Esd Design Challenges And Strategies In Deeply Scaled Integrated Circuits

It is the main objective of this work to address the scaling and design challenges of ESD protection in deeply scaled technologies. First, the thesis introduces the on-chip ESD events, the scaling and design challenges, and the nomenclatures necessary for later chapters. The ESD design window and the I/O schematics for both rail clamping and local clamping ESD schemes are illustrated. Then, the thesis delves into the investigation of the input and output driver devices and examines their robustness under ESD. The input driver's oxide breakdown levels are evaluated in deeply scaled technologies. The output driver's trigger and breakdown voltages are improved appreciably by applying circuit and device design techniques. The ESD device sections first discuss rail-based clamping, a widely used protection scheme. Two diode-based devices, namely the gated diode and substrate diode, are investigated in detail with SOI test structures. Characterization is based on DC current-voltage (I-V), Very Fast Transmission Line Pulse (VF-TLP), capacitance, and leakage measurements. Improvements in performance are realized. Technology computer aided design (TCAD) simulations help understand the physical effects and design tradeoffs. Then, the following section focuses on the local clamping scheme. Two devices, the field-effect diode (FED) and the double-well FED (DWFED), are developed and optimized in an SOI technology. Trigger circuits are designed to improve the turn-on speed. The advantages of local clamping is highlighted and compared with the rail-based clamping. The results show that the FED is a suitable option for power clamping applications and the DWFED is most suitable for pad-based local clamping. The thesis presents an ESD protection design methodology, which takes advantage of the results and techniques from pervious chapters and put each element into a useful format. Based on the correlation of package level and in-lab test results, a design process based on CDM target definition and device optimization, discharge path analysis, parasitic minimization, I/O data rate estimation and finally ESD and performance characterization is used sequentially to systematically realize the overall design goals.

It is the main objective of this work to address the scaling and design challenges of ESD protection in deeply scaled technologies. First, the thesis introduces the on-chip ESD events, the scaling and design challenges, and the nomenclatures necessary for later chapters. The ESD design window and the I/O schematics for both rail clamping and local clamping ESD schemes are illustrated. Then, the thesis delves into the investigation of the input and output driver devices and examines their robustness under ESD. The input driver's oxide breakdown levels are evaluated in deeply scaled technologies. The output driver's trigger and breakdown voltages are improved appreciably by applying circuit and device design techniques. The ESD device sections first discuss rail-based clamping, a widely used protection scheme. Two diode-based devices, namely the gated diode and substrate diode, are investigated in detail with SOI test structures. Characterization is based on DC current-voltage (I-V), Very Fast Transmission Line Pulse (VF-TLP), capacitance, and leakage measurements. Improvements in performance are realized. Technology computer aided design (TCAD) simulations help understand the physical effects and design tradeoffs. Then, the following section focuses on the local clamping scheme. Two devices, the field-effect diode (FED) and the double-well FED (DWFED), are developed and optimized in an SOI technology. Trigger circuits are designed to improve the turn-on speed. The advantages of local clamping is highlighted and compared with the rail-based clamping. The results show that the FED is a suitable option for power clamping applications and the DWFED is most suitable for pad-based local clamping. The thesis presents an ESD protection design methodology, which takes advantage of the results and techniques from pervious chapters and put each element into a useful format. Based on the correlation of package level and in-lab test results, a design process based on CDM target definition and device optimization, discharge path analysis, parasitic minimization, I/O data rate estimation and finally ESD and performance characterization is used sequentially to systematically realize the overall design goals.

* Examines the various methods available for circuit protection, including coverage of the newly developed ESD circuit protection schemes for VLSI circuits. * Provides guidance on the implementation of circuit protection measures. * Includes new sections on ESD design rules, layout approaches, package effects, and circuit concepts. * Reviews the new Charged Device Model (CDM) test method and evaluates design requirements necessary for circuit protection.

