Patent Publication Number: US-11393809-B2

Title: Semiconductor device having improved electrostatic discharge protection

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/949,575, filed on Dec. 18, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern day integrated chips (ICs) comprise millions or billions of semiconductor devices on a semiconductor substrate (e.g., silicon). Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a sudden release of electrostatic charge which can result in high electric fields and currents within an IC. ESD pulses can damage the semiconductor devices, for example by “blowing out” a gate dielectric of a transistor or by “melting” an active region of the device. If the semiconductor devices are damaged by an ESD pulse, the IC can be rendered less operable than desired, or can even be rendered inoperable altogether. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some embodiments of an integrated chip (IC) comprising a semiconductor device that has improved electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a simplified top view of some embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8A-8B  illustrates cross-sectionals view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a simplified top view of some embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-sectional view of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a simplified top view of some embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIGS. 14-23  illustrates a series of cross-sectionals views of some embodiments of a method for forming an IC comprising a semiconductor device that has improved ESD performance. 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a flowchart of some embodiments of a method for forming an IC comprising a semiconductor device that has improved ESD performance. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout, and wherein the illustrated structures are not necessarily drawn to scale. It will be appreciated that this detailed description and the corresponding figures do not limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way, and that the detailed description and figures merely provide a few examples to illustrate some ways in which the inventive concepts can manifest themselves. 
     The present disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of this disclosure. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
     Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly. 
     Integrated chips (ICs) comprise a plurality of semiconductor devices (e.g., field-effect transistors (FETs)). In some embodiments, a semiconductor device of the plurality of semiconductor devices is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). The semiconductor device comprises a source region and a drain region disposed in a semiconductor substrate. Further, a gate stack, which comprises a gate electrode overlying a gate dielectric, is disposed over the semiconductor substrate between the drain region and the source region. Typically, the drain region corresponds to a single doped region of the semiconductor substrate. The single doped region has a first side that is substantially aligned with a side (e.g., sidewall) of the gate stack, and the single doped region extends continuously through the semiconductor substrate to a second side of the single doped region opposite the first side. The single doped region has a doping concentration of first doping type dopants (e.g., n-type dopants) that is substantially the same from the first side of the single doped region to the second side of the single doped region. 
     Further, the ICs comprise a plurality of input/output (I/O) structures (e.g., bond pads, solder bumps, etc.). The plurality of I/O structures are configured to provide electrical connections between an IC and its package (e.g., through-hole packages, surface mount packages, chip carrier packages, pin grid array packages, small outline packages, flat packages, chip-scale packages, ball grid array packages, etc.). In some embodiments, an I/O structure of the plurality of I/O structures is configured as an open-drain I/O structures (e.g., an open-drain output pad). In such embodiments, the IC comprises an open-drain buffer circuit comprising the semiconductor device. 
     The open-drain buffer circuit is configured to provide a low impedance state or a high impedance state depending on an input from one or more other semiconductor devices of the IC (e.g., internal IC logic devices). For example, the drain region of the semiconductor device is electrically coupled to the I/O structure, the source region of the semiconductor device is electrically coupled to ground (e.g., 0 volts (V)), and the gate electrode of the semiconductor device is electrically coupled to an internal IC logic device (e.g., the one or more other semiconductor devices of the IC). Thus, based on an output from the internal IC logic device, the semiconductor device is either “ON” (e.g., conducting) or “OFF” (e.g., not conducting). For example, if the internal IC logic device outputs a high signal (e.g., logic “1”) to the gate electrode, the semiconductor device is “ON” and electrically couples the I/O structure to ground, thereby resulting in the open-drain buffer circuit providing a low impedance state (e.g., logic “0”). On the other hand, if the internal IC logic device outputs a low signal (e.g., logic “0”) to the gate electrode, the semiconductor device is “OFF” and the I/O structure is disconnected from ground, thereby resulting in the open-drain buffer circuit providing a high impedance state. Typically, a resistor (e.g., a pull-up resistor that is internal or external to the IC) is connected to a positive voltage terminal (e.g., Vdd) and the I/O structure. Accordingly, when the open-drain buffer circuit provides the high impedance state, the positive voltage is provided to the I/O structure (e.g., logic “1”). 
     One challenge with the IC is the susceptibility of the IC to be damaged by an electrostatic discharge (ESD) pulse. For example, if an ESD event occurs, the ESD pulse may catastrophically damage the IC (e.g., “blowing out” gate dielectrics, “melting” active regions, etc.). One commonly used model for characterizing the susceptibility of an IC to damage from an ESD pulse is the human-body model (HBM). For certain applications (e.g., HBM ESD class 2 devices), the IC must pass the HBM test at a predefined ESD pulse voltage (e.g., 2,000 V). One potential failure point of the IC during the HBM test is the semiconductor device of the open-drain buffer circuit. 
     For example, during the HBM test, an ESD pulse is applied to the IC. The ESD pulse may propagate through the IC (e.g., the I/O structure) to the semiconductor device of the open-drain buffer circuit. The ESD pulse causes a voltage spike on the drain region of the semiconductor device that may catastrophically damage the semiconductor substrate (e.g., “blowing out” the gate dielectric of the semiconductor device due to a gate-to-drain voltage exceeding a threshold voltage), thereby resulting in damage to the IC and failure of the HBM test at the predefined ESD pulse voltage. The voltage spike on the drain region of the semiconductor substrate may catastrophically damage the semiconductor substrate due to the voltage being greater than the threshold voltage at the first side of the single doped region (e.g., at this location the voltage difference between the gate and drain will cause the gate dielectric to “blow out”). There are several partial solutions to improve (e.g., increase) the ESD protection of the semiconductor device of the open-drain buffer circuit (e.g., increasing drain restive protective oxide width, adding a gate-to-source resistor, increasing device width, enlarging active region to pick-up well spacing, etc.), but none of these partially solutions have provided the necessary ESD protection to satisfy the IC specifications for certain applications (e.g., HBM ESD class 2 and greater devices that utilize open-drain output pins). Thus, a semiconductor device having improved (e.g., increased) ESD protection would be desirable to prevent failure of the semiconductor device of the open-drain buffer circuit. 
     Various embodiments of the present application are directed toward an IC comprising a semiconductor device (e.g., a MOSFET of an open-drain buffer circuit) that has improved ESD protection. The semiconductor device comprises a source region in a substrate. A drain region is in the substrate and laterally spaced from the source region. A gate stack, which comprises a gate electrode overlying a gate dielectric, is over the substrate and between the source region and the drain region. The drain region comprises two or more first doped regions having a first doping type in the substrate. Further, the drain region comprises one or more second doped regions in the substrate. The first doped regions have a greater concentration of first doping type dopants than the second doped regions, and each of the second doped regions is disposed laterally between two neighboring first doped regions. 
     Because the drain region comprises the two or more first doped regions and the one or more second doped regions, a resistance across the drain region is high. For example, a first one of the first doped regions is spaced further away from the gate stack than any other of the first doped regions, and a second one of the first doped regions is spaced nearer the gate stack than any of the other first doped regions. Because the first doped regions have a greater concentration of first doping type dopants than the second doped regions, and because each of the second doped regions is disposed laterally between two neighboring first doped regions, a resistance between the first one of the first doped regions and the second one of the first doped regions is high. Therefore, if an ESD pulse propagates through the IC to the semiconductor device, thereby causing a voltage spike on the first one of the first doped regions, the voltage at the second one of the first doped regions will be low (e.g., due to the high resistance of the drain region dropping the voltage). Thus, the voltage at the second one of the first device regions may be smaller than a threshold voltage (e.g., a voltage that would result in “blowing out” of the gate dielectric). Accordingly, the semiconductor device has improved (e.g., increased) ESD protection. Thus, the IC comprising the semiconductor device having improved ESD protection may meet or exceed the IC specifications for certain applications (e.g., HBM ESD class 2 and greater devices). 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view  100  of some embodiments of an integrated chip (IC) comprising a semiconductor device  102  that has improved electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance. 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  100  of  FIG. 1 , the IC comprises a substrate  104 . The substrate  104  comprises any type of semiconductor body (e.g., monocrystalline silicon/CMOS bulk, germanium (Ge), silicon-germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), silicon on insulator (SOI), etc.). The substrate  104  may be doped (e.g., with n-type or p-type dopants) or undoped (e.g., intrinsic). In some embodiments, the substrate  104  has a first doping type (e.g., p-type). 
     The semiconductor device comprises a source region  106 , a drain region  108 , and a gate stack  110 . The source region  106  and the drain region  108  are in the substrate  104  and laterally spaced. The source region  106  is a region of the substrate  104  having a second doping type (e.g., n-type) different than the first doping type. 
     The gate stack  110  overlies the substrate  104  between the source region  106  and the drain region  108 . The gate stack  110  comprises a gate dielectric  112  and a conductive gate electrode  114 . The gate dielectric  112  is disposed on the substrate  104 , and the conductive gate electrode  114  overlies the gate dielectric  112 . In some embodiments, sidewalls of the gate dielectric  112  are substantially aligned with sidewalls of the conductive gate electrode  114 . 
