This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2022-0058818, filed on May 13, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more specifically, to a semiconductor device including an anti-resonance resistor.
Recently, much attention has been paid to a power amplifier (PA) semiconductor manufacturing technology or monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) design technology in fields such as electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, wireless communication including 5G or 6G, satellite communication, high-resolution radar, and the like.
Specifically, various technologies and materials have been developed to transmit and receive data with high output. For example, since gallium nitride (GaN) can operate at a high voltage due to a wide energy gap of 3.4 eV, have high current density and power density, and operate at a high speed, recently, use of a GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) element has rapidly increased as a material for a high-output, high-efficiency, and small-sized power amplifier (PA) element.
However, intervals between transistors become narrower as a semiconductor device is developed to operate at a high speed, to have high output and high efficiency, and to be miniaturized. Accordingly, in a conventional semiconductor device, there is a problem in that each transistor disposed in the semiconductor device generates a resonance effect, and thus RF performance is lowered and a lifespan is shortened.
Further, the conventional semiconductor device has a problem in that heat released from the transistors disposed in the semiconductor device cannot be accurately sensed, and thus performance of the semiconductor device is lowered and the lifespan is shortened.
In addition, a conventional semiconductor device including an anti-resonance function has a problem in that a package of the semiconductor device includes an insulator for preventing resonance therein, and thus manufacturing costs and time increase and the volume increases.
In addition, a conventional semiconductor device including a temperature measurement function has a problem in that an additional process of forming a temperature measurement unit is included or an additional space for disposing the temperature measurement unit is provided, and thus manufacturing costs and time increase and the volume increases.
Meanwhile, the above-described background art is technical information retained for derivation of the present invention or acquired during a derivation process of the present invention by the inventor, and is not necessarily known art disclosed to the general public before application of the present invention.
(Patent Document 00001) Japanese Application Patent No. 4641286 (2010 Dec. 10)
The present invention is directed to providing a semiconductor device in which a configuration which prevents resonance between transistors is disposed, and thus radio frequency (RF) characteristics and a lifespan are improved.
Further, the present invention is directed to providing a semiconductor device which may be monitored to maintain the highest performance by accurately measuring heat released from a plurality of transistors, and of which RF characteristics and a lifespan are improved.
In addition, the present invention is directed to providing a semiconductor device including a configuration capable of performing both an anti-resonance function and a temperature measurement function, thereby reducing a volume and reducing manufacturing costs and time.
Problems of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems which are not mentioned may be apparently understood by those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.
In order to solve the above-described problem, a semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of transistors disposed on the semiconductor substrate and each including a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, a plurality of pads disposed on the semiconductor substrate and disposed at the outside of the plurality of transistors, a plurality of resistors disposed on the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of pads, respectively, and a plurality of upper metal layers disposed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to come into contact with the resistors, wherein the plurality of pads include at least one gate pad, the at least one gate pad is electrically connected to the gate electrode of each of the plurality of transistors, the at least one gate pad is spaced apart from each other, and at least one of the plurality of resistors is an anti-resonance resistor, and the anti-resonance resistor is disposed between two gate pads and is electrically connected to at least one gate pad of the two gate pads through the upper metal layer.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the semiconductor device may further include an active layer disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the transistors, and the active layer may be formed of a compound including Ga and N and may have thermal conductivity.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of resistors may be formed as one among thin film resistors and mesa resistors.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of pads may be a temperature measurement pad, and at least one of the plurality of resistors may be a temperature sensing resistor electrically connected to the temperature measurement pad through the upper metal layer.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the temperature sensing resistor may be the anti-resonance resistor.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the temperature sensing resistor may be an electrically open floating resistor.
According to one of solutions of the present invention, since a configuration which prevents resonance between transistors is disposed in a semiconductor device, radio frequency (RF) characteristics and a lifespan can be improved.
Further, according to one of solutions of the present invention, since heat released from a plurality of transistors is accurately measured, a semiconductor device can be monitored so that the highest performance can be maintained, and RF characteristics and a lifespan can be improved.