A comprehensive and in-depth review of analog circuitlayout, schematic architecture, device, power network and ESDdesign This book will provide a balanced overview of analog circuitdesign layout, analog circuit schematic development,architecture of chips, and ESD design. It will start atan introductory level and will bring the reader right up to thestate-of-the-art. Two critical design aspects for analog and powerintegrated circuits are combined. The first design aspect coversanalog circuit design techniques to achieve the desired circuitperformance. The second and main aspect presents the additionalchallenges associated with the design of adequate and effective ESDprotection elements and schemes. A comprehensive list of practicalapplication examples is used to demonstrate the successfulcombination of both techniques and any potential designtrade-offs. Chapter One looks at analog design discipline, including layoutand analog matching and analog layout design practices. Chapter Twodiscusses analog design with circuits, examining: singletransistor amplifiers; multi-transistor amplifiers; active loadsand more. The third chapter covers analog design layout (alsoMOSFET layout), before Chapters Four and Five discuss analog designsynthesis. The next chapters introduce the reader to analog-digitalmixed signal design synthesis, analog signal pin ESD networks, andanalog ESD power clamps. Chapter Nine, the last chapter, covers ESDdesign in analog applications. Clearly describes analog design fundamentals (circuitfundamentals) as well as outlining the various ESDimplications Covers a large breadth of subjects and technologies, such asCMOS, LDMOS, BCD, SOI, and thick body SOI Establishes an “ESD analog design” discipline thatdistinguishes itself from the alternative ESD digital designfocus Focuses on circuit and circuit design applications Assessible, with the artwork and tutorial style of the ESD bookseries PowerPoint slides are available for university facultymembers Even in the world of digital circuits, analog and power circuitsare two very important but under-addressed topics, especially fromthe ESD aspect. Dr. Voldman’s new book will serve as anessential and practical guide to the greater IC community. Withhigh practical and academic values this book is a“bible” for professionals, graduate students, deviceand circuit designers for investigating the physics of ESD and forproduct designs and testing.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) continues to impact semiconductor components and systems as technologies scale from micro- to nano-electronics. This book studies electrical overstress, ESD, and latchup from a whole-chip ESD design synthesis approach. It provides a clear insight into the integration of ESD protection networks from a generalist perspective, followed by examples in specific technologies, circuits, and chips. Uniquely both the semiconductor chip integration issues and floorplanning of ESD networks are covered from a ‘top-down' design approach. Look inside for extensive coverage on: integration of cores, power bussing, and signal pins in DRAM, SRAM, CMOS image processing chips, microprocessors, analog products, RF components and how the integration influences ESD design and integration architecturing of mixed voltage, mixed signal, to RF design for ESD analysis floorplanning for peripheral and core I/O designs, and the implications on ESD and latchup guard ring integration for both a ‘bottom-up' and ‘top-down' methodology addressing I/O guard rings, ESD guard rings, I/O to I/O, and I/O to core classification of ESD power clamps and ESD signal pin circuitry, and how to make the correct choice for a given semiconductor chip examples of ESD design for the state-of-the-art technologies discussed, including CMOS, BiCMOS, silicon on insulator (SOI), bipolar technology, high voltage CMOS (HVCMOS), RF CMOS, and smart power practical methods for the understanding of ESD circuit power distribution, ground rule development, internal bus distribution, current path analysis, quality metrics ESD: Design and Synthesis is a continuation of the author's series of books on ESD protection. It is an essential reference for: ESD, circuit, and semiconductor engineers; design synthesis team leaders; layout design, characterisation, floorplanning, test and reliability engineers; technicians; and groundrule and test site developers in the manufacturing and design of semiconductor chips. It is also useful for graduate and undergraduate students in electrical engineering, semiconductor sciences, and manufacturing sciences, and on courses involving the design of ESD devices, chips and systems. This book offers a useful insight into the issues that confront modern technology as we enter the nano-electronic era.

This volume is the first in a series of three books addressing Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) physics, devices, circuits and design across the full range of integrated circuit technologies. ESD Physics and Devices provides a concise treatment of the ESD phenomenon and the physics of devices operating under ESD conditions. Voldman presents an accessible introduction to the field for engineers and researchers requiring a solid grounding in this important area. The book contains advanced CMOS, Silicon On Insulator, Silicon Germanium, and Silicon Germanium Carbon. In addition it also addresses ESD in advanced CMOS with discussions on shallow trench isolation (STI), Copper and Low K materials. Provides a clear understanding of ESD device physics and the fundamentals of ESD phenomena. Analyses the behaviour of semiconductor devices under ESD conditions. Addresses the growing awareness of the problems resulting from ESD phenomena in advanced integrated circuits. Covers ESD testing, failure criteria and scaling theory for CMOS, SOI (silicon on insulator), BiCMOS and BiCMOS SiGe (Silicon Germanium) technologies for the first time. Discusses the design and development implications of ESD in semiconductor technologies. An invaluable reference for EMC non-specialist engineers and researchers working in the fields of IC and transistor design. Also, suitable for researchers and advanced students in the fields of device/circuit modelling and semiconductor reliability.

