U.S. patent application number 13/280518 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for voltage sustaining layer wiht opposite-doped island for seminconductor power devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to THIRD DIMENSION (3D) SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.. Invention is credited to Xingbi CHEN.
Application Number | 20120040521 13/280518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4990982 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120040521 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; Xingbi |
February 16, 2012 |
VOLTAGE SUSTAINING LAYER WIHT OPPOSITE-DOPED ISLAND FOR
SEMINCONDUCTOR POWER DEVICES
Abstract
A semiconductor high-voltage device comprising a voltage
sustaining layer between a n+-region and a p+-region is provided,
which is a uniformly doped n (or p)-layer containing a plurality of
floating p (or n)-islands. The effect of the floating islands is to
absorb a large part of the electric flux when the layer is fully
depleted under high reverse bias voltage so as the peak field is
not increased when the doping concentration of voltage sustaining
layer is increased. Therefore, the thickness and the specific
on-resistance of the voltage sustaining layer for a given breakdown
voltage can be much lower than those of a conventional voltage
sustaining layer with the same breakdown voltage. By using the
voltage sustaining layer of this invention, various high voltage
devices can be made with better relation between specific
on-resistance and breakdown voltage.
Inventors: |
CHEN; Xingbi; (Chengdu,
CN) |
Assignee: |
THIRD DIMENSION (3D) SEMICONDUCTOR,
INC.
Tempe
AZ
|
Family ID: |
4990982 |
Appl. No.: |
13/280518 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12355165 |
Jan 16, 2009 |
8071450 |
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13280518 |
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11838522 |
Aug 14, 2007 |
7498614 |
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12355165 |
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11365223 |
Mar 1, 2006 |
7271067 |
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11838522 |
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10860435 |
Jun 3, 2004 |
7227197 |
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11365223 |
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10382027 |
Mar 5, 2003 |
6936867 |
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10860435 |
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08953077 |
Oct 17, 1997 |
6635906 |
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10382027 |
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08598386 |
Feb 8, 1996 |
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08953077 |
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08268339 |
Jun 30, 1994 |
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08598386 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
438/495 ;
257/E21.09; 257/E21.346 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 29/7722 20130101;
H01L 29/73 20130101; H01L 29/0821 20130101; H01L 29/7395 20130101;
H01L 29/861 20130101; H01L 29/0623 20130101; H01L 29/7813 20130101;
H01L 29/0619 20130101; H01L 29/0634 20130101; H01L 29/7802
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
438/495 ;
257/E21.09; 257/E21.346 |
International
Class: |
H01L 21/20 20060101
H01L021/20; H01L 21/266 20060101 H01L021/266 |
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a
voltage sustaining layer with n sub-layers, n being an integer
greater than or equal to 2, the method comprising: (a) preparing a
semiconductor wafer having first and second main surfaces and a
region of a first conductivity type proximate the first main
surface; (b) forming an epitaxial layer of the first conductivity
type on the first main surface of the semiconductor wafer; (c)
growing an oxide layer on the epitaxial layer; (d) forming at least
one opening in the oxide layer; (e) implanting a dopant through the
at least one opening to form at least one region of a second
conductivity type; (f) removing the oxide layer; and (g) repeating
steps (b)-(f) n-1 times, the voltage sustaining layer having a
width W extending from the first main surface of the semiconductor
wafer, such that the at least one region of the second conductivity
type of a sub-layer k is spaced from the first main surface of the
semiconductor wafer by a distance of kW/n.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one region of the
second conductivity type in one of the n sub-layers is offset in a
direction parallel to the first main surface of the semiconductor
wafer with respect to the at least one region of the second
conductivity type in an adjacent sub-layer
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one region of the
second conductivity type in one of the n sub-layers is aligned in a
direction parallel to the first main surface of the semiconductor
wafer with the at least one region of the second conductivity type
in an adjacent sub-layer
4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises forming a
buffer layer of the first conductivity type on a substrate of the
second conductivity type.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first conductivity type is
one of n-type and p-type and the second conductivity type is the
other of n-type and p-type.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first region of the first
conductivity type has a first doping concentration and the
epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type has a second doping
concentration different from the first doping concentration.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/355,165, filed Jan. 16, 2009; which is a
divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/838,522, filed Aug. 14, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,498,614; which
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/365,223,
filed Mar. 1, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,271,067; which is a
divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/860,435, filed Jun. 3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,227,197; which
is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/382,027, filed Mar. 5, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,867; which
is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
08/953,077, filed Oct. 17, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,906; which
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/598,386,
filed Feb. 8, 1996, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 08/268,339, filed Jun. 30, 1994, now
abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to semiconductor high voltage
devices, and specifically to semiconductor high voltage devices
with a voltage sustaining layer containing floating regions.
