Patent ID: 6614088
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
An integrated circuit including one or more high voltage devices, each high voltage device subject to a relatively high voltage differential between two terminals of the device, with an improved voltage breakdown structure comprising in combination:a substrate of semiconductor material; a first and second highly doped device terminal regions in the substrate; a first insulating layer on the substrate comprising vias to the terminal regions; a first conductive layer over the insulating layer and comprising first and second conductive contacts, said first and second conductive contacts spaced laterally apart from each other and extending through the vias in the first insulating layer to contact the respective terminal regions; a second insulating layer over the conductive contacts; a second conductive layer on the second insulating layer, and extending over and between the conductive contacts; means for dividing a voltage between the conductive contacts to a lower voltage and for coupling the lower voltage to the second conductive layer; two sets of interdigitated source and drain regions, each set terminating at a respective source and drain bus with the means for dividing voltage connected at one end to the source bus and at its other end to the drain bus; and wherein said voltage dividing means has at least a portion there of positioned under said buses.