Advanced Power Technology Corporation

Microsemi Corporation

Dah W Tsang

Douglas A Pike, Jr

Theodore O Meyer

John W Mosier, Ii

Dumitru Sdrulla

James M Katana

Theodore G Hollinger

Dumitra Scrulla

John W Mosier, Ii, Deceased

Jinshu Zhang

High voltage semiconductor devices with high-voltage termination structures are constructed on lightly doped substrates. Lightly doped p-type substrates are particularly prone to depletion and inversion from positive charges, degrading the ability of associated termination structures to block high voltages. To improve the efficiency and stability of termination structures, second termination regions of the same dopant type as the substrate, more heavily doped than the substrate but more lightly doped than first termination regions, are positioned adjoining the first termination regions. The second termination regions raise the field threshold voltage where the surface is vulnerable and render the termination structure substantially insensitive to positive charges at the surface. The use of higher dopant concentration in the gap region without causing premature avalanche is facilitated by only creating second termination regions for regions lacking field plate protection.

Edge termination for high voltage semiconductor device

A recessed gate power MOSFET is formed on a substrate (20) including a P-body layer (26), N-drain layer (24) and optional P+ layer (22) for IGBT. A trenching protective layer (30) formed on the substrate upper surface (28) is patterned to define exposed areas (46) as stripes or a matrix, and protected areas. Sidewall spacers (44) of predetermined thickness (52) with inner surfaces (48) contact the protective layer sidewalls. A first trench (50) is formed in substrate areas (46) with sidewalls aligned to the sidewall spacer outer surfaces (47) and extending depthwise through the P-body layer (26) to at least a predetermined depth (56). Gate oxide (60) is formed on the trench walls and gate polysilicon (62) refills the trench to a level (64) near substrate upper surface (28). Oxide (68) between sidewall spacers (44) covers polysilicon (62). Removing the protective layer exposes upper substrate surface (28') between spacer inner surfaces (48). This area is doped to form a source layer (72) atop the body layer (26') and then trenched to form a second trench (80) having sidewalls aligned to the spacer inner surfaces. Second trench (80) defines vertically-oriented source and body layers (86, 90) stacked along gate oxide layer (60) to form vertical channels on opposite sides of second trench (80). Layers (86, 90) have a lateral thickness (88) established by the predetermined spacing of the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall spacers. Source conductor (94) in the second trench contacts the N-source and P-body layers, and an enhanced P+ region at the base of the second trench.

Self-aligned power MOSFET device with recessed gate and source

A gate power MOSFET on substrate (20) has a P-body layer (26), N-drain layer (24) and optional P+ layer (22) for IGBT. Layer (430) on surface (28) patterns areas (446) as stripes or a matrix, and protected areas. Undercut sidewalls (444) of thickness (452), with protruding rims (447), contact the sides of layer (434'). Trench (450) in areas (446) has silicon sidewalls aligned to oxide sidewall (447) and extending depthwise through P-body layer (26) to depth (456). Gate oxide (460) is formed on the trench walls and gate polysilicon (462) refills trench (450) to a level (464) near surface (28) demarcated by the undercut sidewall rims (447). Oxide (468) between spacers (444) covers polysilicon (462). Removing layer (430) exposes surface (28') between the sidewalls (444). Source layer (72) is doped atop the body layer (26') and then trenched to form trench (80) having sidewalls aligned to inner side faces of sidewalls (444). Trench (80) defines vertically-oriented source and body layers (86, 90) stacked along oxide layer (460) to form vertical channels on opposite sides of trench (80). Layers (86, 90) have a lateral thickness (88) of the undercut sidewalls (444) and rims (447) spacers. Conductor (94) contacts the N-source and P-body layers, and enhanced P+ region in trench (80).

