1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device which takes measures against interference and noise between circuit blocks in a semiconductor integrated circuit in which an analog circuit block and a digital circuit block are combined on a single chip.
2. Background Art
With the recent popularity of semiconductor integrated circuit devices having larger packing densities and higher performance, an integrated circuit used for cellular phones and so on has been intended to have a structure that a plurality of analog and digital circuits, such as a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, and a PLL circuit, are combined on one and the same substrate through the use of BiCMOS process technology.
Such an integrated circuit generally receives a signal of 10 to 30 MHZ from an external temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) or the like as a reference signal for controlling circuit operation. Then, the frequency of the reference signal is changed into a required frequency by dividing and multiplication at its internal circuit, so that the resulting frequency is used as, for example, a phase-comparison signal for the PLL circuit and a reference signal for the digital circuit.
Thus, in the inside of the integrated circuit, signals having the frequencies of the divided or multiplied waves are generated besides the reference signal. Particularly, in the digital circuits, those signals take the form of rectangular waves, including odd-order higher harmonic waves. In addition, their amplitudes represent power supply-to-ground voltages and are of relatively large voltage amplitudes in terms of the signal amplitude level of the analog circuits.
Furthermore, the transmitting circuit block and the receiving circuit block of the analog circuit section have a circuit which inputs and outputs a high-frequency signal and a local oscillation signal of 1 to 2 GHZ, a circuit which divides or multiplies the frequencies of those signals, and a circuit which changes the resulting frequencies using a mixer or the like. Those circuits generate divided waves and higher harmonic waves of the high-frequency signal and the local oscillation signal, and also generate circuit noise.
As a bypass capacitor, a digital circuit IC external capacitor 31a and an analog circuit IC external capacitor 32b are connected between the power supply and the ground which are external to the IC.
In
In a semiconductor device having such a structure, the signal and its higher harmonic waves, etc. of the digital circuit have propagated to or interfered with other circuit blocks' signal wirings, power supply wirings, or ground wirings through its substrate, signal wiring, power supply wiring or ground wiring. In consequence, the related art semiconductor device have had a problem that unwanted noise and spurious have occurred in the circuit output signals of other circuit blocks to induce deterioration in the S/N (Signal/Noise) and the C/N (Carrier/Noise) of their signals and desensitization to input signals of the circuits.
In the following, the related art will be described with reference to
Also, as shown in
In
As to semiconductor integrated circuit devices used for the radio transmission section of cellular phones, the combination of analog and digital circuits is becoming popular as they become smaller, have higher degrees of integration, and drop in cost.
IN such semiconductor integrated circuits, when the actuating signal, its higher harmonic waves, etc. of the digital circuit have propagated to or interfered with the signal wiring, power supply wiring, or ground wiring of the analog circuit block through their substrate, its signal wiring, power supply wiring, or ground wiring, the following problem has arisen; even in case where a signal of the digital circuit has a low frequency, for example, on the order of 10 MHz, its frequency may be changed to a radio-frequency band on the order of 1 GHz by an analog circuit such as a mixer. As a result, spurious and noise having frequency bands used for transmission and reception occur to induce deterioration in characteristics, such as deterioration in the S/N and the C/N of the signals and desensitization to the input signals of the circuits.
IN order to prevent such interference between the circuit blocks, it is necessary not to transmit actuating signals within a circuit to other circuits and receive unnecessary signals from other circuits.
As a result, it is considered that substrate contacts are placed between the circuit blocks and measures to cut off their via-substrate interference path by the use of well isolation and trench isolation are taken. However, these measures bring about an increase in chip size to increase the integrated circuit production cost.
Also, in case where the interference between the circuit blocks is suppressed by some technique, such as the use of the substrate contact, well isolation, or trench isolation, its effect is further increased by fixing the potential of the back of the substrate with ground potential, or power supply potential. However, in a package employing a lead frame, such as a common QFP package, it becomes necessary to expose, from the package, a part of the lead frame which is connected to the substrate to provide the back of the substrate with a ground potential and to provide a terminal for grounding. In addition, like flip-chip mounting, in a package having a mounting configuration that the back of the substrate of a semiconductor device is not opposed to the substrate surface on which the semiconductor device is mounted, the application of a ground potential to the back of the substrate is difficult in itself.
Furthermore, as to the power supply section and the ground section of the circuits, since their wirings are required to be connected to terminals, such as wire bonding pads, which are connected to the outside of the semiconductor substrate, the power supply wiring and the ground wiring have a common impedance depending on the arrangement of the circuit blocks. As a result, signals and noise have circulated in the power supply wiring and the ground wiring, which has posed a problem that its circuit characteristics have deteriorated. Thus, it has heretofore been necessary to take a measure that a bypass capacitor is added between the power supply and the ground outside of the semiconductor device.
