Patents by Inventor Stefaan Decoutere
Stefaan Decoutere 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).
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Patent number: 11380789Abstract: A vertical power device is disclosed, the device having a top side and a bottom side, and the device comprising (i) a substrate; (ii) a layered group III-Nitride based device stack formed atop the substrate; (iii) a first vertical group III-Nitride based device and a second vertical group III-Nitride based device formed in the group III-Nitride based device stack, wherein the first vertical group III-Nitride based device and the second vertical group III-Nitride based device are electrically connected; and (iv) a first vertical device isolation structure that isolates the first vertical group III-Nitride based device from the second vertical group III-Nitride based device. Also disclosed are a vertical power system integrating vertical power devices and a process for fabricating a vertical power device.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Steve Stoffels, Stefaan Decoutere
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Publication number: 20220181159Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including: a substrate; a layer stack with each layer of the layer stack including a Group III-nitride material; and a p-type doped GaN layer on the layer stack. The method also includes providing, on the GaN layer, a metal bi-layer including a first metal layer in contact with GaN layer and a second metal layer on the first metal layer and having a lower sheet resistance than the first metal layer. The method also includes performing a patterning process upon the metal bi-layer and the p-type doped GaN layer such that a first periphery of the first metal layer is aligned to a second periphery of the second metal layer and such that a first cross section of the metal bi-layer is smaller than a second cross section of the GaN layer parallel to the first cross section.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Niels Posthuma, Stefaan Decoutere
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Patent number: 11094629Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) power device having a plurality of layers that are stacked on top of each other and insulated from each other by interlayers, the plurality of layers comprising a lower layer comprising electrical and thermal conductors; a group III-Nitride based device layer formed above the lower layer, the group III-Nitride based device layer comprising at least one group III-Nitride based power device; a control layer formed above the group III-Nitride based device layer, the control layer comprising at least one control device; and a redistribution layer in between the group III-Nitride based device layer and the control layer, the current redistribution layer comprising a metal pattern being provided for laterally redistributing electrical currents and/or heat.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Steve Stoffels
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Publication number: 20200243678Abstract: A vertical power device is disclosed, the device having a top side and a bottom side, and the device comprising (i) a substrate; (ii) a layered group III-Nitride based device stack formed atop the substrate; (iii) a first vertical group III-Nitride based device and a second vertical group III-Nitride based device formed in the group III-Nitride based device stack, wherein the first vertical group III-Nitride based device and the second vertical group III-Nitride based device are electrically connected; and (iv) a first vertical device isolation structure that isolates the first vertical group III-Nitride based device from the second vertical group III-Nitride based device. Also disclosed are a vertical power system integrating vertical power devices and a process for fabricating a vertical power device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Stefaan Decoutere
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Publication number: 20200203274Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) power device having a plurality of layers that are stacked on top of each other and insulated from each other by interlayers, the plurality of layers comprising a lower layer comprising electrical and thermal conductors; a group III-Nitride based device layer formed above the lower layer, the group III-Nitride based device layer comprising at least one group III-Nitride based power device; a control layer formed above the group III-Nitride based device layer, the control layer comprising at least one control device; and a redistribution layer in between the group III-Nitride based device layer and the control layer, the current redistribution layer comprising a metal pattern being provided for laterally redistributing electrical currents and/or heat.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Steve Stoffels
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Patent number: 9711601Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a device including a diode. In one aspect, the device includes a lower group III metal nitride layer and an upper group III metal nitride layer and a heterojunction formed therebetween, where the heterojunction extends horizontally and is configured to form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) that is substantially confined in a vertical direction and within the lower group III metal nitride layer. The device additionally includes a cathode forming an ohmic contact with the upper group III metal nitride layer. The device additionally includes an anode, which includes a first portion that forms a Schottky barrier contact with the upper group III metal nitride layer, and a second portion that is separated vertically from the upper group III metal nitride layer by a layer of dielectric material.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2013Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: IMECInventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Nicolo Ronchi
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Patent number: 9634107Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an Au-free ohmic contact for an III-nitride (III-N) device on a semiconductor substrate and to a III-N device obtainable therefrom. The III-N device includes a buffer layer, a channel layer, a barrier layer, and a passivation layer. A 2DEG layer is formed at an interface between the channel layer and the barrier layer. The method includes forming a recess in the passivation layer and in the barrier layer up to the 2DEG layer, and forming an Au-free metal stack in the recess. The metal stack comprises a Ti/Al bi-layer, with a Ti layer overlying and in contact with a bottom of the recess, and a Al layer overlying and in contact with the Ti layer. A thickness ratio of the Ti layer to the Al layer is between 0.01 to 0.1. After forming the metal stack, a rapid thermal anneal is performed. Optionally, prior to forming the Ti/Al bi-layer, a silicon layer may be formed in contact with the recess.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: IMECInventors: Brice De Jaeger, Marleen Van Hove, Stefaan Decoutere, Steve Stoffels
