Patents by Inventor Christine Thero

Christine Thero 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: 5956578
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated VFET and Schottky diode including forming a source region on the upper surface of a substrate so as to define a channel. First and second spaced apart gates are formed on opposing sides of the source region so as to abut the channel, thereby forming a channel structure. Schottky metal is positioned on the upper surface of the substrate proximate the channel structure to define a Schottky diode region and form a Schottky diode. A source contact is formed in communication with the source region and the Schottky metal, and a drain contact is formed on the lower surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Weitzel, Christine Thero, Mohit Bhatnagar
  • Patent number: 5895260
    Abstract: Fabricating a device including a Schottky diode by growing a dielectric film on a SiC substrate structure and forming an ohmic contact on the opposite surface of the substrate structure by depositing a layer of metal and annealing at a temperature above 900.degree. C. Implanting doping material in the substrate structure through spaced apart openings to form high resistivity areas and depositing a dielectric layer on the dielectric film to define a contact opening positioned between the spaced apart high resistivity areas. Annealing the implant at a temperature less than approximately 400.degree. C. to reduce reverse leakage current and depositing metal in the contact opening to form a Schottky contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohit Bhatnagar, Charles E. Weitzel, Christine Thero
  • Patent number: 5877047
    Abstract: This is a method of fabricating a lateral gate, vertical drift region transistor including a semiconductor substrate having a drain on the reverse surface. A doped semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate and a high resistivity region is formed adjacent the surface of the doped layer so as to define a vertical drift region in the doped layer. A lateral channel is formed on the high resistivity region and the doped layer so as to communicate with the vertical drift region. A source is positioned on the lateral channel spaced laterally from the vertical drift region and a gate is positioned on the lateral channel between the drift region and the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Weitzel, Christine Thero
  • Patent number: 5700703
    Abstract: A method of fabricating buried control elements in a semiconductor device by providing a substrate and forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate. A native oxide is formed on the surface, and a mask is then positioned adjacent the surface so as to define a growth area and an unmasked portion. A bright light is selectively directed to grow an oxide film on the unmasked portion of the surface. After forming the oxide film, the native oxide on the growth area is desorbed and a buried control element layer is grown on the epitaxial layer. Subsequently, the oxide film is desorbed and the epitaxial layer is regrown, thereby burying the buried control element layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola
    Inventors: Jenn-Hwa Huang, Christine Thero, Kumar Shiralagi
  • Patent number: 5693969
    Abstract: A lateral MESFET (10,20) utilizes a drain (17) and a source (18) damage termination layer to improve the breakdown voltage of the MESFET (10,20). The source (18) and drain (17) damage termination layers are very shallow to prevent interfering with lateral current flow in the channel layer (12). The source (18) and drain (17) damage termination layers are formed by implanting large inert ions using high implant doses and low implantation energies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola
    Inventors: Charles E. Weitzel, Karen E. Moore, Christine Thero
  • Patent number: 5612232
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including forming a Schottky contact on the surface of a substrate by patterning a layer of nickel to define a contact and annealing the nickel below approximately 600.degree. C. A trench is etched around the Schottky contact utilizing the Schottky contact as an etch mask and inert ions are implanted in the trench to form a damage region. The trench is passivated with a dielectric layer. An ohmic contact can be formed on the reverse side of the substrate prior to formation of the Schottky contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola
    Inventors: Christine Thero, Mohit Bhatnagar, Charles E. Weitzel
  • Patent number: 5571374
    Abstract: A mask (12) is applied to a silicon carbide substrate (11) in order to etch the substrate (11). The material used for the mask (12) has a Mohs hardness factor greater than 4 in order to prevent sputtering material from the mask (12) onto the substrate (11). An oxygen and sulfur hexafluoride plasma is utilized to perform the etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola
    Inventors: Christine Thero, Patricia A. Norton
  • Patent number: 5569937
    Abstract: A lateral silicon carbide transistor (10) utilizes a modulated channel region (18) to form an accumulation region that facilitates a low on-resistance. A doped region of the channel layer forms a channel insert (14) that also lowers the on-resistance of the transistor (10). A damage termination layer (27) is utilized to facilitate providing a high breakdown voltage. Field plates (23,24) also assists in increasing the breakdown voltage and decreasing the on-resistance of the transistor (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola
    Inventors: Mohit Bhatnagar, Charles E. Weitzel, Christine Thero