Abstract:
An integrated circuit is disclosed having a semiconductor component comprising a first p-type region and a first n-type region adjoining the first p-type region, which together form a first pn junction having a breakdown voltage. A further n-type region adjoining the first p-type region or a further p-type region adjoining the first n-type region is provided, the first p-type or n-type region and the further n-type or p-type region adjoining the latter together forming a further pn junction having a further breakdown voltage, the first pn junction and the further pn junction being connected or connectable to one another in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component, on account of a current loading of the first pn junction, first of all the further pn junction breaks down.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a divisional application of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/186,402, filed Jul. 21, 2005, which claims the benefit of German Application DE 102004035745.5-33, filed Jul. 23, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The invention relates to an integrated circuit having a semiconductor component. 
         [0003]    The commutation of inductive loads at low-side switches (dissipation of the energy of the coil load after the switch-off of the transistor) is generally effected by means of an active voltage limiting at the low-side switch.  FIG. 6  shows by way of example a circuit arrangement in accordance with the prior art for the commutation of an inductive load L, in which a DMOS power transistor  1  is used as a low-side switch. 
         [0004]    In this exemplary embodiment, the inductive load L is connected on one end side to a line  3  carrying operating potential. The other side of the load L is connected to a drain input D of the DMOS power transistor. A source input of the DMOS transistor is connected to a ground connection  2 . A zener diode chain  4  having the zener diodes Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3  and, respectively, Z 4  and acting as a voltage divider is in each case situated between the drain D and gate G and, respectively, a gatesource resistance R G s, which turn on the low-side transistor  1  when the potential rises at the drain D. 
         [0005]    Besides the loading during commutation, low-side switches protect themselves dependent on size up to a certain loading by electrostatic discharges (ESD) according to HBM (acronym for Human Body Model). 
         [0006]    In view of the increasingly more stringent requirements made of the ESD durability at the IC level (acronym for integrated circuit), for instance given by the requirement for protection against pistol discharges according to IEC standard (discharge network approximately 150 pF and 330Ω compared with 1.5 kΩ and 100 pF in the case of HBM; standards: IEC 61000-4-2, JESD 22-A114-B), a self-protection of the low-side switch by means of active zenering is increasingly difficult to impossible depending on the required endurance with respect to pistol discharges. However, the protection of the low-side switch against ESD loading has to be safeguarded by means of a separate ESD structure. However, this is at odds with the requirement of commutation by means of the low-side switch since either the ESD structure or the active voltage limiting (active clamping) of the zener chain circuit accepts the loading both during commutation and in the ESD case. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Disclosed herein in an integrated circuit having a semiconductor component having a pn junction in which the semiconductor component is protected against hard current loadings such as for instance pistol discharges which has only a small additional space requirement and which can be produced comparatively cost-effectively. 
         [0008]    The invention is based quite generally on an integrated circuit (abbreviated to IC) having a semiconductor component which has a first p-conducting, in particular p-doped region and a first n-conducting, in particular n-doped region, adjoining the first p-conducting or p-doped region, the first n-conducting region and the first p-conducting region together forming a first pn junction having a breakdown voltage. Consequently, all types of diodes or transistors (bipolar transistors, field effect transistors, etc.) in an IC are taken into consideration as semiconductor components to which the invention relates. The arrangement of the semiconductor component in a plane (planar or lateral arrangement) or the extending of said semiconductor component into the depth (vertical arrangement) is unimportant, as is the type of substrate material used (silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, sapphire, etc.). 
         [0009]    The invention now provides a protective diode integrated into the integrated circuit. Accordingly, a further n-conducting region adjoining the first p-conducting region or a further p-conducting region adjoining the first n-conducting region is provided. The first p- or n-conducting region and the further n- or p-conducting region adjoining the latter together form a further pn junction having a further breakdown voltage. It is provided that the first pn junction and the further pn junction are connected or can be connected to one another in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component on account of a current loading of the first pn junction first of all a breakdown is effected at the further pn junction, and that said further pn junction accepts the current to an extent that the semiconductor component is not destroyed. It shall again be clarified hereby that the first pn junction can likewise break down. The current loading thereof is kept so small, however, that the semiconductor component is not destroyed. 
         [0010]    In the case of a low-side transistor as semiconductor component, the ESD protective diode of the component to be protected and also the energy-dissipating structure during the commutation process are accordingly combined. This avoids the problem that the low-side transistor, in the case of active clamping, accepts the current in the ESD case and is destroyed by overloading. Moreover, the active voltage limiting (clamping) of the low-side transistor by means of a zener diode chain is obviated in this case. 
         [0011]    It shall be expressly pointed out again that the principle according to the invention can also be applied to high-side switches. The circuit arrangement according to the invention can be used in any case where the energy to be dissipated is too high for the semiconductor component, in particular the switch, and where the intention is to avoid significantly enlarging the chip area through the use of diodes connected in parallel separately with the semiconductor component (e.g. a switch). 
