High withstand voltage M I S field effect transistor and semiconductor integrated circuit

Abstract: A high withstand voltage M I S field effect transistor having a second conductivity type will region (2) formed on a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate (1); an M I S portion (25) providing in a first edge portion of the well region (2) a first conductivity type base layer (3), a second conducting type source layer (8) formed in the base layer (3) and a gate electrode (7) disposed through an insulating gate film (6) over the source layer (8) and an area of said well region (2); a drain portion (26) providing a second conductivity type drain layer (9) formed in a second edge portion of said well region (2); a first conductivity type offset region (42) formed in said well region between said MIS portion (25) and said drain portion (26), wherein at least one portion of said offset region (42) is formed under said gate electrode (7); and at lest one conducting layer (41) disposed through an insulating film (6) over said offset region (42).

Description: The present invention relates to a high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistors according to the generic clause of claim 1, and more particularly to MIS field effect transistors having high withstand voltage and to a semiconductor integrated circuit device providing a high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor. Such a MIS field effect transistor is already known from document US-A-5 034 790 which will be discussed lateron. Figs. 19 and 20 show the constitution of a conventional high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistors. The high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor shown in Fig. 19 is a MOSFET produced by the double diffusion process and is called a vertical DMOS since the current just under the gate is caused to flow in a vertical direction in a semiconductor substrate. The high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor shown in Fig. 20 is a MOSFET produced by the same double diffusion process as in Fig. 19 and is called a horizontal DMOS since the current just under the gate is caused to flow in a transverse direction in a semiconductor substrate. The vertical DMOS shown in Fig. 19 is an effective structure as a discrete element, in which an n+-type drain layer 9 has a back surface disposed on a drain electrode 13, an n-type epitaxial layer 20, hereinafter referred to as an "epi layer", is formed on the drain layer 9, and a plurality of p-type base layers 3 are provided on the surface of the epi layer 20. Further, an n+-type source layer 8 is formed in each p-type base layer 3. Thus, a gate electrode is provided over the epi layer 20 through a pair of source layers 8 and the base layer 3, thereby forming a vertical element. Therefore, when a reverse bias voltage is applied in the vertical DMOS , a depletion layer is extended in the vertical direction. To maintain a sufficient withstand voltage, the impurity concentration of the epi layer 20 should be lowered and the thickness thereof should be sufficient. On the other hand, a horizontal DMOS (Fig. 20) is formed by using a p-type substrate 1-1. A p type base layer 3 is provided on the surface and an n+-type source layer 8 is formed in the base layer 3 substrate. An n+-type drain layer 9 is provided on the same surface of the substrate 1 facing the source layer 8. The drain layer 9 is connected to the base layer 3 by an n-type offset layer 18 and a gate electrode 7 is disposed over the source layer 8, the base layer 3 and the offset layer 18. Thus, when a reverse bias voltage is applied, a depletion layer is extended horizontally in the offset layer 18. To maintain the withstand voltage, a long offset layer 18 is suitably provided. A power IC has been developed in which a MOSFET is provided with a withstand voltage of several hundred volts (v) or more and a high current output of several amperes (A) and in which a control circuit portion operates at a low voltage of about 5 V. As disclosed in the Japanese patent publication (kokai) No. 63 - 314869, an IC for switching power supplies has already been realized. However, to obtain such power IC at a low cost, miniaturization of chip size is indispensable. Therefore, size reduction of a power MOSFET , which has a large area in a power IC , is important. When the power MOSFET portion is produced, if the production process is increased, reduction of the production cost is difficult, if not impossible. In the conventional vertical DMOS described above, a adequate thickness is needed to maintain a sufficient withstand voltage. The thickness of the CMOS substrate, etc., of a control circuit portion, can not easily be set to obtain a sufficient withstand voltage. Further, the vertical current flows and the element isolation have to be considered. In this case, since the formation of a buried diffusion layer and epitaxial growth are needed, required man-hours of labor are increased. On the other hand, in the horizontal DMOS , the depletion layer is laterally extended and a problem of the thickness of the substrate does not occur. Nevertheless, to assure a necessary withstand voltage, a long offset layer is needed. Since assurance of the cross section of the offset layer is difficult, the resistance is easily increased during the on time. Further; since the current is caused to flow in a lateral direction, the carriers are injected into an oxide film formed on the surface of the substrate and are easily changed to hot carriers in a high current density region, whereby failure etc. in the control circuit portion occurs and assurance of reliability of the device is difficult. Further, in the horizontal DMOS , a field oxide film having a thickness of about a few thousand Angstroms is usually formed between the source and the drain. In this case, in both edge portions of the horizontal DMOS a so called "bird's beak" is concentrated and a residual stress is generated in the formation of the field oxide film. Thus, crystal defects are easily generated. Further, a so called "white ribbon", in which a . nitride is stacked in the bird's beak, is generated whereby a withstand voltage for the gate oxide film is remarkably deteriorated. Further, it is well known that the amount of the interface electric charge in the interface between the field oxide film and silicon is large compared to the interface between the gate oxide film and silicon. As a result, the withstand voltage property is disadvantageously deteriorated. A general MIS