In addition, according to one of solutions of the present invention, since a configuration capable of performing both an anti-resonance function and a temperature measurement function is disposed in a semiconductor device, a volume of the semiconductor device can be reduced, and manufacturing costs and time of the semiconductor device can be reduced.
Effects which can be acquired from the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects which are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.
Advantages and features of the present invention, and a method of achieving them, will become apparent with reference to embodiments which are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which will be described below and may be implemented in different forms. The embodiments are only provided to completely disclose the present invention and completely convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is only defined by the disclosed claims.
Since a shape, a size, a ratio, an angle, the number, and the like disclosed in the drawings for describing the embodiment of the present invention are exemplary, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated items. Further, in a description of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description for a related known technology may unnecessarily obscure the principle of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. When terms ‘include,’ ‘have,’ ‘be formed of,’ and the like mentioned in the present specification are used, other parts may be added unless the term ‘only’ is used. A case in which a component is expressed in a singular form includes a case of including a plural form unless specifically disclosed otherwise.
In interpretation of the components, even when there is no separate explicit description, it is interpreted that an error range is included.
Although first, second, and the like are used to describe various elements or components, these elements or components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another. Accordingly, a first element or component mentioned below may be a second element or component within the spirit of the present invention.
The same reference numeral refers to the same component throughout the specification unless otherwise specified.
Features of the various embodiments of the present invention can be partially or entirely coupled to or combined with each other, and as those skilled in the art may fully understand, may be various interlocked and driven, and the embodiments may be embodied independently of each other, and may also be embodied together in an associative relationship.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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In addition, a transistor array means that the plurality of transistors 120 are disposed in the semiconductor device 100 at predetermined intervals or according to predetermined rules. Specifically, since the plurality of gate electrodes 121 extending from the gate line 141, and the plurality of source electrodes 123 and the plurality of drain electrodes 125 extending from the data line 143 are disposed in parallel, a transistor array may be generated as the plurality of transistors 120 are disposed adjacent to each other at predetermined intervals.
The plurality of transistors 120 may be designed to have the same electrical characteristics, and the number of transistors 120 and a width and a length of each electrode may be arbitrarily designed. For example, when a current flowing between the source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 125 of one of the plurality of transistors 120 is smaller than a current flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode of each of the remaining transistors, the width and length of the electrode of one of the transistors 140 may be disposed to be reduced or increased.
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The source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 125 may be composed of the same material. Accordingly, the source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 125 may come into ohmic contact with the active layer 130 which is a semiconductor. Further, since the source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 125 are symmetrical elements, the transistor 120 may operate normally even when positions of the source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 125 are changed.
When a voltage is applied between the source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 125, a drain current may flow, and an amount of drain current may be controlled by the voltage applied between the gate electrode 121 and the source electrode 123. In the above-described case, a linear relationship may be formed between the voltage and the current applied to the drain electrode 125. In this case, the source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 125 may operate like a variable resistor. The source electrode 123 may supply charge carriers to a channel region of the transistor 120, and the drain electrode 125 may absorb the charge carriers.
The gate line 141 and the data line 143 are only means for efficiently forming the plurality of transistors 120, and thus may be freely disposed according to the properties and configuration of a target semiconductor device 100.
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The active layer 130 may be formed of various materials according to types of the semiconductor substrate 110 and the transistor 120. The active layer 130 may be formed through a process such as epitaxial growth or the like in which Ga, which is a Group 3 element, N, which is a Group 5 element, and the like are supplied to the semiconductor substrate 110. Accordingly, a material of the active layer 130 may be a compound including the Group 3 and Group 5 elements. For example, the material of the active layer 130 may be AlGaN, GaN, or GaAs. The active layer 130 may have thermal conductivity and may conduct heat generated from the transistors 120 to an external region of the transistor 120.
A channel region of the transistor 120 may be formed in the active layer 130. The channel region refers to a region in the transistor 120 where carriers such as electrons or holes may move. The channel region of the transistors 120 is generated in the form of a thin band between the active layer 130 under the source electrodes 123 and the active layer 130 under the drain electrodes 125. The channel region of the transistor 120 may be generated while the carriers move in a partial region of the active layer 130 when a voltage higher than a threshold voltage is applied to the gate electrodes 121 and a voltage is applied to the drain electrodes 125.
