Patents by Inventor Alan S. Chen

Alan S. Chen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10886893
    Abstract: Reduced-size guided-surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators are disclosed. Guided-SAW resonators can achieve high acoustic coupling and acoustic quality Q, but may have a larger surface area compared with a traditional temperature compensated (TC)-SAW resonator. In an exemplary aspect, a guided-SAW device is fabricated with a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor to produce a guided-SAW which has the same high Q with a surface area which is the same or less than traditional TC-SAW resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Gamble, Alan S. Chen
  • Publication number: 20200274519
    Abstract: Reduced-size guided-surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators are disclosed. Guided-SAW resonators can achieve high acoustic coupling and acoustic quality Q, but may have a larger surface area compared with a traditional temperature compensated (TC)-SAW resonator. In an exemplary aspect, a guided-SAW device is fabricated with a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor to produce a guided-SAW which has the same high Q with a surface area which is the same or less than traditional TC-SAW resonators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin J. Gamble, Alan S. Chen
  • Patent number: 10476481
    Abstract: Acoustic filtering circuitry includes a piezoelectric layer, a dielectric layer, a plurality of acoustic resonators, and a capacitor. The dielectric layer is over a surface of the piezoelectric layer. The plurality of acoustic resonators each includes a transducer on the surface of the piezoelectric layer such that the transducer is between the piezoelectric layer and the dielectric layer. The capacitor includes a first plate on the surface of the piezoelectric layer such that the first plate is between the piezoelectric layer and the dielectric layer and a second plate over the first plate such that the second plate and the first plate are separated by at least a portion of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Kurt G. Steiner, Benjamin P. Abbott, Taeho Kook, Scott Shive, Jean Briot
  • Patent number: 10469050
    Abstract: An acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric layer, an interdigital transducer, and a slow wave propagation overlay over a portion of the interdigital transducer. By providing electrode fingers of the interdigital transducer such that a portion of the width thereof is dependent on an electrode period, a desirable wave mode may be maintained in the acoustic wave device. Further, by varying a width of the slow wave propagation overlay based on the electrode period, the desirable wave mode may be further maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Gamble, Benjamin P Abbott, Alan S. Chen, Kurt G. Steiner
  • Patent number: 9973169
    Abstract: Embodiments of a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) device, or filter, and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, the SAW filter comprises a piezoelectric substrate and an Interdigitated Transducer (IDT) on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The IDT includes multiple fingers, each comprising a metal stack. The SAW filter further includes a cap layer on a surface of the IDT opposite the piezoelectric substrate and on areas of the surface of the piezoelectric substrate exposed by the IDT. The cap layer has a thickness in a range of and including 10 to 500 Angstroms and a high electrical resistivity (and thus a low electrical conductivity). For instance, in some embodiments, the electrical resistivity of the cap layer is greater than 10 kilo-ohm meters (K?·m). The SAW filter further includes an oxide overcoat layer on a surface of the cap layer opposite the IDT and the piezoelectric substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt G. Steiner, Curtiss Hella, Benjamin P. Abbott, Daniel Chesire, Chad Thompson, Alan S. Chen
  • Publication number: 20180054179
    Abstract: An acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric layer, an interdigital transducer, and a slow wave propagation overlay over a portion of the interdigital transducer. By providing electrode fingers of the interdigital transducer such that a portion of the width thereof is dependent on an electrode period, a desirable wave mode may be maintained in the acoustic wave device. Further, by varying a width of the slow wave propagation overlay based on the electrode period, the desirable wave mode may be further maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin J. Gamble, Benjamin P. Abbott, Alan S. Chen, Kurt G. Steiner
  • Publication number: 20180041193
    Abstract: Acoustic filtering circuitry includes a piezoelectric layer, a dielectric layer, a plurality of acoustic resonators, and a capacitor. The dielectric layer is over a surface of the piezoelectric layer. The plurality of acoustic resonators each includes a transducer on the surface of the piezoelectric layer such that the transducer is between the piezoelectric layer and the dielectric layer. The capacitor includes a first plate on the surface of the piezoelectric layer such that the first plate is between the piezoelectric layer and the dielectric layer and a second plate over the first plate such that the second plate and the first plate are separated by at least a portion of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Kurt G. Steiner, Benjamin P. Abbott, Taeho Kook, Scott Shive, Jean Briot