High density power device fabrication process using undercut oxide

For IGBT, MCT or like devices, the substrate is formed with P+, N+ and N- layers and PN diffusions to define body and source regions in the N-layer and a MOS-gated channel at the upper surface. The N-layer is sized and doped (.about.10.sup.14 /cm.sup.3) to block reverse bias voltage. The N+ layer is &gt;20 .mu.m thick and doped below .about.10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3 but above the N- doping to enhance output impedance and reduce gain at high V.sub.ce conditions. Or the N+ layer is formed with a thin (.about.5 .mu.m) highly doped (&gt;10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3) layer and a thick (&gt;20 .mu.m) layer of .about.10.sup.16 /cm.sup.3 doping. A platinum dose of 10.sup.13 to 10.sup.16 /cm.sup.3 is ion implanted and diffused into the silicon to effect lifetime control. Gate and source contacts and body and source diffusions have an inter-digitated finger pattern with complementary tapers to minimize current crowding and wide gate buses to minimize signal delay. P+ doping beneath and marginally surrounding the gate pads and main gate bus negates breakdown conditions in widely spaced body regions and convex localities at the source finger end. Wide secondary gate buses parallel to the gate fingers have a P+ doped central stripe and transverse shorting bars spaced along their length. A non-polarizable PECVD passivation film of low phosphorus PSG and nitride or oxynitride or of oxynitride alone is made by controlling ionized gas residence time, silane partial pressure, and oxygen ratio during deposition, to minimize incorporation of Si--H into the film.

IGBT device with platinum lifetime control and reduced gaw

A recessed gate power MOSFET is formed on a substrate (20) including a P-body layer (26), N-drain layer (24) and optional P+ layer (22) for IGBT. A trenching protective layer (30) formed on the substrate upper surface (28) is patterned to define exposed areas (46) as stripes or a matrix, and protected areas. Sidewall spacers (44) of predetermined thickness (52) with inner surfaces (48) contact the protective layer sidewalls. A first trench (50) is formed in substrate areas (46) with sidewalls aligned to the sidewall spacer outer surfaces (47) and extending depthwise through the P-body layer (26) to at least a predetermined depth (56). Gate oxide (60) is formed on the trench walls and gate polysilicon (62) refills the trench to a level (64) near substrate upper surface (28). Oxide (68) between sidewall spacers (44) covers polysilicon (62). Removing the protective layer exposes upper substrate surface (28') between spacer inner surfaces (48). This area is doped to form a source layer (72) atop the body layer (26') and then trenched to form a second trench (80) having sidewalls aligned to the spacer inner surfaces. Second trench (80) defines vertically-oriented source and body layers (86, 90) stacked along gate oxide layer (60) to form vertical channels on opposite sides of second trench (80).

High density power device fabrication process

For IGBT, MCT or like devices, the substrate is formed with P+, N+ and N- layers and PN diffusions to define body and source regions in the N-layer and a MOS-gated channel at the upper surface. The N-layer is sized and doped (.about.10.sup.14 /cm.sup.3) to block reverse bias voltage. The N+ layer is &gt;20 .mu.m thick and doped below .about.10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3 but above the N- doping to enhance output impedance and reduce gain at high V.sub.ce conditions. Or the N+ layer is formed with a thin (.about.5 .mu.m) highly doped (&gt;10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3) layer and a thick (&gt;20 .mu.m) layer of .about.10.sup.16 /cm.sup.3 doping. A platinum dose of 10.sup.13 to 10.sup.16 /cm.sup.2 is ion implanted and diffused into the silicon to effect lifetime control. Gate and source contacts and body and source diffusions have an inter-digitated finger pattern with complementary tapers to minimize current crowding and wide gate buses to minimize signal delay. P+ doping beneath and marginally surrounding the gate pads and main gate bus negates breakdown conditions in widely spaced body regions and convex localities at the source finger end. Wide secondary gate buses parallel to the gate fingers have a P+ doped central stripe and transverse shorting bars spaced along their length. A non-polarizable PECVD passivation film of low phosphorus PSG and nitride or oxynitride or of oxynitride alone is made by controlling ionized gas residence time, silane partial pressure, and oxygen ratio during deposition, to minimize incorporation of Si--H into the film.

