Patents by Inventor Masahiro Hikita

Masahiro Hikita 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: 7663161
    Abstract: A transistor includes: a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer with a first region and a second region, which are sequentially formed above a substrate; a first p-type semiconductor layer formed on a region of the second semiconductor layer other than the first and second regions; and a second p-type semiconductor layer formed on the first p-type semiconductor layer. The first p-type semiconductor layer is separated from a drain electrode by interposing therebetween a first groove having a bottom composed of the first region, and from a source electrode by interposing therebetween a second groove having a bottom composed of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kaibara, Masahiro Hikita, Tetsuzo Ueda, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7576373
    Abstract: An AlN buffer layer, an undoped GaN layer, an undoped AlGaN layer, a first p-AlGaN layer, a second p-AlGaN layer and a high concentration p-GaN layer are formed in this order on a substrate. A gate electrode establishes ohmic contact with the high concentration p-GaN layer. A source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on the undoped AlGaN layer. Two-dimensional electron gas generated at the interface between the undoped AlGaN layer and the undoped GaN layer and the first and second p-AlGaN layers form a pn junction in a gate region. The second p-AlGaN layer covers a SiN film in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Hikita, Manabu Yanagihara, Tetsuzo Ueda, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7550821
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a nitride semiconductor layer formed on a main surface of the substrate and having a channel region through which electrons drift in a direction parallel to the main surface; and a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes formed spaced apart from each other on an active region in the nitride semiconductor layer. An interlayer insulating film is formed on the nitride semiconductor layer. The interlayer insulating film has openings that respectively expose the first electrodes and has a planarized top surface. A first electrode pad is formed in a region over the active region in the interlayer insulating film and is electrically connected to the exposed first electrodes through the respective openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Shibata, Kazushi Nakazawa, Masahiro Hikita, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tetsuzo Ueda, Manabu Yanagihara, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090146182
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes: first through third nitride semiconductor layers formed in sequence over a substrate. The second nitride semiconductor layer has a band gap energy larger than that of the first nitride semiconductor layer. The third nitride semiconductor layer has an opening. A p-type fourth nitride semiconductor layer is formed so that the opening is filled therewith. A gate electrode is formed on the fourth nitride semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Masahiro HIKITA, Tetsuzo Ueda
  • Publication number: 20090121775
    Abstract: In a transistor, an AlN buffer layer 102, an undoped GaN layer 103, an undoped AlGaN layer 104, a p-type control layer 105, and a p-type contact layer 106 are formed in this order on a sapphire substrate 101. The transistor further includes a gate electrode 110 in ohmic contact with the p-type contact layer 106, and a source electrode 108 and a drain electrode 109 provided on the undoped AlGaN layer 104. By applying a positive voltage to the p-type control layer 105, holes are injected into a channel to increase a current flowing in the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Daisuke Ueda, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tetsuzo Ueda, Manabu Yanagihara, Masahiro Hikita, Hiroaki Ueno
  • Patent number: 7528423
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device, which can simultaneously achieve a normally-off mode of HFET and an improvement in Imax, and further achieve an improvement in gm and a reduction in gate leakage current. In order to keep a thin barrier layer 13 on an operation layer 12 of a substrate 11 directly under a gate electrode for mostly contributing to achieve the normally-off mode and also implement the high Imax, it is configured in such a way that a thickness of the barrier layer 13 can be increased by the semiconductor layer 17 between gate and source regions and between gate and drain regions. It is therefore possible to achieve the normally-off mode and an improvement in Imax as compared with an FET in which a thickness of the barrier layer is designed so as to be uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ueno, Tetsuzo Ueda, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Daisuke Ueda, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Manabu Yanagihara, Yutaka Hirose, Masahiro Hikita
  • Patent number: 7436237
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch includes a first semiconductor circuit having a nonlinear characteristic, and a second semiconductor circuit having a nonlinear characteristic. Each of the first semiconductor circuit and the second semiconductor circuit is configured to at least one of allow and interrupt transmission of a signal. The first semiconductor circuit reduces the nonlinear characteristic of the second semiconductor circuit and the second semiconductor circuit reduces the nonlinear characteristic of the first semiconductor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Indsutrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hikita, Manabu Yanagihara, Daisuke Ueda