         [0012]    In the simplest case, if the first pn junction is connected or can be connected (directly) in parallel with the further pn junction, it is appropriate to choose the further breakdown voltage to be less than the first breakdown voltage. This ensures that the further pn junction always breaks down before the first pn junction. Voltage drops on line sections or other (in particular nonreactive) resistances then need not be used for the dimensioning of the integrated circuit. 
         [0013]    According to the invention, it is provided that additional n-conducting and/or p-conducting regions, in particular defining the active semiconductor component to be protected, are arranged within the first region of the p-conduction type and/or within the first n-conducting region. By way of example, the component to be protected may have an outer well of the n-conduction type whose breakdown to an inner well of the p-conduction type is to be protected. Further regions of the n- or p-conduction type, which define the active structure to be protected, may then be arranged within the well of the p-conduction type. By way of example, the structure to be protected may be a vertical MOS transistor (acronym for metal oxide semiconductor) or a vertical npn-bipolar transistor. 
         [0014]    In a particularly advantageous embodiment variant of the invention it is provided that the first p- or n-conducting region is a base region of a (planar or vertical) bipolar transistor and/or a body region of a (planar or vertical) field effect transistor and/or an anode or cathode region of a (planar or vertical) diode. 
         [0015]    In order to minimize the space requirement on the chip (or the other semiconductor geometry) it is provided according to the invention that the first pn junction and the further pn junction have one common connection contact (anode or cathode of the protective diode) or even two common connection contacts (anode and cathode of the protective diode). In order to be able to set the properties of the integrated protective diode in a targeted manner, it is provided according to the invention that the further n- or p-conducting region (if appropriate in the same way as the first p- or n-conducting region of the semiconductor component) has a plurality of zones (preferably of the same conduction type, however) having different doping concentrations. 
         [0016]    For the same reason, it is provided according to the invention that the further n-type or p-type region comprises a plurality of locally separated partial regions. 
         [0017]    In particular, the magnitude of the breakdown voltage (and associated with this the precise location of the breakdown) of the further pn junction may, according to the invention, be set to a predetermined value by means of the spatial extent of the zones and/or the spatial extent of the partial regions and/or the spatial arrangement of the zones with respect to one another and/or the spatial arrangement of the partial regions with respect to one another and/or the doping concentrations of the zones or the ratio thereof with respect to one another and/or the doping concentrations of the partial regions or the concentration ratios thereof with respect to one another and/or the geometrical shape of the zones and/or the geometrical shape (round, polygonal) of the partial regions. 
         [0018]    For space reasons it may further be provided that the further n- or p-conducting region is arranged within the first p- or n-conducting region and/or is enclosed by the latter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1 : shows three exemplary embodiments of an integrated circuit with a simple protective diode according to the invention. All connections of the semiconductor component and of the protective diode are realized on the same chip surface
       a) the semiconductor component is a vertical npn-bipolar transistor,   b) the semiconductor component is a VDMOS field effect transistor (acronym for vertical double diffused MOS)   c) the semiconductor component is an LDMOS field effect transistor (acronym for lateral double diffused MOS).         
           [0024]      FIG. 2 : shows an exemplary embodiment of an integrated circuit with a protective diode according to the invention based on spatially separated partial diodes. All connections of the semiconductor component and of the protective diode are realized on the same chip surface. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3 : shows two exemplary embodiments of an integrated circuit with a protective diode according to the invention, the breakdown voltage of which is set by means of a particular geometrical arrangement, spatial shape and doping of a plurality of p-conducting zones, partial zones or partial regions. All connections of the semiconductor component and of the protective diode are realized on the same chip surface.
       a) protective diode based on spatially separated partial diodes having a p-type region with zones having a different doping concentration.   b) protective diodes having a p-type region with zones having a different doping concentration.         
           [0028]      FIG. 4 : shows an exemplary embodiment of an integrated circuit with a protective diode according to the invention, the pn junction of which is arranged completely within a well of a semiconductor component that defines a first p-conducting region. All connections of the semiconductor component and of the protective diode are realized on the same chip surface. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5 : shows an exemplary embodiment of an integrated circuit with a protective diode according to the invention, the pn junction of which is formed by a heavily n-conducting buried layer and an underlying especially p-doped layer of a p-conducting substrate. All connections of the semiconductor component and of the protective diode are realized on the same chip surface. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6 : shows a circuit arrangement for zenering in the commutation of an inductance by means of a low-side switch (prior art). 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 1   a  shows a first exemplary embodiment of an integrated circuit according to the invention. The integrated circuit according to the invention comprises, as active semiconductor component, an npn-bipolar transistor  10  and a protective diode  9 . The latter is provided for protecting the npn-bipolar transistor  10  against voltage breakdowns. In the exemplary embodiment presented in accordance with  FIG. 1   a  npn-bipolar transistor  10  and protective diode  9  are embodied in customary silicon technology. The circuit arrangement is situated on a p-conducting substrate  19 , a silicon wafer or the like. An n + -conducting embedding layer  18 , a so-called buried layer, is introduced into the p-conducting substrate  19  by ion implantation or diffusion. An epitaxially n-conducting layer  11  is situated on said buried layer  18 . Said n-conducting epitaxial layer  11  is formed as an outer n-conducting well into which a p-conducting well  12  for the active semiconductor component, namely the npn-bipolar transistor  10 , is introduced for example by ion implantation. This inner p-conducting well  12  is provided with a heavily p-doped base connection zone  15 , from which the base connection B is led away. Furthermore, a heavily n-doped emitter zone  14  is introduced as connection for the emitter E into the p-type well  12  by ion implantation or diffusion. The collector C of the npn-transistor is formed by the n-conducting epitaxial layer  11 , the contact-connection of which is effected by means of the heavily n-conducting embedding layer  18  and a heavily n-doped connection pillar  17 —reaching through the n-conducting outer well  11 —to the collector connection C. 
