Patent ID: 6815798
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor device comprising:a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, said substrate having top and bottom surfaces; a first metal layer adjacent the bottom surface of said semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor layer adjacent the top surface of said semiconductor substrate having the first conductivity type and a dopant concentration less than said semiconductor substrate; a perimeter region adjacent at least some of a perimeter of said semiconductor layer, said perimeter region having the first conductivity type and a dopant concentration greater than said semiconductor layer; circuitry within said perimeter region; a contact for electrically connecting said circuitry and said first metal layer, said contact also being electrically connected to said perimeter region; an isolating layer comprising a dielectric material on a portion of said perimeter region; and a second metal layer on said perimeter region and said isolating layer; said second metal layer defining a sensing capacitor with said isolation layer and said perimeter region for sensing a voltage at said contact.