SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING ESD PROTECTION STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING

摘要

A semiconductor device having an ESD protection structure and a method for forming the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device further includes a semiconductor transistor formed in an active cell area of a substrate. The ESD protection structure is formed atop a termination area of the substrate and is of solid closed shape. The ESD protection structure includes a central doped zone of a first conductivity type and a plurality of second-conductivity-type doped zones and first-conductivity-type doped zones alternately disposed surrounding the central doped zone. The central doped zone occupies substantially the entire portion of the ESD protection structure that is overlapped by a gate metal pad, and is electrically coupled to the gate metal pad. The outmost first-conductivity-type doped zone is electrically coupled to a source metal. The ESD protection structure features a reduced resistance and an improved current uniformity and provides enhanced ESD protection to the transistor.