Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Nxp Usa, Inc.

William G Cowden

Chai Ean Gill

Rouying Zhan

Changsoo Hong

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device includes a semiconductor substrate, a base region in the semiconductor substrate and having a first conductivity type, an emitter region in the base region and having a second conductivity type, a collector region in the semiconductor substrate, spaced from the base region, and having the second conductivity type, a breakdown trigger region having the second conductivity type, disposed laterally between the base region and the collector region to define a junction across which breakdown occurs to trigger the ESD protection device to shunt ESD discharge current, and a gate structure supported by the semiconductor substrate over the breakdown trigger region and electrically tied to the base region and the emitter region. The lateral width of the breakdown trigger region is configured to establish a voltage level at which the breakdown occurs.

ESD protection with integrated LDMOS triggering junction

Protection device structures and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary protection device includes a first bipolar junction transistor, a second bipolar junction transistor, a first zener diode, and a second zener diode. The collectors of the first bipolar junction transistors are electrically coupled. A cathode of the first zener diode is coupled to the collector of the first bipolar transistor and an anode of the first zener diode is coupled to the base of the first bipolar transistor. A cathode of the second zener diode is coupled to the collector of the second bipolar transistor and an anode of the second zener diode is coupled to the base of the second bipolar transistor. In exemplary embodiments, the base and emitter of the first bipolar transistor are coupled at a first interface and the base and emitter of the second bipolar transistor are coupled at a second interface.

Growing community of inventors

Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

William G Cowden