     In some embodiments, the conductive gate electrode  114  comprises polysilicon. In such embodiments, the gate dielectric  112  may comprise or be, for example, an oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide (SiO 2 )), a nitride (e.g., silicon nitride (SiN)), or the like. In other embodiments, the conductive gate electrode  114  may be or comprise a metal, such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), or the like. In such embodiments, the gate dielectric  112  may comprise a high-k dielectric material, such as hafnium oxide (HfO), tantalum oxide (TaO), hafnium silicon oxide (HfSiO), hafnium tantalum oxide (HMO), aluminum oxide (AlO), zirconium oxide (ZrO), or the like. 
     In some embodiments, the source region  106  has a first side that is substantially aligned with a side (e.g., sidewall) of the gate stack  110 . In some embodiments, the source region  106  corresponds to a single doped region of the substrate  104 . In further embodiments, the single doped region of the substrate  104  that corresponds to the source region  106  has a doping concentration of second doping type dopants (e.g., n-type dopants, such as phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), or the like) that is substantially the same from the first side of the source region  106  to a second side of the source region  106  opposite the first side of the source region  106 . 
     The drain region  108  comprises two or more first doped regions  116  and one or more second doped regions  118  of the substrate  104 . The first doped regions  116  correspond to doped regions of the substrate  104 , and the second doped regions  118  correspond to other doped regions of the substrate  104 . For example, the first doped regions  116  comprise a first doped region  116   a , a second doped region  116   b , and a third doped region  116   c  of the substrate  104 , and the second doped regions  118  comprise a fourth doped region  118   a  and a fifth doped region  118   b  of the substrate  104 . The drain region  108  comprises a first number of individual first doped regions  116 , and the drain region  108  comprises a second number of individual second doped regions  118 . The first number is any integer greater than or equal to two (2). The second number is equal to the first number minus one (1). For example, the cross-sectional view  100  of  FIG. 1  illustrates the drain region  108  comprising three (3) individual first doped regions  116  (e.g., the first doped region  116   a , the second doped region  116   b , and the third doped region  116   c ) and comprising two (2) individual second doped regions  118  (e.g., the fourth doped region  118   a  and the fifth doped region  118   b ). While the cross-sectional view  100  of  FIG. 1  illustrates the drain region  108  comprising three (3) individual first doped regions  116  and two (2) individual second doped regions  118 , it will be appreciated that the drain region  108  may comprise any other combination of the first doped regions  116  and the second doped regions  118 , such as two (2) individual first doped regions  116  and one (1) individual second doped regions  118 , four (4) individual first doped regions  116  and three (3) individual second doped regions  118 , five (5) individual first doped regions  116  and four (4) individual second doped regions  118 , and so forth. 
     Each of the second doped regions  118  is disposed (e.g., directly disposed) laterally between two neighboring first doped regions of the first doped regions  116 . For example, the first doped region  116   a  neighbors the second doped region  116   b , and the fourth doped region  118   a  is disposed laterally between the first doped region  116   a  and the second doped region  116   b . The third doped region  116   c  neighbors the second doped region  116   b  on a different side of the second doped region  116   b  as the first doped region  116   a , and the fifth doped region  118   b  is disposed laterally between the second doped region  116   b  and the third doped region  116   c.    
     The first doped regions  116  have the second doping type (e.g., n-type). In some embodiments, the second doped regions  118  have the first doping type (e.g., p-type). In other embodiments, the second doped regions  118  have the second doping type. The first doped regions  116  have a greater concentration of second doping type dopants (e.g., n-type dopants, such as phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), or the like) than the second doped regions  118 . For example, the first doped regions  116  have a first concentration of the second doping type dopants, and the second doped regions  118  have a second concentration of second doping type dopants that is less than the first doping concertation of the second doping type dopants. 
     An interlayer dielectric (ILD) structure  120  is disposed over the substrate  104 , the source region  106 , the drain region  108 , and the gate stack  110 . The ILD structure  120  comprises one or more stacked ILD layers, which may respectively comprise a low-k dielectric (e.g., a dielectric material with a dielectric constant less than about 3.9), an oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide (SiO 2 )), an oxy-nitride (e.g., silicon oxy-nitride (SiON)), doped silicon dioxide (e.g., carbon doped silicon dioxide), borosilicate glass (BSG), phosphoric silicate glass (PSG), borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), fluorinated silicate glass (FSG), or the like. 
     A plurality of conductive contacts  122  (e.g., metal contacts) are disposed in the ILD structure  120  and over the substrate  104 . The conductive contacts  122  extend vertically from the substrate  104  and the gate stack  110 . For example, the conductive contacts  122  comprise a first conductive contact  122   a , a second conductive contact  122   b , and a third conductive contact  112   c . The first conductive contact  122   a  is electrically coupled to the drain region  108  and vertically extends from the drain region  108 . The second conductive contact  122   b  is electrically coupled to the conductive gate electrode  114 . The third conductive contact  122   c  is electrically coupled to the source region  106  and vertically extends from the source region  106 . More specifically, the first conductive contact  122   a  is electrically coupled to and extends vertically from the first doped region  116   a  of the drain region  108 . The conductive contacts  122  may be or comprise, for example, tungsten (W), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), some other conductive material, or a combination of the foregoing. 
     Because the drain region  108  comprises the two or more first doped regions  116  and the one or more second doped regions  118 , a resistance across the drain region  108  is high. For example, because the first doped regions  116  have a greater concentration of the second doping type dopants than the second doped regions  118 , and because each of the second doped regions  118  is disposed laterally between two neighboring first doped regions of the first doped regions  116 , a resistance between the first doped region  116   a  and the third doped region  116   c  is high. More specifically, because the first doped region  116   a  and the second doped region  116   b  have a greater concentration of the second doping type dopants than the fourth doped region  118   a , and because the fourth doped region  118   a  is disposed laterally between the first doped region  116   a  and the second doped region  116   b , a resistance between the first doped region  116   a  and the second doped region  116   b  is high, which causes the resistance across the drain region  108  to be high. Further, because the second doped region  116   b  and the third doped region  116   c  have a greater concentration of the second doping type dopants than the fifth doped region  118   b , and because the fifth doped region  118   b  is disposed laterally between the second doped region  116   b  and the third doped region  116   c , a resistance between the second doped region  116   b  and the third doped region  116   c  is also high, which causes the resistance across the drain region  108  to be even higher. 
     Therefore, if an ESD pulse propagates through the IC to the semiconductor device  102 , thereby causing a voltage spike on the first doped region  116   a , the voltage at the third doped region  116   c  will be low (e.g., due to the high resistance across the drain region  108  dropping the voltage). Thus, the voltage at the third doped region  116   c  may be smaller than a threshold voltage (e.g., a voltage that would result in “blowing out” of the gate dielectric  112 ). Accordingly, the semiconductor device  102  has improved (e.g., increased) ESD protection (e.g., the semiconductor device  102  can withstand an ESD pulse having a voltage greater than or equal to about 2,000 V). Thus, the IC comprising the semiconductor device  102  may meet or exceed IC specifications for certain specific applications (e.g., HBM ESD class 2 and greater devices that utilize open-drain output pins). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view  200  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  200  of  FIG. 2 , the drain region  108  comprises two or more first doped regions  116  and one or more second doped regions  118  of the substrate  104 . For example, the first doped regions  116  comprise the first doped region  116   a , the second doped region  116   b , the third doped region  116   c , and a sixth doped region  116   d  of the substrate  104 , and the second doped regions  118  comprise the fourth doped region  118   a , the fifth doped region  118   b , and a seventh doped region  118   c  of the substrate  104 . Each of the second doped regions  118  is disposed between two neighboring first doped regions of the first doped regions  116 . 
     The drain region  108  comprises a first number of individual first doped regions  116 , and the drain region  108  comprises a second number of individual second doped regions  118 . In some embodiments, the first number is any between two (2) and (4). The second number is equal to the first number minus one (1). For example, the cross-sectional view  200  of  FIG. 2  illustrates the drain region  108  comprising four (4) individual first doped regions  116  (e.g., the first doped region  116   a , the second doped region  116   b , the third doped region  116   c , and the sixth doped region  116   d ) and comprising three (3) individual second doped regions  118  (e.g., the fourth doped region  118   a , the fifth doped region  118   b , and the seventh doped region  118   c ). In some embodiments, if the drain region  108  comprises more than four (4) individual first doped regions  116 , the resistance across the drain region  108  may be too high, such that the semiconductor device  102  cannot output a strong enough electrical signal (e.g., voltage). In further embodiments, if the drain region  108  comprises less than two (2) individual first doped regions  116 , the resistance across the drain region  108  may be too low, such that the semiconductor device  102  has poor ESD protection (e.g., the IC is damaged with an ESD pulse having less than about 2,000 V). 
     In some embodiments, a side of the drain region  108  is substantially aligned with a side (e.g., sidewall) of the gate stack  110 . More specifically, a side of the sixth doped region  116   d  is substantially aligned with the side of the gate stack  110 . For example, the side of the sixth doped region  116   d  is substantially aligned with a side (e.g., sidewall) of the gate dielectric  112  and/or a side (e.g., sidewall) of the conductive gate electrode  114 . While the cross-sectional view  200  of  FIG. 2  illustrates the side of the sixth doped region  116   d  substantially aligned with the side of the gate stack  110 , it will be appreciated that whichever one of the first doped regions  116  is disposed nearer the gate stack  110  than any other of the first doped regions  116  may be substantially aligned with the side of the gate stack  110 . 
