Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is formed having a plurality of active trenches formed within an active region of the semiconductor device. A first insulator is formed along at least a portion of sidewalls of each active trench. A perimeter termination trench is formed that surrounds the active region. The perimeter termination trench is formed having a first sidewall that is adjacent the active region and a second sidewall that is opposite the first sidewall. An insulator is formed along the second sidewall that has a thickness is greater than an insulator that is formed along the first sidewall.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a transistor having a gate electrode, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein along the gate electrode, the first portion of the transistor has a first gate-to-drain capacitance and a first gate-to-source capacitance, the second portion of the transistor has a second gate-to-drain capacitance and a second gate-to-source capacitance, and a ratio of the first gate-to-drain capacitance to the first gate-to-source capacitance is less than a ratio of the second gate-to-drain capacitance to the second gate-to-source capacitance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device forms gate trenches in a semiconductor substrate. A portion of the material between the trenches is narrowed and another material is formed on sidewalls of the narrowed portion that is substantially not etched by an etchant that etches the material of the portion of the material between the trenches. Source and gate contact openings are formed together.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device forms gate trenches in a semiconductor substrate. A portion of the material between the trenches is narrowed and another material is formed on sidewalls of the narrowed portion that is substantially not etched by an etchant that etches the material of the portion of the material between the trenches. Source and gate contact openings are formed together.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is formed having a plurality of active trenches formed within an active region of the semiconductor device. A first insulator is formed along at least a portion of sidewalls of each active trench. A perimeter termination trench is formed that surrounds the active region. The perimeter termination trench is formed having a first sidewall that is adjacent the active region and a second sidewall that is opposite the first sidewall. An insulator is formed along the second sidewall that has a thickness is greater than an insulator that is formed along the first sidewall.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the disclosed embodiments include an electronic device that has a gate electrode for supplying a gate voltage, a source, a drain, and a channel doped to enable a current to flow from the drain to the source when a voltage is applied to the gate electrode. The electronic device may also include a gate insulator between the channel and the gate electrode. The gate insulator may include a first gate insulator section comprising a first thickness, and a second gate insulator section comprising a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. The gate insulator sections thereby improve the safe operating area by enabling the current to flow through the second gate insulator section at a lower voltage than the first gate insulator section.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor component includes a support and a plurality of leads. An insulated metal substrate having a first portion and a second portion bonded to the support. A semiconductor chip comprising a III-N semiconductor material is bonded to the first portion of the insulated metal substrate and a first electrical interconnect is coupled between a drain bond pad the first portion of the insulated metal substrate. A second semiconductor chip is bonded to the first electrical interconnect. A second electrical interconnect coupled between a lead of the plurality of leads and the second semiconductor chip. In accordance with another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor component includes coupling a first semiconductor chip to a first electrically conductive layer and coupling a second semiconductor chip to a second electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a channel layer and a barrier layer overlying the channel layer. In an embodiment, the electronic device can include a component disposed along a current path between a gate terminal and a gate electrode of a first transistor. In another embodiment, the electronic device can include a second transistor wherein source and gate electrodes of the second transistor are coupled to the gate electrode of the first transistor, and a drain electrode of the second transistor is coupled to the gate terminal. A circuit can include a transistor and a diode. The transistor can include a drain, a gate, and a source, wherein the drain is coupled to a drain terminal, and the source is coupled to a source terminal. The diode can have an anode is coupled to the gate terminal, and a cathode is coupled to a gate of the transistor.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a transistor having a gate electrode, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein along the gate electrode, the first portion of the transistor has a first gate-to-drain capacitance and a first gate-to-source capacitance, the second portion of the transistor has a second gate-to-drain capacitance and a second gate-to-source capacitance, and a ratio of the first gate-to-drain capacitance to the first gate-to-source capacitance is less than a ratio of the second gate-to-drain capacitance to the second gate-to-source capacitance.

Abstract: A device has an active area made of an array of first type of device cells and a gate or shield contact area made of an array of a second type of device cells that are laid out at a wider pitch than the array of first type of device cells. Each first type of device cell in the active area includes a trench that contains a gate electrode and an adjoining mesa that contains the drain, source, body, and channel regions of the device. Each second type of device cell in the gate or shield contact area includes a trench that is wider and deeper than the trench in the first type device cell.

Abstract: A method for forming a cascode rectifier structure includes providing a group III-V semiconductor structure includes a heterostructure disposed on a semiconductor substrate. A first current carrying electrode and a second current carrying electrode are provided adjacent a major surface of the heterostructure and a control electrode is provided between the first and second current carrying electrode. A rectifier device is provided integrated with the group III-V semiconductor structure and is electrically connected to the first current carrying electrode and to a third electrode. The control electrode is provided further electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate and the second current path is generally perpendicular to a primary current path between the first and second current carrying electrodes. The cascode rectifier structure is provided as a two terminal device.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a transistor having a gate electrode, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein along the gate electrode, the first portion of the transistor has a first gate-to-drain capacitance and a first gate-to-source capacitance, the second portion of the transistor has a second gate-to-drain capacitance and a second gate-to-source capacitance, and a ratio of the first gate-to-drain capacitance to the first gate-to-source capacitance is less than a ratio of the second gate-to-drain capacitance to the second gate-to-source capacitance.