The present invention provides a semiconductor device in which an analog circuit block and a digital circuit block are combined and which is capable of preventing deterioration in characteristics attributed to the propagation and interference of signals and noises between the circuit blocks.
In order to prevent the deterioration in circuit characteristics, the invention provides a semiconductor device in which an analog circuit block and a digital circuit block are combined on a single chip, the semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, first and second circuit regions which are independently provided on the semiconductor substrate, a digital circuit block which comprises first elements and is formed in the first circuit region, and analog circuit block which comprises a second element and is formed in the second circuit region, a first power supply wiring and a first ground wiring which are placed so as to surround the first circuit region and are connected to the first elements, a second power supply wiring and a second ground wiring which are placed so as to surround the second circuit region and are connected to the second element, a first capacitor which is placed so as to surround the first circuit region and is connected between the first power supply wiring and the first ground wiring, and a second capacitor which is placed so as to surround the second circuit region and is connected between the second power supply wiring and the second ground wiring.
As the first and second capacitors, there are, for example, first and second MIS capacitors having a MIS structure respectively.
The first MIS capacitor comprises a first semiconductor region, a first dielectric film, and a first polysilicon electrode and is formed so as to overlap with the first power supply wiring and the first ground wiring, the first semiconductor region being formed in a first element region under the first power supply wiring and the first ground wiring so as to have a different conductivity type from that of a second element region under the first circuit region, the first dielectric film and the first polysilicon electrode being stacked on the first semiconductor region in that order. Also, the second MIS capacitor comprises a second semiconductor region, a second dielectric film, and a second polysilicon electrode and is formed so as to overlap with the second power supply wiring and the second ground wiring, the second semiconductor region being formed in a third element region under the second power supply wiring and the second ground wiring so as to have a different conductivity type from that of a fourth element region under the second circuit region, the second dielectric film and the second polysilicon electrode being stacked on the second semiconductor region in that order.
Then, the first semiconductor region is connected to the first power supply wiring via a plurality of first power supply contacts, and the first polysilicon electrode is connected to the first ground wiring via a plurality of first ground contacts. Also, the second semiconductor region is connected to the second power supply wiring via a plurality of second power supply contacts, and the second polysilicon electrode is connected to the second ground wiring via a plurality of second ground contacts.
In the above configuration, the first power supply wiring and the first ground wiring have a gap at a place on the periphery of the first circuit region, and the second power supply wiring and the second ground wiring have a gap at a place on the periphery of the second circuit region.
The first power supply wiring and the first ground wiring may surround the periphery of the first circuit region continuously, and the second power supply wiring and the second ground wiring may surround the periphery of the second circuit region continuously.
As the first and second capacitors, it is also possible to use, for example, first and second MIM capacitors having a MIM structure respectively.
The first MIM capacitor comprises the first power supply wiring, the first ground wiring, and the first dielectric film, the first power supply wiring comprising a different wiring layer from that of the first ground wiring and being formed so as to overlap with the first ground wiring with the first dielectric film interposed. Also, the second MIM capacitor comprises the second power supply wiring, the second ground wiring, and the second dielectric film, the second power supply wiring comprising a different wiring layer from that of the second ground wiring and being formed so as to overlap with the second ground wiring with the second dielectric film interposed.
Then, the first ground wiring is connected to the semiconductor substrate via a first substrate contact, and the second ground wiring is connected to the semiconductor substrate via a second substrate contact.
In the above configuration, the first power supply wiring and the first ground wiring have a gap at a place on the periphery of the first circuit region, and the second power supply wiring and the second ground wiring have a gap at a place on the periphery of the second circuit region.
The first power supply wiring, the first ground wiring, and the first dielectric film may surround the periphery of the first circuit region continuously, and the second power supply wiring, the second ground wiring, and the second dielectric film may surround the periphery of the second circuit region continuously.
Also, according to the invention, it is preferable that first and second pads used for external connections and each connected to the first and second elements, that is, pads which are connected to the outside of the semiconductor device, such as power supply terminals, ground terminals, input terminals and output terminals, by bonding wires or the like be placed in the first and second circuit regions respectively.