  • Publication number: 20080179694
    Abstract: In FET, a second nitride semiconductor layer is provided on a first nitride semiconductor layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode are each provided to have at least a portion thereof in contact with the second nitride semiconductor layer. A concave portion is formed in the upper surface of the second nitride semiconductor layer to be located between the source electrode and the drain electrode. A gate electrode is provided over the concave portion to cover the opening of the concave portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Kazushi NAKAZAWA, Satoshi NAKAZAWA, Tetsuzo UEDA, Tsuyoshi TANAKA, Masahiro HIKITA
  • Publication number: 20080149965
    Abstract: A transistor includes: a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer with a first region and a second region, which are sequentially formed above a substrate; a first p-type semiconductor layer formed on a region of the second semiconductor layer other than the first and second regions; and a second p-type semiconductor layer formed on the first p-type semiconductor layer. The first p-type semiconductor layer is separated from a drain electrode by interposing therebetween a first groove having a bottom composed of the first region, and from a source electrode by interposing therebetween a second groove having a bottom composed of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuhiro KAIBARA, Masahiro HIKITA, Tetsuzo UEDA, Yasuhiro UEMOTO, Tsuyoshi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20080149940
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a nitride semiconductor layer formed on a main surface of the substrate and having a channel region through which electrons drift in a direction parallel to the main surface; and a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes formed spaced apart from each other on an active region in the nitride semiconductor layer. An interlayer insulating film is formed on the nitride semiconductor layer. The interlayer insulating film has openings that respectively expose the first electrodes and has a planarized top surface. A first electrode pad is formed in a region over the active region in the interlayer insulating film and is electrically connected to the exposed first electrodes through the respective openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Daisuke SHIBATA, Kazushi Nakazawa, Masahiro Hikita, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tetsuzo Ueda, Manabu Yanagihara, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080087915
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes: a first nitride semiconductor layer; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a wider band gap than the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a third nitride semiconductor layer formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer. A region of the third nitride semiconductor layer located below the gate electrode is formed with a control region having a p-type conductivity, and a region of the third nitride semiconductor layer located between the gate electrode and each of the source electrode and the drain electrode is formed with a high resistive region having a higher resistance than the that of the control region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Uemoto, Masahiro Hikita, Tetsuzo Ueda, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Daisuke Ueda
  • Publication number: 20080079023
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer formed over the substrate; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a larger band gap energy than the first nitride semiconductor layer; a third nitride semiconductor layer formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer and including a p-type nitride semiconductor with at least a single-layer structure; a gate electrode formed on the third nitride semiconductor layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed in regions located on both sides of the gate electrode, respectively. The third nitride semiconductor layer has a thickness greater in a portion below the gate electrode than in a portion below the side of the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Masahiro Hikita, Tetsuzo Ueda, Manabu Yanagihara, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7291872
    Abstract: In the structure of a semiconductor device of the present invention, a first source electrode is connected to a conductive substrate through a via hole, and a second source electrode is formed. Thus, even if a high reverse voltage is applied between a gate electrode and a drain electrode, electric field concentration likely to occur at an edge of the gate electrode closer to the drain electrode can be effectively dispersed or relaxed. Moreover, the conductive substrate is used as a substrate for forming element formation layers, so that a via hole penetrating the substrate to reach the backside thereof does not have to be formed in the conductive substrate. Thus, with the strength necessary for the conductive substrate maintained, the first source electrode can be electrically connected to a backside electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hikita, Hiroaki Ueno, Yutaka Hirose, Manabu Yanagihara, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20070210332