     Each of the first doped regions  116  have a width. For example, the first doped region  116   a  has a first width  202 , the second doped region  116   b  has a second width  204 , the third doped region  116   c  has a third width  206 , and the sixth doped region  116   d  has a fourth width  208 . In some embodiments, the widths of the first doped regions  116  are substantially the same. For example, the first width  202 , the second width  204 , the third width  206 , and the fourth width  208  are substantially the same. In other embodiments, one or more of the first doped regions  116  have a different width than another one of the first doped regions  116 . For example, in some embodiments, the first width  202  may be different than the second width  204 , the third width  206 , and/or the fourth width  208 ; the second width  204  may be different than the first width  202 , the third width  206 , and/or the fourth width  208 ; the third width  206  may be different than the first width  202 , the second width  204 , and/or the fourth width  208 ; and/or the fourth width  208  may be different than the first width  202 , the second width  204 , and/or the third width  206 . In some embodiments, the widths of the first doped regions  116  may increase the further the first doped regions  116  are spaced from the gate stack  110 . For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view  200  of  FIG. 2 , the third width  206  is greater than the fourth width  208 , the second width  204  is greater than the third width  206 , and the first width  202  is greater than the second width  204 . 
     Each of the second doped regions  118  have a width. For example, the fourth doped region  118   a  has a fifth width  210 , the fifth doped region  118   b  has a sixth width  212 , and the seventh doped region  118   c  has a seventh width  214 . In some embodiments, the widths of the second doped regions  118  are between about 0.1 micrometers (um) and about 0.3 um. For example, the fifth width  210  is between about 0.1 um and about 0.3 um, the sixth width  212  is between about 0.1 um and about 0.3 um, and the seventh width  214  is between about 0.1 um and about 0.3 um. In some embodiments, if the widths of the second doped regions  118  are greater than about 0.3 um, the resistance across the drain region  108  may be too high, such that the semiconductor device  102  cannot output a strong enough electrical signal (e.g., voltage). In further embodiments, if the widths of the second doped regions  118  are less than about 0.1 um, the resistance across the drain region  108  may be too low, such that the semiconductor device  102  has poor ESD protection. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the widths of the second doped regions  118  may be less than about 0.1 um or greater than about 0.3 um (e.g., because the widths of the second doped regions  118  at least partially determine the resistance across the drain region  108 , and the resistance across the drain region  108  needed to have good semiconductor performance (e.g., a strong output voltage) and good ESD protection (e.g., the semiconductor device  102  can withstand an ESD pulse having a voltage greater than or equal to about 2,000 V) is dependent upon predefined IC specifications). 
     In some embodiments, the widths of the second doped regions  118  are substantially the same. For example, the fifth width  210 , the sixth width  212 , and the seventh width  214  are substantially the same (e.g., some value between about 0.1 um and about 0.3 um). In other embodiments, one or more of the second doped regions  118  have a different width than another one of the second doped regions  118 . For example, in some embodiments, the fifth width  210  may be different than the sixth width  212  and/or the seventh width  214 , the sixth width  212  may be different than the fifth width  210  and/or the seventh width  214 , and/or the seventh width  214  may be different than the fifth width  210  and/or the sixth width  212 . 
     The widths of the second doped regions  118  are less than one or more of the widths of the first doped regions  116 . For example, the fifth width  210 , the sixth width  212 , and the seventh width  214  are each less than one or more of the first width  202 , the second width  204 , the third width  206 , and the fourth width  208 . In some embodiments, the widths of the second doped regions  118  are less than a smallest width of the widths of the first doped regions  116 . For example, if the fourth width  208  is the smallest width out of the first width  202 , the second width  204 , the third width  206 , and the fourth width  208 , each of the fifth width  210 , the sixth width  212 , and the seventh width  214  are less than the fourth width  208 . In some embodiments, if the widths of the second doped regions  118  are greater than the smallest width of the widths of the first doped regions  116 , the resistance across the drain region  108  may be too high, such that the semiconductor device  102  cannot output a strong enough electrical signal. In further embodiments, if the widths of the second doped regions  118  are less than the smallest width of the widths of the first doped regions  116 , the resistance across the drain region  108  may be too low, such that the semiconductor device  102  has poor ESD protection. 
     The drain region  108  has an eighth width  216 . In some embodiments, the eighth width  216  is an overall width of the drain region  108 . In such embodiments, the eighth width  216  is equal to a sum of the widths of the first doped regions  116  and the second doped regions  118 . The source region  106  has a ninth width  218 . In some embodiments, the ninth width  218  is an overall width of the source region  106 . In further embodiments, the ninth width  218  is less than the eighth width  216 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view  300  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  300  of  FIG. 3 , a well region  302  is disposed in the substrate  104 . The well region  302  is a doped region of the substrate  104  having the first doping type (e.g., p-type). In other words, the well region  302  has the first doping type. In some embodiments, the well region  302  and the substrate  104  have the first doping type. In further embodiments, the well region  302  has a greater concentration of first doping type dopants (e.g., p-type dopants, such as boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), or the like) than adjoining regions of the substrate  104 . 
     The source region  106  and the drain region  108  are disposed in the well region  302 . The gate stack  110  is disposed over the well region  302  and between the source region  106  and the drain region  108 . In some embodiments, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view  300  of  FIG. 3 , the second doped regions  118  have the first doping type and are portions of the well region  302  disposed laterally between the first doped regions  116 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view  400  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  400  of  FIG. 4 , the second doped regions  118  have the second doping type (e.g., n-type), and the first doped regions  116  also have the second doping type. In other words, the first doped regions  116  correspond to doped regions of the substrate  104  having the second doping type, and the second doped regions  118  correspond to other doped regions of the substrate  104  that also have the second doping type. While the second doped regions  118  and the first doped regions  116  both have the second doping type, the first doped regions  116  still have a greater concentration of the second doping type dopants than the second doped regions  118 . In some embodiments, if the first doped regions  116  and the second doped regions  118  have a same concentration of the second doping type dopants, the resistance across the drain region  108  may be too low, such that the semiconductor device  102  has poor ESD protection. In further embodiments, if the second doped regions  118  have a greater concentration of the second doping type dopants than the first doped regions  116 , the semiconductor device  102  may have poor ESD protection and/or poor device performance (e.g., due to a high resistance between the first conductive contact  122   a  and the first doped region  116   a ). In some embodiments, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view  400  of  FIG. 4 , the second doped regions  118  are disposed in the well region  302 . In other embodiments, the well region  302  is omitted. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view  500  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  500  of  FIG. 5 , a pick-up region  502  is disposed in the substrate  104 . In some embodiments, the pick-up region  502  is disposed in the well region  302 . The pick-up region  502  is a region of the substrate  104  having the first doping type (e.g., p-type). In other words, the pick-up region  502  has the first doping type. The pick-up region  502  has a greater concentration of the first doping type dopants than the well region  302  (or the substrate  104 ). The pick-up region  502  is laterally spaced from the source region  106 . The source region  106  is disposed between the pick-up region  502  and the gate stack  110 . 
     The pick-up region  502  is configured to provide a low resistance path between the well region  302  (or the substrate  104 ) and a corresponding one of the conductive contacts  122 . For example, the conductive contacts comprise a fourth conductive contact  122   d . The fourth conductive contact  122   d  is electrically coupled to the pick-up region  502  and extends vertically from the pick-up region  502 . The pick-up region  502  is configured to provide a low resistance path between the well region  302  (or the substrate  104 ) and the fourth conductive contact  122   d.    
     An isolation structure  504  is disposed in the substrate  104 . In some embodiments, the isolation structure  504  is disposed in the well region  302 . The isolation structure  504  may be or comprise, for example, an oxide (e.g., SiO 2 ), some other dielectric material, or a combination of the foregoing. In some embodiments, the isolation structure  504  may comprise one or more liner layers (e.g., a silicon nitride (SiN) liner layer). The isolation structure  504  may be, for example, a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure. The isolation structure  504  is laterally disposed between the pick-up region  502  and the source region  106 . In some embodiments, the isolation structure  504  laterally surrounds the source region  106 , the gate stack  110 , and the drain region  108 . In such embodiments, a portion of the isolation structure  504  is laterally disposed between the source region  106  and the pick-up region  502 . In further embodiments, the isolation structure  504  may also laterally surround the pick-up region  502 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a simplified top view  600  of some embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 5 . The simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6  is “simplified” because the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6  does not illustrate the ILD structure  120  and because each of the conductive contacts  122  are illustrated as an “X” confined within a box. 
