Abstract:
The invention describes a structure and a process for providing ESD semiconductor protection with reduced input capacitance. The structure consists of heavily doped P+ guard rings surrounding the I/O ESD protection device and the Vcc to Bss protection device. In addition, there is a heavily doped N+ guard ring surrounding the I/O protection device its P+ guard ring. The guard rings enhance structure diode elements providing enhanced ESD energy discharge path capability enabling the elimination of a specific conventional Vss to I/O pad ESD protection device. This reduces the capacitance seen by the I/O circuit while still providing adequate ESD protection for the active circuit devices.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a division of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/207,545, filed Jul. 29, 2002 and entitled “A NOVEL METHOD FOR FOUR DIRECTION LOW CAPACITANCE ESD PROTECTION”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to the structure and manufacturing process of a FET semiconductor device for ESD protection of electronic circuit devices and more particularly to a structure with a guard ring for low capacitance input ESD protection.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0005]     Because of high input impedance and thin oxide gate structures, the problem of electrostatic discharge damage (ESD) with field effect transistor (FET) devices can be severe. Therefore the input/output (I/O) circuit locations or pads usually have a protective device connected between the I/O pad and the internal circuits which allows the ESD current to be shunted to an alternative voltage source, typically ground, protecting the active internal circuits from damage.  
         [0006]     There can be several different types of device structures used for these protective devices, such as single diodes, stacked diodes, field effect transistor (FET) devices, and silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR).  
         [0007]     With prior art devices, the capacitance associated with the ESD protection device on the active circuit input pad could be a concern as circuit speeds increase. A typical prior art protection circuit scheme is represented in  FIG. 1A . The active circuit input-output (I/O) terminal or pad  10  is connected to the ESD protection circuit devices ESD- 1  element  12  with associated parasitic capacitance C 12  and parasitic diode D 12 , and protection device ESD- 2  element  14  with associated parasitic capacitance C 14  and parasitic diode D 14 . The I/O pad  10  is also connected to the input or output stage of the active logic circuits A. Also shown in  FIG. 1  is the protection devices ESD-Vcc element  16  with associated parasitic capacitance  16  and parasitic diode D 16  that protects against high ESD voltages occurring on the circuit power lines Vcc and Vss.  
         [0008]     A positive ESD voltage at the input pad  10  would turn on diode D 14  and ESD- 1   12  providing a suitable discharge path for the ESD energy. For a negative ESD event on the I/O pad  10 , diode D  12  is placed into a conducting mode, as is ESD-Vcc  16 , again providing a suitable discharge path for the ESD energy.  
         [0009]     Typical prior art protection devices are shown in schematic form in  FIG. 1B . Protection device ESD- 1  is shown as a N channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS)  12 , and ESD protection device ESD- 2  is shown as a P channel MOS (PMOS)  14 . The ESD-Vcc protection device is shown as a NMOS device  16 .  FIG. 1C  shows a representative cross-section of the ESD protection circuit devices. NFET  12  has its source  12  S connected to its gate  12 G and to the Substrate  20  P+ contact  22  and to a second voltage source Vss, typically ground. The NMOS  12  drain D 12  is connected to the ESD- 2  PMOS protection device  14  drain  14 D. The gate  14 G of ESD- 2  PMOS protection device  14  is connected to its source element  14 S and to the source  16 S of ESD-VCC NMOS protection device  16  and subsequently to a first voltage source Vcc.  
         [0010]     Although the prior art circuit shown in  FIG. 1B  provides ESD protection for the active devices, the stray or parasitic capacitance C 12  and C 13  impose undesired capacitive loading to the I/O pad and logic circuit input stage A.  
         [0011]     The invention provides a unique structure and method to eliminate some of this capacitance on the I/O pad while still providing appropriate ESD protection.  
