Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of integrated circuits; more specifically, it relates to gate array structures and method of making gate arrays latchup robust. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In modern integrated circuits, gate arrays comprising p-channel field effect transistors (PFETs) and n-channel field effect transistors (NFETs) can be susceptible to latchup. Latch-up causes Metal-Oxide-Silicon FETs (MOSFETs) to consume large amounts of current overheating and destroying the integrated circuit in which latchup occurs. Existing methods for reducing this propensity to complementary MOS (CMOS) latchup have become increasingly less effective as doping levels of the substrates of integrated circuits have decreased. Therefore there is a need in the industry for more robust latchup preventive structures and methods for preventing latchup for gate arrays in integrated circuit chips. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A first aspect of the present invention is a structure, comprising: a P-well and an N-well formed in a semiconductor substrate, the P-well extending from a top surface of the substrate into the substrate a first distance, the N-well extending from the top surface of the substrate into the substrate a second distance; dielectric isolation extending from the top surface of the substrate into the substrate a third distance, the first, second and third distances less than a whole distance between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate, the first and second distances greater than the third distances, the P-well abutting a bottom surface of the dielectric isolation and the N-well abutting the bottom surface of the dielectric isolation where the dielectric isolation extends into the N-well and the P-well; an array of spaced apart first gate electrodes positioned over the P-well, a first set of source/drains formed in the P-well between the first gate electrodes; an array of spaced apart second gate electrodes positioned over the N-well, a set of second source/drains formed in the N-well between the second gate electrodes; and an electrically conductive through via extending from the bottom surface of the substrate into the substrate a fourth distance, the fourth distance less than the whole distance, the through via contacting the P-well and abutting the bottom surface of shallow trench isolation that extends into the P-well. 
   A second aspect of the present invention is a method, comprising: forming a P-well and an N-well in a semiconductor substrate, the P-well extending from a top surface of the substrate into the substrate a first distance, the N-well extending from the top surface of the substrate into the substrate a second distance; forming dielectric isolation in the substrate, the dielectric isolation extending from the top surface of the substrate into the substrate a third distance, the first, second and third distances less than a whole distance between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate, the first and second distances greater than the third distances, the P-well abutting a bottom surface of the dielectric isolation and the N-well abutting the bottom surface of the dielectric isolation where the dielectric isolation extends into the N-well and the P-well; forming an array of spaced apart first gate electrodes positioned over the P-well, a first set of source/drains formed in the P-well between the first gate electrodes; forming an array of spaced apart second gate electrodes positioned over the N-well, a set of second source/drains formed in the N-well between the second gate electrodes; and forming an electrically conductive through via extending from the bottom surface of the substrate into the substrate a fourth distance, the fourth distance less than the whole distance, the through via contacting the P-well and abutting the bottom surface of shallow trench isolation that extends into the P-well. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of an gate array according to embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section through line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Latchup is defined as the triggering of a parasitic structure which then acts as a short circuit creating a low impedence path between the power supply rails and an electrical component. 
     FIG. 1  is a plan view of a gate array according to embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , formed in a substrate  100  is a gate array  105 . Gate array  105  is surrounded by shallow trench isolation (STI)  110  (heavy lines). Gate array  105  includes a PFET gate array  115  and an NFET gate array  120 . It should be understood that a “gate array” includes at least one PFET device, and one NFET device, whereas a “PFET gate array” includes one or more PFET devices, and whereas a “NFET gate array” includes at least one or more NFET devices, where spatially the PFET device or gate array and the NFET device or gate array are in proximate to each other. PFET gate array  115  includes an N-well  125 , source drains  130  formed in the N-well and an N-well contact  135  to the N-well. NFET gate array  120  includes a P-well  140 , source drains  145  formed in the P-well and a P-well contact  150  to the P-well. An array of gate electrodes  155  is common to both PFET gate array  115  and NFET gate array  120 . When substrate  100  is P-type, P-well contact  150  is also a substrate contact. It should be noted that N-well contact  135  and P-well contact  150  on located on opposing sides of gate array  105  to allow compact layout of gate electrodes  155 . An electrically conductive through via  160  contacts P-well  140  and STI  110  (see  FIG. 3  and description infra). 
   Alternatively, a first array of gates may be positioned over N-well  125  and a second array of gates, not physically attached to the first array of gates, may be positioned over P-well  140 , instead of common gates  155 . 
     FIG. 2  is a cross-section through line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , source/drains  145  are separated by channel regions of P-well  140  under gate electrodes  155  and gate dielectric  165  intervenes between the gate electrodes  155  and these channel regions. A top surface of STI  110  is coplanar with a top surface  170  of substrate  100 . P-well  140  abuts a bottom surface  185  of STI  110 . Formed on a bottom surface  175  of substrate  100  is an optional electrically conductive layer  180 . The structure of PFET array  115  is similar with P-well  140  being replaced with N-well  125  (see  FIG. 1 ) and source/drains  145  being replaced with source/drains  130  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     FIG. 3  is a cross-section through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3 , through via  160  extends from bottom surface  180 , through substrate  100 , through P-well  140  to abut a bottom surface  185  of the region of STI  110  between PFET gate array  115  and NFET gate array  120 . Either an electrically conductive contact, which may be ohmic (e.g., having resistance of about 1 ohm or less) or a Schottky diode is formed at the interface of through vias  160  and P-Well  140 . Conductive layer  180  provides a low-resistance contact to through via  160 . Through via  160  prevents latchup by preventing formation of a parasitic lateral PNPN device comprising source/drains  130  and  145  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) P-well  140  and N-well  125 . Through via  160  eliminates the regenerative feedback between the PNP and NPN portions of the PNPN device through substrate  100 . In  FIG. 3 , through via  160  does not touch N-well  125 . 
   In one example, through via  160  comprises doped polysilicon, one or more refractory metals examples of which include tungsten, titanium and tantalum, or combinations thereof. In one example, conductive layer  180  comprises doped polysilicon, aluminum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, a metal silicide, one or more refractory metals examples of which include tungsten, titanium and tantalum, or combinations thereof. 
   It should be understood, that substrate  100  may be P or N-type and through via  160  may formed through N-well  125  instead of P-Well  140  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
   Thus, the embodiments of the present invention provide more robust latchup preventive structures and methods for preventing latchup for gate arrays in integrated circuit chips. 
   The description of the embodiments of the present invention is given above for the understanding of the present invention. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions as will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the following claims cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 5