  • Publication number: 20170099042
    Abstract: Embodiments of a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) device, or filter, and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, the SAW filter comprises a piezoelectric substrate and an Interdigitated Transducer (IDT) on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The IDT includes multiple fingers, each comprising a metal stack. The SAW filter further includes a cap layer on a surface of the IDT opposite the piezoelectric substrate and on areas of the surface of the piezoelectric substrate exposed by the IDT. The cap layer has a thickness in a range of and including 10 to 500 Angstroms and a high electrical resistivity (and thus a low electrical conductivity). For instance, in some embodiments, the electrical resistivity of the cap layer is greater than 10 kilo-ohm meters (K?·m). The SAW filter further includes an oxide overcoat layer on a surface of the cap layer opposite the IDT and the piezoelectric substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt G. Steiner, Curtiss Hella, Benjamin P. Abbott, Daniel Chesire, Chad Thompson, Alan S. Chen
  • Patent number: 9331667
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may provide a temperature-compensated surface acoustic wave (TCSAW) device, a method of fabricating a TCSAW device, and a system incorporating a TCSAW device. The TCSAW device may include a pyroelectric substrate, a plurality of electrodes formed on a first surface of the pyroelectric substrate, an amorphous silicon layer formed over the plurality of electrodes, and a temperature compensating layer formed over the amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Steiner, Curtiss Hella, Benjamin P. Abbott, Daniel Chesire, Chad Thompson, Alan S. Chen
  • Publication number: 20160020747
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may provide a temperature-compensated surface acoustic wave (TCSAW) device, a method of fabricating a TCSAW device, and a system incorporating a TCSAW device. The TCSAW device may include a pyroelectric substrate, a plurality of electrodes formed on a first surface of the pyroelectric substrate, an amorphous silicon layer formed over the plurality of electrodes, and a temperature compensating layer formed over the amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kurt Steiner, Curtiss Hella, Benjamin P. Abbott, Daniel Chesire, Chad Thompson, Alan S. Chen
  • Patent number: 9209380
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may provide an acoustic wave device, a method of fabricating an acoustic wave device, and a system incorporating an acoustic wave device. The acoustic wave device may include a transducer disposed on a substrate, with a contact coupled with the transducer. The acoustic wave device may further include a wall layer and cap that define an enclosed opening around the transducer. A via may be disposed through the cap and wall layer over the contact, and a top metal may be disposed in the via. The top metal may form a pillar in the via and a pad on the cap above the via. The pillar may provide an electrical connection between the pad and the contact. In some embodiments, the acoustic wave device may be formed as a wafer-level package on a substrate wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Suzanne Combe, Kurt Steiner, Alan S. Chen, Charles E. Carpenter, Ian Yee, Jean Briot, George Grama
  • Patent number: 8294331
    Abstract: An acoustic wave device operable as a piston mode wave guide includes electrodes forming an interdigital transducer on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is defined as having a transversely extending center region and transversely opposing edge regions for guiding an acoustic wave longitudinally through the transducer. A Silicon Oxide overcoat covers the transducer and a Silicon Nitride layer covers the Silicon Oxide overcoat within only the center and edge regions. The thickness of the Silicon Nitride layer is sufficient for providing a frequency modification to the acoustic wave within the center region and is optimized with a positioning of a Titanium strip within each of the opposing edge regions. The Titanium strip reduces the acoustic wave velocity within the edge regions with the velocity in the edge regions being less than the wave velocity within the transducer center region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin P. Abbott, Robert Aigner, Alan S. Chen, Julien Gratier, Taeho Kook, Marc Solal, Kurt G. Steiner
  • Publication number: 20120161577