device is described in IEEE SC-19,3; pages 406 to 413 comprising a second conductivity type well region formed on a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate. The MIS portion provides a first conductivity type base layer formed in the well region and a second conductivity type source layer formed in the first base layer and a gate electrode disposed over the source layer through an insulating layer. A drain portion provides a second conductivity type drain layer formed in the well region. In DE-A-4107909 an MIS field effect transistor is described comprising a second conductivity type well region formed on a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate. A MIS portion provides a pair of first conductivity type first base layers, second conductivity type source layers formed in the first base layers and a gate electrode disposed over the source layers through an insulating layer. A drain portion provides a second conductivity type drain layer formed in an edge portion of the well region. Another MIS field effect transistor is described in US-A-5034790 comprising a second conductivity type region formed on a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate. A MIS portion provides a first conductivity type base layer, a second conductivity type source layer formed in the base layer and a gate electrode disposed through an insulating gate filmed over the source layer and an area of said second conductivity type region. A drain portion provides a second conductivity type drain layer formed in said second conductivity type region. A first conductivity type region is formed in said second conductivity type region between said MIS portion and said drain portion. A semi-insulating layer is disposed through an insulating film over said region. Document EP-A-0 434 914 already shows various field plate arrangements. There is neither shown a connection between field plates and the offset region nor a plurality of field plates nor is there an off - concentricity. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has as an object of the present invention a high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor which realizes the merits of the vertical DMOS and the horizontal DMOS and which can be mounted with the element constituting a control circuit portion of CMOS etc. on the same substrate while realizing high reliability and sufficiently high withstand voltage. This object is met by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in the appended subclaims. By forming a first conducting type offset region, a depletion layer is extended from a PN junction portion between this offset region and the well region whereby the JFET effect can be obtained as mentioned-above. Thus, the formation of the pinch-off is easily made and the setting of the concentration of the well region to a high level can be carried out, thereby forming a high withstand voltage and low resistance MIS field effect transistor. When at least a part of the offset region is formed under a gate electrode, the electric field just under the gate electrode can be relaxed and the improvement of the withstand voltage can be realized. Further, when an island-shaped offset region is provided, an increase of the well region surface having a high concentration can be realized whereby the well region is caused to have a low resistance and a high withstand voltage and low resistance MIS field effect transistor can be realized. Further, the vertical MIS portion is also incorporated. The electric potential of the offset layer is actively controlled by electrically connecting at least any one of the base layers to the offset region and the JFET effect can be obtained to form a high withstand MIS field effect transistor. By introducing a field plate type source electrode or a field plate type drain electrode, the electric field concentration around the source layer or the drain layer is relaxed and a higher withstand voltage property can be obtained. By actively controlling the surface electric potential of the well region, a desired withstand voltage property can be obtained with a shorter distance and a low resistance can be realized in the operation. In particular, a withstand voltage securing region capable of obtaining a desired withstand voltage property is provided in a part of the well region based on the distance between the source layer and the drain layer, and the voltage of this withstand securing region is applied to the other well region surface so that the field profile of the other well region can be controlled. Thus, even if the distance between the source layer and the drain layer is short, the same withstand property can be obtained as in the withstand securing region. On the other hand, since the distance between the source layer and the drain layer is short in the well region other than the withstand securing region in the operation, the resistance becomes low. Therefore, a high withstand and a low resistance MIS field effect transistor can be provided. The above-explained high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor can be formed in the same substrate as a bipolar transistor or a MIS field effect transistor capable of forming a logic circuit. A high withstand switching property and a highly reliable control circuit portion can thus be realized by using one substrate. Further, a well region of a high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor and a second conducting type well layer of a MIS field effect transistor forming a control circuit can be commonly formed in a device thereby providing an advantage in production processing. