This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-118670, filed on May 24, 2012; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a semiconductor device.
Conventionally, a technique for forming an n-channel MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) on a p-type semiconductor substrate has been known. In this technique, to isolate the MOSFET from other device elements, an n-type semiconductor layer is formed on the p-type semiconductor substrate. Then, a p-type well and n-type source layer and drain layer are formed thereon. Furthermore, to increase the breakdown voltage, a p-type RESURF layer may be formed on the n-type semiconductor layer. In this case, parasitic transistors are formed in the stacked structure from the p-type semiconductor substrate to the n-type drain layer. Depending on the operation of the MOSFET, these parasitic transistors may be turned on, and a parasitic current may flow from the semiconductor substrate to the drain layer. This may vary the potential of the semiconductor substrate and affect the operation of other device elements.
In general, according to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on the semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type provided on the first semiconductor layer, a first well of the second conductivity type provided on the second semiconductor layer, a second well of the first conductivity type provided on part of the first well, a source layer of the second conductivity type provided on part of the second well and separated from the first well, a back gate layer of the first conductivity type provided on another part of the second well, a drain layer of the second conductivity type provided on another part of the first well, a gate insulating film provided immediately above a portion of the second well between the first well and the source layer, a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film, a source electrode connected to the source layer and the back gate layer, a drain electrode connected to the drain layer, and a substrate electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are in floating state. The second semiconductor layer and the second well are separated from each other by the first well.
In general, according to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on the semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type provided on the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type provided on the second semiconductor layer, a first well of the second conductivity type provided on the second semiconductor layer, a second well of the first conductivity type provided on the third semiconductor layer, a source layer of the second conductivity type provided on part of the second well and separated from the first well, a back gate layer of the first conductivity type provided on another part of the second well, a drain layer of the second conductivity type provided on the first well, a gate insulating film provided immediately above a portion of the second well between the first well and the source layer, a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film, a source electrode connected to the source layer and the back gate layer, a drain electrode connected to the drain layer, and a substrate electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are in floating state. The second semiconductor layer and the second well are separated from each other by the third semiconductor layer.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a first embodiment is described.
As shown in
The p-type substrate 10, the n-type buried layer 11, the p-type RESURF layer 12, the n-type well 13, the p-type well 14, the source layer 15, the back gate layer 16, and the drain layer 17 are part of a semiconductor portion 20 made of e.g. monocrystalline silicon. The effective impurity concentration of the source layer 15 and the drain layer 17 is higher than the effective impurity concentration of the n-type well 13. The effective impurity concentration of the back gate layer 16 is higher than the effective impurity concentration of the p-type well 14. In this description, the “effective impurity concentration” refers to the concentration of impurity contributing to the conduction of the semiconductor material. For instance, in the case where the semiconductor material contains both impurity serving as donor and impurity serving as acceptor, the “effective impurity concentration” refers to the concentration except the amount of donor and acceptor canceling each other.
An STI (shallow trench isolation) 21 made of e.g. silicon oxide (SiO2) is provided in a region between the p-type well 14 and the drain layer 17 on the n-type well 13. The STI 21 is penetrated into an upper portion of the semiconductor portion 20. Furthermore, a gate insulating film 22 made of e.g. silicon oxide is provided on the semiconductor portion 20 in a region extending from immediately above the portion of the p-type well 14 between the n-type well 13 and the source layer 15 through immediately above the portion of the n-type well 13 between the STI 21 and the p-type well 14 to immediately above the portion of the STI 21 on the p-type well 14 side. On the gate insulating film 22, a gate electrode G made of e.g. polysilicon doped with impurity is provided. The gate electrode G is covered with an interlayer insulating film 23 made of e.g. silicon oxide.
On the semiconductor portion 20, a source electrode S and a drain electrode D are provided. The source electrode S is connected to the source layer 15 and the back gate layer 16. The drain electrode D is connected to the drain layer 17. Furthermore, the semiconductor device 1 includes a substrate electrode Sub (see
The n-type well 13, the p-type well 14, the source layer 15, the back gate layer 16, the drain layer 17, the STI 21, the gate insulating film 22, and the gate electrode G constitute an n-channel lateral DMOS (double-diffused MOSFET) 30. The region of the semiconductor portion 20 with the lateral DMOS 30 formed therein is partitioned by a DTI (deep trench isolation) 29 (see
The p-type RESURF layer 12 is provided in order to relax the source-drain electric field to increase the breakdown voltage of the lateral DMOS 30. The thickness of the p-type RESURF layer 12 is a thickness such that the depletion layer occurring from the pn interface between the n-type buried layer 11 and the p-type RESURF layer 12 is not in contact with the depletion layer occurring from the pn interface between the p-type RESURF layer 12 and the n-type well 13 when no potential is applied to any of the source electrode S, the drain electrode D, and the substrate electrode Sub.
Each of the n-type buried layer 11 and the p-type RESURF layer 12 is not connected to the source electrode S, the drain electrode D and the substrate electrode Sub via a semiconductor layer having the same conductivity type as itself in any direction of three dimension space. Therefore, the n-type buried layer 11 and the p-type RESURF layer 12 are in floating state. That is, the p-type RESURF layer 12 is disposed between the n-type buried layer 11, and the source electrode S and the drain electrode D. The p-type substrate 10 is disposed between the n-type buried layer 11 and the substrate electrode Sub. The n-type well 13 is disposed between the p-type RESURF layer 12, and the source electrode S and the drain electrode D. The n-type buried layer 11 is disposed between the p-type RESURF layer 12 and the substrate electrode Sub. Also, the n-type buried layer 11 and the p-type RESURF layer 12 are made be in floating state by being partitioned by the DTI 29.