         [0032]    In order to prevent a current overloading as a result of breakdown from the inner p-type well  12  forming the base zone to the outer n-type well  11  forming the collector zone, a further p-conducting well  13  is introduced into the n-conducting epitaxial layer  11  at a small distance from the p-type well  12 . This further p-type well  13  is superficially provided with a heavily p-doped anode connection zone  16  for contact-connection. Inner p-type well  13  and outer n-type well  11  form a pn junction, that is to say a diode  9 . The connections (anode A and cathode K) of said diode  9  are formed on the one hand by the anode connection zone  16  (for the anode A) and on the other hand by the embedding layer  18  and the pillar  17  (for the cathode K). The breakdown voltage of the further p-type well  13  with respect to the outer n-type well  11  is chosen to be less than the breakdown voltage of the inner p-type well  12  of the npn-transistor  10  with respect to the outer n-type well  11 . 
         [0033]    For operation of the npn-bipolar transistor  10 , the anode A of the protective diode  9  is connected up to the bipolar transistor  10  (for example the anode A of the protective diode  9  and the emitter E of the bipolar transistor  10  may be at an identical potential) in such a way that in the case of an overloading of the npn-bipolar transistor  10 , on account of a reverse-biasing between the base B and collector C a breakdown  21  is effected between the further p-type well  13  and the outer n-type well  11  and not between the inner p-type well  12  of the bipolar transistor  10  and the outer n-type well  11 . 
         [0034]    The energy that dissipates during the breakdown  21  is dissipated over the breakdown current path  20  between the p-type well  13 , the n-type well  11 , the n + -type buried layer  18  and the n + -type pillar  17 . Destruction of the npn-bipolar transistor  10  is thereby prevented. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1   b  shows a second exemplary embodiment of an integrated circuit according to the invention. The integrated circuit according to the invention comprises, as active semiconductor component, a VDMOS field effect transistor  30  and an integrated protective diode  29  protecting the VDMOS-FET  30  (FET=acronym for field effect transistor) against voltage breakdowns. 
         [0036]    In the exemplary embodiment presented in accordance with  FIG. 1   b , VDMOS-FET  30  and protective diode  29  are embodied on a silicon wafer. The circuit arrangement is situated on a p-conducting silicon substrate  39 . An n + -conducting embedding layer  38  (buried layer) is introduced into the p − -conducting substrate  39  by ion implantation. As in the exemplary embodiment described above, an epitaxial n-conducting layer  31  is situated on said buried layer  38 . Said n-conducting epitaxial layer  31  represents an outer n-type well into which two p-conducting wells  32 . 1 ,  32 . 2 , so-called bodies, for the FET  30  are introduced (for example by ion implantation). These p-conducting bodies  32 . 1 ,  32 . 2  are provided with heavily p-doped source connection zones  34 . 1 ,  34 . 2 , from which source connections S are led away. Furthermore, n + -doped zones  35 . 1 ,  35 . 2  defining a source connection are in each case introduced into the p-conducting bodies  32 . 1 ,  32 . 2  by ion implantation or diffusion. The drain D is formed by the n-conducting epitaxial layer  31 , the contact-connection of which is effected by means of the n + -conducting embedding layer  38  and an n + -doped connection pillar  37 —reaching through the n-conducting epitaxial layer  31 ′ to the up-drain connection D. Furthermore, a gate G, G 1 , G 2  comprising two gate contacts  41 ,  42  is provided. 
         [0037]    In order to prevent a breakdown from the p-type wells  32 . 1 ,  32 . 2  to the n-type well  31 , a further p-conducting well  33  is introduced into the n-conducting epitaxial layer  31  at a small distance from the p-type wells  32 . 1 ,  32 . 2 . This further p-type well  33  is superficially provided with a p + -doped connection zone  36  for contact-connection. The further p-type well  33  and the outer n-type well  31  form a pn junction defining the abovementioned protective diode  29 . The connections A, K of said protective diode  29  are formed on the one hand by the anode connection zone  36  (for the anode A) and on the other hand by the embedding layer  38  and the pillar  37  (for the cathode K). 
         [0038]    The breakdown voltage of the further p-type well  33  with respect to the outer n-type well  31  is chosen to be less than the breakdown voltage of the p-type wells  32 . 1 ,  32 . 2  with respect to the outer n-type well  31 . 
