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Field shields for Schottky barrier devices

Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1984-07-18
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2004-07-18
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to an improved Schottky barrier device wherein the leakage current present in the reverse bias mode attributed to the presence of an electric field at the Schottky barrier (18) is significantly reduced by the inclusion of one or more field shields (22), P + -type diffusions located under the metal anode (16) of the Schottky barrier device at the Schottky barrier (18). The P + -type field shields, which are disposed in a pattern on the surface of the Schottky barrier, reduce the surface electric field present, thereby significantly reducing the leakage current related thereto.

Inventors

  • 👤 William L. Buchanan, Jr.
  • 👤 James E. Kohl
  • 👤 Robert S. Scott
  • 👤 Yiu-Huen Wong

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 02:05
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D8/00; H10D8/60; H10D62/00; H10D62/10; H10D62/102; H10D62/103; H10D62/105; H10D62/106

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
A semiconductor device which comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; an insulating layer disposed on a surface of said semiconductor layer and having an aperture therein exposing a portion of said semiconductor layer; a metal layer disposed in said aperture and possibly onto a portion of the insulating layer, forming a Schottky barrier with said semiconductor layer therebelow; and a plurality of semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type in physical contact with both said semiconductor layer and said metal layer, each semiconductor region of said plurality of semiconductor regions being separated from one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 98 words
A semiconductor device which comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; an insulating layer disposed on a surface of said semiconductor layer and having an aperture therein exposing a portion of said semiconductor layer; a metal layer disposed in said aperture and possibly onto a portion of the insulating layer, forming a Schottky barrier with said semiconductor layer therebelow; and a plurality of semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type in physical contact with both said semiconductor layer and said metal layer, each semiconductor region of said plurality of semiconductor regions being separated from one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 72 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of semiconductor regions of the second conductivity type forms an annular guard ring surrounding the remaining semiconductor regions of said plurality of semiconductor regions, said annular guard ring disposed in physical contact with both the metal layer and the insulating layer, completely underlying the edge of the interface between said semiconductor layer and said metal layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claims 1 or 2 wherein the plurality of semiconductor regions of the second conductivity type are arranged in a geometric pattern with the separation between adjacent regions determined by the desired reverse bias leakage current and the desired forward bias voltage drop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the geometrical pattern is a regular array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claim 4 wherein the regular array is a rectangular lattice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claim 4 wherein the regular array is a hexagonal lattice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claim 4 wherein the regular array is a set of long parallel stripes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claim 4 wherein the regular array is a set of concentric rings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claims 1 or 2 wherein the plurality of semiconductor regions of the second conductivity type comprises a plurality of diffused regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 111 words
A semiconductor device which comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; an insulating layer disposed on a surface of said semiconductor layer and having an aperture therein exposing a portion of said semiconductor layer; a metal layer disposed in said aperture and possibly onto a portion of the insulating layer, forming a Schottky barrier with said semiconductor layer therebelow; and a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type in physical contact with both said semiconductor layer and said metal layer, said semiconductor region disposed to form a continuous pattern adjoining said Schottky barrier and extending away from the Schottky barrier edge into a central portion of the semiconductor device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 111 words
A semiconductor device which comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; an insulating layer disposed on a surface of said semiconductor layer and having an aperture therein exposing a portion of said semiconductor layer; a metal layer disposed in said aperture and possibly onto a portion of the insulating layer, forming a Schottky barrier with said semiconductor layer therebelow; and a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type in physical contact with both said semiconductor layer and said metal layer, said semiconductor region disposed to form a continuous pattern adjoining said Schottky barrier and extending away from the Schottky barrier edge into a central portion of the semiconductor device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claim 10 wherein the semiconductor region of the second conductivity type comprises a diffused region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claims 1, 2, or 10 wherein the semiconductor layer is silicon and the insulating layer is silicon dioxide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
A semiconductor device formed in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 10 wherein the metal layer is nickel silicide.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3541403A Cited
US3616380A Cited
US4134123A Cited
US4119446A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-03-31 1989-09-30 1990-04-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-03-31 1993-09-30 1994-04-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-03-31 1997-09-30 1998-04-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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