IGBT device with platinum lifetime control having gradient or profile

For IGBT, MCT or like devices, the substrate is formed with P+, N+ and N- layers and PN diffusions to define body and source regions in the N-layer and a MOS-gated channel at the upper surface. The N-layer is sized and doped (.about.10.sup.14 /cm.sup.3) to block reverse bias voltage. The N+ layer is &gt;20 .mu.m thick and doped below .about.10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3 but above the N- doping to enhance output impedance and reduce gain at high V.sub.ce conditions. Or the N+ layer is formed with a thin (.about.5 .mu.m) highly doped (&gt;10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3) layer and a thick (&gt;20 .mu.m) layer of .about.10.sup.16 /cm.sup.3 doping. A platinum dose of 10.sup.13 to .about.10.sup.16 /cm.sup.2 is ion implanted and diffused into the silicon to effect lifetime control. Gate and source contacts and body and source diffusions have an inter-digitated finger pattern with complementary tapers to minimize current crowding and wide gate buses to minimize signal delay. P+ doping beneath and marginally surrounding the gate pads and main gate bus negates breakdown conditions in widely spaced body regions and convex localities at the source finger end. Wide secondary gate buses parallel to the gate fingers have a P+ doped central stripe and transverse shorting bars spaced along their length. A non-polarizable PECVD passivation film of low phosphorus PSG and nitride or oxynitride or of oxynitride alone is made by controlling ionized gas residence time, silane partial pressure, and oxygen ratio during deposition, to minimize incorporation of Si-H into the film.

IGBT process to produce platinum lifetime control

A dopant-opaque layer of polysilicon is deposited on gate oxide on the upper substrate surface to serve as a pattern definer during fabrication of the device. It provides control over successive P and N doping steps used to create the necessary operative junctions within a silicon substrate and the conductive structures formed atop the substrate. A trench is formed in the upper silicon surface and a source conductive layer is deposited to electrically contact the source region as a gate conductive layer is deposited atop the gate oxide layer. The trench sidewall is profile tailored using a novel O.sub.2 -SF.sub.6 plasma etch technique. An oxide sidewall spacer is formed on the sides of the pattern definer and gate oxide structures, before depositing the conductive material. A planarizing layer is applied and used as a mask for selectively removing any conductive material deposited atop the oxide spacer. The polysilicon layer on the oxide is reduced in thickness during trenching so that any conductive material deposited atop the spacers protrude upward for easy removal of excess, conductive material. The sidewall spacers can be sized, either alone or in combination with profile tailoring of the trench, to control source-region width (i.e., parasitic pinched base width) and proximity of the source conductor to the FET channel. Electrical contact between the source conductive layer and the source regions is enhanced by forming a low-resistivity layer between them.

Topographic pattern delineated power MOSFET with profile tailored

A dopant-opaque layer of polysilicon is deposited on gate oxide on the upper substrate surface to serve as a pattern definer during fabrication of the device. It provides control over successive P and N doping steps used to create the necessary operative junctions within a silicon substrate and the conductive structures formed atop the substrate. A trench is formed in the upper silicon surface and a source conductive layer is deposited to electrically contact the source region as a gate conductive layer is deposited atop the gate oxide layer. The trench sidewall is profile tailored using a novel O.sub.2 -SF.sub.6 plasma etch technique. An oxide sidewall spacer is formed on the sides of the pattern definer and gate oxide structure, before depositing the conductive material. A planarizing layer is applied and used as a mask for selectively removing any conductive material deposited atop the oxide spacer. The polysilicon layer on the oxide is reduced in thickness during trenching so that any conductive material deposited atop the spacers protrude upward for easy removal of excess, conductive material. The sidewall spacers can be sized, either alone or in combination with profile tailoring of the trench, to control source-region width (i.e., parasitic pinched base width) and proximity of the source conductor to the FET channel. Electrical contact between the source conductive layer and the source regions is enhanced by forming a low-resistivity layer between them.

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Bend, OR, United States of America

Dah W Tsang