Abstract: A device has an active area made of an array of first type of device cells and a gate or shield contact area made of an array of a second type of device cells that are laid out at a wider pitch than the array of first type of device cells. Each device cell in the active area includes a trench that contains a gate electrode and an adjoining mesa that contains the drain, source, body, and channel regions of the device. The second type of device cell includes a trench that is wider than the trench in the first device cell, but a mesa of the second type of device cell has about the same width as the mesa of the first type of device cell. Having about the same width, the mesa in the second type of device cell in the contact area has similar breakdown characteristics as a mesa in the first type of device cell in the active area of the device.

Abstract: A cascode switch structure includes a group III-V transistor structure having a first current carrying electrode, a second current carrying electrode and a first control electrode. A semiconductor MOSFET device includes a third current carrying electrode electrically connected to the first current carrying electrode, a fourth current carrying electrode electrically connected to the first control electrode, and a second control electrode. A first diode includes a first cathode electrode electrically connected to the second current carrying electrode and a first anode electrode. A second diode includes a second anode electrode electrically connected to the first anode electrode and a second cathode electrode electrically connected to the fourth current carrying electrode. In one embodiment, the group III-V transistor structure, the first diode, and the second diode are integrated within a common substrate.

Abstract: A device has an active area made of an array of first type of device cells and a gate or shield contact area made of an array of a second type of device cells that are laid out at a wider pitch than the array of first type of device cells. Each device cell in the active area includes a trench that contains a gate electrode and an adjoining mesa that contains the drain, source, body, and channel regions of the device. The second type of device cell includes a trench that is wider than the trench in the first device cell, but a mesa of the second type of device cell has about the same width as the mesa of the first type of device cell. Having about the same width, the mesa in the second type of device cell in the contact area has similar breakdown characteristics as a mesa in the first type of device cell in the active area of the device.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a channel layer and a barrier layer overlying the channel layer. In an embodiment, the electronic device can include a component disposed along a current path between a gate terminal and a gate electrode of a first transistor. In another embodiment, the electronic device can include a second transistor wherein source and gate electrodes of the second transistor are coupled to the gate electrode of the first transistor, and a drain electrode of the second transistor is coupled to the gate terminal. A circuit can include a transistor and a diode. The transistor can include a drain, a gate, and a source, wherein the drain is coupled to a drain terminal, and the source is coupled to a source terminal. The diode can have an anode is coupled to the gate terminal, and a cathode is coupled to a gate of the transistor.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a bidirectional HEMT. In an aspect, the electronic device can include a pair of switch gate and blocking gate electrodes, wherein the switch gate electrodes are not electrically connected to the blocking gate electrodes, and the first blocking, first switch, second blocking, and second switch gate electrodes are on the same die. In another aspect, the electronic device can include shielding structures having different numbers of laterally extending portions. In a further aspect, the electronic device can include a gate electrode and a shielding structure, wherein a portion of the shielding structure defines an opening overlying the gate electrode.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a cascode connected semiconductor component and a method for manufacturing the cascode connected semiconductor component are provided. The cascode connected semiconductor component has a pair of silicon based transistors, each having a body region, a gate region over the body region, a source region and a drain. The source regions of a first and second silicon based transistor are electrically connected together and the drain regions of the first and second silicon based transistors are electrically connected together. The gate region of the second silicon based transistor is connected to the drain regions of the first and second silicon based transistors. The body region of the second silicon based transistor has a dopant concentration that is greater than the dopant concentration of the first silicon based transistor. A gallium nitride based transistor has a source region coupled to the first and second silicon based transistor.

Abstract: A method for forming a cascode rectifier structure includes providing a group III-V semiconductor structure includes a heterostructure disposed on a semiconductor substrate. A first current carrying electrode and a second current carrying electrode are provided adjacent a major surface of the heterostructure and a control electrode is provided between the first and second current carrying electrode. A rectifier device is provided integrated with the group III-V semiconductor structure and is electrically connected to the first current carrying electrode and to a third electrode. The control electrode is provided further electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate and the second current path is generally perpendicular to a primary current path between the first and second current carrying electrodes. The cascode rectifier structure is provided as a two terminal device.

Abstract: A cascode switch structure includes a group III-V transistor structure having a first current carrying electrode, a second current carrying electrode and a first control electrode. A semiconductor MOSFET device includes a third current carrying electrode electrically connected to the first current carrying electrode, a fourth current carrying electrode electrically connected to the first control electrode, and a second control electrode. A first diode includes a first cathode electrode electrically connected to the second current carrying electrode and a first anode electrode. A second diode includes a second anode electrode electrically connected to the first anode electrode and a second cathode electrode electrically connected to the fourth current carrying electrode. In one embodiment, the group III-V transistor structure, the first diode, and the second diode are integrated within a common substrate.