IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,514,333
Granted Patent B2
US 7,514,333 · App. 11/302,807 · Granted Apr 7, 2009

CMOS power sensor

Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,514,333
App. No.
11/302,807
Granted
Apr 7, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A CMOS power sensor is disclosed in the present invention. The CMOS power sensor includes a current coil, a high voltage device circuit, and a Hall device. The current coil is fabricated during the process steps of forming gold bumps of a CMOS device. One end of the current coil is connected to a voltage source, and the other end of the current coil is connected to a load. The high voltage device circuit is connected to the voltage source. The Hall device is connected to the high voltage device circuit and induces a Hall voltage in response to the magnetic field generated by the current coil.

Claims (19)

1. A process of forming a CMOS power sensor, wherein said CMOS power sensor is applied to detect a power magnitude of a given voltage source, comprising:

providing a semiconductor wafer with a Hall device and at least one CMOS device, wherein on the top of said semiconductor wafer is a passivation layer which covers at least one bonding pad;

opening a contact window over said at least one bonding pad by performing a photolithography process and an etching process;

coating a photo resist layer on said semiconductor wafer;

patterning said photo resist layer by using a photo mask during an exposure process, wherein said photo mask comprises patterns for forming at least one gold bump and a current coil; wherein said current coil is connected to said voltage source and able to induce a magnetic field which can induce said Hall device to generate a Hall voltage; and

Forming said at least one gold bump and said current coil by performing an electroplating process.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising forming a pad layer on said semiconductor wafer after performing said step of opening a contact window over said at least one bonding pad.

3. The process of claim 2 further comprising:

removing a residual photo resist by performing a stripping process; and

removing a part of said pad layer under said residual photo resist by performing an etching process.

4. The process of claim 3 , further comprising performing an anneal process.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein said Hall device comprises:

a first terminal, which is connected to a high voltage device circuit;

a second terminal, which is connected to the ground;

a third terminal, which is connected to a first Hall probe; and

a fourth terminal, which is connected to a second Hall probe.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein said Hall device is beneath said current coil, and said Hall device generates a Hall voltage in response to a magnetic field generated by said current coil.

7. The CMOS power sensor of claim 6 , wherein said Hall voltage is a voltage difference between said first Hall probe and said second Hall probe.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein said current coil is made of gold having a thickness of between 4 μm and 20 μm.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 8, 2007
From: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 019262/0796 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2005
From: YANG, HUNG-MING
To: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 017370/0012 →
Continuity (2)
Division 1091671700 · Aug 13, 2004
Related Publication 20060094152A1 · May 4, 2006