     As shown in the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6 , the isolation structure  504  laterally surrounds the source region  106 , the gate stack  110 , and the drain region  108 . As such, a first portion of the isolation structure  504  is disposed between the source region  106  and the pick-up region  502 , a second portion of the isolation structure  504  is disposed on an opposite side of the drain region  108  as the first portion of the isolation structure  504 , a third portion of the isolation structure  504  extends laterally from the first portion of the isolation structure  504  to the second portion of the isolation structure  504 , and a fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 , which is opposite the third portion of the isolation structure  504 , also extends laterally from the first portion of the isolation structure  504  to the second portion of the isolation structure  504 . In some embodiments, the gate stack  110  may partially cover the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and/or the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 . In other words, the gate stack  110  may overlie a segment of the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and/or a segment of the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 . For example, as shown in the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6 , the gate stack  110  partially covers the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504  (e.g., the dotted lines extending laterally through the gate stack  110  illustrate edges of the isolation structure  504 ). In other embodiments, the gate stack  110  may not overlie the isolation structure  504 . 
     Also shown in the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6 , additional conductive contacts  122  may be electrically coupled to the substrate  104  or the gate stack  110 . For example, as shown in the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6 , five (5) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the drain region  108 , two (2) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the conductive gate electrode  114 , five (5) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled the source region  106 , and five (5) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the pick-up region  502 . It will be appreciated that any number of individual may be electrically coupled to the substrate  104  or the gate stack  110 . 
     Also shown in the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6 , the conductive contacts  122  that are electrically coupled to the conductive gate electrode  114  may extend vertically from the conductive gate electrode  114  at locations that are disposed over (e.g., directly over) the isolation structure  504 . For example, as shown in the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6 , the second conductive contact  122   b  extends vertically from the conductive gate electrode  114  at a location that is disposed over (e.g., directly over) the isolation structure  504 . In other words, the conductive contacts  122  that are electrically coupled to the conductive gate electrode  114  may extend vertically from locations that are disposed outside an inner perimeter of the isolation structure  504  in which the source region  106  and the drain region  108  are disposed within. In other embodiments, one or more of the conductive contacts  122  that are electrically coupled to the conductive gate electrode  114  may extend vertically from locations that are disposed inside the inner perimeter of the isolation structure  504  in which the source region  106  and the drain region  108  are disposed within. 
     Also shown in the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, none of the conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the second doped region  116   b , the third doped region  116   c , the sixth doped region  116   d , or any of the second doped regions  118 . Rather, the only conductive contacts  122  that are electrically coupled to the drain region  108  are electrically coupled to the one of the first doped regions  116  that is spaced the furthest from the gate stack  110 . For example, as shown in the simplified top view  600  of  FIG. 6 , the only conductive contacts  122  that are electrically coupled to the drain region  108  are electrically coupled to the first doped region  116   a . In such embodiments, the ILD structure  120  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) completely covers the second doped region  116   b , the third doped region  116   c , the sixth doped region  116   d , and each of the second doped regions  118 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view  700  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  700  of  FIG. 7 , a sidewall spacer  702  is disposed over the substrate  104  and along opposite sides (e.g., sidewalls) of the gate stack  110 . In some embodiments, the sidewall spacer  702  may comprise an oxide (e.g., SiO 2 ), a nitride (e.g., SiN), an oxy-nitride (e.g., SiON), a carbide (e.g., silicon carbide (SiC)), or the like. 
     In some embodiments, a lightly-doped source extension  704  is disposed in the substrate  104 . The lightly-doped source extension  704  is a portion of the substrate  104  having the second doping type (e.g., n-type). In other words, the lightly-doped source extension  704  has the second doping type. The lightly-doped source extension  704  is disposed beneath (e.g., directly beneath) a first portion of the sidewall spacer  702 , which is disposed on the same side of the gate stack  110  as the source region  106 . The lightly-doped source extension  704  has a lesser concentration of the second doping type dopants than the source region  106 . 
     In some embodiments, a side of the lightly-doped source extension  704  is substantially aligned with an inner sidewall of the first portion of the sidewall spacer  702 , and a side of the source region  106  is substantially aligned with an outer sidewall of the first portion of the sidewall spacer  702 . In other embodiments, the lightly-doped source extension  704  may be omitted. In such embodiments, the side of the source region  106  may be substantially aligned with the outer sidewall of the first portion of the sidewall spacer  702  or the inner sidewall of the first portion of the sidewall spacer  702 . It will be appreciated that the side of the source region  106  may be disposed laterally between the inner and outer sidewalls of the first portion of the sidewall spacer  702 . 
     In some embodiments, a lightly-doped drain extension  706  is disposed in the substrate  104 . The lightly-doped drain extension  706  is a portion of the substrate  104  having the second doping type (e.g., n-type). In other words, the lightly-doped drain extension  706  has the second doping type. The lightly-doped drain extension  706  is disposed beneath (e.g., directly beneath) a second portion of the sidewall spacer  702 , which is disposed on the same side of the gate stack  110  as the drain region  108 . The lightly-doped drain extension  706  has a lesser concentration of the second doping type dopants than the first doped regions  116 . In some embodiments, the lightly-doped drain extension  706  has a lesser or greater concentration of the second doping type dopants than the second doped regions  118 . In other embodiments, the lightly-doped drain extension  706  and the second doped regions  118  have substantially the same doping concentration of the second doping type dopants. 
     In some embodiments, a side of the lightly-doped drain extension  706  is substantially aligned with an inner sidewall of the second portion of the sidewall spacer  702 , and a side of the drain region  108  is substantially aligned with an outer sidewall of the second portion of the sidewall spacer  702 . In other embodiments, the lightly-doped drain extension  706  may be omitted. In such embodiments, the side of the drain region  108  may be substantially aligned with the outer sidewall of the second portion of the sidewall spacer  702  or the inner sidewall of the second portion of the sidewall spacer  702 . It will be appreciated that the side of the drain region  108  may be disposed laterally between the inner and outer sidewalls of the second portion of the sidewall spacer  702 . 
       FIG. 8A-8B  illustrates cross-sectional views  800   a - 800   b  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  800   a  of  FIG. 8A , a silicide blocking layer  802  (e.g., a resist protective oxide (RPO) layer) is disposed over the substrate  104 . The silicide blocking layer  802  is configured to prevent the formation of silicide structures on structures of the IC that are covered by the silicide blocking layer  802 . The silicide blocking layer  802  extends continuously from the gate stack  110  to cover one or more of the first doped regions  116  and one of the second doped regions  118 . For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view  800   a  of  FIG. 8A , the silicide blocking layer  802  extends continuously from the gate stack  110  to cover (e.g., completely cover) the sixth doped region  116   d , the seventh doped region  118   c , the third doped region  116   c , the fifth doped region  118   b , the second doped region  116   b , and the fourth doped region  118   a . In some embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  partially covers the first doped region  116   a . In such embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  has a first sidewall  804  disposed between a first side of the first doped region  116   a  and a second side of the first doped region  116   a  opposite the first side of the first doped region  116   a , where the first side of the first doped region  116   a  is disposed nearer the gate stack than the second side of the first doped region  116   a . In other embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  does not cover the first doped region  116   a . In such embodiments, the first sidewall  804  of the silicide blocking layer  802  is disposed between the first doped region  116   a  and the gate stack  110 . In other words, the first sidewall  804  of the silicide blocking layer  802  is disposed between the first side of the first doped region  116   a  and the gate stack  110 . 
     In some embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  extends vertically along a first side of the gate stack  110 . In further embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  is also disposed over the gate stack  110 . The silicide blocking layer  802  may partially covers an upper surface of the conductive gate electrode  114 . In such embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  has a second sidewall  806  that is disposed between opposite sidewalls of the conductive gate electrode  114 . In further such embodiments, the semiconductor device  102  may be configured to serve both a circuitry function and an ESD protection function (e.g., protect the IC from an ESD pulse). 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  800   b  of  FIG. 8B , in other embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  extends laterally over the upper surface of the upper surface of the conductive gate electrode  114 , extends vertically along a second side of the gate stack  110  opposite the first side of the gate stack  110 , and laterally over a portion of the source region  106 . In such embodiments, the second sidewall  806  of the silicide blocking layer  802  and the first sidewall  804  of the silicide blocking layer  802  are disposed on opposite sides of the gate stack  110 . In further such embodiments, the semiconductor device  102  may be configured to serve the ESD protection function (e.g., protect the IC from an ESD pulse) without serving the circuitry function. 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  800   a  of  FIG. 8A , a plurality of silicide structures  808  are disposed on the substrate  104  and the conductive gate electrode  114 . For example, the silicide structures  808  comprise a first silicide structure  808   a  on the first doped region  116   a , a second silicide structure  808   b  on the conductive gate electrode  114 , a third silicide structure  808   c  on the source region  106 , and a fourth silicide structure  808   d  on the pick-up region  502 . The silicide structures  808  are configured to provide low resistance paths between the substrate  104  or the conductive gate electrode  114  and corresponding conductive contacts  122 . For example, the first silicide structure  808   a  is configured to provide a low resistance path between the first doped region  116   a  and the first conductive contact  122   a , the second silicide structure  808   b  is configured to provide a low resistance path between the conductive gate electrode  114  and the second conductive contact  122   b , and so forth. The silicide structures  808  may comprises, for example, nickel (e.g., nickel silicide), titanium (e.g., titanium silicide), platinum (e.g., platinum silicide), tungsten (e.g., tungsten silicide), some other silicide material, or a combination of the foregoing. 