In general, since a change in potential generated when a voltage is applied to or disconnected from the gate electrode 121 generates the most heat energy in the transistor 120, a region close to the gate electrode 121 in the channel region of the transistor 120 may be a portion having the highest temperature in the semiconductor device 100.
The pad 150 refers to a portion where an external terminal of the semiconductor device 100 is electrically connected to the semiconductor device 100. Referring to
The pad 150 may receive various electrical signals and the like supplied from the outside of the semiconductor device 100 and supply the received electrical signals and the like to the semiconductor device 100. In this case, the gate pads 151, drain pads, or source pads may be disposed on the semiconductor substrate 110. Further, the pad 150 may transmit information about temperature, radio frequency (RF) characteristics, and the like of the semiconductor device 100 to the outside of the semiconductor device 100. In this case, a temperature measurement pad 150 for or an RF measurement pad may be disposed on the semiconductor substrate 110.
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The resistor 160 may be a thin film resistor (TFR) and may be composed of NiCr or TaN. Alternatively, the resistor 160 may be a mesa resistor. Preferably, the resistor 160 may be a thin film resistor.
The plurality of resistors 160 include at least one anti-resonance resistor 161. The anti-resonance resistor 161 is a resistor 160 which prevents a resonance effect of the semiconductor device 100. That is, at least one of the four resistors 160 in
The anti-resonance resistor 161 is electrically connected to at least one gate pad 151 through the upper metal layer 170. Further, at least one gate pad 151 is electrically connected to at least one transistor 120. Specifically, the gate pad 151 is electrically connected to the gate electrode 121 of the transistor 120. Accordingly, the anti-resonance resistors 161 are electrically connected to the transistors 120.
Resonance refers to an effect in which an amplitude of a signal of a specific frequency becomes very large. When the resonance effect occurs in the transistor 120, a very large circulating harmonic current is generated in the transistor 120 and a circuit connected to the transistor 120. When such an abnormal current occurs, RF performance of the semiconductor device 100 may be reduced or elements disposed inside the semiconductor device 100 may be destroyed. Specifically, odd harmonics among resonant harmonics cause great damage to the circuit.
The anti-resonance resistors 161 suppress the resonance generated in the semiconductor device 100 as at least one transistor 120 operates. Specifically, the anti-resonance resistors 161 consume odd harmonic energy generated in the transistors 120 of the semiconductor device 100. Accordingly, the anti-resonance resistors 161 protect the semiconductor device 100 by suppressing damage to the elements in the semiconductor device 100 due to the resonance effect.
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The upper metal layer 170 electrically connects the pad 150 and the resistor 160. Accordingly, the upper metal layer 170 may serve as a connection path in which the anti-resonance resistors 161 prevent the resonance of the semiconductor device 100 through the gate pads 151.
According to the above-described embodiment, since the anti-resonance resistor 161 suppress the resonance effect of the transistor 120 and a circuit electrically connected to the transistor 120, the RF characteristics of the semiconductor device 100 may be improved, the semiconductor device 100 may operate more accurately even at high temperature, and a lifespan of the semiconductor device 100 may be increased.
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the anti-resonance resistor 161 is formed to be inserted into the active layer 130 in a process of forming the active layer 130, an additional process of disposing the anti-resonance resistor 161 in the semiconductor device 100 need not be added. Accordingly, the manufacturing process time and costs of the semiconductor device 100 may be reduced.
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the elements of the semiconductor device 100 are symmetrically disposed, the number of transistors 120 constituting the array of the transistors 120 may be easily adjusted while maintaining the characteristics of the semiconductor device 100.
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Further, each temperature measurement pad 352 comes into contact with an upper metal layer 370. The temperature measurement pad 352 may be connected to one resistor 361b or 363a among a plurality of resistors 360 through the upper metal layer 370. Specifically, the first temperature measurement pad 352a may be connected to a second temperature sensing resistor 361b through the upper metal layer 370, and the second temperature measurement pad 352b may be connected to a first temperature sensing resistor 363a through the upper metal layer 370.
