Patents by Inventor Robert J. Mears

Robert J. Mears 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: 10468245
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate including a first Group IV semiconductor having a recess therein, an active layer comprising a Group III-V semiconductor within the recess, and a buffer layer between the substrate and active layer and comprising a second Group IV semiconductor. The semiconductor device may further include an impurity and point defect blocking superlattice layer adjacent the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 10453945
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include at least one double-barrier resonant tunneling diode (DBRTD). The at least one DBRTD may include a first doped semiconductor layer and a first barrier layer on the first doped semiconductor layer and including a superlattice. The superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, 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 at least one DBRTD may further include an intrinsic semiconductor layer on the first barrier layer, a second barrier layer on the intrinsic semiconductor layer, and a second doped semiconductor layer on the second superlattice layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Marek Hytha
  • Publication number: 20190279868
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate including a first Group IV semiconductor having a recess therein, an active layer comprising a Group III-V semiconductor within the recess, and a buffer layer between the substrate and active layer and comprising a second Group IV semiconductor. The semiconductor device may further include an impurity and point defect blocking superlattice layer adjacent the buffer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • 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
  • 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: 20190279869
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a recess in a substrate including a first Group IV semiconductor, forming an active layer comprising a Group III-V semiconductor within the recess, and forming a buffer layer between the substrate and active layer and comprising a second Group IV semiconductor. The method may further include forming an impurity and point defect blocking superlattice layer adjacent the buffer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: KEITH DORAN WEEKS, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 10361243
    Abstract: A method for making a CMOS image sensor may include forming a plurality of laterally adjacent infrared (IR) photodiode structures on a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type. Forming each IR photodiode structure may include forming a superlattice on the semiconductor substrate including 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 a non-semiconductor monolayer(s) constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The superlattice may have the first conductivity type. A semiconductor layer may be formed on the superlattice, along with a retrograde well extending downward into the semiconductor layer from a surface thereof and having a second conductivity type, a first well around a periphery of the retrograde well having the first conductivity type, and a second well above the retrograde well having the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Marek Hytha
  • Publication number: 20190189677
    Abstract: A method for making a CMOS image sensor may include forming a plurality of laterally adjacent infrared (IR) photodiode structures on a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type. Forming each IR photodiode structure may include forming a superlattice on the semiconductor substrate including 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 a non-semiconductor monolayer(s) constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The superlattice may have the first conductivity type. A semiconductor layer may be formed on the superlattice, along with a retrograde well extending downward into the semiconductor layer from a surface thereof and having a second conductivity type, a first well around a periphery of the retrograde well having the first conductivity type, and a second well above the retrograde well having the first conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: ROBERT J. MEARS, MAREK HYTHA
  • Patent number: 10276625
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor may include a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, and a plurality of laterally adjacent infrared (IR) photodiode structures on the substrate. Each IR photodiode structure may include a superlattice on the semiconductor substrate including 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. Further, the superlattice may have the first conductivity type. The CMOS image sensor may further include a semiconductor layer on the superlattice, a retrograde well extending downward into the semiconductor layer from a surface thereof and having a second conductivity type, a first well around a periphery of the retrograde well having the first conductivity type, and a second well within the retrograde well having the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Marek Hytha
  • Patent number: 10249745
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming at least one double-barrier resonant tunneling diode (DBRTD) by forming a first doped semiconductor layer, and forming a first barrier layer on the first doped semiconductor layer and including a superlattice. The superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, each group of layers including 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 an intrinsic semiconductor layer on the first barrier layer, forming a second barrier layer on the intrinsic semiconductor layer, and forming a second doped semiconductor layer on the second superlattice layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Marek Hytha
  • Publication number: 20190058059
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate and first and second spaced apart shallow trench isolation (STI) regions therein, and a superlattice on the semiconductor substrate and extending between the first and second STI regions. The superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including 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 first semiconductor stringer including a non-monocrystalline body at an interface between a first end of the superlattice and the first STI region, and a gate above the superlattice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Robert John STEPHENSON, SCOTT A. KREPS, ROBERT J. MEARS, KALIPATNAM VIVEK RAO
  • Publication number: 20190057896
