Patents by Inventor Daniel Calafut

Daniel Calafut 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: 10192982
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device may include a lightly doped layer formed on a heavily doped layer. One or more devices are formed in the lightly doped layer. Each device includes a body region, a source region, and one or more gate electrodes formed in corresponding trenches in the lightly doped region. Each trench has a first dimension (depth), a a second dimension (width) and a third dimension (length). The body region is of opposite conductivity type to the lightly and heavily doped layers. An opening is formed between first and second trenches through an upper portion of the source region and a body contact region to the body region. A deep implant region of the second conductivity type is formed in the lightly doped layer below the body region. The deep implant region is vertically aligned to the opening and spaced away from a bottom of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Ng, Daniel Calafut, Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Ji Pan, Yeeheng Lee, Jongoh Kim
  • Patent number: 10008579
    Abstract: Schottky structure fabrication includes forming two trenches in a semiconductor material. The trenches are separated from each other by a mesa. Sidewalls and a bottom surface of the trenches are lined with a dielectric material. A conductive material is disposed in the trenches lining the dielectric material on the sidewalls and the bottom surface. The conductive material on the bottom surface of the trenches is removed so that a first portion of conductive material remains on a first sidewall of each trench, and a second portion of conductive material remains on a second sidewall of each trench. The first and second portions of conductive material are electrically isolated from each other. The space between the first and second portions of the conductive material is filled with a trench filling insulator material and a Schottky contact is formed between the outermost sidewalls of the two trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Calafut, Yeeheng Lee
  • Publication number: 20170373185
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device may include a lightly doped layer formed on a heavily doped layer. One or more devices are formed in the lightly doped layer. Each device includes a body region, a source region, and one or more gate electrodes formed in corresponding trenches in the lightly doped region. Each trench has a first dimension (depth), a a second dimension (width) and a third dimension (length). The body region is of opposite conductivity type to the lightly and heavily doped layers. An opening is formed between first and second trenches through an upper portion of the source region and a body contact region to the body region. A deep implant region of the second conductivity type is formed in the lightly doped layer below the body region. The deep implant region is vertically aligned to the opening and spaced away from a bottom of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Ng, Daniel Calafut, Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Ji Pan, Yeeheng Lee, Jongoh Kim
  • Patent number: 9748375
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device may include a lightly doped layer formed on a heavily doped layer. One or more devices are formed in the lightly doped layer. Each device may include a body region, a source region, and one or more gate electrodes formed in corresponding trenches in the lightly doped region. Each of the trenches has a depth in a first dimension, a width in a second dimension and a length in a third dimension. The body region is of opposite conductivity type to the lightly and heavily doped layers. The source region is formed proximate the upper surface. One or more deep contacts are formed at one or more locations along the third dimension proximate one or more of the trenches. The contacts extend in the first direction from the upper surface into the lightly doped layer and are in electrical contact with the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Ng, Daniel Calafut, Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Ji Pan, Yeeheng Lee, Jongoh Kim
  • Patent number: 9673289
    Abstract: A power MOSFET device including a semiconductor layer, an active trench formed in the semiconductor layer and housing a dual oxide thickness trench gate structure where a bottom of the trench gate is isolated from a bottom of the active trench by a liner oxide layer having a first thickness, and a termination trench formed in the semiconductor layer apart from the active trench and housing a dual oxide thickness trench gate structure where a bottom of the trench gate is isolated from a bottom of the termination trench by the liner oxide layer having a second thickness. In one embodiment, the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. In another embodiment, the trench gate in each of the active trench and the termination trench is formed as a single polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Calafut, Madhur Bobde, Yeeheng Lee, Hong Chang
  • Patent number: 9530885
