiconductor chip.

3. The capacitance circuit assembly of claim 2 wherein the plurality of parallel divergent capacitors comprises the bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor in a front end of line of the semiconductor chip; a middle Vertical Native Capacitor in a back end of line of the semiconductor chip; anda top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor in the back end of line.

4. The capacitance circuit assembly of claim 3 wherein the plurality of parallel divergent capacitors defines a composite capacitance density value, the composite capacitance density value less than about one-half of a an expected single Metal Oxide Silicon capacitance density value of a single MOS capacitor having the assembly footprint area.

5. The capacitance circuit assembly according to claim 4 wherein the Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor has a capacitance density of about 4 fF/um2; the Vertical Native Capacitor has a capacitance density of about 2 fF/um2; andthe Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor has a capacitance density of about 2 fF/um2.

6. The capacitance circuit assembly according to claim 3 wherein the middle Vertical Native Capacitor comprises a plurality of horizontal metal layers, each of the horizontal metal layers further comprising a plurality of parallel positive plates alternating with a plurality of parallel negative plates; wherein each of the Vertical Native Capacitor parallel positive plates is in circuit connection with the first port, a top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor positive plate, and a bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor positive drain or source; andwherein each of the Vertical Native Capacitor parallel negative plates is in circuit connection with the second port, a top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor negative plate, a bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor gate, and a bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor negative drain or source.

7. The capacitance circuit assembly according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of Vertical Native Capacitor horizontal metal layers further comprises: a first plurality of lower parallel metal layers, each having a first metal layer vertical thickness, each of the first plurality of metal layers comprising a first plurality of the alternating positive and negative plates, each of the first plurality of the alternating positive and negative plates having a first horizontal width; anda second plurality of upper parallel metal layers disposed above and parallel to the lower parallel metal layers, each of the second upper parallel metal layers having a second metal layer vertical thickness, each of the second upper plurality of metal layers comprising a second plurality of the alternating positive and negative plates, each of the second upper plurality of the alternating positive and negative plates having a second horizontal width.

8. The capacitance circuit assembly according to claim 7 wherein the Vertical Native Capacitor has a capacitance; the Vertical Native Capacitor first lower plurality of metal layers comprises a Vertical Native Capacitor first capacitor component;the Vertical Native Capacitor second upper plurality of metal layers comprises a Vertical Native Capacitor second capacitor component, andwherein the Vertical Native Capacitor capacitance is a product of the Vertical Native Capacitor first capacitor component and the parallel Vertical Native Capacitor second capacitor component.

9. The capacitance circuit assembly according to claim 6, wherein the bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor, the middle Vertical Native Capacitor and the top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor are vertically arrayed to present a vertically asymmetric composite capacitance circuit assembly relative to the semiconductor chip.

10. The capacitance circuit assembly according to claim 9, wherein: the bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor further comprises an associated first port parasitic capacitor element disposed between the Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor and the first port and an associated second port parasitic capacitor element disposed between the Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor and the second port;the middle Vertical Native Capacitor further comprises an associated first port parasitic capacitor element disposed between the Vertical Native Capacitor and the first port and an associated second port parasitic capacitor element disposed between the Vertical Native Capacitor and the second port; andthe top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor further comprises an associated first port parasitic capacitor element disposed between the Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor and the first port and an associated second port parasitic capacitor element disposed between the Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor and the second port;wherein the capacitance circuit assembly has a total parasitic capacitance equal to the sum of the Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor first port parasitic capacitor element, the Vertical Native Capacitor first port parasitic capacitor element and the Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor first port parasitic capacitor element.

11. A method for providing a composite capacitive circuit assembly, comprising the step of connecting a plurality of divergent capacitors in a parallel circuit between first and second ports, the plurality of parallel divergent capacitors comprising at least one Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor and at least one capacitor selected from the group comprising a Vertical Native Capacitor and a Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of orienting the plurality of parallel divergent capacitors in a vertical structure with respect to the semiconductor chip; wherein the at least one Metal Oxide Silicon capacitor is located at a bottom of the vertical structure and defines a footprint area of the capacitance circuit assembly on the semiconductor chip.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: locating the bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor in a front end of line of the semiconductor chip;locating a middle Vertical Native Capacitor in a back end of line of the semiconductor chip; andlocating a top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor in the back end of line.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of the plurality of parallel divergent capacitors defining a composite capacitance density value, the composite capacitance density value less than about one-half of a an expected single Metal Oxide Silicon capacitance density value of a single MOS capacitor having the assembly footprint area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor has a capacitance density of about 4 fF/um2; the Vertical Native Capacitor has a capacitance density of about 2 fF/um2; andthe Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor has a capacitance density of about 2 fF/um2.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: forming the middle Vertical Native Capacitor with a plurality of horizontal metal layers, each of the horizontal metal layers further comprising a plurality of parallel positive plates alternating with a plurality of parallel negative plates;electrically connecting each of the Vertical Native Capacitor parallel positive plates with the first port, a top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor positive plate, and a bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor positive drain or source; andelectrically connecting each of the Vertical Native Capacitor parallel negative plates with the second port, a top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor negative plate, a bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor gate, and a bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor negative drain or source.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of forming the middle Vertical Native Capacitor horizontal metal layers as a first plurality of lower parallel metal layers and a second plurality of upper parallel metal layers; the first plurality of lower parallel metal layers, each having a first metal layer vertical thickness, each of the first plurality of metal layers comprising a first plurality of the alternating positive and negative plates, each of the first plurality of the alternating positive and negative plates having a first horizontal width; andthe second plurality of upper parallel metal layers disposed above and parallel to the lower parallel metal layers, each of the second upper parallel metal layers having a second metal layer vertical thickness, each of the second upper plurality of metal layers comprising a second plurality of the alternating positive and negative plates, each of the second upper plurality of the alternating positive and negative plates having a second horizontal width.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the Vertical Native Capacitor has a capacitance; the Vertical Native Capacitor first lower plurality of metal layers comprises a Vertical Native Capacitor first capacitor component;the Vertical Native Capacitor second upper plurality of metal layers comprises a Vertical Native Capacitor second capacitor component, andfurther comprising the steps of defining the Vertical Native Capacitor capacitance as a product of the Vertical Native Capacitor first capacitor component and the parallel Vertical Native Capacitor second capacitor component.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of arraying the bottom Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor, the middle Vertical Native Capacitor and the top Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor vertically to present a vertically asymmetric composite capacitance circuit assembly relative to the semiconductor chip.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: disposing a first port parasitic capacitor element between the Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor and the first port;disposing a second port parasitic capacitor element between the Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor and the second port;disposing a first port parasitic capacitor element between the Vertical Native Capacitor and the first port;disposing a second port parasitic capacitor element between the Vertical Native Capacitor and the second port;disposing a first port parasitic capacitor element between the Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor and the first port;disposing a second port parasitic capacitor element between the Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor and the second port; andproviding a capacitance circuit assembly total parasitic capacitance equal to the sum of the Metal Oxide Silicon Capacitor first port parasitic capacitor element, the Vertical Native Capacitor first port parasitic capacitor element and the Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor first port parasitic capacitor element.