High breakdown voltage low on-resistance lateral DMOS transistor

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean patent application number 2002-9731, filed Feb. 23, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates in general to a high voltage lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor, and more particularly, to a high voltage LDMOS transistor in which the on-resistance of a transistor is reduced without a reduction in the breakdown voltage.

[0003] In order to achieve high switching speed, the on-resistance of the high voltage LDMOS transistor must be low. In general, the on-resistance of the LDMOS transistor is primarily determined by the channel resistance and by the drift region resistance. In the case of high voltage LDMOS transistor, the on-resistance is governed primarily by the drift region resistance. Thus, in order to reduce the on-resistance of the high voltage LDMOS transistor, the drift region resistance must be reduced. To reduce the drift region resistance, the concentration of impurities in the drift region must be increased. However, increasing the concentration of the impurities in the drift region results in lower breakdown voltage. Thus, there is a trade off relation between the on-resistance and the breakdown voltage of the device.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional high voltage LDMOS transistor. An n-type epitaxial layer 12 is formed on a p-type substrate 10. An n-type buried layer 13 is extends into both p-type substrate 10 and n-type epitaxial layer 12. An n-type well region 14 is formed in n-type epitaxial layer 12, and extends over n-type buried layer 13. A p-type body region 15 is formed in n-type well region 14. An n-type source region 16 and a p-type body-contact region 17 are formed in p-type body region 15. A p-type region 18 extends from below n-type source region 16 and a p-type body-contact region 17 through p-type body region 15, terminating in n-type well region 14. An n-type drain region 19 is formed in n-type well region 14.

[0005] A gate insulating layer 20 extends over n-type well region 14 and a surface portion of p-type body region 15. A gate conductive layer 21 extends over gate insulating layer 20 and an upper portion of a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) oxide layer 22. A source electrode 23 is in contact with n-type source region 16 and p-type source contact region 17, and a drain electrode 24 is in contact with n-type drain region 19. Gate conductive layer 21, source electrode 23, and drain electrode 24 are electrically isolated from one another by an interlayer dielectric (ILD) film 25.

[0006] FIG. 2 shows the electric field profile in the high voltage LDMOS transistor of FIG. 1 when a reverse bias is applied across the drain-source terminals. Same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote same regions or layers. Upon applying a reverse bias across the drain-source electrodes, a depletion region extends out from the junction between p-type body region 15 and n-type well region 14, and electric field potential lines 26 are formed in the depletion region. If the depletion region extends out beyond a critical limit, breakdown occurs. If the concentration of impurities in n-type well region 14 is increased in order to obtain a lower on-resistance, the depletion region reaches the critical limit at lower drainsource voltages. That is, breakdown occurs with lower electric field intensity, and thus the transistor breakdown voltage is reduced.

[0007] Thus, a LDMOS transistor wherein the on-resistance can be reduced without adversely impacting the breakdown voltage is desirable.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor has a substrate of a first conductivity type. A drift region of a second conductivity type extends over the substrate. A body region of the first conductivity type is in the drift region. A source region of the second conductivity is in the body region. A gate extends over a surface portion of the body region. The surface portion of the body region extends between the source region and the drift region to form a channel region of the transistor. A drain region of the second conductivity type is in the drift region. The drain region is laterally spaced from the body region. A first buried layer of the second conductivity type is between the substrate and drift region. The first buried layer laterally extends from under the body region to under the drain region. A second buried layer of the first conductivity type is between the first buried layer and the drift region. The second buried layer laterally extends from under the body region to under the drain region.

[0009] In one embodiment, an epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type extends over the substrate, and the drift region is formed in the epitaxial layer.

[0010] In another embodiment, a body-contact region of the first conductivity type is in the body region.

[0011] In another embodiment, a deep region of the first conductivity type vertically extends from under the source and body-contact regions through the drift region and terminates in the second buried layer.

[0012] In another embodiment, a field oxide is between the body and drain regions, and the gate extends over a portion of the field oxide.

[0013] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of forming a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor is as follows. A substrate of a first conductivity is provided. A first buried layer of a second conductivity type is formed over the substrate. A second buried layer of the first conductivity type is formed in the first buried layer. An epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type is formed over the substrate. A drift region of a second conductivity type is formed in the epitaxial layer. A gate layer is formed over the drift region. A body region of the first conductivity type is formed in the drift region such that the gate overlaps a surface portion of the body region. A source region of the second conductivity is formed in the body region. A drain region of the second conductivity type is formed in the drift region. The drain region is laterally spaced from the body region. The first and second buried layers laterally extend from under the body region to under the drain region. The surface portion of the body region extends between the source region and the drift region to form a channel region of the transistor.

