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US4893160A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for increasing the performance of trenched devices and the resulting structure

Assignee: Vishay Siliconix Inc
•
Filing: 1987-11-13
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Granted: 1990-01-09
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Expires: 2007-11-13
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Abstract

Abstract A trenched device, such as a DMOS transistor, provides for higher breakdown voltages than possible using trenched devices of the prior art. The trench extends only into the epitaxial layer, thereby minimizing breakdown problems associated with prior art trench devices in which the trench extends into the more highly doped substrate. However, in order to achieve higher breakdown voltages, the dopant concentration is increased in that portion of the epitaxial layer surrounding the bottom of the trench. Thus, a novel trenched device is taught which achieves higher breakdown voltages by causing the trench to be surrounded by relatively highly doped material, while not requiring the trench to extend into the more highly doped substrate itself.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard A. Blanchard

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D30/00; H10D30/60; H10D30/64; H10D30/66; H10D30/668; H10D30/01; H10D30/021; H10D30/028; H10D30/0291; H10D30/0297; H10D62/00; H10D62/10; H10D62/102; H10D62/103; H10D62/105; H10D62/13; H10D62/149; H10D62/151; H10D62/156; H10D62/157; H10P; H10P50/00; H10P50/69; H10P50/691; H10D64/00; H10D64/20; H10D64/27; H10D64/311; H10D64/411; H10D64/511; H10D64/512; H10D64/513

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
A semiconductor device comprising: a first region of semiconductor material, doped to a first concentration with a dopant of a first conductivity type, and serving as a drain region; a trench formed within said first region, said trench having sides and a bottom; a second region of semiconductor material located within said first region and adjacent to said trench near said bottom of said trench, said second region being of said first conductivity type and having a higher dopant concentration than said first region; a gate electrode within said trench; a layer of gate dielectric insulating said gate electrode from said first and second regions; a source region formed on the surface of said first semiconductor region; and a body region within said first region beneath said source region, said body region having a second conductivity type opposite said first conductivity type.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 142 words
A semiconductor device comprising: a first region of semiconductor material, doped to a first concentration with a dopant of a first conductivity type, and serving as a drain region; a trench formed within said first region, said trench having sides and a bottom; a second region of semiconductor material located within said first region and adjacent to said trench near said bottom of said trench, said second region being of said first conductivity type and having a higher dopant concentration than said first region; a gate electrode within said trench; a layer of gate dielectric insulating said gate electrode from said first and second regions; a source region formed on the surface of said first semiconductor region; and a body region within said first region beneath said source region, said body region having a second conductivity type opposite said first conductivity type.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A semiconductor device as in claim 1 wherein said gate electrode is formed of conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
A semiconductor device as in claim 2 wherein said conductive material is selected from the group of materials consisting of aluminum, alloys of aluminum, polycrystalline silicon, refractory metals, and combinations of polycrystalline silicon and refractory metals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
A semiconductor device as in claim 3 wherein said gate dielectric is located along said sides and bottom of said trench.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
A semiconductor device as in claim 1 which further comprises a semiconductor substrate upon which said first region is located.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A semiconductor device as in claim 1 wherein said semiconductor substrate is doped to said first conductivity type to a higher dopant concentration than said first semiconductor region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 50 words
A semiconductor device as in claim 1 wherein said first region is doped to a bulk dopant concentration within the range of approximately 10 14 to 10 16 atoms/cm 3 and said second region is doped to have a sheet resistivity with the range of approximately 100 to 1,000 ohms/square.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
A semiconductor device as in claim 1 wherein said second region is formed beneath said trench and extends above the bottom of said trench along at least a portion of the periphery of said trench.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4101922A Cited
US4376286A Cited
US4376286B1 Cited
US4366495A Cited
US4553151A Cited
US4608584A Cited
US4672410A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-01-08 1993-07-10 1994-01-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-01-08 1997-07-10 1998-01-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-01-08 2001-07-10 2002-01-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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