Trench Gate IGBT Floating P-Type Layers ESD Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Trench gate IGBTs face challenges with reduced input capacitance and decreased ESD tolerance due to smaller gate trench occupancy, particularly in small current applications, leading to noise sensitivity and reduced robustness.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates two floating P-type layers with two emitter trenches and at least two gate trenches disposed between them, forming an EGGE structure that increases gate trench occupancy, enhancing noise and ESD tolerance while maintaining reduced feedback capacitance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gate trench occupancy is reduced to improve switch characteristics, then feedback capacitance is reduced, but input capacitance decreases and ESD tolerance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveESD toleranceVSAvoidgate trench occupancy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the gate structure into multiple gate trenches (first gate trench and second gate trench) separated by an emitter trench, rather than using a single continuous gate trench. This segmentation allows the gate to occupy a larger total area while maintaining reduced feedback capacitance through the interrupted structure, thereby improving ESD tolerance without sacrificing switch characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent embeds the emitter trench within the gate structure by positioning it between the first and second gate trenches. This nested arrangement allows the emitter trench to be integrated into the gate region, enabling the gate trenches to extend further and increase gate trench occupancy while the emitter trench provides functional separation that maintains low feedback capacitance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If gate trench occupancy is reduced to improve switch characteristics, then feedback capacitance is reduced, but noise tolerance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise toleranceVSAvoidgate trench occupancy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the gate into multiple trenches with an emitter trench in between, the patent increases the total gate trench occupancy area. This larger area improves noise tolerance by providing better signal coupling and reduced susceptibility to external noise, while the segmented structure maintains the low feedback capacitance needed for good switch characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If emitter trench depth is increased to improve carrier storage, then collector-emitter voltage is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier storage effectVSAvoidtrench etching precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the deep trench structure into multiple shallower trenches (first gate trench, emitter trench, second gate trench) rather than requiring a single extremely deep trench. This segmentation reduces the etching depth requirement for each individual trench, making manufacturing more precise and reliable while still achieving the necessary carrier storage effect through the combined depth and structure of all trenches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3340311B1Trench gate IGBT
Publication Date: 2021.01.06 RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORP
  • EP3340311B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3340311B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3340311B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A high-performance trench gate IGBT is provided. A trench gate IGBT according to one embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate (11); a channel layer (15) provided on the semiconductor substrate (11); two floating P-type layer (12) provided on both sides of the channel layer 15, the floating P-type layers (12) being deeper than the channel layer (15); two emitter trenches (13) disposed between the two floating P-type layers (12), the emitter trenches (13) being respectively in contact with the floating P-type layers (12); at least two gate trenches (14) disposed between the two emitter trenches (13); and a source diffusion layer (19) disposed between the two gate trenches 14, the source diffusion layer (19) being in contact with each of the gate trenches (14).