Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a lateral high-voltage transistor and associated method for making the same.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a gallium nitride (GaN) substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is substantially opposite the first surface, at least one device layer is coupled to the first surface, and a backside metal is coupled to the second surface. A top metal stack is coupled to the at least one device layer. The top metal stack includes a contact metal coupled to a surface of the at least one device layer, a protection layer coupled to the contact metal, a diffusion barrier coupled to the protection layer, and a pad metal coupled to the diffusion barrier. The semiconductor device is configured to conduct electricity between the top metal stack and the backside metal.

Abstract: The present technology discloses a high-voltage device comprising a high-voltage transistor and an integrated over-voltage protection circuit. The over-voltage protection circuit monitors a voltage across the high-voltage transistor to detect an over-voltage condition of the high-voltage transistor, and turns the high-voltage transistor ON when the over-voltage condition is detected. Thus, once the high-voltage transistor is in over-voltage condition, the high-voltage transistor is turned ON and can dissipate the power from the over-voltage event through its channel.

Abstract: An MOS transistor includes a doping profile that selectively increases the dopant concentration of the body region. The doping profile has a shallow portion that increases the dopant concentration of the body region just under the surface of the transistor under the gate, and a deep portion that increases the dopant concentration of the body region under the source and drain regions. The doping profile may be formed by implanting dopants through the gate, source region, and drain region. The dopants may be implanted in a high energy ion implant step through openings of a mask that is also used to perform another implant step. The dopants may also be implanted through openings of a dedicated mask.

Abstract: A transistor is formed inside an isolation structure which includes a floor isolation region and a trench extending from the surface of the substrate to the floor isolation region. The trench may be filled with a dielectric material or may have a conductive material in a central portion with a dielectric layer lining the walls of the trench.

Abstract: A transistor is formed inside an isolation structure which includes a floor isolation region and a trench extending from the surface of the substrate to the floor isolation region. The trench may be filled with a dielectric material or may have a conductive material in a central portion with a dielectric layer lining the walls of the trench.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electronic device includes providing an engineered substrate structure comprising a III-nitride seed layer, forming GaN-based functional layers coupled to the III-nitride seed layer, and forming a first electrode structure electrically coupled to at least a portion of the GaN-based functional layers. The method also includes joining a carrier substrate opposing the GaN-based functional layers and removing at least a portion of the engineered substrate structure. The method further includes forming a second electrode structure electrically coupled to at least another portion of the GaN-based functional layers and removing the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a vertical gallium nitride (GaN) power device can include providing a GaN substrate with a top surface and a bottom surface, forming a device layer coupled to the top surface of the GaN substrate, and forming a metal contact on a top surface of the vertical GaN power device. The method can further include forming a backside metal by forming an adhesion layer coupled to the bottom surface of the GaN substrate, forming a diffusion barrier coupled to the adhesion layer, and forming a protection layer coupled to the diffusion barrier. The vertical GaN power device can be configured to conduct electricity between the metal contact and the backside metal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a III-nitride substrate of a first conductivity type, a first III-nitride epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the III-nitride substrate, and a first III-nitride epitaxial structure coupled to a first portion of a surface of the first III-nitride epitaxial layer. The first III-nitride epitaxial structure has a sidewall. The semiconductor device further includes a second III-nitride epitaxial structure of the first conductivity type coupled to the first III-nitride epitaxial structure, a second III-nitride epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the sidewall of the second III-nitride epitaxial layer and a second portion of the surface of the first III-nitride epitaxial layer, and a third III-nitride epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type coupled to the second III-nitride epitaxial layer. The semiconductor device also includes one or more dielectric structures coupled to a surface of the third III-nitride epitaxial layer.