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming first and second spaced apart shallow trench isolation (STI) regions in a semiconductor substrate, and forming a superlattice on the semiconductor substrate and extending between the first and second STI regions. The superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, each group of layers including 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 also include forming a first semiconductor stringer comprising a non-monocrystalline body at an interface between a first end of the superlattice and the first STI region, and forming a gate above the superlattice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Robert John STEPHENSON, SCOTT A. KREPS, ROBERT J. MEARS, KALIPATNAM VIVEK RAO
  • Patent number: 10211251
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor may include a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, and a plurality of laterally adjacent infrared (IR) photodiode structures on the substrate. Each IR photodiode structure may include a superlattice on the semiconductor substrate including 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. Further, the superlattice may have the first conductivity type. The CMOS image sensor may further include a semiconductor layer on the superlattice, a retrograde well extending downward into the semiconductor layer from a surface thereof and having a second conductivity type, a first well around a periphery of the retrograde well having the first conductivity type, and a second well within the retrograde well having the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Marek Hytha
  • Patent number: 10170604
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming at least one a double-barrier resonant tunneling diode (DBRTD) by forming a first doped semiconductor layer, and a forming first barrier layer on the first doped semiconductor layer and including a superlattice. The method may further include forming a first intrinsic semiconductor layer on the first barrier layer, forming a second barrier layer on the first intrinsic semiconductor layer and also comprising the superlattice, forming a second intrinsic semiconductor layer on the second barrier layer, and forming a third barrier layer on the second intrinsic semiconductor layer and also comprising the superlattice. The method may further include forming a third intrinsic semiconductor layer on the third barrier layer, forming a fourth barrier layer on the third intrinsic semiconductor layer, and forming a second doped semiconductor layer on the fourth barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Marek Hytha
  • Patent number: 10170560
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a plurality of stacked groups of layers on a semiconductor substrate, 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 implanting a dopant in the semiconductor substrate beneath the plurality of stacked groups of layers in at least one localized region, and performing an anneal of the plurality of stacked groups of layers and semiconductor substrate and with the plurality of stacked groups of layers vertically and horizontally constraining the dopant in the at least one localized region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 10170603
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including at least one double-barrier resonant tunneling diode (DBRTD) is provided. The at least one DBRTD may include a first doped semiconductor layer, and a first barrier layer on the first doped semiconductor layer and including a superlattice. The DBRTD may further include a first intrinsic semiconductor layer on the first barrier layer, a second barrier layer on the first intrinsic semiconductor layer and also including the superlattice, a second intrinsic semiconductor layer on the second barrier layer, a third barrier layer on the second intrinsic semiconductor layer and also including the superlattice. A third intrinsic semiconductor layer may be on the third barrier layer, a fourth barrier layer may be on the third intrinsic semiconductor layer and also including the superlattice, a second doped semiconductor layer on the fourth barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Hideki Takeuchi, Marek Hytha
  • Patent number: 10109479
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice on a semiconductor substrate including a respective plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers may include 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. Further, at least some semiconductor atoms from opposing base semiconductor portions may be chemically bound together through the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer therebetween. The method may further include epitaxially forming a semiconductor layer on the superlattice, and annealing the superlattice to form a buried insulating layer in which the at least some semiconductor atoms are no longer chemically bound together through the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha
  • Patent number: 10084045
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate having a channel recess therein, a plurality of spaced apart shallow trench isolation (STI) regions in the substrate, and source and drain regions spaced apart in the substrate and between a pair of the STI regions. A superlattice channel may be in the channel recess of the substrate and extend between the source and drain regions, with the superlattice channel including a plurality of stacked group of layers, and each group of layers of the superlattice channel including 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. A replacement gate may be over the superlattice channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Tsu-Jae King Liu, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9941359
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate and first transistors having a first operating voltage. Each first transistor may include a first channel and a first punch-through stop (PTS) layer in the semiconductor substrate, and the first PTS layer may be at a first depth below the first channel. The semiconductor device may further include second transistors having a second operating voltage higher than the first operating voltage. Each second transistor may include a second channel and a second PTS layer in the semiconductor substrate, and the second PTS layer may be at a second depth below the second channel that is greater than the first depth. Furthermore, the first channel may include a first superlattice, and the second channel may include a second superlattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9899479
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of field effect transistors (FETs) on the semiconductor substrate. Each FET may include a gate, spaced apart source and drain regions on opposite sides of the gate, upper and lower vertically stacked superlattice layers and a bulk semiconductor layer therebetween between the source and drain regions, and a halo implant having a peak concentration vertically confined in the bulk semiconductor layer between the upper and lower superlattices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Hideki Takeuchi