         [0012]     The following patents and reports pertain to ESD protection.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,066 (Lee et al.) shows an ESD structure with a third ring shape serving as a guard ring.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,784 (Ker et al.) reveals an ESD structure with guard rings.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,900 (Ker et al.) shows an ESD structure with P+ guard rings.  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,413 (Duvvury) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,287 (Hirata) show related ESD structures and guard rings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Accordingly, it is the primary objective of the invention to provide an effective and manufacturable method and structure for reducing the capacitance of the protective device providing resistance to the potential damage caused by the phenomenon known as electrostatic discharge (ESD) by utilizing a low capacitance ESD protection device connected to an input pad of an integrated circuit device.  
         [0018]     It is a further objective of the invention to improve ESD protection for high frequency applications by providing a low input capacitance structure that will have minimum impact on device performance while maintaining reasonable ESD protection levels.  
         [0019]     A still additional objective of the invention is to provide the ESD protection with reduced capacitance without changing the characteristics of the internal circuits being protected and by using a process compatible with the process of integrated MOS device manufacturing.  
         [0020]     The above objectives are achieved in accordance with the methods of the invention that describes a structure and a manufacturing process for semiconductor ESD protection devices with reduced input capacitance. One embodiment of the invention utilizes a NMOS FET structure with associated junction diode and parasitic NPN bipolar transistor for ESD protection for both positive and negative ESD voltages occurring on the active circuit input pad. There is a heavily doped P+ guard ring that protects the NMOS device from exhibiting latchup characteristics. The guard ring also enhances the junction diode characteristics improving ESD protection for negative ESD voltages on the input pad. A heavily doped N+ guard ring surrounding the NMOS device including the P+ guard ring enhances the Vcc to Vss ESD protection diode characteristics, and eliminates the need for an additional device, often referred to as ESD 2 , to protect against this mode of ESD occurrence, which would normally be attached from the input pad to Vcc. This design structure eliminates the capacitance associated with the prior art devices that have a second ESD protection device from the input pad to Vcc. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1A  shows a simplified schematic of prior art ESD protection scheme.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1B  shows a detailed schematic for typical prior art device configuration for ESD protection.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1C  shows a typical vertical cross section for prior art ESD protection scheme.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  is a simplified schematic representation of the principle elements of the invention ESD protection device.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic for one embodiment of the invention ESD protection scheme.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a top view representation of the horizontal topography of one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross section of one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a vertical cross section of a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of the process for the device protection circuit. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]      FIG. 2A  shows a simplified representation of the principle advantage of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the input pad  10  is protected from ESD incidents by the protection devices ESD- 1  element  12 . The invention embodiment details are sufficient to protect the input circuit from both positive and negative ESD voltage events. In addition, the embodiment of the invention also protects against positive and negative ESD voltages that may occur on the Vcc and or on the Vss power bus.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2B  shows typical device schematic devices for a NMOS device  12  used for the protective devices ESD- 1 . The NMOS  12  drain  12 D is connected to the input pad  10 , and the source  12 S and gate  12 G are connected to a second voltage source Vss, typically ground. Shown electrically in parallel with ESD- 1  NMOS device  12  are the parasitic elements diode D 12  and capacitor C 12  connected between the input pad  10  and the second voltage source, Vss. Also shown in  FIG. 2B  is the bipolar NPN parasitic transistor TX 12  with emitter connected to the second voltage source, Vss, the base connected to the second voltage source Vss through a parasitic resistor R 12 , and the collector connected to the input pad  10 . As noted, the active logic circuit input stage entry point is designated by the element A.  
         [0032]     Protection device ESD-Vcc  16  is shown as NMOS  16  with drain  16 D connected to a first voltage source, Vcc, and source  16 S and gate  16 G connected to a second voltage source Vss, typically ground. ESD-Vcc device  16  also has parasitic capacitance C 16  and diode D 16  with cathode connected to the first voltage source Vcc and anode connected to the second voltage source Vss. The capacitance C 16  is normally not a degrading factor to circuit performance as it is connected between the power buses. Also shown I the parasitic NPN bipolar transistor TX 16  electrically in parallel with NMOS  16 . As shown, the TX  16  collector is connected to the first voltage source Vcc, the emitter connected to the second voltage source Vss, and the base connected to the second voltage source Vss through the parasitic resistor R 16 .  