Abstract: An example control element for use in a power supply includes a high-voltage transistor and a control circuit to control switching of the high-voltage transistor. The high-voltage transistor includes a drain region, source region, tap region, drift region, and tap drift region, all of a first conductivity type. The transistor also includes a body region of a second conductivity type. An insulated gate is included in the transistor such that when the insulated gate is biased a channel is formed across the body region to form a conduction path between the source region and the drift region. A voltage at the tap region with respect to the source region is substantially constant and less than a voltage at the drain region with respect to the source region in response to the voltage at the drain region exceeding a pinch off voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a III-nitride substrate and a first III-nitride epitaxial layer coupled to the III-nitride substrate and comprising a drift region, a channel region, and an extension region. The channel region is separated from the III-nitride substrate by the drift region. The channel region is characterized by a first width. The extension region is separated from the drift region by the channel region. The extension region is characterized by a second width less than the first width. The semiconductor device also includes a second III-nitride epitaxial layer coupled to a top surface of the extension region, a III-nitride gate structure coupled to a sidewall of the channel region and laterally self-aligned with respect to the extension region, and a gate metal structure in electrical contact with the III-nitride gate structure and laterally self-aligned with respect to the extension region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a III-nitride substrate and a channel structure coupled to the III-nitride substrate. The channel structure comprises a first III-nitride epitaxial material and is characterized by one or more channel sidewalls. The semiconductor device also includes a source region coupled to the channel structure. The source region comprises a second III-nitride epitaxial material. The semiconductor device further includes a III-nitride gate structure coupled to the one or more channel sidewalls, a gate metal structure in electrical contact with the III-nitride gate structure, and a dielectric layer overlying at least a portion of the gate metal structure. A top surface of the dielectric layer is substantially co-planar with a top surface of the source region.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a lateral DMOS with recessed source contact and method for making the same. The lateral DMOS comprises a recessed source contact which has a portion recessed into a source region to reach a body region of the lateral DMOS. The lateral DMOS according to various embodiments of the present invention may have greatly reduced size and may be cost saving for fabrication.

Abstract: A discharge circuit for an EMI filter capacitor includes normally-ON transistors. The normally-ON transistors may be controlled to limit current through them when an AC source is coupled across the discharge circuit. When the AC source is disconnected from the discharge circuit, the normally-ON transistors turn ON to allow current flow through them. The current flow allows the EMI filter capacitor to be discharged by a discharge resistor.

Abstract: The present technology discloses a vertical discrete device with gate and drain electrodes on the same surface and method for making the same. The vertical discrete device comprises a deep gate contact that couples the buried gate to a gate electrode which is formed on the same surface as the drain electrode. The discrete device according to the present technology can be used in co-packaging power management applications and the source electrode of the discrete device may be attached to the leadframe of the package.

Abstract: Processes for forming isolation structures for semiconductor devices include forming a submerged floor isolation region and a filed trench which together enclose an isolated pocket of the substrate. One process aligns the trench to the floor isolation region. In another process a second, narrower trench is formed in the isolated pocket and filled with a dielectric material while the dielectric material is deposited so as to line the walls and floor of the first trench. The substrate does not contain an epitaxial layer, thereby overcoming the many problems associated with fabricating the same.

Abstract: A III-nitride semiconductor device includes an active region for supporting current flow during forward-biased operation of the III-nitride semiconductor device. The active region includes a first III-nitride epitaxial material having a first conductivity type, and a second III-nitride epitaxial material having a second conductivity type. The III-nitride semiconductor device further includes an edge-termination region physically adjacent to the active region and including an implanted region comprising a portion of the first III-nitride epitaxial material.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a GaN substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. The GaN substrate is characterized by a first conductivity type and a first dopant concentration. The semiconductor structure also includes a first GaN epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the second surface of the GaN substrate and a second GaN epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type coupled to the first GaN epitaxial layer. The second GaN epitaxial layer includes an active device region, a first junction termination region characterized by an implantation region having a first implantation profile, and a second junction termination region characterized by an implantation region having a second implantation profile.

Abstract: A lateral high-voltage transistor comprising a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a source region of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor layer; a drain region of the second conductivity type in the semiconductor layer; a first isolation layer atop the semiconductor layer between the source and the drain regions; a first well region of the second conductivity type surrounding the drain region; a gate positioned atop the first isolation layer adjacent to the source region; a spiral resistive field plate atop the first isolation layer spiraling between the drain region and the gate, wherein the spiral resistive field plate is coupled in series to the source and drain regions; and a buried layer of the first conductivity type in the first well region, wherein the buried layer is buried beneath a top surface of the first well region below the spiral resistive field plate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an edge termination, which can be used in conjunction with GaN-based materials, includes providing a substrate of a first conductivity type. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The method also includes forming a first GaN epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the first surface of the substrate and forming a second GaN epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The second GaN epitaxial layer is coupled to the first GaN epitaxial layer. The substrate, the first GaN epitaxial layer and the second GaN epitaxial layer can be referred to as an epitaxial structure.