     In some embodiments, a side of the first silicide structure  808   a  is substantially aligned with the first sidewall  804  of the silicide blocking layer  802 . In such embodiments, the side of the first silicide structure  808   a  is disposed between the first side of the first doped region  116   a  and the second side of the first doped region  116   a . In other embodiments, the first silicide structure  808   a  extends continuously from the first side of the first doped region  116   a  to the second side of the first doped region  116   a . In some embodiments, a side of the second silicide structure  808   b  is substantially aligned with the second sidewall  806  of the silicide blocking layer  802 . In such embodiments, the side of the second silicide structure  808   b  is disposed between the opposite sidewalls of the conductive gate electrode  114 . In other embodiments, the second silicide structure  808   b  may extend laterally between the first portion and the second portion of the sidewall spacer  702 . 
     The silicide blocking layer  802  further improves the ESD protection of the semiconductor device  102 . For example, because the silicide blocking layer  802  is configured to prevent the formation of the silicide structures  808  on structures of the IC that are covered by the silicide blocking layer  802 , the silicide blocking layer  802  causes the resistance of a portion of the drain region  108  covered by the silicide blocking layer  802  and a portion of the conductive gate electrode  114  covered by the silicide blocking layer  802  to be relatively high compared to other portions of the drain region  108  and the conductive gate electrode  114  having silicide structures  808  disposed thereon. Thus, if an ESD pulse propagates through the IC to the semiconductor device  102 , thereby causing a voltage spike on the first doped region  116   a , the ESD pulse will be driven down into the substrate  104 . Because the ESD pulse is driven down into the substrate  104 , the ESD pulse is moved away from the gate dielectric  112 , thereby preventing ESD damage to the semiconductor device  102  (e.g., “blow out” of the gate dielectric  112 ). 
     The silicide blocking layer  802  has a tenth width  810 . In some embodiments, the tenth width  810  is an overall width of the silicide blocking layer  802  (e.g., a distance between the first sidewall  804  of the silicide blocking layer  802  and the second sidewall  806  of the silicide blocking layer  802 ). In some embodiments, the tenth width  810  is between about 1.6 um and about 2 um. More specifically, in some embodiments, the tenth width  810  is about 1.95 um. The silicide blocking layer  802  overlaps the conductive gate electrode  114  by a first distance  812 . In some embodiments, the first distance  812  is less than or equal to about 0.06 um. More specifically, in some embodiments, the first distance  812  is 0.06 um. The silicide blocking layer  802  extends from the gate stack  110  a second distance  814 . The second distance  814  is equal to the tenth width  810  minus the first distance  812 . In some embodiments, if the tenth width  810  is greater than about 2 um, the semiconductor device  102  may not be able to output a strong enough electrical signal (e.g., voltage). In further embodiments, if the tenth width  810  is less than about 1.6 um, the semiconductor device  102  may have poor ESD protection. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a simplified top view  900  of some embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 8A . The simplified top view  900  of  FIG. 9  is “simplified” because the simplified top view  900  of  FIG. 9  does not illustrate the ILD structure  120  and because each of the conductive contacts  122  are illustrated as an “X” confined within a box. 
     As shown in the simplified top view  900  of  FIG. 9 , the isolation structure  504  laterally surrounds the source region  106 , the gate stack  110 , and the drain region  108  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 8A ). As such, a first portion of the isolation structure  504  is disposed between the source region  106  and the pick-up region  502 , a second portion of the isolation structure  504  is disposed on an opposite side of the drain region  108  as the first portion of the isolation structure  504 , a third portion of the isolation structure  504  extends laterally from the first portion of the isolation structure  504  to the second portion of the isolation structure  504 , and a fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 , which is opposite the third portion of the isolation structure  504 , also extends laterally from the first portion of the isolation structure  504  to the second portion of the isolation structure  504 . 
     In some embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  may continuously extend over the drain region  108 , such that the silicide blocking layer  802  partially covers the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and/or the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 . In other words, the silicide blocking layer  802  may overlie a segment of the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and/or a segment of the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 . For example, as shown in the simplified top view  900  of  FIG. 9 , the silicide blocking layer  802  partially covers the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504  (e.g., the dotted lines extending laterally through the gate stack  110  and the silicide blocking layer  802  illustrate edges of the isolation structure  504 ). 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view  1000  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1000  of  FIG. 10 , the silicide blocking layer  802  is disposed along the sidewall spacer  702 . More specifically, the silicide blocking layer  802  is disposed along the second portion of the sidewall spacer  702 . In such embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  covers the second portion of the sidewall spacer  702  and extends laterally over the upper surface of the conductive gate electrode  114  to partially cover the upper surface of the conductive gate electrode  114 . In such embodiments, a portion of an outer sidewall of the silicide blocking layer  802  may be rounded. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view  1100  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1100  of  FIG. 11 , the IC comprises one or more logic devices  1102  (e.g., a MOSFET). The logic devices  1102  comprise a pair of source/drain regions  1104  that are laterally spaced and in the substrate  104 . A gate dielectric  1106  is over the substrate  104  and between the source/drain regions  1104 . A gate electrode  1108  overlies the gate dielectric  1106 . 
     A plurality of conductive wires  1110  (e.g., metal wires) and a plurality of conductive vias  1112  (e.g., metal vias) are stacked in the ILD structure  120 . The conductive wires  1110 , the conductive vias  1112 , and the conductive contacts  122  may be collectively referred to as an interconnect structure (e.g., metal interconnect). A passivation layer  1114  is disposed over the ILD structure  120 . One or more input/output (I/O) structures  1116  (e.g., bond pads, solder bumps, etc.) are disposed in the passivation layer  1114  and over the ILD structure  120 . One or more upper conductive vias  1118  are disposed in the passivation layer  1114  and electrically couple the I/O structures  1116  to the interconnect structure. In some embodiments, the conductive wires  1110  and the conductive vias  1112  are or comprise, for example, copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), aluminum copper (AlCu), tungsten (W), some other conductive material, or a combination of the foregoing. The I/O structures  1116  and the upper conductive vias  1118  are or comprise, for example, copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), aluminum copper (AlCu), tungsten (W), gold (Au), silver (Ag), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), antimony (Sb), some other conductive material, or a combination of the foregoing. 
     The interconnect structure is configured to electrically coupled various features (e.g., structural features) of the IC together in a predefined manner. For example, the conductive wires  1110  comprise a first conductive wire  1110   a . The first conductive wire  1110   a  is electrically coupled to one of the source/drain regions  1104  of one of the logic devices  1102  via a conductive contact of the conductive contacts  122 , one or more conductive vias  1112 , and one or more other conductive wires  1110 . The first conductive wire  1110   a  extends through the ILD structure  120  (e.g., illustrated by the dotted line in  FIG. 11 ) and is also electrically coupled to the conductive gate electrode  114  of the semiconductor device  102  via one or more other conductive vias  1112 , one or more other conductive wires  1110 , and the second conductive contact  122   b . As such, the conductive wires  1110 , the conductive vias  1112 , and the conductive contacts  122  define a first conductive path leading from the one of the source/drain regions  1104  of the one of the logic devices  1102  to the conductive gate electrode  114  of the semiconductor device  102 . Further, a second conductive path leads from the source region  106  of the semiconductor device  102  to one of the I/O structures  1116 . In some embodiments, a third conductive path leads from the drain region  108  of the semiconductor device  102  that electrically couples the drain region  108  to ground (e.g., 0 V). 
     In such embodiments, the I/O structures  1116  may be configured as open-drain I/O structures (e.g., open-drain output pads). In further such embodiments, the semiconductor device  102  may be part of an open-drain buffer circuit of the IC. Because the semiconductor device  102  comprises the drain region  108 , the semiconductor device  102  has improved ESD protection. Therefore, the open-drain buffer circuit also has improved ESD protection. Thus, the IC may have I/O structures  1116  in an open-drain configuration (e.g., open-drain output pads) while providing good ESD protection (e.g., the semiconductor device  102  can withstand an ESD pulse having a voltage greater than or equal to about 2,000 V). 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-sectional view  1200  of some other embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1200  of  FIG. 12 , the IC comprises a first semiconductor device  102   a  and second semiconductor device  102   b . The first semiconductor device  102   a  comprises a first gate stack  110   a , a first source region  106   a , and a first pick-up region  502   a . The first gate stack  110   a  comprises a first conductive gate electrode  114   a  overlying a first gate dielectric  112   a . The second semiconductor device  102   b  comprises a second gate stack  110   b , a second source region  106   b , and a second pick-up region  502   b . In some embodiments, the second pick-up region  502   b  or the first pick-up region  502   a  is omitted. The second gate stack  110   b  comprises a second conductive gate electrode  114   b  overlying a second gate dielectric  112   b . In some embodiments, the conductive contacts  122  comprise a fifth conductive contact  122   e , a sixth conductive contact  122   f , and a seventh conductive contact  122   g . The fifth conductive contact  122   e  is electrically coupled to the second conductive gate electrode  114   b , the sixth conductive contact  122   f  is electrically coupled to the second source region  106   b , and the seventh conductive contact  122   g  is electrically coupled to the second pick-up region  502   b.    