[0003] It is well-known that in many semiconductor devices, such as
VD-MOST and SIT, a high sustaining voltage always accompanies a
high specific on-resistance. This is due to the fact that, for a
high sustaining voltage, thickness of a voltage sustaining layer
should be large and doping concentration of the voltage sustaining
layer should be low, so as the peak field does not exceed the
critical field for breakdown -E.sub.C, which is normally expressed
by E.sub.C=8.2.times.10.sup.5.times.V.sub.B.sup.-0.2 V/cm for
silicon, where V.sub.B is the breakdown voltage of the voltage
sustaining layer.
[0004] In a uniformly doped n-type voltage sustaining layer between
p+-region and n+-region, in order to obtain a minimum specific
on-resistance at a given breakdown voltage, a doping concentration
N.sub.D and a thickness W of the voltage sustaining layer are
optimized such that a maximum field is at p+-n-junction and its
value is equal to E.sub.C, a minimum field is at n+-n-junction and
equal to E.sub.C/3. For a silicon device,
N.sub.D=1.9.times.10.sup.18.times.V.sub.B.sup.-1.4 cm.sup.-3
(1)
W=1.8.times.10.sup.-2.times.V.sub.B.sup.-1.2 m.sup.-2 (2)
(see, e.g., P. Rossel, Microelectron. Reliab., vol. 24, No. 2, pp
339-366, 1984).
[0005] For the VDMOST shown in FIG. 1A, a field profile in the
voltage sustaining layer at V.sub.B is shown in FIG. 1B, where a
slope of the field versus distance is qN.sub.D/E.sub.s, E.sub.s is
the permittivity of the semiconductor and q is the electron charge.
The change of field through the n-region is qN.sub.D/E.sub.s,
2E.sub.C/3. The relation between R.sub.on and V.sub.B of a n-type
voltage sustaining layer is then expressed by
R.sub.on=W/q
.sub.nN.sub.D=0.83.times.10.sup.-8.times.V.sub.B.sup.2.5 .cm.sup.2
(3)
where .sub.n is the mobility of the electron and
.sub.n=710.times.V.sub.B.sup.0.1 cm/V.sec is used for silicon.
[0006] In order to get even lower R.sub.on at a given V.sub.B, some
research has been done to optimize the doping profile instead of
using a uniform doping, see: [1] C. Hu, IEEE Trans. Electron
Devices, vol. ED-2, No. 3, p243 (1979); [2] V. A. K. Temple et al.,
IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, vol. ED-27, No. 2, p243 (1980); [3]
X. B. Chen, C. Hu, IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, vol. ED-27, No. 6,
p985-987 (1982). However, the results show no significant
improvement.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a semiconductor
high voltage device having a new voltage sustaining layer with
better relationship between R.sub.on and V.sub.B. To achieve the
above purpose, a semiconductor high voltage device is provided,
which comprises a substrate of a first conductivity type, at least
one region of a second conductivity type, and a voltage sustaining
layer of the first conductivity type having a plurality of discrete
floating (embedded) islands of a second conductivity type between
said substrate and said region of the second conductivity type.
[0008] According to this invention, an n (or p) type voltage
sustaining layer is divided by (n-1) planes into n sub-layers with
equal thickness, and p (or n) type discrete floating islands are
introduced with their geometrical centers on such planes. The
average dose N.sub.T of the floating islands in each plane is about
2E.sub.sEc/3q. For silicon,
N.sub.T=2E.sub.sE.sub.c/3q=3.53.times.10.sup.12V.sub.B.sup.-0.2
cm.sup.-2 (4)
[0009] With such a floating island, the field is reduced by an
amount about 2E.sub.C/3 from a maximum value E.sub.C at a side of
the floating island to a minimum value E.sub.C/3 at another side of
the floating island so far as the floating island is fully
depleted. Each sub-layer is designed to sustain a voltage of
V.sub.B1=V.sub.B/n, and to have a thickness and doping
concentration which are almost the same as those form formulas (1)
and (2) with V.sub.B is replaced by V.sub.B1, so that when a
reverse voltage which is about the breakdown voltage V.sub.B is
applied over the whole voltage sustaining layer, the maximum field
is E.sub.C and the minimum field is E.sub.C/3, where the locations
of the maximum field are not only at the p+-n (or n+-p) junction,
but also at the points of each p (or n) island nearest to the n+-n
(or p+-p) junction; the locations of the minimum field are not only
at the n+-n (or p+-p) junction, but also at the points of each p
(or n) islands nearest to the p+-n (or n+-p) junction. An example
of the structure of a VDMOST using a voltage sustaining layer of
this invention with n=2 is shown in FIG. 3A and the field profile
under a reverse voltage of V.sub.B is shown in FIG. 3B. Apparently,
in such a condition, V.sub.B=2WE.sub.C/3, where W is the total
thickness of the voltage sustaining layer.