Next, the operation of the semiconductor device according to the embodiment is described.
As shown in
In the H switch 100, the switching elements 30a and 30d are turned on, and the switching elements 30b and 30c are turned off. Then, a current I1 flows in the path from the power supply potential VDD through the switching element 30a, the motor M, and the switching element 30d to the ground potential GND. Thus, the motor M is supplied with a current of the positive phase. On the other hand, the switching elements 30b and 30c are turned on, and the switching elements 30a and 30d are turned off. Then, a current I2 flows in the path from the power supply potential VDD through the switching element 30b, the motor M, and the switching element 30c to the ground potential GND. Thus, the motor M is supplied with a current of the negative phase. Immediately after breaking the current I1, during the period when the switching elements 30a-30d are all turned off, a regenerative current I3 flows due to the inductance of the motor M. The regenerative current I3 occurs so that a current having the same orientation as the current I1 flows in the motor M. Thus, in the switching elements 30b and 30c, the current flows from the source toward the drain. This also applies to the period immediately after breaking the current I2.
As shown in
Thus, an equivalent circuit C is formed among the source electrode S, the drain electrode D, and the substrate electrode Sub. In the equivalent circuit C, the anode of the parasitic diode Di is connected to the source electrode S, and the cathode is connected to the drain electrode D. The parasitic resistance R is interposed among the base of the parasitic npn transistor T1, the collector of the parasitic pnp transistor T2, and the source electrode S. The emitter of the parasitic npn transistor T1 is connected to the drain electrode D. The collector of the parasitic npn transistor T1 is connected to the base of the parasitic pnp transistor T2. The emitter of the parasitic pnp transistor T2 is connected to the substrate electrode Sub.
As shown in
At this time, suppose that the parasitic resistance R (n-type well 13) is not interposed between the p-type well 14 and the p-type RESURF layer 12. Then, a current I32 flows from the p-type well 14 into the base (p-type RESURF layer 12) of the parasitic npn transistor T1. The current I32 serves as a trigger current and turns on the parasitic npn transistor T1. Thus, a current flows from the collector (n-type buried layer 11) toward the emitter (n-type well 13) of the parasitic npn transistor T1. This results in lowering the potential of the n-type buried layer 11 constituting the base of the parasitic pnp transistor T2, and turns on the parasitic pnp transistor T2. Thus, via the parasitic pnp transistor T2 and the parasitic npn transistor T1, a parasitic current I33 flows in the path from the substrate electrode Sub through the p-type substrate 10, the n-type buried layer 11, the p-type RESURF layer 12, the n-type well 13, and the drain layer 17 to the drain electrode D. This results in varying the potential of the p-type substrate 10 and affects the operation of other device elements formed on the p-type substrate 10.
However, in the embodiment, the p-type well 14 and the p-type RESURF layer 12 are separated by the n-type well 13. Thus, a parasitic resistance R exists between the p-type well 14 and the p-type RESURF layer 12. Accordingly, the trigger current I32 does not easily flow. The parasitic npn transistor T1 and the parasitic pnp transistor T2 are not easily turned on. Thus, the parasitic current I33 does not easily flow. As a result, the variation of the potential of the p-type substrate 10 can be suppressed.
Next, a comparative example is described.
As shown in
Next, a second embodiment is described.
As shown in
According to the embodiment, an n-type drift layer 41 having a higher effective impurity concentration than the n-type well 13 is provided between the source layer 15 and the drain layer 17. Thus, the source-drain on-resistance can be made lower than that of the semiconductor device 1 (see
Next, a third embodiment is described.
As shown in
According to the embodiment, an n-type well 42 having a higher effective impurity concentration than the n-type well 13 is provided between the source layer 15 and the drain layer 17. Thus, the source-drain on-resistance can be made lower than that of the semiconductor device 1 (see
Next, a fourth embodiment is described.
As shown in
According to the embodiment, an n-type drift layer 41 and an n-type well 42 are provided between the source layer 15 and the drain layer 17. Thus, the source-drain on-resistance can be made lower. The configuration, operation, and effect of the embodiment other than the foregoing are similar to those of the above first embodiment.
Next, a fifth embodiment is described.
As shown in
The n-type buried layer 43 can be formed by injecting impurity serving as donor from the upper surface side of the semiconductor portion 20 by the ion implantation method. Thus, the formation depth and impurity concentration of the n-type buried layer 43 can be controlled independently of the n-type well 13. That is, the formation depth and impurity concentration of the n-type well 13 can be determined based on the required characteristics of the lateral DMOS 30. The formation depth and impurity concentration of the n-type buried layer 43 can be determined based on the required level of the parasitic resistance R. As a result, the level of the parasitic resistance R can be freely controlled. The configuration, operation, and effect of the embodiment other than the foregoing are similar to those of the above first embodiment.
Next, a sixth embodiment is described.
As shown in
Thus, by appropriately controlling the impurity concentration of the n-type buried layer 43, the parasitic resistance R (see
Next, a seventh embodiment is described.
As shown in
According to the embodiment, an n-type well 42 having a higher effective impurity concentration than the n-type well 13 is provided between the source layer 15 and the drain layer 17. Thus, the source-drain on-resistance can be made lower than that of the semiconductor device 6 (see
Next, a test example is described.
As shown in
As shown in
In the examples illustrated in the above embodiments, the semiconductor device constitutes a switching element of an H switch of a motor driver. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. The semiconductor device according to the above embodiments can be suitably applied to e.g. an output circuit with high breakdown voltage in an analog power integrated circuit.
The embodiments described above can realize a semiconductor device in which the parasitic current flowing in the semiconductor substrate is suppressed.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention. Additionally, the embodiments described above can be combined mutually.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-118670 | May 2012 | JP | national |