Further, it is preferable that a plurality of first wirings be placed parallel to one another above the first circuit region in such a manner that every other one of the first wirings is connected to the first power supply wiring, and the remaining first wirings are connected to the first ground wiring. Likewise, it is preferable that a plurality of second wirings be placed parallel to one another above the second circuit region in such a manner that every other one of the second wirings is connected to the second power supply wiring, and the remaining second wirings are connected to the second ground wiring.
According to the semiconductor device of the invention, the periphery of each circuit region is surrounded by the power supply wiring and the ground wiring. Further, the periphery of each circuit region is surrounded by the capacitor, that is, the MIS capacitor or the MIM capacitor, in such a manner that the capacitor lies between the power supply wiring and the ground wiring. Still further, another capacitor is connected between the power supply wiring and the ground wiring which are adjacent to each circuit region. Thus, a bypass capacitor can be formed at a location where is not subject to the influence of the common impedance of the power supply wiring and the ground wiring. As a result, unwanted signals and noises which circulate in the power supply wiring and the ground wiring can be released from the power supply terminal and the ground terminal to the outside of each circuit by circuit region, by which the propagation and interference of signals and noises to the other circuits can be suppressed to prevent the deterioration in characteristics of the semiconductor device in which an analog circuit block and a digital circuit block are combined on a single chip.
In addition, in case where a MIS capacitor is formed as the capacitor, the semiconductor region under each circuit region (e.g. p-type semiconductor region) can be laterally isolated by the semiconductor region under the power supply wiring and the ground wiring (e.g. n-type semiconductor region), by which the propagation and interference of signals and noises between the circuit regions can be suppressed further.
In case where a MIM capacitor is formed as the capacitor, the actuating signals and their higher harmonic wave components of the first circuit region in which the digital circuit block is formed are released from the substrate contact to the digital circuit ground wiring or the analog circuit ground wiring before they are transmitted to the second circuit region, in which the analog circuit block is formed, via the element region under the power supply wiring and the ground wiring, by which the interference of signals between the first and second circuit regions can be suppressed further.
Furthermore, since the MIS capacitor or the MIM capacitor is formed so as to overlap with the power supply wiring and the ground wiring of each circuit region, an increase in chip size is not involved in view of the related art.
In the following, embodiments according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
In Embodiment 1, a semiconductor device in which a digital circuit block and an analog circuit block are combined on one and the same semiconductor substrate is explained with reference to
With this semiconductor device, a digital circuit region 3 and an analog circuit region 2 are adjacent to each other and are independently placed as shown in
Around the digital circuit region 3, a digital circuit power supply wiring 4a and a digital circuit ground wiring 5a, which are connected to the elements in the digital circuit region 3, are placed. The digital circuit power supply wiring 4a and the digital circuit ground wiring 5a have a gap at a place on the periphery of the digital circuit region 3 respectively. Furthermore, under the digital circuit power supply wiring 4a and the digital circuit ground wiring 5a, a MOS capacitor 12a, which is a kind of MIS capacitor, is formed, and the two electrodes of the MOS capacitor 12a are connected to the digital circuit power supply wiring 4a and the digital circuit ground wiring 5a respectively.
Around the analog circuit region 2, an analog circuit power supply wiring 4b and an analog circuit ground wiring 5b, which are connected to the elements in the analog circuit region 2, are placed. The analog circuit power supply wiring 4b and the analog circuit ground wiring 5b have a gap at a place on the periphery of the analog circuit region 2 respectively. Furthermore, under the analog circuit power supply wiring 4b and the analog circuit ground wiring 5b, a MOS capacitor 12b is formed, and the two electrodes of the MOS capacitor 12b are connected to the analog circuit power supply wiring 4b and the analog circuit ground wiring 5b respectively.
As shown in
Further, the power supply pad 20 is connected to the package electrode 30 via the bonding wire 34, and then the package electrode 30 is connected to a digital circuit IC external power supply 32a and a digital circuit IC external capacitor 32a. The power supply pad 25 is also connected to the package electrode 30 via the bonding wire 34, and then the package electrode 30 is connected to an analog circuit IC external power supply 32b and an analog circuit IC external capacitor 31b.
In addition, the ground pads 21 and 26 are each connected to the package electrode 30 via the bonding wire 34, and then the package electrodes 30 are each connected to an IC external ground 33.
As to the semiconductor device shown in
Furthermore, the MOS capacitors 12, which are placed under the power supply wirings and the ground wirings around the digital circuit region 3 and the analog circuit region 2, are each connected between the power supply and the ground as a bypass capacitor. Thus, in case where the signals, noises, etc. of the digital circuit region 3 circulate in the digital circuit power supply wiring 4a and the analog circuit power supply wiring 4b as well, it is possible to release them to the digital circuit ground pad 21 and the analog circuit ground pad 26 via the MOS capacitors 12a and 12b.
