Patents by Inventor Erwin Trautmann

Erwin Trautmann 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: 11664427
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having at least one trench therein, and a superlattice layer extending vertically adjacent the at least one trench. The superlattice layer may comprise stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer. Each at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of each group of layers may be constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The vertical semiconductor device may also include a doped semiconductor layer adjacent the superlattice layer, and a conductive body adjacent the doped semiconductor layer on a side thereof opposite the superlattice layer and defining a vertical semiconductor device contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Richard Burton, Dmitri Choutov, Nyles Wynn Cody, Daniel Connelly, Robert J. Mears, Erwin Trautmann
  • Publication number: 20220285498
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having at least one trench therein, and a superlattice layer extending vertically adjacent the at least one trench. The superlattice layer may comprise stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer. Each at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of each group of layers may be constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The vertical semiconductor device may also include a doped semiconductor layer adjacent the superlattice layer, and a conductive body adjacent the doped semiconductor layer on a side thereof opposite the superlattice layer and defining a vertical semiconductor device contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: ROBERT JOHN STEPHENSON, RICHARD BURTON, DMITRI CHOUTOV, NYLES WYNN CODY, DANIEL CONNELLY, ROBERT J. MEARS, ERWIN TRAUTMANN
  • Patent number: 11387325
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having at least one trench therein, and a superlattice liner at least partially covering sidewall portions of the at least one trench and defining a gap between opposing sidewall portions of the superlattice liner. The superlattice liner may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer, with each at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of each group being constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The device may also include a semiconductor layer on the superlattice liner and including a dopant constrained therein by the superlattice liner, and a conductive body within the at least one trench defining a source contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Richard Burton, Dmitri Choutov, Nyles Wynn Cody, Daniel Connelly, Robert J. Mears, Erwin Trautmann
  • Publication number: 20210074814
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having at least one trench therein, and a superlattice liner at least partially covering sidewall portions of the at least one trench and defining a gap between opposing sidewall portions of the superlattice liner. The superlattice liner may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer, with each at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of each group being constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The device may also include a semiconductor layer on the superlattice liner and including a dopant constrained therein by the superlattice liner, and a conductive body within the at least one trench defining a source contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: ROBERT JOHN STEPHENSON, RICHARD BURTON, DMITRI CHOUTOV, NYLES WYNN CODY, DANIEL CONNELLY, ROBERT J. MEARS, ERWIN TRAUTMANN
  • Patent number: 10879356
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, and forming a superlattice liner covering bottom and sidewall portions of the trench. The superlattice liner may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a semiconductor cap layer on the superlattice liner and having a dopant constrained therein by the superlattice liner, and forming a conductive body within the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Richard Burton, Dmitri Choutov, Nyles Wynn Cody, Daniel Connelly, Robert J. Mears, Erwin Trautmann
  • Patent number: 10777451
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having a trench therein, and a superlattice liner at least partially covering bottom and sidewall portions of the trench. The superlattice liner may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The semiconductor device may further include a semiconductor cap layer on the superlattice liner and having a dopant constrained therein by the superlattice liner, and a conductive body within the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Richard Burton, Dmitri Choutov, Nyles Wynn Cody, Daniel Connelly, Robert J Mears, Erwin Trautmann
  • Publication number: 20190280090
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having a trench therein, and a superlattice liner at least partially covering bottom and sidewall portions of the trench. The superlattice liner may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The semiconductor device may further include a semiconductor cap layer on the superlattice liner and having a dopant constrained therein by the superlattice liner, and a conductive body within the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: ROBERT JOHN STEPHENSON, RICHARD BURTON, DMITRI CHOUTOV, NYLES WYNN CODY, DANIEL CONNELLY, ROBERT J, MEARS, ERWIN TRAUTMANN
  • Publication number: 20190279897
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, and forming a superlattice liner covering bottom and sidewall portions of the trench. The superlattice liner may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a semiconductor cap layer on the superlattice liner and having a dopant constrained therein by the superlattice liner, and forming a conductive body within the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Richard Burton, Dmitri Choutov, Nyles Wynn Cody, Daniel Connelly, Robert J. Mears, Erwin Trautmann
  • Patent number: 9972685
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, and a plurality of fins spaced apart on the substrate. Each of the fins may include a lower semiconductor fin portion extending vertically upward from the substrate, and at least one superlattice punch-through layer on the lower fin portion. The superlattice punch-through layer may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers of the superlattice punch-through layer comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. Each fin may also include an upper semiconductor fin portion on the at least one superlattice punch-through layer and extending vertically upward therefrom. The semiconductor device may also include source and drain regions at opposing ends of the fins, and a gate overlying the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Erwin Trautmann
  • Patent number: 9406753
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include an alternating stack of superlattice and bulk semiconductor layers on a substrate, with each superlattice layer including a plurality of stacked group of layers, and each group of layers of the superlattice layer including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The semiconductor device may further include spaced apart source and drain regions in an upper bulk semiconductor layer of the alternating stack of superlattice and bulk semiconductor layers, and a gate on the upper bulk semiconductor layer between the spaced apart source and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Erwin Trautmann
  • Publication number: 20160099317
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, and a plurality of fins spaced apart on the substrate. Each of the fins may include a lower semiconductor fin portion extending vertically upward from the substrate, and at least one superlattice punch-through layer on the lower fin portion. The superlattice punch-through layer may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers of the superlattice punch-through layer comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. Each fin may also include an upper semiconductor fin portion on the at least one superlattice punch-through layer and extending vertically upward therefrom. The semiconductor device may also include source and drain regions at opposing ends of the fins, and a gate overlying the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: ROBERT MEARS, HIDEKI TAKEUCHI, ERWIN TRAUTMANN
  • Patent number: 9275996
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, and a plurality of fins spaced apart on the substrate. Each of the fins may include a lower semiconductor fin portion extending vertically upward from the substrate, and at least one superlattice punch-through layer on the lower fin portion. The superlattice punch-through layer may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers of the superlattice punch-through layer comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. Each fin may also include an upper semiconductor fin portion on the at least one superlattice punch-through layer and extending vertically upward therefrom. The semiconductor device may also include source and drain regions at opposing ends of the fins, and a gate overlying the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: MEARS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Erwin Trautmann
  • Publication number: 20150144878
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include an alternating stack of superlattice and bulk semiconductor layers on a substrate, with each superlattice layer including a plurality of stacked group of layers, and each group of layers of the superlattice layer including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The semiconductor device may further include spaced apart source and drain regions in an upper bulk semiconductor layer of the alternating stack of superlattice and bulk semiconductor layers, and a gate on the upper bulk semiconductor layer between the spaced apart source and drain regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Erwin Trautmann
  • Publication number: 20150144877
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, and a plurality of fins spaced apart on the substrate. Each of the fins may include a lower semiconductor fin portion extending vertically upward from the substrate, and at least one superlattice punch-through layer on the lower fin portion. The superlattice punch-through layer may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers of the superlattice punch-through layer comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. Each fin may also include an upper semiconductor fin portion on the at least one superlattice punch-through layer and extending vertically upward therefrom. The semiconductor device may also include source and drain regions at opposing ends of the fins, and a gate overlying the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Erwin Trautmann