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and together with the description provide an explanation of the objects, advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings: Figs. 1a and 1b, respectively, are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 1 useful for understanding the present invention; Fig. 2 graphically shows the carrier flow at ON time of the high withstand voltage MOSFET shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 graphically illustrates conditions at OFF time of the high withstand voltage MOSFET shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a semiconductor integrated device circuit useful for understanding the present invention in which a high withstand voltage MOSFET shown in Fig. 1 and a CMOS composing a control circuit are formed on the same substrate; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a constitution of a semiconductor integrated circuit device useful for understanding the present invention in which the well regions of the CMOS and the high withstand voltage MOSFET are common as in Fig. 4; Figs. 6a and 6b respectively show a plan view and a cross-sectional view for a structure of a high. withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 2 useful for understanding the present invention; Figs. 7a and 7b respectively illustrate a plan view and a cross-sectional view for a structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 3 useful for understanding the present invention Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 4 useful for understanding the present invention Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 5 useful for understanding the present invention Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 5 useful for understanding the present invention Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 6 useful for understanding the present invention Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 7 useful for understanding the present invention; Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure in which an example 8 is applied in accordance with the invention to the high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 4; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure in which the example 8 is applied to the high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 5; Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure in which the example 8 is applied to the high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 6; Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure in which the example 8 is applied to the high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 7; Fig. 17 is a plan view showing a plan constitution of an inventive high withstand voltage MOSFET according to an example 9; Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional constitution of the inventive high withstand voltage MOSFET of Fig. 17 according to the example 9; Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional vertical DMOS ; and Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional horizontal DMOS . In accordance with the present invention, a MIS field effect transistor employs unique circuit structure to achieve high withstand voltage with high reliability. An example which is useful in understanding the present invention is illustrated in the following: Example 1 Figs. 1(a) and 1(b) show in plan and cross-sectional structure means, structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 1. First, the structure in cross-section of the high withstand voltage MOSFET , shown in Fig. 1(b), will be described. On an about 80 ohm cm p-type silicon substrate 1 an n-type well layer 2 is formed having the surface impurity concentration of 2 x 10 16 cm -3 and a depth of about 6 micrometer. In the well layer 2 a MOS portion 25 is formed on the left side and a drain portion is formed 26 on the right side. In the MOS portion 25 a pair of p-type first base layers 3 are formed with a channel forming layer having the surface concentration of about 1 x 10 17 cm -3 and a depth of 1.5 micrometer. In the first base layer, an n+-type source layer 8 and a p+-type base contact layer 10 are formed, respectively. A gate electrode 7 is disposed on a pair of source layers 8 crossing the first layer 3 and the well layer 2 through a gate oxide film 6 having a thickness of a few hundred Angstroms. Further, to the source layer 8 and the base contact layer 10, a source wiring 12 is connected, providing a 5 micrometer projected field plate portion 12a toward a drain layer 9, which will be described later herein, on an insulating film 11. Therefore, in the MOS portion 25, the source layer 8 and the first base layer 3 have a double diffusion structure which is similar to the channel portion of the conventional vertical DMOS . Further, the electric field in the edge portion of the source layer 8 is relaxed and a high withstand voltage structure is obtainable. On the other hand, in a drain portion 26 formed on the right side of the well layer 2, an n+-type drain layer 9 is formed on the surface of the well layer 2 and to the drain layer 9 is connected a drain wiring 13. The MOS portion 25 side of the drain wiring 13 forms a field plate portion 13a projected onto the insulating film 11 as in the source wiring 12. Thus, the electric field in the source layer 8 side edge portion of the drain layer 9 is relaxed and a high withstand voltage structure is realized. In the present high withstand voltage MOSFET , a p-type second base layer 4 is formed between the first base layer 3 and the drain layer 9 on the well layer 2. The second base layer 4 has a surface concentration of about 5 x 10 16 cm -3 and a depth of about 1 micrometer. Also, the second base layer 4 is covered with a field oxide film 5 having a depth of about 1 micrometer and on the film 5 is formed the insulating film 11. The structure apparent in a plan view of the described high withstand voltage MOSFET is a concentric structure as shown in Fig. 1 in which a second base layer 4, a first base layer 3, a source layer 8 and a gate electrode 7 are centered on the drain layer in order. When the concentric structure is used, treatment of the edge portion of each layer in the direction of the channel width, i.e., in the direction along the source layer and the gate electrode, is not required and the design thus facilitates manufacturing, i.e. reduction of the edge portion treatment process in the production process can be realized. Next, referring to the cross-sectional views of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, an operation of the withstand voltage MOSFET of Fig. 1 will be described. Fig. 2 shows flow 27 of electron at ON time. In the above-mentioned MOSFET structure, the threshold voltage is about 1 V and when about 5 V is applied to the gate electrode 7 under a drain voltage, the polarity of the surface of the first base layer 3 is reversed and electrons which are carriers flow into the well layer 2 as shown by flow 27. These electrons flow downward first, as in a case of a typical vertical DMOS , and the flow is then changed to a lateral direction flow along the well layer 2. Then the electrons reach the drain layer 9 and are absorbed therein. One point to be noted in the present example is that the path where electrons flow is covered with the first base layer 3 and the second base layer 4 so that electrons which are carriers are not brought into contact with the oxide film 