     The first semiconductor device  102   a  and the second semiconductor device  102   b  share a shared drain region  108   s . In some embodiments, the shared drain region  108   s  comprises the first doped region  116   a , the second doped region  116   b , the third doped region  116   c , the sixth doped region  116   d , an eighth doped region  116   e , a ninth doped region  116   f , a tenth doped region  116   g , the fourth doped region  118   a , the fifth doped region  118   b , the seventh doped region  118   c , an eleventh doped region  118   d , a twelfth doped region  118   e , and a thirteenth doped region  118   f . In such embodiments, the first doped regions  116  comprise the first doped region  116   a , the second doped region  116   b , the third doped region  116   c , the sixth doped region  116   d , the eighth doped region  116   e , the ninth doped region  116   f , and the tenth doped region  116   g , and the second doped regions  118  comprise the fourth doped region  118   a , the fifth doped region  118   b , the seventh doped region  118   c , the eleventh doped region  118   d , the twelfth doped region  118   e , and the thirteenth doped region  118   f.    
     As shown in the cross-sectional view  1200  of  FIG. 12 , the first semiconductor device  102   a  may, for example, be configured as the semiconductor device  102  of  FIG. 5 . However, it will be appreciated that the first semiconductor device  102   a  may be configured as the semiconductor device  102  of  FIGS. 1-11  or some other semiconductor device  102  that has improved ESD protection. In some embodiments, the second semiconductor device  102   b  is a mirror image of the first semiconductor device  102   a  across a line of symmetry  1202 . As such, the second semiconductor device  102   b  may, for example, also be configured as the semiconductor device  102  of  FIG. 5 , but in a mirrored configuration, as shown in the cross-sectional view  1200  of  FIG. 12 . It will be appreciated that the second semiconductor device  102   b  may be configured as the semiconductor device  102  of  FIGS. 1-11  or some other semiconductor device  102  that has improved ESD protection, but in a mirrored configuration. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a simplified top view  1300  of some embodiments of the IC of  FIG. 12 . The simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13  is “simplified” because the simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13  does not illustrate the ILD structure  120  and because each of the conductive contacts  122  are illustrated as an “X” confined within a box. 
     As shown in the simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13 , the isolation structure  504  laterally surrounds the first source region  106   a , the first gate stack  110   a , the shared drain region  108   s , the second source region  106   b , and the second gate stack  110   b . As such, a first portion of the isolation structure  504  is disposed between the first source region  106   a  and the first pick-up region  504   a , a second portion of the isolation structure  504  is disposed on an opposite side of the shared drain region  108   s  as the first portion of the isolation structure  504  and between the second source region  106   b  and the second pick-up region  502   b , a third portion of the isolation structure  504  extends laterally from the first portion of the isolation structure  504  to the second portion of the isolation structure  504 , and a fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 , which is opposite the third portion of the isolation structure  504 , also extends laterally from the first portion of the isolation structure  504  to the second portion of the isolation structure  504 . In some embodiments, the first gate stack  110   a  and the second gate stack  110   b  may partially cover the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and/or the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 . In other words, the first gate stack  110   a  and the second gate stack  110   b  may overlie a segment of the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and/or a segment of the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504 . For example, as shown in the simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13 , both the first gate stack  110   a  and the second gate stack  110   b  partially cover the third portion of the isolation structure  504  and the fourth portion of the isolation structure  504  (e.g., the dotted lines extending laterally through the first gate stack  110   a  and the second gate stack  110   b  illustrate edges of the isolation structure  504 ). In other embodiments, the first gate stack  110   a  and/or the second gate stack  110   b  may not overlie the isolation structure  504 . 
     Also shown in the simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13 , one or more conductive gate extension structures  1302  are disposed over (e.g., directly over) the isolation structure  504 . The conductive gate extension structure  1302  is electrically coupled to the first conductive gate electrode  114   a  and the second conductive gate electrode  114   b . In such embodiments, the conductive contacts  122  that are electrically coupled to the first conductive gate electrode  114   a  and the second conductive gate electrode  114   b  are electrically coupled to and extend vertically from the conductive gate extension structure  1302 . For example, the second conductive contact  122   b  and the fifth conductive contact  122   e  are electrically coupled to and extend vertically from the conductive gate extension structure  1302 , and thus the second conductive contact  122   b  and the fifth conductive contact  122   e  are electrically coupled to the first conductive gate electrode  114   a  and the second conductive gate electrode  114   b.    
     The conductive gate extension structure  1302  may be or comprise a same conductive material as the first conductive gate electrode  114   a  and/or the second conductive gate electrode  114   b . In other embodiments, the conductive gate extension structure  1302  may be or comprise a different conductive material than the first conductive gate electrode  114   a  and/or the second conductive gate electrode  114   b . The conductive gate extension structure  1302  extends laterally in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the first gate stack  110   a  and the second gate stack  110   b  laterally extend. The conductive gate extension structure  1302  is disposed outside an inner perimeter of the isolation structure  504  in which the first source region  106   a , the second source region  106   b , and the shared drain region  108   s  are disposed within. 
     Also shown in the simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13 , additional conductive contacts  122  may be electrically coupled to the substrate  104 , the first gate stack  110   a , or the second gate stack  110   b . For example, as shown in the simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13 , five (5) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the shared drain region  108   s , seven (7) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the conductive gate extension structure  1302  (and thus the first conductive gate electrode  114   a  and the second conductive gate electrode  114   b ), five (5) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the first source region  106   a , five (5) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the first pick-up region  502   a , five (5) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the second source region  106   b , and five (5) individual conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the second pick-up region  502   b . It will be appreciated that any number of individual may be electrically coupled to the substrate  104 , the first gate stack  110   a , or the second gate stack  110   b.    
     Also shown in the simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13 , in some embodiments, none of the conductive contacts  122  are electrically coupled to the second doped region  116   b , the third doped region  116   c , the sixth doped region  116   d , the eighth doped region  116   e , the ninth doped region  116   f , the tenth doped region  116   g , or any of the second doped regions  118 . Rather, the only conductive contacts  122  that are electrically coupled to the shared drain region  108   s  are electrically coupled to the one of the first doped regions  116  that is spaced the furthest from both the first gate stack  110   a  and the second gate stack  110   b . For example, as shown in the simplified top view  1300  of  FIG. 13 , the only conductive contacts  122  that are electrically coupled to the shared drain region  108   s  are electrically coupled to the first doped region  116   a . In such embodiments, the ILD structure  120  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) completely covers the second doped region  116   b , the third doped region  116   c , the sixth doped region  116   d , the eighth doped region  116   e , the ninth doped region  116   f , the tenth doped region  116   g , and each of the second doped regions  118 . 
       FIGS. 14-23  illustrates a series of cross-sectionals views  1400 - 2300  of some embodiments of a method for forming an integrated chip (IC) comprising a semiconductor device  102  that has improved ESD performance. Although  FIGS. 14-23  are described with reference to a method, it will be appreciated that the structures shown in  FIGS. 14-23  are not limited to the method but rather may stand alone separate of the method. 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1400  of  FIG. 14 , a well region  302  is formed in a substrate  104 . The well region  302  is a region of the substrate  104  having a first doping type (e.g. p-type doping). In some embodiments, the well region  302  may be formed by a doping process (e.g., ion implantation process) and may utilize a patterned masking layer (not shown) (e.g., positive/negative photoresist, a hardmask, etc.) to selectively implant first doping type dopant species (e.g., p-type dopants, such as boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), or the like) into the substrate  104 . In other embodiments, the doping process may be a blanket doping process. The patterned masking layer may be formed by forming a masking layer (not shown) on the substrate  104  (e.g., via a spin-on process), exposing the masking layer to a pattern (e.g., via a lithography process, such as photolithography, extreme ultraviolet lithography, or the like), and developing the masking layer to form the patterned masking layer. In some embodiments, the patterned masking layer may be stripped away. 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1500  of  FIG. 15 , an isolation structure  504  is formed in the substrate  104 . In some embodiments, the isolation structure  504  is formed in the well region  302 . In further embodiments, the isolation structure  504  may be formed by selectively etching the substrate  104  to form a trench in the substrate  104 , and subsequently filing the trench with a dielectric material. 
     The substrate  104  is selectively etched by forming a patterned masking layer (not shown) (e.g., positive/negative photoresist, a hardmask, etc.) over the substrate  104 . Thereafter, with the patterned masking layer in place, an etching process is performed on the substrate  104  according to the patterned masking layer. The etching process removes unmasked portions of the substrate  104 , thereby forming the trench in the substrate  104 . In some embodiments, the etching process may be, for example, a wet etching process, a dry etching process, a reactive ion etching (RIE) process, some other etching process, or a combination of the foregoing. In some embodiments, the patterned masking layer may be stripped away. 
