Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
In a semiconductor device comprising a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate, a second conductivity type first semiconductor region formed on said semiconductor substrate which is isolated from said semiconductor substrate through p-n junction isolation, and a conductive layer extending above said first semiconductor region across an end portion of said first semiconductor region, a structure for preventing field concentration caused in said end portion of said first semiconductor region, existing under said conductive layer, through influence exerted by an electric field from said conductive layer, comprising: an insulating film formed on said end portion of said first semiconductor region between said first semiconductor region and said conductive layer; at least one conductive plate each having a first and second end portion and being formed in said insulating film in a manner that said at least one conductor plate is fully surrounded by said insulating film so as to be in a fully electrically floating state; and at least two first conductivity type first semiconductor floating diffusion regions formed in a surface of said end portion of said first semiconductor region to be alternately arranged with said conductive plate so that said first end portion of said at least one conductive plate overlaps with one of said at least two first conductivity type first semiconductor floating diffusion regions and said second end portion of said at least one conductive plate overlaps with another one of said at least two first conductivity type first semiconductor floating diffusion regions through said insulating film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
In a semiconductor device comprising a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate, a second conductivity type first semiconductor region formed on said semiconductor substrate which is isolated from said semiconductor substrate through p-n junction isolation, and a conductive layer extending above said first semiconductor region across an end portion of said first semiconductor region, a structure for preventing field concentration caused in said end portion of said first semiconductor region, existing under said conductive layer, through influence exerted by an electric field from said conductive layer, comprising: an insulating film formed on said end portion of said first semiconductor region between said first semiconductor region and said conductive layer; at least one conductive plate each having a first and second end portion and being formed in said insulating film in a manner that said at least one conductor plate is fully surrounded by said insulating film so as to be in a fully electrically floating state; and at least two first conductivity type first semiconductor floating diffusion regions formed in a surface of said end portion of said first semiconductor region to be alternately arranged with said conductive plate so that said first end portion of said at least one conductive plate overlaps with one of said at least two first conductivity type first semiconductor floating diffusion regions and said second end portion of said at least one conductive plate overlaps with another one of said at least two first conductivity type first semiconductor floating diffusion regions through said insulating film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first semiconductor region includes a portion of an epitaxial layer grown on said semiconductor substrate, which is isolated by a first conductivity type first isolating diffusion region formed in said epitaxial layer to extend from a surface of said epitaxial layer to said semiconductor substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
A structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said semiconductor device further comprises a second conductivity type buried layer of an impurity concentration larger than that of said first semiconductor region, formed in a center of a boundary between said semiconductor substrate and said first semiconductor region, and a second conductivity type second diffusion region of an impurity concentration larger than that of said first semiconductor region formed in said first semiconductor region, which extends from a surface of said first semiconductor region to said buried layer and encloses portion of said first semiconductor region on said buried layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein said at least one conductive plate includes a plurality of conductive plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein capacitances of capacitive coupling of said conductive plates and said first semiconductor floating diffusion regions are so set that voltage potentials of said conductive plates and said first semiconductor floating diffusion regions substantially linearly change from a low level to a high level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A structure in accordance with claim 3, further comprising: a first end conductive plate formed in said insulating film in arrangement with and adjacent to the alternate arrangement of said at least one conductive plate and said at least two first semiconductor floating diffusion regions, having one end portion electrically connected with said first isolating diffusion region and another end portion overlapping with one of said first semiconductor floating diffusion regions through said insulating film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A structure in accordance with claim 6, further comprising: a second end conductive plate formed in said insulating film in arrangement with and adjacent to said alternative arrangement opposite to said first end conductive plate, having one end portion electrically connected with said second diffusion region and another end portion overlapping with another one of said first semiconductor floating diffusion regions through said insulating film.