Patents by Inventor Bruce Marchant
Bruce Marchant 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).
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Patent number: 8536042Abstract: A process for forming a vertically conducting semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a topside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as a terminal of the vertically conducting device for biasing the vertically conducting device during operation. The process also includes forming an epitaxial layer extending over the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate but terminating prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a recessed region along a periphery of the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming an interconnect layer extending into the recessed region but terminating prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate in the recessed region to thereby provide a topside contact to the semiconductor substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor CorporationInventors: John T. Andrews, Hamza Yilmaz, Bruce Marchant, Ihsiu Ho
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Publication number: 20110097894Abstract: A process for forming a vertically conducting semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a topside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as a terminal of the vertically conducting device for biasing the vertically conducting device during operation. The process also includes forming an epitaxial layer extending over the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate but terminating prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a recessed region along a periphery of the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming an interconnect layer extending into the recessed region but terminating prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate in the recessed region to thereby provide a topside contact to the semiconductor substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Inventors: John T. Andrews, Hamza Yilmaz, Bruce Marchant, Ihsiu Ho
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Patent number: 7884390Abstract: A vertically conducting semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a topside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as a terminal of the vertically conducting device for biasing the vertically conducting device during operation. An epitaxial layer extends over the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate but terminates prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a recessed region along a periphery of the semiconductor substrate. An interconnect layer extends into the recessed region but terminates prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate in the recessed region to thereby provide a topside contact to the semiconductor substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2008Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor CorporationInventors: John T. Andrews, Hamza Yilmaz, Bruce Marchant, Ihsiu Ho
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Publication number: 20090173993Abstract: A vertically conducting semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a topside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as a terminal of the vertically conducting device for biasing the vertically conducting device during operation. An epitaxial layer extends over the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate but terminates prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a recessed region along a periphery of the semiconductor substrate. An interconnect layer extends into the recessed region but terminates prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate in the recessed region to thereby provide a topside contact to the semiconductor substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: John T. Andrews, Hamza Yilmaz, Bruce Marchant, Ihsiu Ho
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Publication number: 20070221952Abstract: A monolithically integrated trench FET and Schottky diode includes a pair of trenches terminating in a first silicon region of first conductivity type. Two body regions of a second conductivity type separated by a second silicon region of the first conductivity type are located between the pair of trenches. A source region of the first conductivity type is located over each body region. A contact opening extends between the pair of trenches to a depth below the source regions. An interconnect layer fills the contact opening so as to electrically contact the source regions and the second silicon region. Where the interconnect layer electrically contacts the second silicon region, a Schottky contact is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2006Publication date: September 27, 2007Inventors: Paul Thorup, Ashok Challa, Bruce Marchant
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Publication number: 20070155104Abstract: A trench-gated field effect transistor (FET) is formed as follows. Using one mask, a plurality of active gate trenches and at least one gate runner trench are defined and simultaneously formed in a silicon region such that (i) the at least one gate runner trench has a width greater than a width of each of the plurality of active gate trenches, and (ii) the plurality of active gate trenches are contiguous with the at least one gate runner trench.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Inventors: Bruce Marchant, Thomas Grebs, Rodney Ridley, Nathan Kraft
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Publication number: 20060273386Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a body region of a first conductivity type over a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type. A gate trench extends through the body region and terminates within the semiconductor region. At least one conductive shield electrode is disposed in the gate trench. A gate electrode is disposed in the gate trench over but insulated from the at least one conductive shield electrode. A shield dielectric layer insulates the at lease one conductive shield electrode from the semiconductor region. A gate dielectric layer insulates the gate electrode from the body region. The shield dielectric layer is formed such that it flares out and extends directly under the body region.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2006Publication date: December 7, 2006Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Christopher Kocon, Steven Sapp, Dean Probst, Nathan Kraft, Thomas Grebs, Rodney Ridley, Gary Dolny, Bruce Marchant, Joseph Yedinak
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Publication number: 20060237781Abstract: a field effect transistor includes a trench extending into a semiconductor region. The trench has a gate dielectric lining the trench sidewalls and a gate electrode therein. A channel region in the semiconductor region extends along a sidewall of the trench. The gate dielectric has a non-uniform thickness such that a variation in thickness of the gate dielectric along at least a lower portion of the channel region is inversely dependent on a variation in doping concentration in the at least a lower portion of the channel region.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2005Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Bruce Marchant, Ashok Challa