[0014] In one embodiment, a body-contact region of the first conductivity type is formed in the body region. A deep region of the first conductivity type vertically extends from under the source and body-contact regions through the drift region and terminates in the second buried layer.

[0015] In another embodiment, a field oxide is formed between the body and drain regions. The gate extends over a portion of the field oxide.

[0016] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the inventions herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional high voltage lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor;

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the electric field profile in the high voltage LDMOS transistor of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a high voltage LDMOS transistor according to the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 is shows the electric filed profile in the high voltage LDMOS transistor of FIG. 3;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a graph comparing the drain current Id versus drain voltage Vd characteristics of the high voltage LDMOS transistor of FIG. 3 to that of the conventional high voltage LDMOS transistor of FIG. 1; and

[0022] FIGS. 6 through 11 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing the high voltage LDMOS transistor according to the present invention.

[0023] In accordance with the invention, a lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor and method of forming the same are disclosed which achieve a low on-resistance without any degradation of the breakdown voltage.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a high voltage LDMOS transistor according to the present invention. An n-type epitaxial layer 120 is formed on a p-type substrate 110. An n-type well region 130 serving as the drift region is formed in n-type epitaxial layer 120. An n-type buried layer 140 extends into p-type substrate 110 and partially into n-type epitaxial layer 120 as shown. A p-type buried layer 150 extends into n-type buried layer 140 and n-type epitaxial layer 120 as shown. N-type buried layer 140 forms a junction along its bottom with p-type substrate 110 and p-type buried layer 150 forms a junction along its top with n-type well region 130. P-type buried layer 150 serves as a reduced surface electric field (RESURF) layer.

[0025] A p-type body region 160 is formed in a predetermined upper region of n-type well region 130. An n-type source region 170 and a p-type body-contact region 180 are formed in p-type body region 160 adjacent to each other. A p-type region 190 extends from below n-type source region 170 and p-type body-contact region 180 through p-type body region 160, terminating in p-type buried layer 150. An n-type drain region 200 is formed in a predetermined upper portion of n-type well region 130, and is laterally spaced from p-type body region 160 a predetermined distance.