         [0039]    For operation of the field effect transistor  30 , the anode A of the protective diode  29  is connected up to the field effect transistor  30  (for example the anode A of the protective diode  29  and the source connection S of the field effect transistor  30  may be at an identical potential) in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the field effect transistor  30 , on account of a current loading between body  32 . 1 ,  32 . 2  and up-drain D, a breakdown  41  is effected between the further p-type well  33  and the outer n-type well  31  and not between the p-type bodies  32 . 1 ,  32 . 2  of the field effect transistor  30  and outer n-type well  31 . 
         [0040]    The energy that is dissipated during the breakdown  41  is dissipated over the breakdown current path  40  between the p-type well  33 , the n-type well  31 , the n + -type buried layer  38  and the n + -type pillar  37 . Destruction of the field effect transistor  30  is thereby effectively prevented. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1   c  shows a third exemplary embodiment of an integrated circuit according to the invention. The integrated circuit according to the invention comprises, as active semiconductor component, an LDMOS field effect transistor  50  and an integrated protective diode  49  protecting the LDMOS-FET  50  against voltage breakdowns. 
         [0042]    In the exemplary embodiment presented in accordance with  FIG. 1   c , LDMOS-FET  50  and protective diode  49  are embodied in a similar manner to the VDMOS-FET  30  and the protective diode  29  corresponding to  FIG. 1   b.    
         [0043]    The circuit arrangement is situated on a p-conducting silicon substrate  59 . An n + -conducting buried layer  58  is introduced into the p − -conducting substrate  59 . As in the exemplary embodiment described above, an epitaxial n-type layer  51  is situated on said buried layer  58 . A p-conducting body  52  for the FET  50  is introduced into said n-type epitaxial layer  51 . The body  52  is provided with a p + -type doped body connection zone  54 , from which a source connection S is led away. Furthermore, an n + -conducting source zone  55  is introduced into the body  52 . Two drain connections D 1 , D 2  with corresponding n + -type drain zones  62 ,  57  introduced into the n-type epitaxial layer  51  are provided. A gate G with gate contact G 1  is also provided. 
         [0044]    In order to prevent a breakdown from the p-type body  52  to the n-type well  51 , a further p-conducting well  53  is introduced into the n-conducting epitaxial layer  51  at a small distance from the n + -type drain zones  62 ,  57 . Said further p-type well  53  is superficially provided with a p + -doped anode connection zone  56  for contact-connection. The further p-type well  53  and the outer n-type well  51  form a pn junction defining the abovementioned protective diode  49 . The connections A, K of said protective diode  49  are formed on the one hand by the anode connection zone  56  (for the anode A) and on the other hand by the embedding layer  58  and the pillar  57  (for the cathode K). 
         [0045]    As in the previous exemplary embodiment, the breakdown voltage of the further p-type well  53  with respect to the outer n-type well  51  is chosen to be smaller than the breakdown voltage of the p-type well  52  with respect to the outer n-type well  51 . 
         [0046]    For operation of the field effect transistor  50 , the anode A of the protective diode  49  is again connected up to the field effect transistor  50  (for example the anode A of the protective diode  49  and the source connection S of the field effect transistor  50  may be at an identical potential as in the previous exemplary embodiment) in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the field effect transistor  50 , on account of a reverse-biasing between body  52  and drain D 1 , D 2 , a breakdown  61  is effected between the further p-type well  53  and the outer n-type well  51  and not between the p-type body  52  of the field effect transistor  50  and the outer n-type well  51 . 
         [0047]    The energy that is dissipated during the breakdown  61  is dissipated over the breakdown current path  60  between the p-type well  53 , the n-type well  51 , the n + -type buried layer  58  and the n + -type pillar  57 . Destruction of the field effect transistor  50  is effectively prevented in this way. 
         [0048]    In the case of a vertical technology (as presented previously) with integrated components (SMART technology), the contact-connection of the collector may also be effected on the rear side of the wafer. The protective pn junction may then be configured as part of the edge termination. 
         [0049]    One or more p-type wells of the active semiconductor structure may lie within the outer n-type well, which p-type wells may be arranged for instance in the form of cells or strips (as is customary in the case of DMOS transistors). Equally, the integrated protective diode may comprise one or more p-type wells which may be adjacent in an arbitrary arrangement with respect to the p-type wells of the active component. 
         [0050]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment in which the integrated protective diode  69  comprises a plurality of p-type wells  81 . 1 ,  82 . 2 . 
         [0051]    The integrated circuit according to the invention in accordance with  FIG. 2  comprises, as active semiconductor component  70 , either an npn-bipolar transistor (like the circuit in accordance with  FIG. 1   a ), a field effect transistor or a diode and also a protective diode  69  which is provided for protecting the semiconductor component  70  against voltage breakdowns. 
         [0052]    In the exemplary embodiment presented in accordance with  FIG. 2 , the semiconductor component  70  is embodied in a similar manner to the field effect transistor  30  corresponding to  FIG. 1   b.    