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Patent number: 9431511Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a Schottky diode and a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) formed on a III-nitride stack. The III-nitride stack includes at least a lower and an upper III-nitride layer forming a heterojunction therebetween, so that a 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer may be formed in the lower layer. The 2DEG layer serves as a charge carrier for the diode and the HEMT. A doped III-nitride layer may be present between a portion of the anode of the diode and the III-nitride stack, and the portion may be located between the diode's Schottky junction and the cathode. A further layer of doped III-nitride material may be present between the gate electrode of the HEMT and the III-nitride stack. The thickness of the III-nitride layers is not equal, so that the turn-on voltage of the diode and the threshold voltage of the HEMT may be tuned according to specific requirements. The disclosure also involves a method of producing such a semiconductor device.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: IMECInventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Silvia Lenci
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Patent number: 9425281Abstract: Enhancement mode III-nitride HEMT and method for manufacturing an enhancement mode III-nitride HEMT are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes providing a substrate having a stack of layers on the substrate, each layer including a III-nitride material, and a passivation layer having high temperature silicon nitride overlying and in contact with an upper layer of the stack of III-nitride layers, wherein the HT silicon nitride is formed by MOCVD or LPCVD or any equivalent technique at a temperature higher than about 450° C. The method also includes forming a recessed gate region by removing the passivation layer only in the gate region, thereby exposing the underlying upper layer. The method also includes forming a p-doped GaN layer at least in the recessed gate region, thereby filling at least partially the recessed gate region, and forming a gate contact and source/drain contacts.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: IMECInventor: Stefaan Decoutere
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Publication number: 20160163695Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising a first III-N transistor having a source region and a second III-N transistor having a source region, both transistors being monolithically integrated on a common silicon substrate of a first doping type and separated from each-other by an isolation region, the substrate comprising underneath the first transistor a well of a first doping type electrically connected to the source region of the first transistor and comprising underneath the second transistor a well of a second doping type electrically connected to the source region of the second transistor, thereby forming a junction diode in the substrate between the sources of the first and the second transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2015Publication date: June 9, 2016Applicant: IMEC VZWInventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Niels Posthuma, Shuzhen You
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Patent number: 9276082Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a Schottky diode and a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) formed on a III-nitride stack. The III-nitride stack includes at least a lower and an upper III-nitride layer forming a heterojunction therebetween, so that a 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer may be formed in the lower layer. The 2DEG layer serves as a charge carrier for the diode and the HEMT. A doped III-nitride layer may be present between a portion of the anode of the diode and the III-nitride stack, and the portion may be located between the diode's Schottky junction and the cathode. A further layer of doped III-nitride material may be present between the gate electrode of the HEMT and the III-nitride stack. The thickness of the III-nitride layers is not equal, so that the turn-on voltage of the diode and the threshold voltage of the HEMT may be tuned according to specific requirements. The disclosure also involves a method of producing such a semiconductor device.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: IMECInventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Silvia Lenci
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Publication number: 20150318374Abstract: Enhancement mode III-nitride HEMT and method for manufacturing an enhancement mode III-nitride HEMT are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes providing a substrate having a stack of layers on the substrate, each layer including a III-nitride material, and a passivation layer having high temperature silicon nitride overlying and in contact with an upper layer of the stack of III-nitride layers, wherein the HT silicon nitride is formed by MOCVD or LPCVD or any equivalent technique at a temperature higher than about 450° C. The method also includes forming a recessed gate region by removing the passivation layer only in the gate region, thereby exposing the underlying upper layer. The method also includes forming a p-doped GaN layer at least in the recessed gate region, thereby filling at least partially the recessed gate region, and forming a gate contact and source/drain contacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventor: Stefaan Decoutere
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Publication number: 20150214327Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a Schottky diode and a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) formed on a III-nitride stack. The III-nitride stack includes at least a lower and an upper III-nitride layer forming a heterojunction therebetween, so that a 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer may be formed in the lower layer. The 2DEG layer serves as a charge carrier for the diode and the HEMT. A doped III-nitride layer may be present between a portion of the anode of the diode and the III-nitride stack, and the portion may be located between the diode's Schottky junction and the cathode. A further layer of doped III-nitride material may be present between the gate electrode of the HEMT and the III-nitride stack. The thickness of the III-nitride layers is not equal, so that the turn-on voltage of the diode and the threshold voltage of the HEMT may be tuned according to specific requirements. The disclosure also involves a method of producing such a semiconductor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: IMECInventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Silvia Lenci
