IP Library Patent Application 11812637
Patent Application
App. No. 11/812,637

Semiconductor protective structure for electrostatic discharge

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/812,637
Abstract

A semiconductor protective structure suitable for electrostatic discharge with a field-effect transistor, whose source forms an emitter, whose body forms a base, and whose drain forms a collector of a bipolar transistor. A plurality of drain regions are formed within a body region of the field-effect transistor, and the drain regions are connected to one another by a conductor.

Claims (14)

1 . A semiconductor protective structure for electrostatic discharge (ESD) comprising:

a field-effect transistor, whose source forms an emitter, whose body forms a base, and whose drain forms a collector of a bipolar transistor; and

a plurality of drain regions having a substantially same conductivity type is formed within a body region of the field-effect transistor,

wherein the drain regions are connected to one another by a conductor.

2 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 1 , wherein a first drain region and a second drain region of the plurality of the drain regions are spaced from one another in a direction of a gate length of the field-effect transistor.

3 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 2 , wherein the first drain region is formed between a gate electrode and the second drain region, and wherein a conductive transition region is formed between the conductor and the first drain region closer to the second drain region than to the gate electrode.

4 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 1 , wherein two drain regions of the plurality of drain regions are spaced from one another in a direction of a gate width of the field-effect transistor.

5 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the drain regions are formed in a grid within the body region.

6 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 1 , wherein the field-effect transistor is formed as a closed structure, wherein a body terminal region of the body is formed in an outer area of the closed structure and the drain regions in an inner area of the closed structure.

7 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 6 , wherein the closed structure is ring-shaped or oval.

8 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 6 , wherein a PN junction between the body region and a source region is formed substantially completely around the closed structure.

9 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 1 , wherein a fixed potential is applied to a gate electrode of the field-effect transistor so that no conduction channel forms below the gate electrode.

10 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 1 , wherein a gate electrode of the field-effect transistor is connected conductively to the source and/or the body.

11 . The semiconductor protective structure according to claim 1 , wherein the field-effect transistor is isolated by a buried dielectric in a vertical direction and by a dielectric-filled trench structure in a lateral direction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2009
From: ATMEL GERMANY GMBH
To: ATMEL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 023205/0655 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2007
From: GROMBACH, PETER; HEID, ANDRE; KLAUSSNER, MANFRED; SCHWANTES, STEFEN
To: ATMEL GERMANY GMBH
Reel/Frame 019766/0387 →