         [0053]    The circuit arrangement is situated on a p-conducting silicon substrate  79 . An n + -conducting buried layer  78  is introduced into the p − -conducting substrate  79 . An epitaxial n-type layer  71  is situated on said buried layer  78 . Two p-conducting wells  72 . 1 ,  72 . 2  for the semiconductor component  70  are introduced into said n-type epitaxial layer  71 . Said wells  72 . 1 ,  72 . 2  may be bodies of a field effect transistor, emitter/base zones of a bipolar transistor or anode zones of a diode. It goes without saying that these may be provided with corresponding p + -doped connection zones, from which corresponding source connections, emitter and base connections or anode connections  74  are led away. Other regions zones having an identical or different doping and/or doping concentrations may be provided, but are not illustrated in the drawing. 
         [0054]    Collector, up-drain or cathode of the semiconductor component  70  is formed by the n-conducting epitaxial layer  71 , the contact-connection of which is effected by means of the n + -conducting embedding layer  78  and an n + -doped connection pillar  77 —reaching through the n-conducting outer well  71 —to the collector, up-drain or to the cathode of the active semiconductor component  70 . The corresponding connection is identified by the reference symbol  75  in the figure of the drawing. 
         [0055]    In order to prevent a current loading as a result of a breakdown from the p-type wells  72 . 1 ,  72 . 2  to the n-type well  71 , two further p-conducting wells  73 . 1 ,  73 . 2  are introduced into the n-conducting epitaxial layer  71  at a small distance from the p-type well  72 . 1 ,  72 . 2 . Said p-type wells  73 . 1 ,  73 . 2  are in each case superficially provided with a heavily p-doped anode connection zone  76 . 1 ,  76 . 2  for contact-connection. The two p-type wells  73 . 1 ,  73 . 2  and the n-type well  71  in each case form a pn junction, that is to say diodes  69 . 1 ,  69 . 2 . The connections of said diodes  69 . 1 ,  69 . 2  are formed on the one hand by the anode connection zones  76 . 1 ,  76 . 2  (for the anodes A connected to one another in the exemplary embodiment) and on the other hand by the embedding layer  78  and the pillar  77  (for the cathode K). A single diode  69  is formed by the electrical connection of the anodes of the two partial diodes  69 . 1 ,  69 . 2 . 
         [0056]    The breakdown voltage of the further p-type wells  73 . 1 ,  73 . 2  with respect to the outer n-type well  71  is again chosen to be less than the breakdown voltage of the p-type wells  72 . 1 ,  72 . 2  with respect to the outer n-type well  71 . 
         [0057]    The semiconductor component  70  is now connected up externally to the anode A of the protective diode  69  (for example the anode A of the protective diode  69  and the emitter E of the semiconductor component  70  embodied as a bipolar transistor may be at an identical potential) in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component  70 , on account of a reverse-biasing between well  72 . 1  and/or  72 . 2  and well  71 , a breakdown  81 . 1 ,  81 . 2  is effected between the further p-type wells  73 . 1 ,  73 . 2  and the outer n-type well  71  and not between the p-type wells  72 . 1 ,  72 . 2  of the semiconductor component  70  and the outer n-type well  71 . 
         [0058]    The energy that is dissipated during the breakdown  81 . 1 ,  81 . 2  is dissipated over the breakdown current path  80  between the p-type wells  73 . 1 ,  73 . 2 , the n-type well  71 , the n + -type buried layer  78  and the n + -type pillar  77 . Destruction of the semiconductor component  70  is prevented. 
         [0059]    The possible splitting and distribution of the breakdown source within the active area of the component to be protected (see  FIG. 2  for example) has the advantage of distributing the heat in the case of long pulses of relatively high energy (such as the so-called ISO pulses according to ISO 7637-3) better in the silicon. 
         [0060]    The breakdown of the protective pn junction may also be controlled by layout measures, such as, for instance, spacing and width of adjacent p-type regions. Two exemplary embodiments in which the breakdown has been set in a targeted manner are illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b.    
         [0061]    The circuit arrangement in accordance with  FIG. 3   a  is situated on a p − -conducting silicon substrate  99 . An n + -conducting buried layer  98  is introduced into the p − -conducting substrate  99 . An epitaxial n-type layer  91  is situated on said buried layer  98 . A p-conducting well  92  for a semiconductor component  90  is introduced into said n-type epitaxial layer  91 . Said well  92  may again be the body of a field effect transistor, an emitter/base zone of a bipolar transistor or an anode zone of a semiconductor diode. It goes without saying that these may be provided with corresponding p + -doped connection zones, from which corresponding source connections, emitter and base connections or anode connections  94  are led away. Other regions/zones having an identical or different doping and/or doping concentrations may be provided but are not illustrated in the drawing. 