         [0033]     During a positive ESD event at the input pad  10 , TX 12  collector base junction goes into breakdown turning on TX 12  providing a discharge path to Vss. A negative ED event on the input pad  10  is conducted through diode D 12  to Vss. If sufficient energy is presented to pull down Vss below normal ground level, TX  16  will turn on providing an additional energy discharge path.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows the horizontal topography for the embodiment of the invention. Surrounding the ESD protection device ESD- 1   12  is a P+ guard ring  30 , which is connected to the second voltage source, Vss, typically ground. This forms the anode of the diode D 12 , the cathode of which is connected to the input pad  10  and is a key element for the discharging of negative ESD events with respect to Vss. Another P+ guard ring  34  surrounds the ESD protection device ESD- 1   16 , which is also connected to the second voltage source, Vss, typically ground. A unique concept of the invention is an N+ doped guard ring  32  that surrounds the P+ guard ring  30 . This N+ guard ring  32  forms the anode of diode D 16  that is instrumental in providing a discharge path for positive ESD events with respect to Vcc.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a typical cross section of the embodiment of the invention. ESD- 1  which consists of the NFET element  12  with associated parasitic elements, is created upon a P doped substrate  20  with a crystal orientation of &lt;100&gt; and typically doped with an acceptor element such as Boron to a density of between 5E14 and 1E15 atoms per cubic centimeter (a/cm 3 ). After suitable patterning with photoresist (PR), a plurality of N+ and P+ regions are created within the substrate. As shown in  FIG. 4 , two of the N+ regions straddle the gate element  12 G of the NMOS FET device  12  and form the source  12 S and drain  12 D which together with the gate element  12 G form the NMOS device  12 . The N+ diffusion regions have a typical donor dopent density of between 1E20 and 1E21 a/cm 3 . The P+ guard ring  30  surrounds NMOS device  12  and is doped with an acceptor dopent to between 1E20 and 1E21 a/cm 3 . Completing the device structure is the N+ guard ring  32  doped with a donor element to between 1E20 and 1E21 a/cm 3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the P+ guard ring  30 , NMOS source  12 S, and NMOS  23  gate  12 G are connected to the second voltage source Vss, typically ground. The NMOS drain  12 D is connected to the input logic line  10 . The P+ guard ring  32  is connected to the first voltage source, Vcc. Field oxide (FOX)  18  is used to provide isolation between ESD- 1  device  12  and ESD-Vcc device  16 .  
         [0036]     Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, a SCR device  38  implements the ESD- 1  protection element. An N-well  36  is implanted within the P substrate  20  with a donor element, typically phosphorous, to produce a doping density of between 1E16 and 1E18 a/cm 3 . Within the N-well  36  are doped regions N+  40  and P+  42  that through their electrical contact systems are connected to the logic circuit input line  10 . The P+ region  42  forms the anode of a PNPN SCR device which operating method is derived from a vertical PNP bipolar parasitic transistor TX  38 - 1  and a lateral parasitic NPN bipolar transistor TX  38 - 2  as is understood in the art.  
         [0037]     As indicated in  FIG. 5 , the P+ region  42  forms the emitter of TX 38 - 1 , the base is formed by the N-well  36  and connected back to the input pad through the N-well  36  and the N+ diffused region  40 . The resistor R  38 - 1  is the inherent sheet resistance in the N-well  36 . The collector of TX  38 - 1  is formed by the substrate  20  and connected through the inherent sheet resistor R  38 - 2  to the P+ guard ring  30  and consequently to a second voltage source typically ground. The N-well  36  forms the collector of the lateral parasitic transistor TX  38 - 2  to the P+ guard ring and subsequently to the second voltage source Vss typically ground. The emitter of TX 38 - 2  is formed by the N+ region  44 , which is electrically connected to the second voltage source Vss, or ground.  