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Patent number: 9041149Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device (30) comprising a substrate (1), a semiconductor body (25) comprising a bipolar transistor that comprises a collector region (3), a base region (4), and an emitter region (15), wherein at least a portion of the collector region (3) is surrounded by a first isolation region (2, 8), the semiconductor body (25) further comprises an extrinsic base region (35) arranged in contacting manner to the base region (4). In this way, a fast semiconductor device with reduced impact of parasitic components is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: NXP, B.V.Inventors: Guillaume Boccardi, Mark C. J. C. M. Kramer, Johannes J. T. M. Donkers, Li Jen Choi, Stefaan Decoutere, Arturo Sibaja-Hernandez, Stefaan Van Huylenbroeck, Rafael Venegas
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Patent number: 8916962Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing them. An example device may include a III-nitride stack having a front side surface and a back side surface. The III-nitride stack may be formed of at least a first layer and a second layer, between which a heterojunction may be formed, such that a two-dimensional electron gas layer is formed in the second layer. A source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode positioned between the source and drain electrodes may be formed on the front side surface, and an insulation layer may be formed over the electrodes on the front side surface. A carrier substrate may be attached to the insulation layer. An electrically conductive back plate may be formed on the back side surface. The back plate may directly face the source electrode and the gate electrode, but not the drain electrode.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: IMECInventors: Sylvia Lenci, Stefaan Decoutere
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Publication number: 20140346568Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an Au-free ohmic contact for an III-nitride (III-N) device on a semiconductor substrate and to a III-N device obtainable therefrom. The III-N device includes a buffer layer, a channel layer, a barrier layer, and a passivation layer. A 2DEG layer is formed at an interface between the channel layer and the barrier layer. The method includes forming a recess in the passivation layer and in the barrier layer up to the 2DEG layer, and forming an Au-free metal stack in the recess. The metal stack comprises a Ti/Al bi-layer, with a Ti layer overlying and in contact with a bottom of the recess, and a Al layer overlying and in contact with the Ti layer. A thickness ratio of the Ti layer to the Al layer is between 0.01 to 0.1. After forming the metal stack, a rapid thermal anneal is performed. Optionally, prior to forming the Ti/Al bi-layer, a silicon layer may be formed in contact with the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: IMECInventors: Brice De Jaeger, Marleen Van Hove, Stefaan Decoutere
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Publication number: 20140306235Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a Schottky diode and a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) formed on a III-nitride stack. The III-nitride stack includes at least a lower and an upper III-nitride layer forming a heterojunction therebetween, so that a 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer may be formed in the lower layer. The 2DEG layer serves as a charge carrier for the diode and the HEMT. A doped III-nitride layer may be present between a portion of the anode of the diode and the III-nitride stack, and the portion may be located between the diode's Schottky junction and the cathode. A further layer of doped III-nitride material may be present between the gate electrode of the HEMT and the III-nitride stack. The thickness of the III-nitride layers is not equal, so that the turn-on voltage of the diode and the threshold voltage of the HEMT may be tuned according to specific requirements. The disclosure also involves a method of producing such a semiconductor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: IMECInventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Silvia Lenci
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Publication number: 20140159118Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing them. An example device may include a III-nitride stack having a front side surface and a back side surface. The III-nitride stack may be formed of at least a first layer and a second layer, between which a heterojunction may be formed, such that a two-dimensional electron gas layer is formed in the second layer. A source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode positioned between the source and drain electrodes may be formed on the front side surface, and an insulation layer may be formed over the electrodes on the front side surface. A carrier substrate may be attached to the insulation layer. An electrically conductive back plate may be formed on the back side surface. The back plate may directly face the source electrode and the gate electrode, but not the drain electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: IMECInventors: Sylvia Lenci, Stefaan Decoutere
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Publication number: 20140103357Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a device including a diode. In one aspect, the device includes a lower group III metal nitride layer and an upper group III metal nitride layer and a heterojunction formed therebetween, where the heterojunction extends horizontally and is configured to form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) that is substantially confined in a vertical direction and within the lower group III metal nitride layer. The device additionally includes a cathode forming an ohmic contact with the upper group III metal nitride layer. The device additionally includes an anode, which includes a first portion that forms a Schottky barrier contact with the upper group III metal nitride layer, and a second portion that is separated vertically from the upper group III metal nitride layer by a layer of dielectric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: IMECInventors: STEFAAN DECOUTERE, Nicolo Ronchi
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Publication number: 20110198671Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device (30) comprising a substrate (1), a semiconductor body (25) comprising a bipolar transistor that comprises a collector region (3), a base region (4), and an emitter region (15), wherein at least a portion of the collector region (3) is surrounded by a first isolation region (2, 8), the semiconductor body (25) further comprises an extrinsic base region (35) arranged in contacting manner to the base region (4). In this way, a fast semiconductor device with reduced impact of parasitic components is obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2009Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicants: NXP B.V., INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICROELEKTRONICA CENTRUM VZWInventors: Guillaume Boccardi, Mark C. J. C. M. Kramer, Johannes J. T. M. Donkers, Li Jen Choi, Stefaan Decoutere, Arturo Sibaja-Hernandez, Stefaan Van Huylenbroeck, Rafael Venegas