5. Therefore, even if a large current is caused to flow, the electrons are not changed to hot electrons by being implanted to the field oxide film 5 and do not influence other logic circuitry. Fig. 3 shows circuit conditions at OFF time. If a low voltage is applied to the gate electrode 7, the source layer 8, the first base layer 3, the second base layer 4 and the substrate 1 and a high voltage is applied to the drain layer 9, a reverse bias voltage condition is established. In this case, as shown by a dot and broken line, a depletion layer 28 is extended to a PN junction between the first base layer 3, the second base layer 4 and the substrate 1 and the well layer 2 and an electric field is formed. Thus, if the depletion layer 28 extended from the first base layer 3 and the substrate 1 is considered, the inner portion of the well layer 2 under the gate electrode 7 is pinched-off (29 a) and the path where electrons flow is blocked as in a case of JFET . Further, if the depletion layer 28 extended from the second base layer 4 and the substrate 1 is considered, the inner portion of the well layer 2 under the second base layer 4 is pinched-off (29 b) and the path where electrons flow is also blocked as in a case of JFET . Therefore, when a reverse bias voltage is applied, the current path is blocked in the well portion 2 by the JFET effect. Thus, a long offset layer having a low concentration, which was required for securing the withstand voltage in a conventional lateral DMOS is not needed and the concentration of the well layer 2 can be set at a high level. In particular, since the electric field is relaxed by the above-mentioned JFET , a compatibility between the high current outputs in the high withstand voltage and the low ON resistance can be realized. To efficiently obtain the JFET effect under the second base layer 4, the maintenance of balance of the pinch-off is required and it is preferable that the impurity concentration in the second base layer 4 is set to a slightly lower level than that of the first base layer 3. As explained above, in the present withstand voltage MOSFET , a withstand voltage section can be formed in a lateral direction as in a conventional lateral DMOS . Therefore, there is little or no need for a thick substrate and a sufficient withstand voltage can be obtained by using a substrate having the same thickness as that of the CMOS - and bipolar transistor forming a circuit portion, etc. The increase of the ON resistance which has been a problem of the lateral DMOS and the prior art problem of occurrence of the hot electrons can be solved. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, a low withstand voltage control circuit portion 30 as well as thus formed high withstand voltage MOSFET portion 31 can be formed on the same substrate. Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor integrated circuit device in which a low withstand voltage control circuit portion 30 is formed by a CMOS composed of an n channel type MOS formed in the p-type well 16 and a p channel type MOS formed in the n-type well 17 and the above-mentioned high withstand voltage MOSFET 31 is formed by one chip. Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor integrated circuit device in which a low withstand voltage control circuit portion 31 is formed by a CMCS and the high withstand voltage MOSFET 31 is formed by one chip. In the present circuit device, the n-type well 17 and the well layer 2 forming the high withstand voltage MOSFET 31 are formed at the same time. Thus, in the one chip semiconductor integrated circuit device using the high withstand voltage MOSFET 31 of the present example, a high withstand voltage well and a low voltage withstand well for a control circuit portion can be formed at the same time and the time chip production process can be shortened. Example 2 Fig. 6 (a) shows a plan view and Fig. 6(b) shows a cross-sectional view of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 2 of the present invention. The present example provides a well layer 2, a MOS portion 25 and a drain portion 26 as in a case of the high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 1 of Fig. 1 and the structure and the operation thereof are almost the same. Therefore, the explanations of the like portions will be omitted. A point to be noted in the present example is first, that the well layer 2 is not positioned just under the drain layer 9 as shown in the cross-sectional structure (Fig. 6 (b)). Further, in plan, the structure (Fig. 6(a)) of a plurality of exposed portions 36, in which the well layer 2 was exposed, is formed. In particular, according to the cross-sectional structure of the present example, the well layer 2 is under but displaced from the drain layer 9 and the well layer 2 is connected to the drain layer 9 at the edge portion of the source layer 8 side of the drain layer 9. Therefore, an electric field is concentrated near the drain layer 8 side of the well layer 2 and a break down point 35 is formed just under the drain layer 9. Thus, the withstand voltage property in the gate electrode 7 and the source layer 8-3, that is the MOS portion 25, can be improved and a strong structure for the break down voltage as well as the surge current can be obtained. In a conventional DMOS structure, maintenance of the withstand voltage between the gate electrode 7 and the source layer 8 is difficult. In accordance with the invention, a depletion layer is extended in the MOS portion 25, even when a source-drain reverse bias voltage of about 30 V or more is applied, by setting a break down point 35 to the drain layer 9, side as in the present example, and a high withstand voltage can be maintained. Therefore, when the MOS portion 25 is formed on the same substrate, the reliability of the MOS portion 25, which can influence the control side, can also be improved and a high withstand voltage MOSFET , which is easily formed on the same substrate as a low withstand voltage control circuit having a CMOS etc., can be realized. Referring to the device structural plan, a region in which the well layer 2 is projected to the second base layer 4, a region 36, in which the well layer 2 is exposed to the field oxide film 5, is formed. Consequently, since the cross-sectional area of the well region 2 is increased during the operation, the ON resistance can be more decreased so that a high current output operation can be realized. On the other hand, when a reverse bias voltage is applied, a depletion layer is extended from the second base layer 4 