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device, which can simultaneously achieve a normally-off mode of HFET and an improvement in Imax, and further achieve an improvement in gm and a reduction in gate leakage current. In order to keep a thin barrier layer 13 on an operation layer 12 of a substrate 11 directly under a gate electrode for mostly contributing to achieve the normally-off mode and also implement the high Imax, it is configured in such a way that a thickness of the barrier layer 13 can be increased by the semiconductor layer 17 between gate and source regions and between gate and drain regions. It is therefore possible to achieve the normally-off mode and an improvement in Imax as compared with an FET in which a thickness of the barrier layer is designed so as to be uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki UENO, Tetsuzo Ueda, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Daisuke Ueda, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Manabu Yanagihara, Yutaka Hirose, Masahiro Hikita
  • Publication number: 20070176215
    Abstract: A transistor includes a first semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer and has a band gap larger than that of the first semiconductor layer, a control layer formed on the second semiconductor layer and contains p-type impurities, a gate electrode formed in contact with at least part of the control layer and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on both sides of the control layer, respectively. A third semiconductor layer made of material having a lower etch rate than that of the control layer is formed between the control layer and the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Manabu Yanagihara, Masahiro Hikita, Tetsuzo Ueda, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7241703
    Abstract: A method of forming films in a semiconductor device that can appropriately control a resistance value of a thin film resistance on an ozone TEOS film while preventing a metal thin film from remaining around a surface step unit after the metal thin film was dry etched. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, a step unit with the height of about 1 ?m is formed by forming elements such as HBT on a semiconductor substrate made up of semi-insulating GaAs. Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, a first ozone TEOS film with the thickness of 900 nm by a Normal pressure CVD method using mixed gas of tetraethoxysilane with ozone. Then, a second ozone TEOS film with the thickness of 100 nm is formed by reducing the ozone concentration to 10 g/m3, while maintaining the substrate temperature at 350° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hikita, Yasuhiro Uemoto
  • Patent number: 7217960
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device, which can simultaneously achieve a normally-off mode of HFET and an improvement in Imax, and further achieve an improvement in gm and a reduction in gate leakage current. In order to keep a thin barrier layer 13 on an operation layer 12 of a substrate 11 directly under a gate electrode for mostly contributing to achieve the normally-off mode and also implement the high Imax, it is configured in such a way that a thickness of the barrier layer 13 can be increased by the semiconductor layer 17 between gate and source regions and between gate and drain regions. It is therefore possible to achieve the normally-off mode and an improvement in Imax as compared with an FET in which a thickness of the barrier layer is designed so as to be uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ueno, Tetsuzo Ueda, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Daisuke Ueda, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Manabu Yanagihara, Yutaka Hirose, Masahiro Hikita
  • Publication number: 20060273347
    Abstract: An AlN buffer layer, an undoped GaN layer, an undoped AlGaN layer, a p-type GaN layer and a heavily doped p-type GaN layer are formed in this order. A gate electrode forms an Ohmic contact with the heavily doped p-type GaN layer. A source electrode and a drain electrode are provided on the undoped AlGaN layer. A pn junction is formed in a gate region by a two dimensional electron gas generated at an interface between the undoped AlGaN layer and the undoped GaN layer and the p-type GaN layer, so that a gate voltage can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Masahiro Hikita, Tetsuzo Ueda, Manabu Yanagihara, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7132703
    Abstract: A field-effect transistor includes: a carrier supply layer supplying carriers; a Schottky contact layer forming a Schottky barrier; and an intermediate layer formed between the carrier supply layer and the Schottky contact layer. Here, the intermediate layer has an electron affinity which is higher than an electron affinity of the carrier supply layer but lower than an electron affinity of the Schottky contact layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hikita, Manabu Yanagihara
  • Publication number: 20060157729
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device, which can simultaneously achieve a normally-off mode of HFET and an improvement in Imax, and further achieve an improvement in gm and a reduction in gate leakage current. In order to keep a thin barrier layer 13 on an operation layer 12 of a substrate 11 directly under a gate electrode for mostly contributing to achieve the normally-off mode and also implement the high Imax, it is configured in such a way that a thickness of the barrier layer 13 can be increased by the semiconductor layer 17 between gate and source regions and between gate and drain regions. It is therefore possible to achieve the normally-off mode and an improvement in Imax as compared with an FET in which a thickness of the barrier layer is designed so as to be uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ueno, Tetsuzo Ueda, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Daisuke Ueda, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Manabu Yanagihara, Yutaka Hirose, Masahiro Hikita