Patent ID: 7939415
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: forming a first trench in a first device region and a second trench in a second device region of an SOI semiconductor device, said first and second trenches extending from a height level approximately corresponding to a semiconductor layer through a buried insulating layer and into a substrate material of said SOI semiconductor device; forming an insulating layer on an inner surface of said first and second trenches; filling said first and second trenches with a conductive material; forming a transistor element in and on said semiconductor layer; forming an interlayer dielectric material above said transistor element; forming a first contact element and a second contact element in said interlayer dielectric material, said first contact element establishing an electric connection to said conductive material formed in said first trench and said second contact element connecting to said transistor element; and selectively establishing a conductive path between said substrate and said conductive material in said first trench so as to provide a substrate contact, wherein selectively establishing said conductive path comprises applying a voltage across said conductive material in said first trench and said substrate to induce an electric breakdown through said insulating layer in said first trench.