[0010] It is easy to prove that the above structured voltage
sustaining layer including a plurality of floating regions is fully
depleted under a reverse bias voltage about V.sub.B/2. The flux due
to the charges of the ionized donors (or acceptors) under the p (or
n) islands are almost totally terminated by the charges of the p
(or n) islands. The maximum field is then 2E.sub.C/3 and the
minimum field is zero, the locations of the maximum field are the
same as those under a reverse bias voltage of V.sub.B.
[0011] Apparently, the p (or n) islands make the field not to be
accumulated throughout the whole voltage sustaining layer. For a
given value of breakdown voltage V.sub.B, the doping concentration
N.sub.D can be higher than that in a conventional voltage
sustaining layer and the specific on-resistance is much lower than
that in a conventional voltage sustaining layer.
[0012] Suppose that there are n sub-layers in a voltage sustaining
layer. Then, each sub-layer can sustain a voltage of V.sub.B/n,
where V.sub.B is the breakdown voltage of the total voltage
sustaining layer. Obviously, instead of (3), the relation of
R.sub.on and V.sub.B of this invention is
R.sub.on=n.times.0.83.times.10.sup.-8(V.sub.B/n).sup.2.5
.cm.sup.2=0.83.times.10.sup.-8V.sub.B.sup.2.5/n.sup.1.5 .cm.sup.2
(5)
[0013] Compared to formula (3), it can been seen that the
on-resistance of a voltage sustaining layer having n sub-layers is
much lower than that of a conventional one.
[0014] The inventor has experimented and obtained remarkable
results, which show that the on-resistance of a semiconductor
device using a voltage sustaining layer with n=2 of this invention
is at least lower than 1/2 of that of a conventional one with the
same breakdown voltage, although the real value of R.sub.on of a
voltage sustaining layer having floating islands is a little higher
than the value calculated from expression (5) when n<3, due to
the effect that the current path is narrowed by the p-type floating
islands. Besides, for minimizing R.sub.on, the optimum value of
N.sub.T is slightly different with the expression (4), due to that
the negative charges of p-type floating islands are concentrated in
the p-regions instead of being uniformly distributed on a plane,
whereas these negative charges are used to absorb the flux of
ionized donors below that plane.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the invention, will be better understood when read
in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings
embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,
however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is the schematic diagram of a prior art VDMOST, where
FIG. 1A shows the structure and FIG. 1B shows the field
profile.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a voltage sustaining layer structure of this
invention, where FIG. 2A shows a voltage sustaining layer structure
with islands in one plane. FIGS. 2B and 2C show the structures of
the voltage sustaining layer with the floating islands in two
planes.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows the structure and the field profile of a VDMOST
with the voltage sustaining layer of this invention. In FIG. 3A,
the voltage sustaining layer of FIG. 2A is used. The field profile
of this structure under a reverse voltage of V.sub.B is shown in
FIG. 3B. In FIG. 3C, a voltage sustaining layer of FIG. 2C is
used.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows the structure of an IGBT with a voltage
sustaining layer of this invention. In FIG. 4A, a voltage
sustaining layer of FIG. 2A is used. In FIG. 4B, a voltage
sustaining layer of FIG. 2C is used.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a structure of a RMOST with the voltage
sustaining layer of this invention shown in FIG. 2A.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a structure of a bipolar junction transistor
with the voltage sustaining layer of this invention shown in FIG.
2A.
[0022] FIG. 7 shows a structure of a SIT with the voltage
sustaining layer of this invention shown in FIG. 2A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] All the structures schematically shown in the figures are of
cross-sectional view. In FIGS. 3-7, the same numeral designates
similar parts of a high voltage semiconductor device, where, 1
designates p (or n) island in the voltage sustaining layer; 3
designates n+ (or p+) substrate; 4 designates p (or n) source body;
5 designates n+ (or p+) source; 6 designates p+ (or n+) substrate;
7 designates n (or p) buffer layer; 8 designates p+ (or n+) outer
base of BJT; 9 designates p+ (or n+) grid of SIT; and shaded
regions designate oxide regions.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows several structures of a voltage sustaining
layer according to the invention.