     Thereafter, the trench is filled with the dielectric material. The dielectric material may be or comprise, for example, an oxide (e.g., SiO 2 ), a nitride (e.g., silicon nitride (SiN)), an oxy-nitride (e.g., silicon oxy-nitride (SiON)), a carbide (e.g., silicon carbide (SiC)), some other dielectric material, or a combination of the foreign. In some embodiments, a process for filing the trench with the dielectric material comprises depositing or growing the dielectric material on the substrate  104  and in the trench. The dielectric material may be deposited or grown by, for example, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), thermal oxidation, some other deposition or growth process, or a combination of the foregoing. In some embodiments, a planarization process (e.g., a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP)) may be performed on the dielectric material to remove an upper portion of the dielectric material, thereby leaving a lower portion of the dielectric material in the trenches as the isolation structure  504 . 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1600  of  FIG. 16 , a pick-up region  502  is formed in the substrate  104 . The pick-up region  502  is a region of the substrate  104  having the first doping type (e.g., p-type). The pick-up region  502  has a greater concentration of the first doping type dopants than the well region  302  (or the substrate  104 ). In some embodiments, the well region  302  may be formed by a doping process (e.g., ion implantation process) and may utilize a patterned masking layer (not shown) to selectively implant additional first doping type dopant species into the well region  302  (or the substrate  104 ). In some embodiments, the patterned masking layer may be stripped away. 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1700  of  FIG. 17 , a gate stack  110  is formed over the substrate  104 . The gate stack  110  comprises a gate dielectric  112  over the substrate  104 , and a conductive gate electrode  114  overlying the gate dielectric  112 . In some embodiments, a process for forming the gate stack  110  comprises depositing or growing a gate dielectric layer (not shown) on the substrate  104 . The gate dielectric layer may be or comprise, for example, an oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide (SiO 2 )), a nitride (e.g., silicon nitride (SiN)), a high-k dielectric material (e.g., hafnium oxide (HfO), tantalum oxide (TaO), hafnium silicon oxide (HfSiO), hafnium tantalum oxide (HMO), aluminum oxide (AlO), zirconium oxide (ZrO), or the like), some other dielectric material, or a combination of the foregoing. The gate dielectric layer may be deposited or grown by, for example, CVD, PVD, ALD, thermal oxidation, some other deposition or growth process, or a combination of the foregoing. 
     Thereafter, a conductive gate electrode layer (not shown) is deposited on the gate dielectric layer. The conductive gate electrode layer may be or comprise, for example, polysilicon, a metal (e.g., aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), or the like), some other conductive material, or a combination of the foregoing. The conductive gate electrode layer may be deposited by, for example, CVD, PVD, ALD, sputtering, electrochemical plating, electroless plating, or the like. A patterned masking layer (not shown) is then formed on the conductive gate electrode layer. With the patterned masking layer in place, an etching process is performed on the conductive gate electrode layer and the gate dielectric layer according to the patterned masking layer. The etching process removes unmasked portions of the gate dielectric layer and the conductive gate electrode layer, thereby forming the gate dielectric  112  and the conductive gate electrode  114 , respectively. In some embodiments, the etching process may be, for example, a wet etching process, a dry etching process, a RIE process, some other etching process, or a combination of the foregoing. In further embodiments, the patterned masking layer may be stripped away. 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1800  of  FIG. 18 , a patterned masking layer  1802  is formed over the substrate  104 . The patterned masking layer  1802  comprises a plurality of openings  1804  that expose portions of the substrate  104 . For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view  1800  of  FIG. 18 , four (4) individual openings of the plurality of openings  1804  are disposed on a side of the gate stack  110 . In some embodiments, a process for forming the patterned masking layer  1802  comprises depositing a masking layer (e.g., negative/positive photoresist material, one or more hardmask layers, etc.) over the substrate  104 , the gate stack  110 , and the isolation structure  504 . The masking layer may be deposited by, for example, CVD, PVD, ALD, a pin-on process, some other deposition process, or a combination of the foregoing. The masking layer is then exposed to a pattern (e.g., via a lithography process, such as photolithography, extreme ultraviolet lithography, or the like). Thereafter, the masking layer is developed to remove portions of the masking layer that were exposed (or not exposed) to the pattern, thereby forming the patterned masking layer  1802 . 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  1900  of  FIG. 19 , a drain region  108  and a source region  106  are formed in the substrate  104  and on opposite sides of the gate stack  110 . In some embodiments, the drain region  108  and the source region  106  are formed in the well region  302 . The drain region  108  comprises two or more first doped regions  116  and one or more second doped regions  118  of the substrate  104 . For example, the first doped regions  116  comprise a first doped region  116   a , a second doped region  116   b , a third doped region  116   c , and a sixth doped region  116   d , and the second doped regions  118  comprise a fourth doped region  118   a , a fifth doped region  118   b , and a seventh doped region  118   c  of the substrate  104 . 
     The first doped regions  116  correspond to doped regions of the substrate  104  having a second doping type (e.g., n-type). The second doped regions  118  correspond to other doped regions of the substrate  104  having either the second doping type or the first doping type. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view  1900  of  FIG. 19 , the fourth doped region  118   a , the fifth doped region  118   b , and the seventh doped region  118   c  have the second doping type. The first doped regions  116  have a greater concentration of second doping type dopants (e.g., n-type dopants, such as phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), or the like) than the second doped regions  118 . For example, the first doped regions  116  have a first concentration of the second doping type dopants, and the second doped regions  118  have a second concentration of the second doping type dopants that is less than the first doping concertation of the second doping type dopants. 
     The source region  106  corresponds to a doped region of the substrate  104  having the second doping type. In some embodiments, the source region  106  corresponds to a single doped region of the substrate  104 . In further embodiments, the single doped region of the substrate  104  that corresponds to the source region  106  has a doping concentration of the second doping type dopants that is substantially the same from a first side of the source region  106  to a second side of the source region  106  opposite the first side of the source region  106 . In yet further embodiments, the doping concentration of the second doping type dopants of the source region  106  and the first doped regions  116  may be substantially the same. In other embodiments, the doping concentration of the second doping type dopants of the source region  106  may be greater than or less than the doping concentration of the second doping type dopants of the first doped regions  116 . 
     In some embodiments, a process for forming the drain region  108  and the source region  106  comprises selectively doping the substrate  104  with second doping type dopant species (e.g., n-type dopants, such as phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), or the like). The substrate  104  is selectively doped with the second doping type dopant species by performing a doping process (e.g., ion implantation) on the substrate  104  with the patterned masking layer  1802  in place. Because the gate stack  110  and the patterned masking layer  1802  are in place over the substrate  104  during the doping process, the doping process selectively implants the second doping type dopant species through the openings  1804  and into the substrate  104 . In some embodiments, the doping process causes the second doping type dopant species to diffuse laterally through the substrate  104 , such that the second doped regions  118  have the second doping type but with a lower concertation of the second doping type dopants than the first doped regions  116 . In other embodiments, the doping process is such that the second doping type dopant species do not substantially diffuse into the adjoining regions of the substrate  104 . In such embodiments, the second doped regions  118  may be regions of the well region  302  (or the substrate  104 ) disposed directly between the first doped regions  116 . In further embodiments, the patterned masking layer  1802  is subsequently stripped away. 
     It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, a sidewall spacer  702  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 7 ) is formed along sides of the gate stack  110  before the drain region  108  and the source region  106  are formed. The sidewall spacer  702  may be formed by depositing a spacer layer over the substrate  104  and the gate stack  110 , and then etching away horizontal portions of the spacer layer, thereby leaving vertical portions along the sides of the gate stack  110  as the sidewall spacer  702 . It will further be appreciated that, in some embodiments, a lightly-doped source extension  704  and a lightly-doped drain extension  706  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 7 ) may be formed in the substrate  104  before the sidewall spacer  702  is formed. The lightly-doped source extension  704  and the lightly-doped drain extension  706  may be formed by a doping process (e.g., ion implantation) that selectively dopes the substrate  104  with the second doping type dopant species. 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  2000  of  FIG. 20 , a silicide blocking layer  802  is formed over the substrate  104  and the gate stack  110 . The silicide blocking layer  802  partially covers the drain region  108  and partially covers the gate stack  110 . In some embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  has a first sidewall  804  disposed between opposite sides of the first doped region  116   a . In further embodiments, the silicide blocking layer  802  has a second sidewall  806  disposed between opposite sidewalls of the conductive gate electrode  114 . 
     In some embodiments, a process for forming the silicide blocking layer  802  comprises depositing or growing a silicide blocking material (not shown) (e.g., a resist protective oxide (RPO) material) over the substrate  104  and the gate stack  110 . The silicide blocking material may be deposited or grown by, for example, CVD, PVD, ALD, thermal oxidation, some other deposition or growth process, or a combination of the foregoing. A patterned masking layer (not shown) is then formed on the silicide blocking material. With the patterned masking layer in place, an etching process is performed on the silicide blocking material. The etching process removes unmasked portions of the silicide blocking material, thereby forming the silicide blocking layer  802 . In some embodiments, the etching process may be, for example, a wet etching process, a dry etching process, a RIE process, some other etching process, or a combination of the foregoing. In further embodiments, the patterned masking layer may be stripped away. 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  2100  of  FIG. 21 , a plurality of silicide structures  808  are formed on the substrate  104  and the conductive gate electrode  114 . For example, the silicide structures  808  comprise a first silicide structure  808   a  on the first doped region  116   a , a second silicide structure  808   b  on the conductive gate electrode  114 , a third silicide structure  808   c  on the source region  106 , and a fourth silicide structure  808   d  on the pick-up region  502 . 
