IP Library Granted Patent US 12,557,351
Granted Patent B2
US 12,557,351 · App. 18/045,528 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Circuits having enhanced electrical isolation

Inventors: James McClay (Dudley, MA); Maxim Klebanov (Palm Coast, FL); Sundar Chetlur (Frisco, TX); Thomas S. Chung (Kissimmee, FL)
Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
H10D62/114H10B41/35H10D30/683
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,557,351
App. No.
18/045,528
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a device that includes a circuit, such as a memory cell, and an isolation structure to electrically isolate the circuit cell. The isolation structure can include a p-type substrate, a first series of p-type material extending to the p-type substrate, and a second series of p-type material extending to the p-type substrate. The first series of p-type material, the p-type substrate, and the second series of p-type material surrounds a first side, a second side, and a bottom of the circuit cell to electrically isolate the circuit cell with continuous p-type material. In some embodiments, the first series of p-type material comprises p-type well regions. In some embodiments, the first series of p-type material comprises deep trench isolation.

Claims (42)

1 . A device, comprising:

a circuit cell; and

an isolation structure to electrically isolate the circuit cell, the isolation structure comprising:

a p-type substrate;

a first series of p-type material extending to the p-type substrate;

a second series of p-type material extending to the p-type substrate, wherein the first series of p-type material, the p-type substrate, and the second series of p-type material surrounds a first side, a second side, and a bottom of the circuit cell to electrically isolate the circuit cell with continuous p-type material, wherein the first series of p-type material comprises a first p-type well layer, a second p-type well layer and a third p-type well layer, which extends to the p-type substrate;

a doped p-type base layer located between the first p-type well layer and the circuit cell, wherein the base layer contacts the first p-type well layer and the second p-type well layer;

an n well layer between the base layer and the circuit cell;

a p plus layer above the first p-type well layer;

an n buried layer extending from the third p-type well layer of the first series of p-type material to the second series of p-type material; and

a diffusion layer on the n buried layer, wherein the diffusion layer comprises an n epi layer, wherein the n epi layer contacts the base layer, the n well layer, the second p-type well layer, and the third p-type well layer.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the n epi layer comprises an active layer.

3 . The device according to claim 2 , further including a cell p-type well layer on the n epi layer.

4 . The device according to claim 3 , further including a cell n well layer on the cell p-type well layer.

5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the circuit cell includes the cell p-type well layer.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit cell comprises a memory cell.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit cell comprises a FLASH memory cell.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first series of p-type material comprises a first deep trench isolation structure and the second series of p-type material comprises a second deep trench isolation structure.

9 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the first deep trench isolation structure comprises a dielectric material.

10 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the dielectric material comprises an oxide.

11 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the first deep trench isolation structure includes a conductive material in the dielectric material to provide a conductive path to the p-type substrate.

12 . A method, comprising:

providing a circuit cell; and

providing an isolation structure to electrically isolate the circuit cell, the isolation structure comprising:

a p-type substrate;

a first series of p-type material extending to the p-type substrate; and

a second series of p-type material extending to the p-type substrate, wherein the first series of p-type material, the p-type substrate, and the second series of p-type material surrounds a first side, a second side, and a bottom of the circuit cell to electrically isolate the circuit cell with continuous p-type material, wherein the first series of p-type material comprises a first p-type well layer, a second p-type well layer and a third p-type well layer, which extends to the p-type substrate;

a doped p-type base layer located between the first p-type well layer and the circuit cell, wherein the base layer contacts the first-p-type first p-type well layer and the second p-type well layer;

an n well layer between the base layer and the circuit cell;

a p plus layer above the first p-type well layer;

an n buried layer extending from the third p-type well layer of the first series of p-type material to the second series of p-type material; and

a diffusion layer on the n buried layer, wherein the diffusion layer comprises an n epi layer, wherein the n-epi n epi layer contacts the base layer, the n well layer, the second p-type well layer, and the third p-type well layer.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the n epi layer comprises an active layer.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , further including employing a cell p-type well layer on the n epi layer.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , further including employing a cell n well layer on the cell p-type well layer.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the circuit cell includes the cell p-type well layer.

17 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the circuit cell comprises a memory cell.

18 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the circuit cell comprises a FLASH memory cell.

19 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the first series of p-type material comprises a first deep trench isolation structure and the second series of p-type material comprises a second deep trench isolation structure.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the first deep trench isolation structure comprises a dielectric material.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the dielectric material comprises an oxide.

22 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the first deep trench isolation structure includes a conductive material in the dielectric material to provide a conductive path to the p-type substrate.

Assignments (2)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064068/0459 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2022
From: MCCLAY, JAMES; KLEBANOV, MAXIM; CHETLUR, SUNDAR; CHUNG, THOMAS S.
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 061375/0167 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240120371A1 · Apr 11, 2024
References Cited (26)
US 5341342A · Brahmbhatt · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 6127225A · Liu · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6212103B1 · Ahrens et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6295229B1 · Chang · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6469341B1 · Sung et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6963102B2 · Mori · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 10297605B2 · Wang · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20020048192A1 · Wang et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20060262605A1 · Seki et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20120026793A1 · Lukashevich · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120037984A1 · Yu · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20150001639A1 · Fujie · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150255595A1 · Hebert · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20190259829A1 · Mun · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20210242193A1 · Klebanov · 2021 [cited by examiner]
U.S. Non-Final Office Action dated Aug. 26, 2024 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; 18 Pages. [cited by applicant]
Response to Non-Final Office Action dated Aug. 26, 2024 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; Response Filed Nov. 12, 2024; 13 Pages. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Non-Final Office Action dated May 2, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; 25 Pages. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418, filed Feb. 9, 2022, Chung et al. [cited by applicant]
Pavan et al., “Flash Memory Cells—An Overview;” Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 85, No. 8; Aug. 1997; 24 Pages. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Final Office Action dated Jan. 29, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; 19 Pages. [cited by applicant]
Response to Final Office Action dated Jan. 29, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; Response Filed Apr. 24, 2025; 11 Pages. [cited by applicant]
Response to U.S. Non-Final Office Action dated May 2, 2025 for for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; Response Filed Jul. 30, 2025; 11 Pages. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Final Office Action dated Sep. 11, 2025 for for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; 11 Pages. [cited by applicant]
Response to U.S. Final Office Action dated Sep. 11, 2025 for for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; Response Filed Sep. 15, 2025; 8 Pages. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Oct. 15, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/650,418; 8 Pages. [cited by applicant]