         [0062]    Collector, up-drain or cathode of the semiconductor component  90  is formed, as in the previous exemplary embodiment, by the n − -conducting epitaxial layer  91 , the contact-connection of which is effected by means of the n + -conducting embedding layer  98  and an n + -doped connection pillar  97 —reaching through the n-conducting outer well  91 —to the collector, up-drain or to the cathode of the active semiconductor component  90 . The corresponding connection is identified by the reference symbol  95  in the figure of the drawing. 
         [0063]    In order to prevent a breakdown from the p-type well  92  to the n-type well  91 , two further p-conducting wells  93 . 1 ,  93 . 3  are introduced into the n-conducting epitaxial layer  91  at a small distance from the p-type well  92 . Said p-type wells  93 . 1 ,  93 . 3  are in each case superficially provided with a heavily p-doped anode connection zone  96 . 1 ,  96 . 2  for contact-connection. Furthermore, two further p-type wells  93 . 2 ,  93 . 4  adjoin the abovementioned p-type wells  93 . 1 ,  93 . 3 . The further p-type wells  93 . 1 ,  93 . 2 ,  93 . 3 ,  93 . 4  and the n-type well  91  in each case form a pn junction, that is to say diodes  89 . 1 ,  89 . 2 . The connections of said diodes  89 . 1 ,  89 . 2  are formed on the one hand by the anode connection zones  96 . 1 ,  96 . 2  (for the anodes A connected to one another in the exemplary embodiment) and on the other hand by the embedding layer  98  and the pillar  97  (for the cathode K). A single diode  89  is formed by the electrical connection of the anodes of the two partial diodes  89 . 1 ,  89 . 2 . 
         [0064]    The breakdown voltage of the further p-type wells  93 . 1 ,  93 . 2 ,  93 . 3 ,  93 . 4  with respect to the outer n-type well  91  is again chosen to be less than the breakdown voltage of the p-type wells  92 . 1 ,  92 . 2 , with respect to the outer n-type well  91 . Through skillful selection of the dimensions d 3 , d 4  of the p-type wells  93 . 1 ,  93 . 2 ,  93 . 3 ,  93 . 4  and the distances d 1 , d 2  between the latter, the breakdown voltage of the protective diode  89  comprising two partial diodes can be set exactly to a desired value. 
         [0065]    The semiconductor component  90  is now connected up externally to the anode A of the protective diode  89  (for example the anode A of the protective diode  89  and the anode of the semiconductor component  90  embodied as a diode may be at an identical potential) in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component  90 , on account of a reverse-biasing between well  92  and well  91 , a breakdown  101 . 1 ,  101 . 2  is effected between the further p-type wells  93 . 1 ,  93 . 2 ,  93 . 3 ,  93 . 4  and the outer n-type well  91  and not between the p-type well  92  of the semiconductor component  90  and the outer n-type well  91 . 
         [0066]    The energy that is dissipated during the breakdown  101 . 1 ,  101 . 2  is dissipated over the breakdown current path  100 , in particular the breakdown current partial paths  100 . 1 ,  100 . 2  between the p-type wells  93 . 1 ,  93 . 2 ,  93 . 3 ,  93 . 4 , the n-type well  91 , the n + -type buried layer  98  and the n + -type pillar  97 . Destruction of the semiconductor component  90  is prevented. 
         [0067]    The exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3   b  comprises a semiconductor component such as has already been shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0068]    The semiconductor component  110  is situated on a p-conducting silicon substrate  119 . An n + -conducting buried layer  118  is introduced into the p − -conducting substrate  119 . An epitaxial n-type layer  111  is again situated on said buried layer  118 . Two p-conducting wells  112 . 1 ,  112 . 2  for the semiconductor component  110  are introduced into said n-type epitaxial layer  111 . Said wells  112 . 1 ,  112 . 2  may be bodies of a field effect transistor, emitter/base zones of a bipolar transistor or anode zones of a diode. It goes without saying that these may be provided with corresponding p + -doped connection zones, from which corresponding source connections, emitter and base connections or anode connections  114  are led away. Other regions/zones having an identical or different doping and/or doping concentrations may be provided, but are not illustrated in the drawing. 
         [0069]    Collector, up-drain or cathode of the semiconductor component  110  is formed by the n-conducting epitaxial layer  111 , the contact-connection of which is effected by means of the n + -conducting embedding layer  118  and an n + -doped connection pillar  117 —reaching through the n-conducting outer well  111 —to the collector, up-drain or to the cathode of the active semiconductor component  110 . The corresponding connection is identified by the reference symbol  115  in the figure of the drawing. 
         [0070]    In order to prevent a breakdown from the p-type wells  112 . 1 ,  112 . 2  to the n-type well  111 , four further p-conducting wells  113 ,  113 . 1 ,  113 . 2 ,  113 . 3  are introduced into the n-conducting epitaxial layer  111  at a small distance from the p-type well  112 . 1 ,  112 . 2 . The p-type wells  113 . 1 ,  113 . 2 ,  113 . 3  are connected to one another by the p-type well  113 . The p-type well  113  is superficially provided with a heavily p-doped anode connection zone  116  for contact-connection. The p-type wells  113 ,  113 . 1 ,  113 . 2 ,  113 . 3  and the n-type well  111  in each case form a pn junction. Since the p-type wells  113 ,  113 . 1 ,  113 . 2 ,  113 . 3  are connected to one another, the sum of the abovementioned pn junctions represents a diode  109 . The connections of said diode  109  are formed on the one hand by the anode connection zone  116  (for the anode A) and on the other hand by the embedding layer  118  and the pillar  117  (for the cathode K). 
