Trench gate type insulated gate bipolar transistor
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-132218 filed on Apr. 28, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to a trench gate type insulated gate bipolar transistor. As one of the trench-gate type IGBTs, a so-called thinning structure has been given as described below, in which with respect to a structure where a plurality of cell regions that act as IGBT elements are continuously disposed, certain cell regions are periodically thinned out from the plurality of continuous cell regions. This structure is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No., 6,737,705 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-204066. Specifically, in the thinning structure, some cell regions are removed periodically from continuously arranged multiple cells. The above IGBT has a P+-type substrate, an N−-type drift layer disposed on a surface of the P+-type substrate, a P-type base region disposed on a surface of the N−-type drift layer, N+-type emitter regions situated at an inner surface side of the P-type base region, trenches in a depth from a surface of the P-type base region to the N−-type drift layer through the N+-type emitter regions and the P-type base region, gate insulating films formed on inner walls of the trenches, gate electrodes formed within the trench and on the gate insulating film, an emitter electrode disposed on the surface of the P-type base region and electrically connected to a part of the P-type base region and the N+-type emitter regions, and a collector electrode disposed immediately on a back of the P+-type substrate and electrically connected to the P+-type substrate. In the IGBT, the P-type base region is electrically divided into two types of regions (i.e., a first and a second regions) by the trenches, and the N+-type emitter regions and a P-type body region are formed in only one region (i.e., first region) between the two types of regions. The first region is electrically connected to the emitter electrode via the P-type body region. The N+-type emitter regions are disposed partially in a region near the trenches in the first region and channels are formed in portions where the region is contacted to the trenches. The first region in which an IGBT element is formed in this way corresponds to the cell region. In the layout of the IGBT, a plurality of first regions and second regions of the P-type base regions are alternately disposed in a stripe pattern, and each of the second regions is enclosed by the trench. In this way, as one of structures of the IGBT, a structure may be considered, in which each of the second regions is enclosed by the trench, thereby each of the second regions is configured by an independent P-type well and electrically isolated from the first regions or the second regions. However, when the IGBT is formed in the above layout structure, the following two difficulties may be considered to arise. That is, since each of the second regions is separated, electrical potential of each of the second regions is sometimes varied, for example, during switching operation of the IGBT. Therefore, a difficulty that operation of each cell within an IC chip becomes uneven may arise. When a floating condition of each of the second regions is tested, since a plurality of second regions are tested at the same time, a method may be considered, in which each of the second regions is provided with a contact, and the second regions are electrically connected to each together by metal wiring such as Al wiring. Thus, for example, one test pad that has been electrically connected to the second regions is electrically connected to a tester, thereby a test can be easily performed. However, when a special wiring line for electrically connecting the second regions to each together is provided within the IC chip, since restriction is caused in a layout of other wiring lines, a difficulty of decrease in degree of freedom may arise in a wiring layout. Even when each of the second regions of the P-type base regions is configured by a separated P-type well enclosing each of the second regions by the trench, and separating the P-type wells forming respective second regions from one another, the difficulties may arise again. In view of the above-described problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trench gate type insulated gate bipolar transistor having high degree of freedom of wiring layout and having homogeneous operation of each element. A trench gate type insulated gate bipolar transistor includes: a first semiconductor layer having a first conductive type; a second semiconductor having a second conductive type and disposed on a surface of the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor having the first conductive type and disposed on a surface of the second semiconductor layer; a plurality of trenches penetrating the third semiconductor layer and reaching the second semiconductor layer, wherein the third semiconductor layer includes a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions, which are electrically separated by the trenches; a gate insulation film disposed on an inner wall of each trench; a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulation film in each trench; a fourth semiconductor layer having the second conductive type, wherein the fourth semiconductor layer is disposed in a surface portion of each first region of the third semiconductor layer and contacts each trench; a first electrode electrically connecting to the first region of the third semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer without connecting to the second region of the third semiconductor layer; and a second electrode electrically connecting to the first semiconductor layer. The first regions and the second regions are alternately arranged, and at least two second regions are continuously connected together so that the two regions are integrated into one body. In the above transistor, the second regions in the third semiconductor layer, which is not electrically connected to the first region, are commonly integrated so that the integrated second regions have the same electric potential. Thus, the potentials of the second regions are prevented from deviating. Accordingly, operation of each element is uniformed. Further, by integrating the second regions, a wiring for connecting the second regions is not necessary when the second regions are investigated at the same time. Thus, a degree of freedom of wiring layout becomes higher. Accordingly, the transistor has high degree of freedom of wiring layout and homogeneous operation of each element. