Methods and structures for contacting shield conductor in a semiconductor device

Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a region of semiconductor material comprising a major surface and a first conductivity type and a shielded-gate trench structure. The shielded-gate trench structure includes an active trench, an insulated shield electrode in the lower portion of the active trench; an insulated gate electrode adjacent to the gate dielectric in an upper portion of the active trench; and an inter-pad dielectric (IPD) interposed between the gate electrode and the shield electrode. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) structure is over the major surface. A conductive region is within the active trench and extends through the ILD structure, the gate electrode, and the IPD, and is electrically connected to the shield electrode. The conductive region is electrically isolated from the gate electrode by a dielectric spacer. The gate electrode comprises a shape that surrounds the conductive region in a top view so that the gate electrode is uninterrupted by the conductive region and the dielectric spacer.