[0026] A gate insulating layer 210 extends over n-type well region 130 and a surface portion of p-type body region 160. A gate conductive layer 220 extends over gate insulating layer 210 and an upper portion of a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) field oxide layer 230. A source electrode 240 contacts n-type source region 170 and p-type body-contact region 180, and a drain electrode 250 contacts n-type drain region 200. Gate conductive layer 220, source electrode 240, and drain electrode 250 are electrically isolated from one another by an interlayer dielectric (ILD) film 260.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the electric filed profile in the high voltage LDMOS transistor of FIG. 3 when a reverse bias is applied across the drain-source terminals. In FIG. 4, same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 denote same regions or layers. here a reverse bias is applied to the drain electrode 250, a depletion region begins to be extended from a junction portion with the p-type body region 160 and the n-type well region 130 in both directions, and simultaneously, begins to be extended also from a junction portion with the n-type well region 130 and the p-type buried layer 150 in both directions. Electric field potential lines 270 are formed in the depletion region. In such a case, when the extension of the depletion region in a device reaches the limit, the device is in a breakdown state. In this case, the depletion region is extended from the junction portion with the p-type body region 160 and the n-type well region 130, and simultaneously, from the junction portion with the n-type well region 130 and the p-type buried layer 150, and thus, the electric potential lines 270 are distributed around the p-type buried layer 150. Thus, a time of the breakdown state is delayed. As a result, the electric potential lines 270 are distributed in wider range, and thereby the size of the breakdown voltage, which may be reduced by increasing the concentration of impurities of the n-type well region 130 that is used as a drift region so as to reduced the on-resistance of the device, can be compensated. Thus, the on-resistance of the device can be reduced without decrease in the breakdown voltage.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a graph comparing the drain current Id versus drain voltage Vd characteristics of the high voltage LDMOS transistor of FIG. 3 (curves 521, 522) to that of the conventional high voltage LDMOS transistor of FIG. 1 (curves 511, 512). As shown by curves 511 and 521, for gate voltage Vg of 5V, the LDMOS transistor of FIG. 3 (curve 521) conducts about twice the amount of drain current Id that the conventional LDMOS transistor of FIG. 1 conducts for drain voltages greater than about 4V. As shown by curves 512 and 522, for gate voltage Vg of 10V, the LDMOS transistor of FIG. 3 (curve 522) also conducts a substantially greater amount of drain current Id than the conventional LDMOS transistor of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIGS. 6 through 11 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing the high voltage LDMOS transistor according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, n-type buried layer 140 is formed in an upper portion of p-type semiconductor substrate 110 by first implanting n-type impurity ions through a mask layer (not shown), and then conducting a drive-in diffusion process. Next, p-type buried layer 150 is formed in an upper portion of n-type buried layer 140 by first implanting p-type impurity ions through a mask layer (not shown), and then conducting a drive-in diffusion process.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 7, n-type epitaxial layer 120 is grown on the p-type semiconductor substrate 110. A pad oxide layer 700 is formed on the n-type epitaxial layer 120. N-type well region 130 is formed in n-type epitaxial layer 120 by first implanting n-type impurity ions through a mask layer (not shown), and then conducting a drive-in diffusion process. N-type well region 130 serves as the drift region.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 8, a field oxide layer 230 is formed in n-type well region 130 as shown. In order to form field oxide layer 230, pad oxide layer 700 is removed, and then a thermal oxide layer (not shown) is formed. A nitride layer pattern (not shown) is formed on the thermal oxide layer, and then field oxide layer 230 is formed by performing an oxidation process in which the nitride layer pattern is used as an oxidation-suppressing layer. After field oxide layer 230 is formed, the nitride layer pattern and the thermal oxide layer are removed. Next, gate insulating layer 210 is formed on n-type well region 130. A gate conductive layer is then formed on the gate insulating layer 210 using a mask layer (not shown). As shown gate conductive layer 220 is formed to also extend over a portion of field oxide layer 230.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 9, p-type region 190 is formed by first implanting p-type impurity ions through a mask layer (not shown), and then conducting a drive-in diffusion process. As shown, p-type region 190 is formed such that it extends vertically through n-type well region 130 and terminates in p-type buried layer 150. Next, p-type body region 160 is formed in n-type well region 130 by first implanting p-type impurity ions through a mask layer (not shown), and then conducting a drive-in diffusion process.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 10, n-type source and drain regions 170, 200 are formed by first implanting n-type impurity ions into an upper portion of each of p-type body region 160 and n-type well region 130 respectively by using an ion implantation mask layer (not shown) and gate conductive layer 122 as masks, and then diffusing the implanted impurities into the respective regions using the drive-in diffusion process. Next, p-type body-contact region 180 is formed in p-type region 190 by first implanting p-type impurity ions through a mask layer (not shown), and then conducting a drive-in diffusion process.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 11, interlayer dielectric film 260 is selectively formed on the surface of the structure using a mask layer (not shown). Interlayer dielectric film 260 may be from BPSG. Next, a metal layer is formed and patterned, thereby forming the source electrode (240 in FIG. 3) and the drain electrode (250 in FIG. 3). Interlayer dielectric film 260 serves to electrically isolate gate 220, drain electrode 250, and source electrode 240 from one another.

[0035] As described above, in the high voltage LDMOS transistor according to the present invention, p-type buried layer 150 is formed as the RESURF layer between n-type buried layer 140 and n-type well region 130. Thus, when a reverse bias is applied to the drain-source electrodes, the electric potential lines are widely redistributed around p-type buried layer 150. This results in a higher breakdown voltage thus enabling the impurity concentration in n-type well region 130 to be increased in order to reduce the on-resistance of the transistor.

[0036] It is to be understood that the different regions shown in the figures are not to scale and are intended to be illustrative only. For example, although n-type buried layer 140 is shown in FIG. 9 to extend symmetrically into each of p-type substrate and n-type epitaxial layer, in practice, n-type buried layer 140 may extend deeper into one adjacent region than the other.

[0037] Although the invention has been described in terms of a specific process and structure, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and alterations may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the invention. For example, one of skill in the art would understand that one could begin with a p-type substrate to manufacture a p-channel lateral DMOS transistor, which has silicon layers with complementary doping relative to the n-channel lateral DMOS transistor shown in FIG. 3. Hence, these modifications and alterations are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.