Integrated photovoltaic switch with integrated power device including etching backside of substrate

• US 6,472,254 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp. (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Cantarini, William F., Lizotte, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niebling, John F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): POMPEY, RON EVERETT
• Application Number:
  US09/746,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 438/270, 438/430, 438/459, 438/928, 438/361, 438/435, 438/268, 438/437, 438/295, 438/404, 438/977, 438/138
• US Class Current: 438/138
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/763 Polycrystalline semiconductor regions H01L21/76264 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/142 Energy conversion devices photovoltaic modules or arrays of single photovoltaic cells comprising bypass diodes integrated or directly associated with the devices H01L31/0443; photovoltaic modules composed of a plurality of thin film solar cells deposited on the same substrate H01L31/046
• 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: H01L 31/0475 PV cell arrays made by cells in a planar, e.g. repetitive, configuration on a single semiconductor substrate; PV cell microarrays PV modules composed of a plurality of thin film solar cells deposited on the same substrate H01L31/046
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 438/977 Thinning or removal of substrate

Abstract

N+ or P+ diffusions are formed in a lightly doped P type or N type starting wafer. Individual planar and spaced cells or tubs are then formed by etching an array of intersecting trenches between the P+ (or N+) diffusions. The trenches extend through the thin device layer to a predefined depth and are filled with a dielectric and with polysilicon to dielectrically insulate each of the tubs. At least one diffusion of each cell is connected to a diffusion of an adjacent cell to connect each of a predetermined number of the cells. The N+ or (P+) diffusions may be each enclosed by a ring shaped P+ or N+ contact diffusion. An MOS-gated device may be integrated into the same chip and may be a lateral or vertical MOSFET or a lateral or vertical IGBT.

Claims

1. A process for fabricating a semiconductor device in a silicon substrate of one conductivity type, said process comprising the steps of:

patterning and etching away selected regions of said top surface of said silicon substrate to form a trench which defines a plurality of cells;

forming a layer of insulation material on the interior walls and bottom surface of said trench;

depositing a layer of polysilicon such that said trench is filled; and

removing a portion of a bottom surface of said silicon substrate at least until the bottom surface of said trench is removed.

2. The process of claim 1 which includes the step of introducing impurities of one of said one conductivity type and another conductivity type, which is of opposite conductivity type to said one conductivity type, into selected regions of a top surface of said silicon substrate to form first diffused regions.

3. The process of claim 2 which includes the further steps of:

depositing an overlaying insulation layer on said top surface;

patterning and etching away selected portions of said overlaying insulation layer to form at least an opening to one of said first diffused regions in a respective one of said cells and at least another opening to a second diffused region in an adjoining one of said cells;

depositing a conductive layer;

patterning and etching away portions of said conductive layer to form at least one interconnecting contact which contacts said first diffused region of said respective cell and said second diffused region of said adjoining cell.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein said one conductivity type is P-type and said another conductivity type is N-type.

5. The process of claim 2 wherein said step of introducing impurities includes the steps of:

forming a masking layer atop said top surface of said silicon substrate;

patterning and etching away portions of said masking layer; and

then implanting said impurities.

6. The process of claim 3 further comprising the step of introducing impurities of another of said one conductivity type and said another conductivity type to form said second diffused regions.

7. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of planarizing said top surface of said silicon substrate by removing portions of said polysilicon layer and said insulating layer that are formed atop said top surface of said substrate prior to said step of depositing an overlaying insulation layer.

8. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of coating said top surface of said substrate with a protective coating prior to said step of removing a portion of said bottom surface of said silicon substrate.

9. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of depositing a passivation layer on said bottom surface of said substrate.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein said passivation layer is comprised of silicon dioxide.

11. A process of fabricating a semiconductor device in a silicon substrate;

said process comprising the steps of;

patterning and etching away selected regions of a top surface of said silicon substrate to form a trench which is spaced from and which encloses a silicon region, thereby forming at least one isolated cell;

forming an insulator layer on the walls and bottom surface of said trench and on a portion of the top surface of said substrate that is adjacent to said walls of said trench;

depositing a layer of polysilicon on said top surface of said substrate and in said trench such that said trench is filled; and

removing a portion of said bottom surface of said silicon substrate to expose said polysilicon from the back surface of said substrate.

12. The process of claim 11 further comprising the step of planarizing said top surface of said silicon substrate by removing portions of said polysilicon layer and by removing a portion of said silicon substrate until said insulating layer that are formed on the trench sidewalls are exposed on the top surface of the silicon substrate prior to depositing an overlaying insulation layer on said top surface.

13. The process of claim 11 further comprising the step of coating said top surface of said substrate with a protective coating prior to said step of removing a portion of said bottom surface of said silicon substrate to expose said polysilicon from the back surface of said substrate.

14. The process of claim 11 further comprising depositing a passivation layer on said bottom surface of said substrate.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein said passivation is comprised of silicon dioxide.

16. The process of claim 11 wherein said trench is formed in a <

100>

crystal orientation of said substrate and is oriented along a <

110>

±

30 degrees plane of s aid silicon substrate.

17. The process of claim 11 wherein said trench is formed in a <

100>

crystal orientation of said substrate and is oriented along a <

111>

±

30 degrees plane of the said silicon substrate.