Largely voltage-independent electrical resistor formed in an integrated semiconductor circuit

A resistor chain formed in an integrated semiconductor circuit, comprising:

• a predetermined number of series-connected resistors and end terminal contacts at both ends of said resistor chain, and tapping contacts between the individual resistors, each resistor comprising a useful resistor having two spaced apart useful resistor terminal contact regions and a useful resistor region of semiconductor material located therebetween;
• an auxiliary resistor having two spaced apart auxiliary resistor terminal contact regions and an auxiliary resistor region located therebetween, said auxiliary resistor region formed in semiconductor material located underneath said useful resistor regions;
• intermediate regions provided between said useful resistor regions and said auxiliary resistor region;
• said useful resistor regions in total on the one hand and said auxiliary resistor region on the other hand have a substantially identical topography;
• and
• said useful resistor terminal contact regions forming said end terminal contacts, and said auxiliary resistor terminal contact regions wired in such a manner that, on connection of the semiconductor circuit to a supply voltage source, the auxiliary resistor terminal contact region at one end of said auxiliary resistor region and the auxiliary resistor terminal contact region at the other end of said auxiliary contact region each have the same potential difference with respect to the respectively adjacent useful resistor terminal contact region.

A circuit, comprising:

• an analog signal attenuation circuit and a resistor chain formed in an integrated semiconductor circuit, the resistor chain comprising a predetermined number of series-connected resistors and end terminal contacts at both ends of said resistor chain, and tapping contacts between the individual resistors, each resistor comprising a useful resistor having two spaced apart useful resistor terminal contact regions and a useful resistor region of semiconductor material located therebetween;
• an auxiliary resistor having two spaced apart auxiliary resistor terminal contact regions and an auxiliary resistor region located therebetween, said auxiliary resistor region formed in semiconductor material located underneath said useful resistor regions;
• intermediate regions provided between said useful resistor regions and said auxiliary resistor region;
• said useful resistor regions in total on the one hand and said auxiliary resistor region on the other hand have a substantially identical topography;
• and
• said useful resistor terminal contact regions forming said end terminal contacts, and said auxiliary resistor terminal contact regions wired in such a manner that, on connection of the semiconductor circuit to a supply voltage source, the auxiliary resistor terminal contact region at one end of said auxiliary resistor region and the auxiliary resistor terminal contact region at the other end of said auxiliary contact region each have the same potential difference with respect to the respectively adjacent useful resistor terminal contact region.