Semiconductor Layout Offset to Mitigate CMOS Latch-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices often experience latch-up due to the formation of parasitic transistors that create a low impedance path between power supply rails, leading to potential failure, particularly in CMOS devices where voltage spikes can trigger a feedback loop and excessive current flow.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device design offsets conductors associated with different power supply rails, increasing the distance between them to mitigate the formation of parasitic transistors, thereby reducing the likelihood of latch-up by requiring a higher voltage spike to create a current path between the supply rails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conductors are placed close together to reduce device area, then area is reduced, but parasitic transistors form creating latch-up paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent offsets conductors in the second direction (perpendicular to the first direction), utilizing spatial dimensionality to increase separation distance between power supply rail nodes without significantly increasing the overall device footprint. This dimensional approach allows maintaining compact area while achieving adequate conductor separation to prevent parasitic transistor formation.
2Reliability
If conductors are offset to increase separation distance, then latch-up is mitigated, but device area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric offset positioning of conductors relative to each other in the second direction, rather than symmetric arrangement. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the separation distance to be sufficient for preventing latch-up while minimizing the overall area occupied by the conductor layout.
3Reliability
If conductor separation is increased to prevent parasitic transistor formation, then latch-up resistance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conductor arrangement into distinct directional components: conductors extending in the first direction with offset positioning in the second direction. This segmentation simplifies the layout design by establishing clear directional guidelines for conductor placement, making the design process more systematic and manufacturable.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for mitigating latch-up within semiconductor devices. A semiconductor device includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a first gate conductor. The first conductor extends in a first direction, receives a first power supply signal, and is connected to a first electrode. The second conductor extends in the first direction, receives a second power supply signal different from the first power supply signal, and is connected to a second electrode. The first conductor is offset from the second conductor in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a top-down view to mitigate formation of parasitic devices within the semiconductor device electrically connecting the first conductor with the second conductor. The first gate conductor is disposed adjacent to the first conductor and the second conductor, is disposed on the first electrode and the second electrode, and receives an input signal.