sandwiching the exposed portion 36-3 and a JFET effect can be obtained substantially as in the example 1 whereby the deterioration of the withstand voltage property is small. Example 3 Figs. 7(a) and 7(b) show a structural plan and a cross-sectional structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 3 which is useful for understanding the present invention. The present example provides a well layer 2, a MOS portion 25 and a drain portion 26 as in a case of the high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 1 of Fig. 1 and the structure and the operation thereof are almost the same. Therefore, the explanations of like portions will be omitted. A point to be noted in the present example is that a p+-type buried layer 14 is formed just below the drain layer 9 in the cross-sectional structure (Fig. 7(b)). Further, to form the buried layer 14, a p-type epitaxial growth layer 15 is formed on the substrate 1. Since in the present example an electric field is concentrated on the upper portion of the buried layer 14, an area just under the drain layer 9 becomes a break down point. Therefore, a withstand voltage property of the MOS portion 25-4 can be improved as in the case of example 2 and a strong structure for the break down voltage and the surge can be realized. Example 4 Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 4 which is useful for understanding the present invention. In the high withstand voltage MOSFET , an n-type well layer 2 is formed with a surface concentration of about 2 x 10 16 cm -3 and a thickness of about 6 micrometer in an about 80 ohm cm p- type silicon substrate 1. In the inner surface of the well layer 2, a p-type base layer 3 is formed with a surface concentration of about 1x10 17 cm -3 and in the inner surface of the base layer 3 an n-type source layer 8 is formed. The entire surface of the well layer 2 is covered with a gate oxide film 6 having a thickness of a few hundred Angstrom. Further, a polycrystalline silicon gate electrode 7 is disposed above the edge of the source layer 8, the surface of the base layer 3 and the surface of the well layer 2 through the gate oxide film 6. In this case, the base layer 3 and the source layer 8 form a double diffusion structure and a channel is formed by voltage applied to the gate electrode 7 thereby forming the MOS portion 25. Further, an n-type drain layer 9 is formed in a surface region facing the MOS portion 25 in the well layer 2-5 such that a drain portion 26 is formed. A source wiring 12 is connected to the MOS portion 25 and drain wiring 13 is connected. A point to be noted in the MOSFET of the example 4 is that a polycrystalline silicon layer 41 is formed above the surface of the well layer 2 through the gate oxide film 6 between the MOS portion 25 and the drain portion 26. The polycrystalline silicon layer 41 is an electrical conductor and prevents the storage of ions in the gate oxide film in the production by the movement of ions. By the introduction of the polycrystalline silicon layer 41, no field oxide film such as a LOCOS etc. is formed on the silicon surface and the crystal defect in the bird's beak and the influence of the white ribbon can be prevented. When a reverse bias is applied to the MOSFET of the present example, a depletion layer is extended from the PN junction portion between the p-type base layer 3 and the well layer 2 and from the PN junction portion between the silicon substrate 1 and the well layer 2. Since impurity concentration in the well layer 2 and the substrate 1 is low, a depletion layer is increasingly extended to these regions. When a reverse bias of a few hundred V is applied, a depletion layer is extended to a region just under the polycrystalline silicon layer 41 and a potential profile is generated just under the polycrystalline silicon layer 41. Therefore, the surface of the well layer 2 just under the polycrystalline silicon layer 41 has a number of stacking faults and a number of interface charges generate a leak current thereby deteriorating the withstand property. However, in the present example, no bird's beak is generated and the amount of the crystal defects, i.e. the stacking faults, is small. Further, since the movement of ions in production is prevented, the amount of the interface charge is also small. Consequently, the occurrence of leak current can be prevented thereby forming a high withstand voltage MOSFET . Additionally, the polycrystalline silicon layer 41 prevents diffusion of ions from the insulating film 11 stacked on the layer 41 to the gate oxide film 6 and the increase of the interface charge is small whereby a high withstand voltage can be realized. The structural plan of the high withstand voltage MOSFET of the example 4 is based on a concentrical formation using the drain portion as the center as in the above-mentioned example. Further, by using the drain portion as in the example 2 or 3 a higher withstand voltage can be realized. Example 5 Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show a cross-sectional structure of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 5 which is useful for understanding the present invention. Most of the structure of the MOSFET of the present example is the same as that of the example 4 and the description of like portions is omitted while denoting the like portions by the same reference numerals. A point to be noted in the structure of the MOSFET of the present example is that a p-type offset layer 42 having a surface concentration of 9x10 16 cm -3 is formed on the surface of the well layer 2 between the MOS portion 25 and the drain portion 26. First, in the high withstand voltage MOSFET shown in Fig. 9, an offset layer 42 is formed in a lower region of the polycrystalline silicon layer 41. Therefore, if a reverse bias is applied to the MOSFET , a depletion layer is extended from the PN junction portion between the offset layer 42 and the well layer 2 as well as from the PN junction portion between the base layer 3 and the well layer 2 and the PN junction portion between the substrate 1 and the well layer 2. When a depletion layer, extended from any one of the PN junction portions, is brought into contact with the offset layer 42, and the potential of the offset layer 42 is fixed, a depletion layer is extended from the entire offset layer 42 toward the well layer 2 having a low concentration. Therefore, the well layer 2 may be pinched off from the offset layer 42 and the substrate 1 by two depletion layers and the current path can be blocked, as in the JFET , thereby obtaining a high withstand voltage. Since a desired withstand voltage can be obtained even if the impurity concentration is increased, a low resistance during operation can be realized by increasing the impurity concentration. As described above, in the MOSFET according to the present example, a high withstand voltage as well as a low resistance can be realized. Of course, a leak current is not generated in the surface of the well layer as in the example 4, which also realizes a high withstand voltage MOSFET Further, in a MOSFET shown in Fig. 10, an offset layer 42 is extended to a region just under a polycrystalline silicon gate electrode 7. Therefore, the electric field concentration generated just under a polycrystalline silicon gate electrode 7 can be relaxed and a higher withstand voltage property can be obtained. In this case, by applying a desired voltage to the polycrystalline silicon layer 41, the voltage of the offset layer 42 can be actively controlled and a bias-voltage which generates the pinch-off can be also controlled. Example 6 Fig. 11 shows a cross-section of a high withstand voltage MOSFET . The structure of the MOSFET is substantially the same as that. of the MOSFET shown in the example 4 and the descriptions of the like portions will be omitted while denoting the common portions by the same reference numerals. The points to be noted in the MOSFET of the present example are that a p-type offset layer is formed on the surface of the well layer 2 as in the example 5 and that the offset layer is composed of three island shaped offset layers 42.1 to 42.3. The island shaped offset layers 42.1 to 42.3 are the same p-type diffusion layers as the offset layer of the example 5 and the MOSFET of the present example is the same high withstand voltage MOSFET as the MOSFET according to the example 5 in that the depletion layers extended from such offset layers 42.1 to 42.3 are pinched-off in a reverse bias. Further, in the MOSFET of the present example, the offset layers 42.1 to 42.3 are separated as island-shaped regions and the surface of the well layer 2-5 characteristically exists between the offset layers 42.1 to 42.3. For example, if the well layer 2-5 is formed by a thermal diffusion after an ion implantation, the impurity concentration is the highest in the well layer 2 surface. Thus, by forming the island shaped offset layer, the high concentration surface can be left and the impurity concentration of the entire well layer 2 is high and the resistance value of the well layer 2 is decreased. Thus, by forming the offset layer as the island shaped offset layers 42.1 to 42.3 a high withstand and a low resistance MOSFET can be formed. In a case where the well layer 2 is formed without ion implantation, even if, for example, an epitaxial growth is used, doped phosphorus is piled-up on the surface. Thus, by leaving the surface of the well layer 2, the well layer 2 has a high concentration. As described above, in the MOSFET of the present example, a low resistance can be realized by the JFET effect as explained in the example 5 and the impurity concentration can be increased so that a high withstand and low resistance MOSFET can be realized. When a reverse bias is applied, depletion layers are extended respectively from these island shaped offset layers 42.1 to 42.3 and the well layers between the offset layers 42.1 to 42.3 respectively have a depletion layer so that a withstand voltage is obtained. Further, since the surface of the well layer 2 has a small stacking fault and interface charge, the generation of leak current is very small. The present example uses three island shaped offset layers 42.1 to 42.3. Nevertheless, two or four or more layers can be used. Further, the voltage of the island shaped offset layers 42. 1 to 42.3 can be actively controlled by the polycrystalline silicon layer 41-5. Example 7 Fig. 12 shows a cross-section of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 7 which is useful for understanding the present invention. The structure of the MOSFET according to the present example is substantially the same as that of the MOSFET shown in the example 4 and the description of like portions will be omitted while denoting the like portions by the same reference numerals. The points to be noted in the MOSFET of the present example are that a MOS portion 25 forms a vertical MOS portion in which a pair of base layers 3, 3 and a source layer 8 are formed as in the example 1. Therefore, when a reverse bias is applied, as in the example 1, the vertical MOS portion 25 is first pinched-off and the current is blocked. In this case, since a source layer 4 exists just under both edges of the gate electrode 7, the electric field of the edges of the gate electrode 7 is relaxed thereby developing a high withstand voltage. Further, in the MOSFET of the present example, the offset layer 42 is monolithically formed with the base layer 3 of the vertical MOS portion 25. Accordingly, the electric potential of the offset layer 42 is controlled by the source electric potential and pinch-off is formed in a region just under the offset layer 42 thereby developing a high withstand voltage. Further, a break down point in a reverse bias operation can be set to a drain portion 26 side. By using the same drain structure as in the example 2 or the example 3 the withstand voltage property can be enhanced. Example 8 Fig. 13 to Fig. 16 show a cross-section of a high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 8 which is useful for inderstanding the present invention. This MOSFET is related to the MOSFET having a structure explained in the examples 4 to 7. The explanation of like portions is omitted. In the MOSFET of the present example, a field plate 12a, extended to a drain portion 26 side, is formed in a source wiring 12, and a field plate 13a, extended to a MOS portion 25 side, is formed in a drain wiring 13. The source wiring 12 and the drain wiring 13 are composed of A1. Therefore, in the MOSFET of the present example, the electric field concentration in a region to which an electric field is best concentrated near the source layer 8 and near the drain layer 9-8 is relaxed and the breakage of the withstand voltage is prevented. Thus, a high withstand voltage MOSFET can be realized. Of course, even if a field plate is formed merely in the source wiring 12 or the drain wiring 13, the electric field concentration near the etch layer can be relaxed whereby a high withstand voltage can be obtained. Example 9 Fig. 17 and Fig. 18 show a