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US4587542A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Guard ring for reducing pattern sensitivity in MOS/LSI dynamic RAM

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1979-10-11
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Granted: 1986-05-06
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Expires: 1999-10-11
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Abstract

Abstract An MOS/LSI type dynamic RAM with single 5 V supply and grounded substrate employs a guard ring surrounding the cell array to prevent pattern sensitivity in testing. The guard ring is an N+ region biased at Vdd over a deep P+ region in a P-substrate, producing a built-in electric field which attracts diffusing minority carriers into a collecting junction. A standard process for making double-level poly memory devices is modified by adding a P+ implant and deep drive-in prior to field oxidation.

Inventors

  • 👤 G. R. Mohan Rao

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 13:07
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D62/00; H10D62/10; H10D62/102; H10D62/112; H10B; H10B12/00; H10B12/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 85 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising an array of memory cells in a face of a semiconductor body, peripheral circuitry in said face spaced from the array, and a guard region positioned in said face between the array and said circuitry to prevent diffusion of minority carriers from said circuitry to the memory, the guard region comprising a shallow heavily-doped region of opposite type over a much deeper heavily-doped region of one type, the body being of said one type but of much lighter doping level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 85 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising an array of memory cells in a face of a semiconductor body, peripheral circuitry in said face spaced from the array, and a guard region positioned in said face between the array and said circuitry to prevent diffusion of minority carriers from said circuitry to the memory, the guard region comprising a shallow heavily-doped region of opposite type over a much deeper heavily-doped region of one type, the body being of said one type but of much lighter doping level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the body is P- conductivity and the memory cells include N-channel MOS transistors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the guard region is a ring completely surrounding said array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said heavily-doped region of said one type is at least about ten times deeper than said heavily doped region of said opposite type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 98 words
A semiconductor device comprising an array of cells sensitive to minority carrier drift, the cells being formed in a face of a semiconductor body, peripheral circuitry in said face spaced from the array, the peripheral circuitry generating minority carriers, and a guard region positioned in said face between the array and said circuitry to prevent diffusion of minority carriers from said circuitry to the memory, the guard region comprising a shallow very heavily-doped region of one type, over a heavily-doped region of the opposite type, the body being of said opposite type but of much lighter doping level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 98 words
A semiconductor device comprising an array of cells sensitive to minority carrier drift, the cells being formed in a face of a semiconductor body, peripheral circuitry in said face spaced from the array, the peripheral circuitry generating minority carriers, and a guard region positioned in said face between the array and said circuitry to prevent diffusion of minority carriers from said circuitry to the memory, the guard region comprising a shallow very heavily-doped region of one type, over a heavily-doped region of the opposite type, the body being of said opposite type but of much lighter doping level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the body is P- conductivity and the cells include N-channel MOS transistors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the guard region is a ring completely surrounding said array.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4044373A Cited
US3573509A Cited
US3863065A Cited
DE2751592A1 Cited
DE2832764A1 Cited
US4160985A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-05-05 1989-11-04 1990-05-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-05-05 1993-11-04 1994-05-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-05-05 1997-11-04 1998-05-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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