         [0071]    The breakdown voltage of the further p-type wells  113 ,  113 . 1 ,  113 . 2 ,  113 . 3  with respect to the outer n-type well  111  is again chosen to be less than the breakdown voltage of the p-type wells  112 . 1 ,  112 . 2  with respect to the outer n-type well  111 . 
         [0072]    The semiconductor component  110  is now again connected up externally to the anode A of the protective diode  109  (for example the anode A of the protective diode  109  and the emitter E of the semiconductor component  110  embodied as a bipolar transistor may be at an identical potential) in such a way that in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component  110 , on account of a reverse-biasing between well  112 . 1  and/or  112 . 2  and well  111 , a breakdown  121 . 1 ,  121 . 2 ,  121 . 3  is effected between the further p-type wells  113 . 1 ,  113 . 2 ,  113 . 3  and the outer n-type well  111  and not between the p-type wells  112 . 1 ,  112 . 2  of the semiconductor component  110  and the outer n-type well  111 . 
         [0073]    The energy that is dissipated during the breakdown  121 . 1 ,  121 . 2 ,  121 . 3  is dissipated over the breakdown current path  120  between the p-type wells  113 . 1 ,  113 . 2 ,  113 . 3 , the n-type well  111 , the n + -type buried layer  118  and the n + -type pillar  117 . Destruction of the semiconductor component  110  is reliably prevented. The breakdown voltage and the volume in which the energy is dissipated during a breakdown are determined by the dimensions d 5 , d 6  of the p-type wells  113 ,  113 . 1 ,  113 . 2 ,  113 . 3 , the geometrical arrangement thereof with respect to one another and the geometrical shape thereof. These variables can therefore (largely) be chosen freely. 
         [0074]    In a further embodiment, the component to be protected contains an outer p-type well (n-type well). The component breakdown to be protected is effected relative to an n-type region (p-type region) which is integrated in the outer p-type well (n-type well) and is connected to the semiconductor surface. 
         [0075]    An NMOS transistor which is integrated into an outer p-type well and whose p-type well (bulk)/drain breakdown is to be protected shall be mentioned by way of example. A PMOS transistor which is integrated into an outer n-type well and whose n-type well (bulk)/drain breakdown is to be protected shall likewise be mentioned by way of example. 
         [0076]    A plurality of active (semiconductor) components may likewise be situated in the p-type well (n-type well). The components integrated into the outer p-type well (n-type well) are defined by further p-type or n-type regions within the well (for instance a further n-type region in the p-type well, which serves as source connection of an NMOS transistor). According to the invention, a further diode breakdown is integrated into the outer p-type well (n-type well), the breakdown voltage of said further diode breakdown lying below that of the well breakdown with respect to the active component. For this purpose, use is made of one or more n-type and/or p-type wells within the outer p-type well (n-type well) which serve for setting the breakdown voltage of the protective diode and the connection thereof to the semiconductor surface. 
         [0077]    A preferred embodiment according to the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Additional n-type and p-type wells  133 ,  143 ,  137 , which serve for connecting the protective diode  129  to the semiconductor surface, are integrated within a p-type well  131 —enclosed for example by an n-type region—of the active component(s)  130 . 
         [0078]    One or both of these connections may also optionally be shared with the connection of an active component. The setting of the breakdown voltage of the p-type well  131  with respect to the connection of the n-type region  133  (e.g. drain of an NMOS) is effected by means of an additional p-type well  143 . For the sake of completeness,  FIG. 4  depicts the location of the breakdown  141  and the breakdown current path  140  for the case of breakdown of the protective diode  129 . 
         [0079]    In another embodiment, which is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the anode of the protective diode is not integrated within an outer n-type well  151 , rather a breakdown  161  to a substrate  159  of the p-conductivity type serves for protecting the active component. The breakdown of the outer n-type well  151  with respect to an inner (not illustrated) p-type well (for instance a body connection of a VDMOS transistor) is intended to be protected. 
         [0080]    The setting of the breakdown voltage can be realized for instance by means of a p-type implantation prior to the processing of the outer n-type well. The anode may be connected to the contact-connected rear side of the wafer or for instance (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) may be led to the surface via the insulation implantations  153  for isolating adjacent components. As in the previous exemplary embodiments, the cathode connection may be produced by means of a pillar  157  reaching to a buried layer  158 . 