structural plan for a inventive high withstand voltage MOSFET according to the example 9. In the MOSFET of the present invention, a MOS portion 25 is a vertical MOS portion as in the example 7 and the electric potential of the offset layer 42 is fixed to the source electric potential. Therefore, the explanation of the portions like those of the example 7 are omitted. A point to be noted in the MOSFET of the present example is that the electric potential of the offset layer 42 can be actively controlled by five field plates 45.1 to 45.5. In the MOSFET of the present example, a MOS portion 25 is substantially concentrically disposed about the drain portion 26 as the center as can be seen in Fig. 17. However, the position of the drain portion 26 is offset respect to the concentric circles. Therefore, the distance between the drain portion 26 and the MOS portion 25 is different for different positions. A portion of a cross-section XVIIIa is the portion having the most space between the drain portion 26 and the MOS portion 25 and in this portion a desired withstand voltage property can be maintained by the interwell layer 2. On the other hand, in a portion of a cross-section XIVIIIb facing the portion of the cross-section XVIIIa, the distance between the drain portion 26 and the MOS portion 25 is very short and the withstand voltage property can not be maintained by the interwell layer 2. However, in the MOSFET of the present invention, the electric potential for five positions of the offset layer shown in the cross-section XVIIIa is transferred to the field plates 45.1 to 45.5 through the field plate contacts 46.1 to 46.5. Since the field plates 45.1 to 45.5 are concentrically disposed around the drain portion 26-9, the electric potential of the offset layer 42 just under the field plates 45.1 to 45.5 is maintained to each electric potential of the field plates 45.1 to 45.5, i.e., the same potential as in the cross-section XVIIIa through a LOCOS 47 even in the cross-section XVIIIb, with the result that the electric potential profile between the MOS portion 25-9 and the drain portion 26-9 can be controlled so that a required withstand voltage can be maintained even where the cross-section XVIIIb has a short width. Therefore, even if the width is small, the withstand voltage property can be developed as in the cross-section XVIIIa. Thus, in the MOSFET of the present example, electric potential 2, capable of maintaining a desired withstand voltage by using a plurality of field plates, is applied to the well layer 2 and, in even a shorter distance well layer 2, a desired withstand voltage property can be obtained by controlling the potential of the well layer. Therefore, a device cycle can be shortened and high integration can be developed while having a high withstand voltage and the distance between the source layer and the drain layer can be shortened during the operation whereby a low resistance MOSFET can be realized. Although the transferring of the electric potential is made by using five field plates in the present example, the five plates are not needed and if a required withstand voltage property can be developed, the high withstand voltage, high integration and low resistance can be also obtained by using even one field plate or two or more field plates whereby a switching element, capable of being mounted on the same substrate as a logic element, can be realized. As described above, in the present invention when a reverse voltage is applied, a depletion layer is extended to a vertical MIS portion and an extended well region as in the horizontal DMOS and a high withstand can be maintained by a JFET . Therefore, since a higher withstand voltage property can be maintained for the lateral length of the well region, a well region length, which raises a problem of increased ON resistance of the horizontal DMOS , is not needed and lowering the impurity concentration is not required. Thus, in the high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor of the present invention, a high withstand and high current output can be realized. Since the structure is substantially the same as that of the horizontal DMOS , the transistor can be formed on the same substrate as that of an element having control circuits such as CMOS etc. and the processes are substantially the same as that of control circuit element such as CMOS etc. In the high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor of the present invention, since the second base layer is formed on the surface of the well region which is a current path, carriers do not flow near the surface and problems of the hot carrier etc. are solved. Consequently, even if the transistor of the present example is formed on the same substrate as that of the control circuit, the reliability of the device can be improved. By disposing an electrically conducting region on at least a part of the well region surface between the MIS portion and the drain portion through an insulating film in place of a field oxide film, the influence of the insulating film on the withstand property, for example, crystal defect derived from the bird's beak, generation of the white ribbon or increase of the interface electric charge, etc., can be prevented so that a high withstand voltage property can be obtained. Further, by forming the offset regions and the island shaped offset regions, a high withstand voltage and a low resistance can simultaneously be also realized whereby a high withstand voltage and high output MIS field effect transistor can be realized. Further, by actively controlling the surface electric potential of the well region using the field plates, a required withstand voltage property can be obtained in a shorter distance with a low resistance during operation, and a shortening of the device cycle, i.e., a high integration, can be realized. Thus, the high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor according to the present invention is a thin and a small sized transistor and can be formed on the same substrate as that of a low withstand voltage element such as a control circuit etc. In the transistor of the present invention, a low resistance and high current output can be realized and also a high integration can be realized. Since in the production processes a new special process is not required, the production cost can be held down. Furthermore, the high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor can be produced using one chip together with CMOS or BiCMOS and a sufficiently reliable device can be obtained.