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: The inventors have preliminarily studied about a trench gate type insulated gate bipolar transistor (i.e., a trench gate type IGBT) as a comparison of the present invention. The IGBT has a P+-type substrate 1, an N−-type drift layer 2 disposed on a surface of the P+-type substrate 1, a P-type base region 3 disposed on a surface of the N−-type drift layer 2, N+-type emitter regions 4 situated at an inner surface side of the P-type base region 3, trenches 5 in a depth from a surface of the P-type base region 3 to the N−-type drift layer 2 through the N+-type emitter regions 4 and the P-type base region 3, gate insulating films 6 formed on inner walls of the trenches 5, gate electrodes 7 formed within the trench 5 and on the gate insulating film 6, an emitter electrode 8 disposed on the surface of the P-type base region 3 and electrically connected to a part of the P-type base region 3 and the N+-type emitter regions 4, and a collector electrode 9 disposed immediately on a back of the P+-type substrate 1 and electrically connected to the P+-type substrate 1. In the IGBT, the P-type base region 3 is electrically divided into two types of first and second regions 3 Between the two types of first and second first regions 3 As a plane layout of the IGBT having the structure, the following layout is considered. In the layout shown in Here, the trench 5 enclosing each of the second regions 3 In the layout shown in In this way, as one of structures of the IGBT, a structure may be considered, in which each of the second regions 3 However, when the IGBT is formed in the layout structure shown in That is, since each of the second regions 3 When a floating condition of each of the second regions 3 However, when a special wiring line for electrically connecting the second regions 3 Even when each of the second regions 3 In view of the above problem, a trench gate type IGBT according to a first embodiment of the present invention is provided. In A correspondence relationship between the embodiment and the invention is as follows. The P-type corresponds to a first conduction type, and the N-type corresponds to a second conduction type. The P+-type substrate 1 corresponds to a first semiconductor layer, the N−-type drift layer 2 corresponds to a second semiconductor layer, the P-type base region 3 corresponds to a third semiconductor layer, and N+-type emitter region 4 corresponds to a fourth semiconductor layer. The emitter electrode 8 corresponds to a first electrode, and the collector electrode 9 corresponds to a second electrode. In the IGBT of the embodiment, for example, a silicon (Si) substrate is used for the P+-type substrate 1. A silicon oxide film (SiO2 film) is used for the gate insulating film 6. Polysilicon (Poly-Si) that is doped with phosphorous (P) in high concentration and thus reduced in resistance is used for the gate electrode 7. The plane layout of the IGBT of the embodiment is a layout in which a pattern of the second regions 3 Specifically, as shown in In the embodiment, unlike the layout shown in As shown in In two laterally sides of the first region 3 The trench 5 is disposed in a manner of completely enclosing one of the first regions 3 The second regions 3 Around the outermost circumference of the second region 3 While the polysilicon is not electrically connected to the gate electrode 7, the insulating film and the polysilicon are formed concurrently, for example, with the gate insulating film 6 and the gate electrode 7. A contact portion 12 for electrically connecting between the second region 3 Next, main features of the embodiment are described. As described before, as shown in Thus, floating potential of the second regions 3 According to the embodiment, the floating potential of the second regions 3 In the first embodiment, as the layout for forming the second regions 3 On the contrary, as the embodiment, as the layout for forming the second regions 3 For example, a pattern of the second regions 3 Moreover, for example, as shown in Again in this embodiment, since the second regions 3 However, when the first and second embodiments are compared, while the second regions 3 (1) As shown in (2) As shown in In other words, the second regions 3 (3) While the plane layout of the IGBT was described using a case that the first regions 3 For example, a layout can be used, wherein the first regions 3 (4) While a plane layout in one block among a plurality of blocks disposed within the IC chip was described in each of the embodiments, a layout of the first regions 3 For example, even if the inside of the IC chip is divided into a plurality of blocks, the second regions 3 (5) While a case that the second regions 3 For example, with respect to a layout where a plurality of the first regions 3 Moreover, among the plurality of second regions 3 Again in this way, in the second regions 3 (6) While such a case that the hole extraction portion 3 (7) In the first example, a case that the outermost circumference trench 21 is disposed around the outermost circumference of the second region 3 (8) The structure of the IGBT can be made to be a structure where an N-type layer having higher impurity concentration than that of the N−-type drift layer 2 is added between the P+-type substrate 1 and the N−-type drift layer 2 with respect to the IGBT shown in (9) While a case that the first conduction type is the P-type, and the second conduction type is the N-type was described as an example in each of the embodiments, the first conduction type can be the N-type, and the second conduction type can be the P-type. That is, all conduction types in respective components of the IGBTs can be made to be opposite conduction types to one another. The present invention has the following aspects. A trench gate type insulated gate bipolar transistor includes: a first semiconductor layer having a first conductive type; a second semiconductor having a second conductive type and disposed on a surface of the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor having the first conductive type and disposed on a surface of the second semiconductor layer; a plurality of trenches penetrating the third semiconductor layer and reaching the second semiconductor layer, wherein the third semiconductor layer includes a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions, which are electrically separated by the trenches; a gate insulation film disposed on an inner wall of each trench; a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulation film in each trench; a fourth semiconductor layer having the second conductive type, wherein the fourth semiconductor layer is disposed in a surface portion of each first region of the third semiconductor layer and contacts each trench; a first electrode electrically connecting to the first region of the third semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer without connecting to the second region of the third semiconductor layer; and a second electrode electrically connecting to the first semiconductor layer. The first regions and the second regions are alternately arranged, and at least two second regions are continuously connected together so that the two regions are integrated into one body. In the above transistor, the second regions in the third semiconductor layer, which is not electrically connected to the