The resistors 361b and 363a electrically connected to the temperature measurement pads 352 like this are temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a which measure the temperature of a heat generation source of the semiconductor device 300. Specifically, as resistance values of the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a change according to the temperature of an active layer around a gate electrode 321 of a transistor 320, which is one of the main heat generation sources of the semiconductor device 300, the temperature may be measured. That is, the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a are electrically connected while being disposed adjacent to the temperature measurement pads 352. Accordingly, anti-resonance resistors 361 or floating resistors 363 may serve as the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a according to the arrangement of the temperature measurement pads 352, and the number of temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a may be one or more. Accordingly, the number of temperature measurement pads 352 may also be one or more.
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Accordingly, the first temperature measurement pad 352a is electrically connected to the temperature sensing resistor 363a through the upper metal layer 370, and the second temperature measurement pad 352b is electrically connected to the second temperature sensing resistor 361b through the upper metal layer 370.
The temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a are formed as thin film resistors or mesa resistors, and preferably, may be formed as thin film resistors. The temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a each have a high temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR). That is, a change in resistance values of the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a due to heat is large. The temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a receive heat generated from at least one transistor 32 through the active layer 330.
The temperature measurement pads 352 may transmit a temperature measurement current to the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a through the upper metal layers 370 which come into contact with the temperature measurement pads 352. The temperature measurement current may be applied to the temperature measurement pads 352 from a terminal at the outside of the semiconductor device 300 which comes into contact with the temperature measurement pads 352.
Further, the temperature measurement pads 352 may cause the terminal at the outside of the semiconductor device 300 to measure a voltage applied to the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a by the temperature measurement current. Since a measurement device at the outside of the semiconductor device 300 may acquire values of currents flowing through the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a and values of voltages applied to the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a through the temperature measurement pads 352, resistance values of the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a may be calculated using Ohm's law.
Accordingly, since the resistance values of the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a may be calculated, and thus, a change in temperature transmitted to the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a is calculated, a change in temperature of the transistor 320, which is a main heat generation source of the semiconductor device 300, may also be calculated.
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According to the above-described embodiment, since the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a receive the heat generated from the at least one transistor 32 through the active layer 330 and change the resistance values, when the resistance values of the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a are calculated, the temperature of the transistor 320, which is the heat generation source, in the semiconductor device 300 may also be calculated.
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a are some of the plurality of resistors 360, and thus have the same arrangement positions and materials as the anti-resonance resistor 361 and the floating resistor 363. Accordingly, an additional manufacturing process need not be added to additionally dispose the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a in the semiconductor device 300 in which the anti-resonance resistors 361 are disposed. Accordingly, the second temperature sensing resistor 361b may quickly sense a change in temperature of the main heat generation source of the transistor 320 while suppressing the resonance of the transistor 320 in the semiconductor device 300 like the anti-resonance resistor 361. Further, the first temperature sensing resistor 363a may sense the change in temperature of the transistor 320 by coming into contact with only one temperature measurement terminal like the floating resistor 363, and accordingly, a circuit configuration of the semiconductor device 300 may be integrated and simplified. Furthermore, when the floating resistor 363 becomes the temperature sensing resistor 363a, since only one temperature measurement terminal is required, temperature measurement costs are reduced.
Further, external air of the semiconductor device 300 is heated by operation of the semiconductor device 300, but has a temperature different from the temperature of the transistor 320 which is the main heat generation source of the semiconductor device 300. However, according to the above-described embodiment, since the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a are separated from the external air of the semiconductor device 300 by the upper metal layer 370, the temperature sensing resistors 361b and 363a may more accurately measure the temperature of the transistor 320.
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments, and may be variously modified without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to not limit but to describe the technical spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Accordingly, the embodiments described above should be understood as being exemplary and not limiting in all aspects. The scope of the present invention should be understood by the following claims, and all technical spirit within the equivalent range should be understood as being within the scope of the present disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2022-0058818 | May 2022 | KR | national |