Power Component and Drive Circuit Segmentation in Semiconductor Chips

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of power components and drive circuits in a single semiconductor chip is complex and costly due to differing dielectric strength requirements, necessitating separate process steps and compromising desired properties.

Innovation Solution

The circuit arrangement separates CMOS components of the drive circuit into one semiconductor chip and the power component and remaining drive circuit components into another, allowing for cost-effective production using conventional CMOS processes and optimizing component properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If power components and drive circuits are integrated in a single semiconductor chip, then integration is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to differing dielectric strength requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveintegrationVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit arrangement is divided into two separate semiconductor chips: a first chip containing CMOS components of the drive circuit, and a second chip containing the power component and remaining drive circuit components. This segmentation allows each chip to be manufactured using optimized processes for their specific requirements, avoiding the complexity of integrating components with vastly different dielectric strength needs into a single chip.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate process steps are used for logic components and power components, then component properties are optimized, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent propertiesVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines CMOS components, capacitive components, and resistance components of the drive circuit into one semiconductor chip, while integrating the power component with remaining drive circuit components in a second chip. This merging approach allows for cost-effective production using conventional CMOS processes for the first chip while maintaining optimized properties for both power and drive circuit components through separate manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If CMOS components and power components are produced using common method steps, then production cost decreases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to conflicting dielectric strength requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoiddielectric strength compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit is segmented into two separate semiconductor chips that can be manufactured using different process optimizations. The first chip uses conventional CMOS processes optimized for low-voltage logic components, while the second chip uses processes optimized for high-voltage power components. This segmentation eliminates the need to compromise manufacturing precision to accommodate conflicting dielectric strength requirements in a single chip.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If logic components and power components are integrated in one chip, then integration is improved, but desired properties of both components are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveintegrationVSAvoidcomponent performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the circuit into two separate semiconductor chips: the first chip contains CMOS components and other drive circuit components, while the second chip contains the power component and remaining drive circuit components. This segmentation allows each chip to be manufactured with process optimizations tailored to their specific requirements, ensuring that the desired properties of both logic and power components are maintained without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7449777B2Circuit arrangement comprising a power component and a drive circuit integrated in two semiconductor bodies
Publication Date: 2008.11.11 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • US7449777B2 patent drawing
  • US7449777B2 patent drawing
  • US7449777B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A circuit arrangement comprises at least one power component and a drive circuit for the power component, which are integrated in a first and a second semiconductor chip. Only CMOS components of the drive circuit or CMOS components, capacitive components and resistance components of the drive circuit are integrated in the first semiconductor chip, and the at least one power component and further components of the drive circuit are integrated in the second semiconductor chip.