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Publication number: 20060214222Abstract: Various embodiments for improved power devices as well as their methods of manufacture, packaging and circuitry incorporating the same for use in a wide variety of power electronic applications are disclosed. One aspect of the invention combines a number of charge balancing techniques and other techniques for reducing parasitic capacitance to arrive at different embodiments for power devices with improved voltage performance, higher switching speed, and lower on-resistance. Another aspect of the invention provides improved termination structures for low, medium and high voltage devices. Improved methods of fabrication for power devices are provided according to other aspects of the invention. Improvements to specific processing steps, such as formation of trenches, formation of dielectric layers inside trenches, formation of mesa structures and processes for reducing substrate thickness, among others, are presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: September 28, 2006Inventors: Ashok Challa, Alan Elbanhawy, Thomas Grebs, Nathan Kraft, Dean Probst, Rodney Ridley, Steven Sapp, Qi Wang, Chongman Yun, J. Lee, Peter Wilson, Joseph Yedinak, J. Jung, H. Jang, Babak Sani, Richard Stokes, Gary Dolny, John Mytych, Becky Losee, Adam Selsley, Robert Herrick, James Murphy, Gordon Madson, Bruce Marchant, Christopher Rexer, Christopher Kocon, Debra Woolsey
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Publication number: 20060214221Abstract: Various embodiments for improved power devices as well as their methods of manufacture, packaging and circuitry incorporating the same for use in a wide variety of power electronic applications are disclosed. One aspect of the invention combines a number of charge balancing techniques and other techniques for reducing parasitic capacitance to arrive at different embodiments for power devices with improved voltage performance, higher switching speed, and lower on-resistance. Another aspect of the invention provides improved termination structures for low, medium and high voltage devices. Improved methods of fabrication for power devices are provided according to other aspects of the invention. Improvements to specific processing steps, such as formation of trenches, formation of dielectric layers inside trenches, formation of mesa structures and processes for reducing substrate thickness, among others, are presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: September 28, 2006Inventors: Ashok Challa, Alan Elbanhawy, Thomas Grebs, Nathan Kraft, Dean Probst, Rodney Ridley, Steven Sapp, Qi Wang, Chongman Yun, J.G. Lee, Peter Wilson, Joseph Yedinak, J.Y. Jung, H.C. Jang, Babak Sani, Richard Stokes, Gary Dolny, John Mytych, Becky Losee, Adam Selsley, Robert Herrick, James Murphy, Gordon Madson, Bruce Marchant, Christopher Rexer, Christopher Kocon, Debra Woolsey
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Patent number: 7078296Abstract: Self-aligned trench MOSFETs and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. By having a self-aligned structure, the number of MOSFETS per unit area—the cell density—is increased, making the MOSFETs cheaper to produce. The self-aligned structure for the MOSFET is provided by making the sidewall of the overlying isolation dielectric layer substantially aligned with the sidewall of the gate conductor. Such an alignment can be made through any number of methods such as using a dual dielectric process, using a selective dielectric oxidation process, using a selective dielectric deposition process, or a spin-on-glass dielectric process.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Duc Chau, Becky Losee, Bruce Marchant, Dean Probst, Robert Herrick, James Murphy
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Publication number: 20050167742Abstract: Various embodiments for improved power devices as well as their methods of manufacture, packaging and circuitry incorporating the same for use in a wide variety of power electronic applications are disclosed. One aspect of the invention combines a number of charge balancing techniques and other techniques for reducing parasitic capacitance to arrive at different embodiments for power devices with improved voltage performance, higher switching speed, and lower on-resistance. Another aspect of the invention provides improved termination structures for low, medium and high voltage devices. Improved methods of fabrication for power devices are provided according to other aspects of the invention. Improvements to specific processing steps, such as formation of trenches, formation of dielectric layers inside trenches, formation of mesa structures and processes for reducing substrate thickness, among others, are presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2004Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corp.Inventors: Ashok Challa, Alan Elbanhawy, Thomas Grebs, Nathan Kraft, Dean Probst, Rodney Ridley, Steven Sapp, Qi Wang, Chongman Yun, J.G. Lee, Peter Wilson, Joseph Yedinak, J.Y. Jung, H.C. Jang, Babak Sani, Richard Stokes, Gary Dolny, John Mytych, Becky Losee, Adam Selsley, Robert Herrick, James Murphy, Gordon Madson, Bruce Marchant, Christopher Rexer, Christopher Kocon, Debra Woolsey
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Publication number: 20050029618Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a well region of a second conductivity type over the semiconductor region. A source region of the first conductivity type is in an upper portion of the well region. A gate trench is adjacent to the source region. The gate trench extends through the well region and terminates within an upper half of the semiconductor region. A stripe trench extends through the well region and terminates within a lower half of the semiconductor region. The stripe trench is filled with a semiconductor material of the second conductivity type such that: (i) the filled stripe trench is contiguous with the well region, and (ii) the semiconductor material of the second conductivity type forms a PN junction with the semiconductor region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventor: Bruce Marchant
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Publication number: 20030132480Abstract: Self-aligned trench MOSFETs and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. By having a self-aligned structure, the number of MOSFETS per unit area—the cell density—is increased, making the MOSFETs cheaper to produce. The self-aligned structure for the MOSFET is provided by making the sidewall of the overlying isolation dielectric layer substantially aligned with the sidewall of the gate conductor. Such an alignment can be made through any number of methods such as using a dual dielectric process, using a selective dielectric oxidation process, using a selective dielectric deposition process, or a spin-on-glass dielectric process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: Duc Chau, Becky Losee, Bruce Marchant, Dean Probst, Robert Herrick, James Murphy