         [0038]     The P+ guard ring  30  surrounding the device also serves as substrate contact region, and as previously mentioned, is connected tot he second voltage source, typically ground. The invention embodiment of the N+ guard ring  32  shown in  FIG. 5  is connected tot he first voltage source, Vcc. The diode D 16  is formed as before between the P+ guard ring  30  and N+ guard ring  32  as well as the ESD-Vcc device P+ guard ring  34  and N+ drain  16 S. Diode D 12  is formed by the P+ guard ring  30  and the N-well  36  and its associated N+ contact region  40 .  
         [0039]     As indicated in  FIG. 5 , the ESD protection device ESD-Vcc  16 , is again embodied as an NMOS Fet  16 . The drain  16 D, gate  16 G and P+ guard ring  34  associated with e NMOS device  16  are connected to the second voltage source, Vss, typically ground. The NMOS FET  16  source  16 S is connected to the first voltage source, Vcc.  
         [0040]     Isolation for the devices is provided by shallow trench isolation elements  28 . Diode D 12  is formed between the P+ guard ring  30  and ESD- 1  device N-well  36  N+ contact  40 . The diode D 12  provides a discharge path for negative ESD events on the input pad  10  relative to Vss. A positive ESD event relatives to Vss will be discharges through ESD- 1  SCR  38  as before. A positive ESD event occurring on the input pad will cause the collector base junction of TX- 38 - 2  to conduct providing positive feedback to turn on TX 38 - 1  until the ESD event expires.  
         [0041]     Diode D 16  is formed between the SCR device  38  N+ guard ring  32  and the P+ guard ring  30  as well as the ESD-Vcc P+ guard ring  34  and NFET  16  source  16 S and drain  16 D. A positive ESD event relative to Vcc will turn on ESD- 1  SCR  38  as described above, and consequently by discharged through diode D 16  to Vcc. A negative ESD event with respect to Vcc will be discharged through diode D 12  and the ESD-Vcc NMOS device  16  to Vcc.  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  outlines a process for constructing the devices of the invention for the embodiment whereby ESD- 1  is a NMOS FET associated parasitic elements and ESD-Vcc is also a NMOS FET device with its associated parasitic elements. As indicated by element  60  in  FIG. 6 , isolation structures are created within a P doped substrate. The isolation elements can be either thick field oxide, or shallow trench isolation (STI) structures filled with a dielectric such as SiO 2 . The isolation elements are utilized to define the active device logic area.  
         [0043]     First and second gate elements are created from patterning gate oxide and polysilicon layers on the substrate surface as indicated in element  62 .  FIG. 6  element  64  shows that N+ regions are created after appropriate patterning with well-known methods such as optical masks and photoresist to create source and drain regions that together the gate elements form first and second NMOS ESD protection devices corresponding to ESD- 1  and ESD_Vcc. Concurrently with the creation of the N+ source/drain regions, a N+ guard ring is created surrounding the first NFET as indicated in element  66 , allowing sufficient room for a P+ guard ring to be inserted between the N+ guard ring and the device itself.  
         [0044]     The P+ guard rings are created immediately surrounding the first and second NMOS devices, respectively, as indicated in element  68 . These P+ guard rings provide the anode side of the diodes associated with ESD- 1  and ESD-Vcc. The N+ guard ring forms the cathode of the diode that shunts negative ESD voltages appearing on Vcc to ground.  
         [0045]     Creating a metallurgical electrical conduction system allows the elements to be appropriately connected to the respective circuit nodes. Connecting the drain of the first NMOS ESD-! Protection device to the input-output pad while connecting the source and gate elements as well as the P+ guard rings to a second voltage source Vss, typically ground, initiates the I/O ESD protection circuit. Connecting the drain of the second NMOS ESD-Vcc protection device as well as the N+ guard ring to the first voltage source Vcc, completes the ESD protection circuit. Device processing is continued using conventional techniques such as utilizing a passivation layer to provide protection. Processing is continued to completion.  
         [0046]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.