    Abstract: An acoustic wave device operable as a piston mode wave guide includes electrodes forming an interdigital transducer on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is defined as having a transversely extending center region and transversely opposing edge regions for guiding an acoustic wave longitudinally through the transducer. A Silicon Oxide overcoat covers the transducer and a Silicon Nitride layer covers the Silicon Oxide overcoat within only the center and edge regions. The thickness of the Silicon Nitride layer is sufficient for providing a frequency modification to the acoustic wave within the center region and is optimized with a positioning of a Titanium strip within each of the opposing edge regions. The Titanium strip reduces the acoustic wave velocity within the edge regions with the velocity in the edge regions being less than the wave velocity within the transducer center region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin P. Abbott, Robert Aigner, Alan S. Chen, Kevin Gamble, Julien Gratier, Taeho Kook, Marc Solal, Kurt G. Steiner
  • Patent number: 8106480
    Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a collector located in a semiconductor substrate and an isolation region located under the collector, wherein a peak dopant concentration of the isolation region is separated from a peak dopant concentration of the collector that ranges from about 0.9 microns to about 2.0 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Mark Dyson, Daniel C. Kerr, Nace M. Rossi
  • Patent number: 8044553
    Abstract: A SAW device having metal electrodes on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate includes a dielectric layer deposited on the surface. Depositing the layer results in seams extending upward from the electrodes extending above the surface of the substrate. An additional seam results from one seam extending from one electrode joining a second seam extending from an adjacent electrode within the dielectric layer and is generally formed above the height of the electrodes. The additional seam is removed through planarization or the like. The dielectric layer may be further planarized for providing a thickness of the dielectric layer above the electrodes as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Triquint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Taeho Kook, Kurt G. Steiner, Stephen A. Neston, Timothy J. Daniel
  • Publication number: 20110204747
    Abstract: A SAW device having metal electrodes on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate includes a dielectric layer deposited on the surface. Depositing the layer results in seams extending upward from the electrodes extending above the surface of the substrate. An additional seam results from one seam extending from one electrode joining a second seam extending from an adjacent electrode within the dielectric layer and is generally formed above the height of the electrodes. The additional seam is removed through planarization or the like. The dielectric layer may be further planarized for providing a thickness of the dielectric layer above the electrodes as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: TRIQUINT SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Taeho Kook, Kurt G. Steiner, Stephen A. Neston, Timothy J. Daniel
  • Patent number: 7923340
    Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method provides for a dual implantation of a tub of a bipolar transistor. The tub in bipolar region is implanted by implanting the tub through separate implant masks that are also used to implant tubs associated with MOS fabricate different voltage devices in a non-bipolar region during the fabrication of MOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Mark Dyson, Nace M. Rossi, Ranbir Singh, Xiaojun Yuan
  • Patent number: 7898038
    Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, which includes conducting an etch through an opening in an emitter layer to form a cavity from an underlying oxide layer that exposes a doped tub. A first silicon/germanium (SiGe) layer, which has a Ge concentration therein, is formed within the cavity and over the doped tub by adjusting a process parameter to induce a strain in the first SiGe layer. A second SiGe layer is formed over the first SiGe layer, and a capping layer is formed over the second SiGe layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Mark Dyson, Nace M. Rossi, Ranbir Singh
  • Publication number: 20100102418
    Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a collector located in a semiconductor substrate and an isolation region located under the collector, wherein a peak dopant concentration of the isolation region is separated from a peak dopant concentration of the collector that ranges from about 0.9 microns to about 2.0 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Mark Dyson, Daniel C. Kerr, Nace M. Rossi
  • Publication number: 20100065920
    Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method provides for a dual implantation of a tub of a bipolar transistor. The tub in bipolar region is implanted by implanting the tub through separate implant masks that are also used to implant tubs associated with MOS fabricate different voltage devices in a non-bipolar region during the fabrication of MOS transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Alan S. Chen, Mark Dyson, Nace M. Rossi, Ranbir Singh, Xiaojun Yuan