This Book and Simulation Software Bundle Project Dear Reader, this book project brings to you a unique study tool for ESD protection solutions used in analog-integrated circuit (IC) design. Quick-start learning is combined with in-depth understanding for the whole spectrum of cro- disciplinary knowledge required to excel in the ESD ?eld. The chapters cover technical material from elementary semiconductor structure and device levels up to complex analog circuit design examples and case studies. The book project provides two different options for learning the material. The printed material can be studied as any regular technical textbook. At the same time, another option adds parallel exercise using the trial version of a complementary commercial simulation tool with prepared simulation examples. Combination of the textbook material with numerical simulation experience presents a unique opportunity to gain a level of expertise that is hard to achieve otherwise. The book is bundled with simpli?ed trial version of commercial mixed- TM mode simulation software from Angstrom Design Automation. The DECIMM (Device Circuit Mixed-Mode) simulator tool and complementary to the book s- ulation examples can be downloaded from www.analogesd.com. The simulation examples prepared by the authors support the speci?c examples discussed across the book chapters. A key idea behind this project is to provide an opportunity to not only study the book material but also gain a much deeper understanding of the subject by direct experience through practical simulation examples.

Electrical overstress (EOS) and Electrostatic discharge (ESD) pose one of the most dominant threats to integrated circuits (ICs). These reliability concerns are becoming more serious with the downward scaling of device feature sizes. Modeling of Electrical Overstress in Integrated Circuits presents a comprehensive analysis of EOS/ESD-related failures in I/O protection devices in integrated circuits. The design of I/O protection circuits has been done in a hit-or-miss way due to the lack of systematic analysis tools and concrete design guidelines. In general, the development of on-chip protection structures is a lengthy expensive iterative process that involves tester design, fabrication, testing and redesign. When the technology is changed, the same process has to be repeated almost entirely. This can be attributed to the lack of efficient CAD tools capable of simulating the device behavior up to the onset of failure which is a 3-D electrothermal problem. For these reasons, it is important to develop and use an adequate measure of the EOS robustness of integrated circuits in order to address the on-chip EOS protection issue. Fundamental understanding of the physical phenomena leading to device failures under ESD/EOS events is needed for the development of device models and CAD tools that can efficiently describe the device behavior up to the onset of thermal failure. Modeling of Electrical Overstress in Integrated Circuits is for VLSI designers and reliability engineers, particularly those who are working on the development of EOS/ESD analysis tools. CAD engineers working on development of circuit level and device level electrothermal simulators will also benefit from the material covered. This book will also be of interest to researchers and first and second year graduate students working in semiconductor devices and IC reliability fields.

This volume presents an integrated treatment of ESD, I/O, and process parameter interactions that both I/O designers and process designers can use. It examines key factors in I/O and ESD design and testing, and helps the reader consider ESD and reliability issues up front when making I/O choices. Emphasizing clarity and simplicity, this book focuses on design principles that can be applied widely as this dynamic field continues to evolve.

The scaling of semiconductor devices from sub-micron to nanometer dimensions is driving the need for understanding the design of electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuits, and the response of these integrated circuits (IC) to ESD phenomena. ESD Circuits and Devices provides a clear insight into the layout and design of circuitry for protection against electrical overstress (EOS) and ESD. With an emphasis on examples, this text: explains ESD buffering, ballasting, current distribution, design segmentation, feedback, coupling, and de-coupling ESD design methods; outlines the fundamental analytical models and experimental results for the ESD design of MOSFETs and diode semiconductor device elements, with a focus on CMOS, silicon on insulator (SOI), and Silicon Germanium (SiGe) technology; focuses on the ESD design, optimization, integration and synthesis of these elements and concepts into ESD networks, as well as applying within the off-chip driver networks, and on-chip receivers; and highlights state-of-the-art ESD input circuits, as well as ESD power clamps networks. Continuing the author’s series of books on ESD, this book will be an invaluable reference for the professional semiconductor chip and system ESD engineer. Semiconductor device and process development, quality, reliability and failure analysis engineers will also find it an essential tool. In addition, both senior undergraduate and graduate students in microelectronics and IC design will find its numerous examples useful.