[0025] In FIG. 2A, a voltage sustaining layer with p (or n) islands
in a plane is shown (i.e., n=2, two sub-layers). In FIG. 2B, a
voltage sustaining layer with p (or n) islands disposed in two
planes is shown (i.e., n=3, three sub-layers), where each island in
the upper plane is vertically arranged over a corresponding island
in the lower plane. FIG. 2C shows another voltage sustaining layer
with two planes of p (or n) islands (n=3), wherein each of the
islands in the upper plane is vertically arranged in the middle of
two neighboring islands in the lower plane.
[0026] The horizontal layout of the voltage sustaining layer can be
either interdigitated (finger), or hexagonal (cell), or rectangular
(cell). In all the figures of schematic cross-sectional view of the
structures, only one or two units (fingers or cells) of the voltage
sustaining layer are shown.
[0027] The voltage sustaining layer of this invention can be used
in many high voltage devices. [0028] 1) High voltage diode
[0029] This can be simply realized by forming two electrodes on the
p+-region and the n+-region in any of structures shown in FIG. 2.
[0030] 2) High voltage (or power) VDMOST
[0031] FIG. 3A shows a structure of a vertical diffusion metal
oxide semiconductor transistor (VDMOS or VDMOST) using the voltage
sustaining layer with a plurality of floating islands disposed in
one plane, i.e., n=2. FIG. 3B shows the field profile along a line
through a center of islands in the voltage sustaining layer and
perpendicular to said planes in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C shows a structure
of a VDMOST using a voltage sustaining layer with islands in two
planes, i.e., n=3.
[0032] The turn-off process of a resultant device is almost as fast
as a conventional VDMOST. The turn-on process is like the turn-off
process of a conventional IGBT, which consists of a fast stage and
a long tail. The long tail is due to the p (or n) islands needing
to be charged. [0033] 3) High Voltage (or Power) IGBT
[0034] FIG. 4A shows a structure of an IGBT using a voltage
sustaining layer with n=2. FIG. 4B shows a structure of an IGBT
using a voltage sustaining layer with n=3. In order to improve the
turn-on process of a VDMOST with the voltage sustaining layer of
this invention, only a small amount of minorities is needed to
charge the islands in the voltage sustaining layer. This can be
done by using an IGBT structure with a very low injection.
Investigations by the inventor indicate that an injection ratio of
less than 0.1 is enough to make the turn-on process to be almost as
fast as the turn-off process and results in no long tail. The low
injection ratio makes the device operate dominantly by the majority
carriers. [0035] 4) High Voltage (or Power) RMOST
[0036] FIG. 5 shows a structure of an RMOST using a voltage
sustaining layer of this invention, where n=2. [0037] 5) High
Voltage (or Power) BJT
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a structure of a bipolar junction transistor
using a voltage sustaining layer of this invention, where n=2.
[0039] 6) High Voltage (or Power) SIT
[0040] FIG. 7 shows a structure of a static induction transistor
using a voltage sustaining layer of this invention, where n=2.
[0041] The design references of a voltage sustaining layer of this
invention may be calculated according to above formulas for
calculating E.sub.C and the average dose of the islands in a plane.
For example, at first, a value of a desirable breakdown voltage
V.sub.B is determined, and the value of E.sub.C is calculated from
the determined E.sub.C. Then, from the technology achievable number
of sub-layers n, the lateral size of a unit and the width of the
islands in a plane, the number of impurity atoms in each island is
calculated. The calculated values can be used as the reference
values for simulation in CAD if more accurate values are
needed.
[0042] An example of a process for making a vertical n-IGBT using
the voltage sustaining layer of this invention is stated briefly as
follows: [0043] First step: preparing a wafer of a p+-substrate
having an n+-buffer on it; [0044] Second step: forming a n-epilayer
on said wafer; [0045] Third step: growing a thin oxide layer on the
epilayer and forming openings by photo-lithograph; [0046] Fourth
step: implanting boron through the openings for making p-islands
and then removing the oxide layer; [0047] Fifth step: repeat (n-1)
times of second step to fourth step. [0048] The following steps are
all the same as fabricating a conventional IGBT.
[0049] Although the invention has been described and illustrated
with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is not intended
that the invention be limited to these illustrative embodiments.
Those skilled in the art will recognized that modifications and
variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention encompass
all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of
the appended claims.
* * * * *