         [0081]    The p-type implantation  163  prior to the processing of the outer n-type well  151  need not be effected in planar fashion, but rather may be effected by means of a plurality of p-type regions of arbitrary form (round, polygonal) which are arranged at an arbitrary distance from one another (not illustrated). The distance is oriented to the outdiffusion of the implanted p-type well in a preferred embodiment. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Low-side switching transistor (n-channel MOSFET) 
           2  Ground connection 
           3  Operating voltage connection 
           4  Zener diode chain 
           9  Protective diode 
           10  npn-Bipolar transistor 
           11  Outer well (collector zone) 
           12  Inner well (base zone) 
           13  Further inner well (anode) 
           14  Emitter zone 
           15  Base connection zone 
           16  Anode connection zone 
           17  Connection pillar 
           18  Embedding layer/buried layer 
           19  Substrate 
           20  Breakdown current path 
           21  Breakdown 
           29  Protective diode 
           30  VDMOS transistor 
           31  Outer well (drain zone) 
           32 . 1  First inner well (first body) 
           32 . 2  Second inner well (second body) 
           33  Further inner well (anode) 
           34 . 1  First body connection 
           34 . 2  Second body connection 
           35 . 1  Source zone 
           35 . 2  Source zone 
           36  Anode connection zone 
           37  Connection pillar 
           38  Embedding layer/buried layer 
           39  Substrate 
           40  Breakdown current path 
           41  Gate contact 
           42  Gate contact 
           43  Breakdown 
           49  Protective diode 
           50  LDMOS transistor 
           51  Outer well 
           52  Inner well (body) 
           53  Further inner well (anode) 
           54  Body connection 
           55  Source connection 
           56  Anode connection zone 
           57  Connection pillar 
           58  Embedding layer/buried layer 
           59  Substrate 
           60  Breakdown current path 
           61  Gate 
           62  Drain zone of the first drain 
           63  Breakdown 
           69  Protective diode 
           69 . 1  Partial diode 
           69 . 2  Partial diode 
           70  Circuit to be protected/pn junctions 
           71  Outer well 
           72 . 1  First inner well 
           72 . 2  Second inner well 
           73 . 1  First further well 
           73 . 2  Second further well 
           74  First connection 
           75  Second connection 
           76 . 1  First anode connection zone 
           76 . 2  Second anode connection zone 
           77  Connection pillar 
           78  Embedding layer/buried layer 
           79  Substrate 
           80 . 1  First part of breakdown current path 
           80 . 2  Second part of breakdown current path 
           81 . 1  Breakdown 
           81 . 2  Breakdown 
           89 . 1  First protective partial diode 
           89 . 2  Second protective partial diode 
           89  Protective diode 
           90  Circuit to be protected/pn junctions 
           91  Outer well 
           92  Inner well 
           93 . 1  First further well 
           93 . 2  Second further well 
           93 . 3  Third further well 
           93 . 4  Fourth further well 
           94  First connection 
           95  Second connection 
           96 . 1  First anode connection zone 
           96 . 2  Second anode connection zone 
           97  Connection pillar 
           98  Embedding layer/buried layer 
           99  Substrate 
           100  Breakdown current path 
           100 . 1  Partial path 
           100 . 2  Partial path 
           101 . 1  Breakdown 
           101 . 2  Breakdown 
           109  Protective diode 
           110  Circuit to be protected/pn junction/bipolar parasitic 
           111  Outer well 
           112 . 1  First inner well 
           112 . 2  Second inner well 
           113  Further well 
           113 . 1  First further well 
           113 . 2  Second further well 
           113 . 3  Third further well 
           114  First connection 
           115  Second connection 
           116  Anode connection zone 
           117  Connection pillar 
           118  Embedding layer/buried layer 
           119  Substrate 
           120  Breakdown current path 
           121 . 1  First breakdown 
           121 . 2  Second breakdown 
           121 . 3  Third breakdown 
           129  Protective diode 
           130  pn junction to be protected/bipolar parasitic 
           131  Outer well (with active components not illustrated) 
           133  Further inner n.sup.+-type region 
           137  Inner p.sup.+-type region 
           140  Breakdown current path 
           141  Breakdown 
           143  p-type well for setting the breakdown 
           149  Protective diode 
           150  Circuit to be protected 
           151  Outer well (with further p-type and n-type wells of the active components (not illustrated)) 
           153  Substrate connection 
           157  n-type well connection of the active components 
           158  Embedding layer/buried layer 
           159  Substrate 
           160  Breakdown current path 
           161  Breakdown 
           163  Additional p-type region 
         d 1 -d 6  Distances 
         B Base 
         E Emitter 
         C Collector 
         A Anode 
         K Cathode 
         VDMOS-FET Power field effect transistor with double diffused vertical structure 
         LDMOS-FET Power field effect transistor with double diffused lateral structure 
         Z 1  Zener diode 
         Z 2  Zener diode 
         Z 3  Zener diode 
         Z 4  Zener diode 
         KD 1  Coupling diode 
         L Inductance 
         R GS  Gate-source resistance 
         G Gate 
         G 1  First gate 
         G 2  Second gate 
         S Source 
         D 1  First drain 
         Second drain 
         D Drain 
         IC Integrated circuit 
         ESD Electrostatic discharge 
         HBM Human body model 
         n Conductivity type 
         p Conductivity type