     In some embodiments, a process for forming the silicide structures  808  comprises depositing (e.g., via CVD, PVD, ALD, sputtering, electrochemical plating, electroless plating, or the like) a transition metal layer (not shown) covering the substrate  104 , the gate stack  110 , and the isolation structure  504 . The transition metal layer may be or comprise, for example, nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), platinum (Pt), tungsten (W), some other metal, or a combination of the foregoing. Subsequently, the transition metal layer is heated so that it reacts with exposed portions of the substrate  104  and the conductive gate electrode  114  to form the silicide structures  808 . The silicide blocking layer  802  prevents the transition metal from reacting with portions of the substrate  104  and the conductive gate electrode  114  in which it covers. In some embodiments, the process comprises removing (e.g., via an etching process) unreacted material of the transition metal layer. In further embodiments, the process may be a self-aligned silicide process (e.g., a salicide process). In yet further embodiments, formation of the silicide structures  808  completes formation of the semiconductor device  102 . 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  2200  of  FIG. 22 , an ILD structure  120  is formed over the substrate  104 , the silicide structures  808 , the silicide blocking layer  802 , and the isolation structure  504 . The ILD structure  120  comprises one or more stacked ILD layers. Also shown in the cross-sectional view  2200  of  FIG. 22 , a plurality of conductive contacts  122 , a plurality of conductive wires  1110  (e.g., metal wires), and a plurality of conductive vias (e.g., metal vias) are formed in the ILD structure  120 . 
     In some embodiments, a process for forming the ILD structure  120 , the conductive contacts  122 , the conductive wires  1110 , and the conductive vias  1112  comprises forming a first ILD layer over the substrate  104 , the silicide structures  808 , the silicide blocking layer  802 , and the isolation structure  504 . Thereafter, contact openings are formed in the first ILD layer. A conductive material (e.g., tungsten (W)) is then formed on the first ILD layer and in the contact openings. Thereafter, a planarization process (e.g., CMP) is performed into the conductive material to form the conductive contacts  122  in the first ILD layer. A second ILD layer is then formed over the first ILD layer and the conductive contacts  122 . A plurality of trenches are then formed in the second ILD layer. A conductive material (e.g., copper (Cu)) is formed on the second ILD layer and in the trenches. Thereafter, a planarization process (e.g., CMP) is performed into the conductive material to form some of the conductive wires  1110 . 
     Thereafter, the conductive vias  1112  and the remaining conductive wires  1110  may be formed by repeating a damascene process (e.g., a single damascene process or a dual damascene process) until each of the conductive vias  1112  and each of the conductive wires  1110  are formed in the ILD structure  120 . The damascene process is performed by depositing a subsequent ILD layer over the second ILD layer and the some of the conductive wires  1110 , etching the subsequent ILD layer to form one or more via holes and/or one or more trenches in the subsequent ILD layer, and filling the one or more via holes and/or the one or more trenches with a conductive material (e.g., copper (Cu)). Thereafter, a planarization process (e.g., CMP) is performed on the conductive material, thereby forming some of the conductive vias  1112  and some more of the conductive wires  1110  in the subsequent ILD layer. This damascene process is repeated until each of the conductive vias  1112  and each of the conductive wires  1110  are formed in the ILD structure  120 . The ILD layers may be formed by, for example, CVD, PVD, ALD, some other deposition process, or a combination of the foregoing. The conductive material(s) (e.g., tungsten (W), copper (Cu), etc.) may be formed using a deposition process (e.g., CVD, PVD, sputtering, etc.) and/or a plating process (e.g., electrochemical plating, electroless plating, etc.). 
     As shown in cross-sectional view  2300  of  FIG. 23 , a passivation layer  1114  is formed over the ILD structure  120 , the substrate  104 , the conductive contacts  122 , the conductive wires  1110 , and the conductive vias  1112 . Also shown in the cross-sectional view  2300  of  FIG. 23 , one or more I/O structures  1116  (e.g., bond pads, solder bumps, etc.) and one or more upper conductive vias  1118  are formed in the passivation layer  1114 . 
     In some embodiments, a process for forming the passivation layer  1114 , the I/O structures  1116 , and the upper conductive vias  1118  comprises depositing the passivation layer  1114  over the ILD structure  120 . The passivation layer  1114  may be deposited by, for example, CVD, PVD, ALD, some other deposition process, or a combination of the foregoing. Thereafter, the I/O structures  1116  and the upper conductive vias  1118  are formed in the passivation layer  1114  by, for example, a damascene process (e.g., a single damascene process or a dual damascene process). The damascene process comprises etching the passivation layer  1114  to form one or more upper via holes and/or one or more I/O openings in the passivation layer  1114 , and filling the one or more upper via holes and/or the one or more I/O openings with one or more conductive materials (e.g., gold (Au)). Thereafter, a planarization process (e.g., CMP) is performed on the conductive material, thereby forming the I/O structures  1116  and the upper conductive vias  1118  in the passivation layer  1114 . In some embodiments, formation of the I/O structures  1116  completes formation of the IC. 
       FIG. 24  illustrates a flowchart  2400  of some embodiments of a method for forming an integrated chip (IC) comprising a semiconductor device that has improved ESD performance. While the flowchart  2400  of  FIG. 24  is illustrated and described herein as a series of acts or events, it will be appreciated that the illustrated ordering of such acts or events is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. For example, some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events apart from those illustrated and/or described herein. Further, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement one or more aspects or embodiments of the description herein, and one or more of the acts depicted herein may be carried out in one or more separate acts and/or phases. 
     At act  2402 , a gate stack is formed over a substrate, where the gate stack comprises a conductive gate electrode overlying a gate dielectric.  FIGS. 14-17  illustrate a series of cross-sectional views  1400 - 1700  of some embodiments corresponding to act  2402 . 
     At act  2404 , a source region is formed on a first side of the gate stack.  FIGS. 18-19  illustrate a series of cross-sectional views  1800 - 1900  of some embodiments corresponding to act  2404 . 
     At act  2406 , a drain region is formed in the substrate and on a second side of the gate stack opposite the first side of the gate stack, where the drain region comprises two or more first doped regions and one or more second doped regions, where the first doped regions have a greater concentration of first doping type dopants than the second doped regions, and where each of the second doped regions is disposed laterally between two neighboring first doped regions.  FIGS. 18-19  illustrate a series of cross-sectional views  1800 - 1900  of some embodiments corresponding to act  2406 . 
     At act  2408 , a silicide blocking layer is formed over the substrate and at least partially over the gate stack, where the silicide blocking layer partially covers the drain region and the gate stack.  FIG. 20  illustrates a cross-sectional view  2000  of some embodiments corresponding to act  2408 . 
     At act  2410 , silicide structures are formed on the drain region, the source region, and the gate electrode.  FIG. 21  illustrates a cross-sectional view  2100  of some embodiments corresponding to act  2410 . 
     At act  2412 , an interlayer dielectric (ILD) structure is formed over the substrate and the gate stack, where a plurality of conductive contacts, a plurality of conductive wires, and a plurality of conductive vias are formed in the ILD structure.  FIG. 22  illustrates a cross-sectional view  2200  of some embodiments corresponding to act  2412 . 
     At act  2414 , a passivation layer is formed over the ILD structure, where one or more upper conductive vias and one or more input/output (I/O) structures are formed in the passivation layer.  FIG. 23  illustrates a cross-sectional view  2300  of some embodiments corresponding to act  2414 . 
     In some embodiments, the present application provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises a source region in a substrate. A drain region is in the substrate and laterally spaced from the source region. A gate stack is over the substrate and between the source region and the drain region. The drain region comprises two or more first doped regions having a first doping type in the substrate. Further, the drain region comprises one or more second doped regions in the substrate. The first doped regions have a greater concentration of first doping type dopants than the second doped regions. Each of the second doped regions is disposed laterally between two neighboring first doped regions. 
     In some embodiments, the present application provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises a well region in a semiconductor substrate, wherein the well region has a first doping type. A source region is in the well region, wherein the source region has a second doping type opposite the first doping type. A drain region is in the well region and laterally spaced from the source region, wherein the drain region has the second doping type. A gate electrode is disposed over the semiconductor substrate and between the source region and the drain region. The drain region comprises a first number of first doped regions having the second doping type in the semiconductor substrate. Further, the drain region comprises a second number of second doped regions in the semiconductor substrate. The first number is any integer greater than or equal to two. The second number is an integer that is equal to the first number minus one. The first doped regions have a greater concentration of second doping type dopants than the second doped regions. Each of the second doped regions contact two of the first doped regions. 
     In some embodiments, the present application provides a method for forming a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate. A source region is formed in the semiconductor substrate and on a first side of the gate stack. A drain region is formed in the semiconductor substrate and on a second side of the gate stack opposite the first side, wherein forming the drain region comprises: 1) forming a patterned masking layer over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the patterned masking layer comprises a plurality of openings disposed on the second side of the gate stack; and 2) implanting one or more dopant species into the semiconductor substrate through the plurality of openings of the patterned masking layer. A silicide blocking layer is formed that at least partially covers the drain region and the gate stack. With the silicide blocking layer partially covering the drain region and the gate stack, performing a silicide process on the semiconductor substrate. 
     The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.