Also, by providing an external capacitor between the IC external power supply and the external ground, the circulation of signals and noises has been heretofore suppressed. However, on the prevention of the circulation in the power supply on the semiconductor substrate, sufficient effect has not been obtained often due to the common impedance of the package electrodes 30 and the bonding wires 34.
Contrarily, in the configuration shown in
Furthermore, signals and noises from the digital circuit region 3 have often circulated in the pads to which the other circuit elements are connected via the substrate. However, the above problem is solved by using the following configuration. As shown in
By utilizing the above configuration, in the semiconductor integrated circuit wherein the analog circuit block and the digital circuit block are combined on a single chip, the propagation or interference of signals and noises to other circuit blocks can be suppressed to prevent the deterioration in its circuit characteristics.
Further, in addition to the configuration shown in
The value of the capacitors can be increased as the spacings between the parallel wirings become narrow, so that the capacitors perform the same function as that of the MOS capacitors. Also, since the power supply wirings 41 and the ground wirings 42 are placed above each circuit region, the capacitors also have a shielding effect of preventing the propagation of signals and noises to the wirings which cross over their own circuit and then are connected to another circuit region.
Although Embodiment 1 has been described by taking as an example the power supply wiring and the ground wiring which have a gap at a place on the periphery of each circuit region, the power supply wiring and the ground wiring may continuously surround the periphery of each circuit region.
In addition, explanations for effects brought about by giving the gap to the power supply wirings and the ground wirings are as follows. In case where the gap is given, there is an advantage that it is easy to draw the wirings from each circuit block (the securing of wiring regions). In case where the gap is not given, a current flows through the ringed conductors due to a change in magnetic flux around the wirings to bring about the possibility of the occurrence of noise, but the occurrence can be avoided by giving the gap to them.
In the above configuration of Embodiment 1, MIM capacitors can be formed instead of MOS capacitors.
(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 will be explained with reference to
Around the circuit regions 3 and 2, a digital circuit power source wiring 4a, a digital circuit ground wiring 5a, an analog circuit power source wiring 4b, and an analog circuit ground wiring 5b, which are connected to the elements in the circuit regions 3 and 2 respectively, are placed in such a manner that they have a gap at a place on the periphery of the circuit regions 3 and 2.
In
Like Embodiment 1 shown in
With the semiconductor device shown in
Further, in this configuration, since the power supply wirings 4a and 4b and the ground wirings 5a and 5b become the electrode of the MIM capacitor 40 as they are, contact resistance does not occur in the state that the power supply wirings 4a and 4b and the ground wirings 5a and 5b are connected to the capacitor element (MIM capacitor 40) as opposed to Embodiment 1 shown in
Also, by providing an external capacitor between an IC external power supply and an external ground, the circulation of signals and noises has been heretofore suppressed. However, on the prevention of the circulation in the power supply on the semiconductor substrate, sufficient effect has not been obtained often due to the common impedance of the package electrodes 30 and the bonding wires 34.
Contrarily, in the configuration shown in
Further, in addition to the configuration shown in
The value of the capacitors can be increased as the spacings between the parallel wirings become narrow, so that the capacitors perform the same function as that of the MIM capacitors. Also, since the power supply wirings 41 and the ground wirings 42 are placed above each circuit region, the capacitors also have a shielding effect of preventing the propagation of signals and noises to the wirings which cross over their own circuit and then are connected to another circuit region.
Although Embodiment 2 has been described by taking as an example the power supply wiring and the ground wiring which have a gap at a place on the periphery of each circuit region, the power supply wiring, the ground wiring, and the dielectric film therebetween may continuously surround the periphery of each circuit region.
In addition, explanations for effects brought about by giving the gap to the power supply wirings and the ground wirings are as follows. In case where the gap is given, there is an advantage that it is easy to draw the wirings from each circuit block (the securing of wiring regions). In case where the gap is not given, a current flows through the ringed conductors due to a change in magnetic flux around the wirings to bring about the possibility of the occurrence of noise, but the occurrence can be avoided by giving the gap to them.
In the configuration in 2, MOS capacitors may be formed instead of MIM capacitors.
As described above, the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the invention comprises an analog circuit and a digital circuit which are combined on a single chip and is effective in preventing deterioration in characteristics attributed to the propagation and interference of signals and noises between the circuit blocks.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2003-422987 | Dec 2003 | JP | national |