first region, are commonly integrated so that the integrated second regions have the same electric potential. Thus, the potentials of the second regions are prevented from deviating. Accordingly, operation of each element is uniformed. Further, by integrating the second regions, a wiring for connecting the second regions is not necessary when the second regions are investigated at the same time. Thus, a degree of freedom of wiring layout becomes higher. Accordingly, the transistor has high degree of freedom of wiring layout and homogeneous operation of each element. Alternatively, one of a plurality of second regions may completely surround one of a plurality of first regions. Thus, the electric potential of the second regions becomes stable. Alternatively, at least a part of a plurality of second regions in an area adjacent to the gate electrode may be integrated into one body, the gate electrode electrically connected with a wiring. Thus, in an IC chip including the transistor, the second regions in one block of the IC chip are integrated into one body. Thus, the electric potential of the second regions becomes much stable. Alternatively, a plurality of second regions in whole area may be integrated into one body. Alternatively, all of the second regions may be integrated into one body so that the one body of the second regions surrounds each first region completely. Alternatively, all of the second regions may be integrated into one body so that the one body provides a comb-teeth shape having a plurality of comb-teeth and a comb-body, and each first region is surrounded with adjacent two comb-teeth and the comb-body. Alternatively, all of the second regions may be integrated into one body so that the one body provides a zigzag pattern, and each first region is sandwiched in the zigzag pattern. Alternatively, all of the second regions may be integrated into one body so that the one body provides a plurality of teeth and an elongated body. The teeth are protruded from both sides of the elongated body, and each first region is surrounded with adjacent two teeth and the elongated body so that the first region is disposed on one of two sides of the elongated body. Alternatively, all of the second regions may be integrated into one body so that the one body provides a donut shape having a center opening and a ring portion, and each first region is disposed in the ring portion of the donut shape so that the first region is surrounded with the one body of the second regions completely. While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments and constructions. The invention is intended to cover various modification and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various combinations and configurations, which are preferred, other combinations and configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the invention. A trench gate type IGBT includes: a first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor on the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor on the second semiconductor layer; trenches for separating the third semiconductor layer into first regions and second regions; a gate insulation film on an inner wall of each trench; a gate electrode on the gate insulation film; a fourth semiconductor layer in a surface portion of each first region and contacting each trench; a first electrode connecting to the first region and the fourth semiconductor layer; and a second electrode connecting to the first semiconductor layer. The first regions and the second regions are alternately arranged. Two second regions are continuously connected together to be integrated into one body. 1. A trench gate type insulated gate bipolar transistor comprising:
a first semiconductor layer having a first conductive type; a second semiconductor having a second conductive type and disposed on a surface of the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor having the first conductive type and disposed on a surface of the second semiconductor layer; a plurality of trenches penetrating the third semiconductor layer and reaching the second semiconductor layer, wherein the third semiconductor layer includes a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions, which are electrically separated by the trenches; a gate insulation film disposed on an inner wall of each trench; a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulation film in each trench; a fourth semiconductor layer having the second conductive type, wherein the fourth semiconductor layer is disposed in a surface portion of each first region of the third semiconductor layer and contacts each trench; a first electrode electrically connecting to the first region of the third semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer without electrically connecting to the second region of the third semiconductor layer; and a second electrode electrically connecting to the first semiconductor layer, wherein the first regions and the second regions are alternately arranged, and at least two second regions are continuously connected together so that the two regions are integrated into one body. 2. The transistor according to one of a plurality of second regions completely surrounds one of a plurality of first regions. 3. The transistor according to at least a part of a plurality of second regions in an area adjacent to the gate electrode are integrated into one body, the gate electrode electrically connected with a wiring. 4. The transistor according to a plurality of second regions in whole area are integrated into one body. 5. The transistor according to all of the second regions are integrated into one body so that the one body of the second regions surrounds each first region completely. 6. The transistor according to all of the second regions are integrated into one body so that the one body provides a comb-teeth shape having a plurality of comb-teeth and a comb-body, and each first region is surrounded with adjacent two comb-teeth and the comb-body. 7. The transistor according to all of the second regions are integrated into one body so that the one body provides a zigzag pattern, and each first region is sandwiched in the zigzag pattern. 8. The transistor according to all of the second regions are integrated into one body so that the one body provides a plurality of teeth and an elongated body, the teeth are protruded from both sides of the elongated body, and each first region is surrounded with adjacent two teeth and the elongated body so that the first region is disposed on one of two sides of the elongated body. 9. The transistor according to all of the second regions are integrated into one body so that the one body provides a donut shape having a center opening and a ring portion, and each first region is disposed in the ring portion of the donut shape so that the first region is surrounded with the one body of the second regions completely.CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
Second Embodiment
Modifications






