Isolator and a modem device using the isolator

• US 6,603,807 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Mitani, Shinichiro, Amishiro, Masatsugu, Kanekawa, Nobuyasu, Kojima, Yasuyuki, Watanabe, Atsuo, Iwasaki, Takayuki, Yukutake, Seigoh, Nemoto, Minehiro, Kamada, Chiyoshi, Furukawa, Katsuhiro, Oouchi, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Amanda T.
• Application Number:
  US09/259,058
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 333/24.R, 257/296, 257/304, 257/305, 257/306, 257/311, 257/507, 257/532, 257/533, 257/685, 257/692, 257/693, 257/787
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0266 Arrangements for providing Galvanic isolation, e.g. by means of magnetic or capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0268 with modulation and subsequent demodulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/028 Arrangements specific to the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0292 Arrangements specific to the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0002 analog front ends; means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line duplex arrangements H04L5/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

An isolator is made monolithic by forming a capacitive insulating barrier using an interlayer insulation film on the semiconductor substrate to miniaturize the modem device by the monolithic isolator.

Claims

1. An isolator comprising;

a semiconductor substrate;

primary and secondary side circuits provided on said semiconductor substrate; and

a capacitive insulating means positioned on said semiconductor substrate for transferring signals between said primary and secondary sides and for insulating and separating said primary side circuit from said secondary side circuit, either said primary side circuit operating as a driver circuit to input signals to said capacitive insulating means and said secondary side circuit operating as a receiver to output a predetermined signal by detecting signals inputted to said capacitive insulating means, or said secondary side circuit operating as a driver circuit to input signals to said capacitive insulating means and said primary side circuit operating as a receiver to output a predetermined signal by detecting signals inputted to said capacitive insulating means.

2. An isolator according to claim 1, wherein said capacitive insulating means comprises a capacitor having an insulation layer positioned on said semiconductor substrate and a plurality of electrodes.

3. An isolator comprising;

a semiconductor substrate;

primary and secondary side circuits provided on said semiconductor substrate and insulated from each other; and

a capacitive insulating means positioned on said semiconductor substrate for transferring signals between said primary and secondary sides and for insulating and separating said primary side circuit from said secondary side circuit, said capacitive insulating means comprising a capacitor having an insulation layer positioned on said semiconductor substrate and a plurality of electrodes,

one of said electrodes being bridged between said primary side circuit and secondary side circuit in a floating state.

4. An isolator according to claim 3, wherein said insulation layer comprises an insulation film of interlayer.

5. An isolator according to claim 3, at least one of said plurality of electrodes comprising a metal layer, a poly-silicon layer or a diffusion layer formed in said semiconductor substrate.

6. An isolator according to claim 3, wherein said semiconductor substrate comprises an being SOI (Silicon On Insulator) substrate.

7. An isolator according to claim 3, wherein said primary and secondary side circuits are surrounded by an insulation film in said semiconductor substrate.

8. An analog front end comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

primary and secondary side circuits provided on said semiconductor substrate and insulated from each other;

a capacitive insulating means positioned on said semiconductor substrate for transferring signals between said primary and secondary side circuits and for insulating and separating said primary side circuit from said secondary side circuit; and

an analog input-output side circuit and a digital input-output side circuit,

wherein signals are transferred between said analog input-output side circuit and digital side circuit, and said analog input-output side input-output circuit and digital input-output circuit are isolated and separated by said isolator.

9. A modem device having an analog front end for modulating and demodulating signals between application control means and the line, said analog front end being an analog front end according to claim 8.

10. An integral circuit including an analog front end, said analog front end comprising:

an analog input-output side circuit region;

a digital input-output side circuit region;

an isolator region including an isolator, said isolator region including a semiconductor substrate,

primary and secondary side circuits provided on said semiconductor substrate and insulated from each other; and

a capacitive insulating means positioned on said semiconductor substrate for transferring signals between said primary and secondary side circuits and for insulating and separating said primary side circuit from said secondary side circuit,

wherein said isolator region is positioned between said analog input-output side circuit region and said digital input-output side circuit region and transfers signals between said analog input-output side circuit region and said digital input-output side circuit and insulates and separates said analog input-output side circuit region and said digital input-output side circuit region.

11. A modem device having a analog front end for modulating and demodulating signals between application control means and the line, said analog front end being an integral circuit according to claim 10.

12. A communication system comprising a line and a modem device connected to said line and an application control means connected to said line through said modem device, said modem device being a modem device according to claim 9 or 11.

13. An application control means including a modem part connected to a line, said modem part being a modem device according to claim 9 or 11.

14. A card type modem device having a analog front end for modulating and demodulating signals between application control means and the line, said analog front end being an integral circuit according to claim 10 and said integral circuit being mounted on a surface of a circuit substrate.

15. A card type modem according to claim 14, the thickness of said card being 3.3 mm.

16. An application control means including a modem part connected to a line, said modem part being a modem device according to claim 14 or 15.

17. A communication system comprising:

a network;

a transceiver connected to said network;

an application control means for transmitting and receiving signals with said network through said transceiver; and

an isolator for insulating and separating between said transceiver and said application control means;

said isolator including;

a semiconductor substrate;

primary and secondary side circuits provided on said semiconductor substrate and insulated from each other; and

a capacitive insulating means positioned on said semiconductor substrate for transferring signals between said primary and secondary side circuits and for insulating and separating said primary side circuit from said secondary side circuit.