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a normally on high voltage switch device (“normally on switch device”) incorporates a trench gate terminal and buried doped gate region. In other embodiments, a surface gate controlled normally on high voltage switch device is formed with trench structures and incorporates a surface channel controlled by a surface gate electrode. The surface gate controlled normally on switch device may further incorporate a trench gate electrode and a buried doped gate region to deplete the conducting channel to aid in the turning off of the normally on switch device. The normally on switch devices thus constructed can be readily integrated with MOSFET devices and formed using existing high voltage MOSFET fabrication technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Madhur Bobde, Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Karthik Padmanabhan
  • Patent number: 9484453
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a high density trench-based power. The active devices may have a two-step gate oxide. A lower portion may have a thickness that is larger than the thickness of an upper portion of the gate oxide. A lightly doped sub-body layer may be formed below a body region between two or more adjacent active device structures of the plurality. The sub-body layer extends from a depth of the upper portion of the gate oxide to a depth of the lower portion of the gate oxide It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Madhur Bobde, Hong Chang, Yeeheng Lee, Daniel Calafut, Jongoh Kim, Sik Lui, John Chen
  • Publication number: 20160300924
    Abstract: Schottky structure fabrication includes forming two trenches in a semiconductor material. The trenches are separated from each other by a mesa. Sidewalls and a bottom surface of the trenches are lined with a dielectric material. A conductive material is disposed in the trenches lining the dielectric material on the sidewalls and the bottom surface. The conductive material on the bottom surface of the trenches is removed so that a first portion of conductive material remains on a first sidewall of each trench, and a second portion of conductive material remains on a second sidewall of each trench. The first and second portions of conductive material are electrically isolated from each other. The space between the first and second portions of the conductive material is filled with a trench filling insulator material and a Schottky contact is formed between the outermost sidewalls of the two trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Calafut, Yeeheng Lee
  • Patent number: 9450088
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a high density trench-based power MOSFET with self-aligned source contacts. The source contacts are self-aligned with a first insulative spacer and a second insulative spacer, wherein the first spacer is resistant to an etching process that will selectively remove the material the second spacer is made from. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yeeheng Lee, Hong Chang, Jongoh Kim, Sik Lui, Hamza Yilmaz, Madhur Bobde, Daniel Calafut, John Chen
  • Patent number: 9412733
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a Schottky structure with two trenches formed in a semiconductor material. The trenches are spaced apart from each other by a mesa. Each trench may have first and second conductive portions lining the first and second sidewalls. The first and second portions of conductive material are electrically isolated from each other in each trench. The Schottky contact may be formed at any location between the outermost conductive portions. The Schottky structure may be formed in the active area or the termination area of a device die. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Calafut, Yeeheng Lee
  • Patent number: 9391193
    Abstract: Exemplary power semiconductor devices with features providing increased breakdown voltage and other benefits are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Ashok Challa, Daniel M. Kinzer, Dean E. Probst, Daniel Calafut
  • Publication number: 20160190309
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device may include a lightly doped layer formed on a heavily doped layer. One or more devices are formed in the lightly doped layer. Each device may include a body region, a source region, and one or more gate electrodes formed in corresponding trenches in the lightly doped region. Each of the trenches has a depth in a first dimension, a width in a second dimension and a length in a third dimension. The body region is of opposite conductivity type to the lightly and heavily doped layers. The source region is formed proximate the upper surface. One or more deep contacts are formed at one or more locations along the third dimension proximate one or more of the trenches. The contacts extend in the first direction from the upper surface into the lightly doped layer and are in electrical contact with the source region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Ng, Daniel Calafut, Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Ji Pan, Yeeheng Lee, Jongoh Kim
  • Patent number: 9356022
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may have an active device region containing a plurality of active devices and a termination structure that surrounds the active device region. The termination structure includes a first conductive region that surrounds the active device region, an insulator region that surrounds the first conductive region, and a second conductive region that surrounds the first conductive region and the insulator region. The active device region and termination structure are formed into a semiconductor material of a first conductivity type. The first conductive region is electrically connected to a gate metal and the second conductive region is connected to a drain metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yeeheng Lee, Madhur Bobde, Daniel Calafut, Hamza Yilmaz, Xiaobin Wang, Ji Pan, Hong Chang, Jongoh Kim
  • Publication number: 20160099325