Claims: A high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor having a second conductivity type well region (2) formed on a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate (1); an MIS portion (25) providing in an edge portion of the well region (2) a first conductivity type base layer (3), a second conducting type source layer (8) formed in the base layer (3) and a gate electrode (7) disposed through an insulating gate film (6) over the source layer (8) and an area of said well region (2); a drain portion (26) providing a second conductivity type drain layer (9) formed in a portion of said well region (2) separate from said edge portion; a first conductivity type offset region (42) formed in said well region between said MIS portion (25) and said drain portion (26), wherein at least one portion of said offset region (42) is formed under said gate electrode (7); and at least one conducting layer (41) disposed through an insulating film (6) over said offset region (42), wherein said MIS Portion (25) is formed surrounding said drain portion (26); said first conductivity type offset region (42) constituting a withstand voltage region capable of enduring a desired withstand voltage with reference to the distance between said MIS portion (25) and said drain portion (26) and having voltage transferring means (45.1, 45.2, 45.3, 45.4, 45.5) formed in said at least one conducting layer (41) capable of transferring the voltage in the withstand voltage enduring region to said well region (2); characterized in that said voltage transferring means include a plurality of conducting layers (45.1, 45.2, 45.3, 45.4, 45.5) acting as field plates and being spaced from each other and disposed surrounding said drain portion (26) and within said MIS portion (25) and contacting said withstand voltage region to provide voltage contact thereover, wherein said MIS portion (25) and said field plates (45.1, 45.2, 45.3, 45.4, 45.5) are disposed about said drain portion (26) with at least some off-concentricity. A high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor according to claim 1, wherein said at least one conducting layer (41) is of polycrystalline silicon. A high withstand voltage MIS Field effect transistor according to claim 1, wherein said offset region (42) provides at least two or more offset island regions (42.1, 42.2, 42.3). A high withstand voltage MIS Field effect transistor according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said MIS portion (25) is a vertical MIS portion providing at least one pair of said base layers (3) and source layers (8), said gate electrode (7) is disposed over said source layers (8) and adjacent portion of said well region (2), and at least one of said base layers (3) is electrically connected to said offset region (42). A high withstand voltage MIS Field effect transistor according to claim 1 to 4, wherein a source electrode (12,12a) connected to said source layer (8) is a field plate type source electrode extended toward said drain layer (9), and provided in addition to said plurality of conducting layers (45.1,45.2,45.3,45.4,45.5). A high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a drain electrode (13,13a) connected to said drain layer (9) is a field plate type drain electrode extended toward said MIS Portion (25), and provided in addition to said plurality of conducting layers (45.1,45.2,45.3,45.4,45.5). A high withstand voltage MIS Field effect transistor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said drain portion (26) is structured to provide said drain layer (9) with a high breakdown voltage and said well region (2) is connected only to an edge portion of the drain layer (9). A high withstand voltage MIS Field effect transistor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a first conductivity type high concentration buried layer (14) is formed under said drain layer (9). A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising a high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor (31) is formed on a substrate (7) which includes at least one of a bipolar transistor capable of composing a logic circuit or a MIS field effect transistor (30). A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising a high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said high withstand voltage MIS field effect transistor (31) is formed on the same substrate (1) as a first conducting type MIS field effect transistor which is connected in at least one of a digital circuit and an analog circuit, and said well region (2) and a second conductivity type well layer (17) of the MIS field effect transistor (30) being commonly formed.

Inventors: FUJISHIMA NAOTO, KITAMURA AKIO, FUJISHIMA, NAOTO, KITAMURA, AKIO
Applicants: FUJI ELECTRIC CO LTD, FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01L29
IPC codes: H01L27, H01L29