Methods for Manufacturing and Operating a Semiconductor Device

• US 20100066313A1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl-Heinz Allers, Reiner Schwab
• Original Assignee: Karl-Heinz Allers, Reiner Schwab
• Inventors: Schwab, Reiner, Allers, Karl-Heinz
• Granted Patent: US 8,547,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/166
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0805 Capacitors only
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

A method for manufacturing and operating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitor node, a second capacitor node, a first capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrode, a first switch and a second switch. The first switch is coupled between the first capacitor electrode and the first and second capacitor nodes such that the first switch has a first position that couples the first capacitor electrode to the first capacitor node and a second position that couples the first capacitor electrode to the second capacitor node. The second switch is coupled between the second capacitor electrode and the first and second capacitor nodes such that the second switch has a first position that couples the second capacitor electrode to the first capacitor node and a second position that couples the second capacitor electrode to the second capacitor node.

Claims

1. A method for driving a capacitor in a semiconductor component, the method comprising:

(a) generating a first voltage between a first node and a second node;

(b) for a first period of time, applying the first voltage to the capacitor by coupling a first capacitor electrode to the first node and coupling a second capacitor electrode to the second node;

(c) for a second period of time after the first period of time, applying the first voltage to the capacitor by coupling the first capacitor electrode to the second node and coupling the second capacitor electrode to the first node; and

(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein repeating steps (b) and (c) comprises automatically repeating steps (b) and (c).

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a sum of the first periods of time and a sum of the second periods of time are approximately the same.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a magnitude of time integrals of a voltage function of the first periods of time and a magnitude of time integrals of a voltage function of the second periods of time are approximately the same.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein generating the first voltage comprises generating a pulsating DC voltage.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first period of time and the second period of time are each less than ten seconds.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first period of time and the second period of time are each at least one week.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first length of the first period of time and the length of the second period of time are controlled by a control signal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control signal is generated whenever an operating voltage is applied to the semiconductor component.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control signal is generated from an internal clock in the semiconductor component.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein generating the voltage comprises generating the voltage wherein a potential at the first node is always greater than or equal to a potential at the second node.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein generating the voltage comprises generating a DC voltage.

13. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

providing a first capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrode, and a dielectric between the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode;

connecting a first output of a changeover arrangement to the first capacitor electrode and a second output of the changeover arrangement to the second capacitor electrode;

coupling a first switch between the first output and the second output such that the first switch has a first position that couples the first input to the first output and a second position that couples the first input to the second output; and

coupling a second switch between the first output and the second output such that the second switch has a first position that couples the second input to the second output and a second position that couples the second input to the first output.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the semiconductor device further comprises coupling a control line to the first and second switch.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the control line places the first and second switch either both in the first position or both in the second position.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the control line is configured to receive a periodic control signal.

17. A method for operating a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

(a) applying a first voltage to a capacitor for a first period of time wherein the first voltage comprises a voltage having a first polarity and wherein the first voltage is applied between a first input and a second input;

(b) applying a second voltage to the capacitor for a second period of time wherein the second voltage comprises a voltage having a second polarity and wherein the second voltage is applied between the first input and the second input;

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first period of time is substantially the same as the second period of time.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first period of time and the second period of time are controlled by a periodic control signal.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the control signal is a clock signal.