    Abstract: A power MOSFET device including a semiconductor layer, an active trench formed in the semiconductor layer and housing a dual oxide thickness trench gate structure where a bottom of the trench gate is isolated from a bottom of the active trench by a liner oxide layer having a first thickness, and a termination trench formed in the semiconductor layer apart from the active trench and housing a dual oxide thickness trench gate structure where a bottom of the trench gate is isolated from a bottom of the termination trench by the liner oxide layer having a second thickness greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Calafut, Madhur Bobde, Yeeheng Lee, Hong Chang
  • Patent number: 9281416
    Abstract: A Schottky diode includes first and second trenches formed in a semiconductor layer where the first and second trenches are lined with a thin dielectric layer and filled partially with a trench conductor layer with the remaining portion being filled with a first dielectric layer. Well regions are formed spaced-apart in a top portion of the semiconductor layer between the first and second trenches. A Schottky metal layer is formed on a top surface of the semiconductor layer between the first and second trenches. The Schottky diode is formed with the Schottky metal layer as the anode and the semiconductor layer between the first and second trenches as the cathode. The trench conductor layer in the first and second trenches is electrically connected to the anode of the Schottky diode. In one embodiment, the Schottky diode is formed integrated with a trench field effect transistor on the same semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Calafut, Yi Su, Jongoh Kim, Hong Chang, Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel S. Ng
  • Patent number: 9281394
    Abstract: A semiconductor power device may include a lightly doped layer formed on a heavily doped layer. One or more devices are formed in the lightly doped layer. Each device may include a body region, a source region, and one or more gate electrodes formed in corresponding trenches in the lightly doped region. Each of the trenches has a depth in a first dimension, a width in a second dimension and a length in a third dimension. The body region is of opposite conductivity type to the lightly and heavily doped layers. The source region is formed proximate the upper surface. One or more deep contacts are formed at one or more locations along the third dimension proximate one or more of the trenches. The contacts extend in the first direction from the upper surface into the lightly doped layer and are in electrical contact with the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Ng, Daniel Calafut, Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Ji Pan, Yeeheng Lee, Jongoh Kim
  • Publication number: 20160064551
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a high density trench-based power MOSFET with self-aligned source contacts. The source contacts are self-aligned with a first insulative spacer and a second insulative spacer, wherein the first spacer is resistant to an etching process that will selectively remove the material the second spacer is made from. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Yeeheng Lee, Hong Chang, Jongoh Kim, Sik Lui, Hamza Yilmaz, Madhur Bobde, Daniel Calafut, John Chen
  • Publication number: 20150380544
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a high density trench-based power. The active devices may have a two-step gate oxide. A lower portion may have a thickness that is larger than the thickness of an upper portion of the gate oxide. A lightly doped sub-body layer may be formed below a body region between two or more adjacent active device structures of the plurality. The sub-body layer extends from a depth of the upper portion of the gate oxide to a depth of the lower portion of the gate oxide It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Madhur Bobde, Hong Chang, Yeeheng Lee, Daniel Calafut, Jongoh Kim, Sik Lui, John Chen
  • Publication number: 20150333174
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may have an active device region containing a plurality of active devices and a termination structure that surrounds the active device region. The termination structure includes a first conductive region that surrounds the active device region, an insulator region that surrounds the first conductive region, and a second conductive region that surrounds the first conductive region and the insulator region. The active device region and termination structure are formed into a semiconductor material of a first conductivity type. The first conductive region is electrically connected to a gate metal and the second conductive region is connected to a drain metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Yeeheng Lee, Madhur Bobde, Daniel Calafut, Hamza Yilmaz, Xiaobin Wang, Ji Pan, Hong Chang, Jongoh Kim
  • Patent number: 9190512
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a high density trench-based power MOSFET with self-aligned source contacts. The source contacts are self-aligned with a first insulative spacer and a second insulative spacer, wherein the first spacer is resistant to an etching process that will selectively remove the material the second spacer is made from. Additionally, the active devices may have a two-step gate oxide, wherein a lower portion of the gate oxide has a thickness T2 that is larger than the thickness T1 of an upper portion of the gate oxide. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Yeeheng Lee, Hong Chang, Jongoh Kim, Sik Lui, Hamza Yilmaz, Madhur Bobde, Daniel Calafut, John Chen