Patents by Inventor Thomas Basler

Thomas Basler 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).

  • Publication number: 20240136406
    Abstract: A silicon carbide device includes: a transistor cell having a stripe-shaped trench gate structure extending from a first surface into a silicon carbide body, the gate structure having a gate length along a lateral first direction, a bottom surface and a first gate sidewall of the gate structure being connected via a first bottom edge of the gate structure; at least one source region of a first conductivity type in contact with the first gate sidewall; and a shielding region of a second conductivity type in contact with the first bottom edge of the gate structure across at least 20% of the gate length. No source regions of the first conductivity type are in contact with a second gate sidewall of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Caspar Leendertz, Thomas Basler, Paul Ellinghaus, Rudolf Elpelt, Michael Hell, Jens Peter Konrath, Shiqin Niu, Dethard Peters, Konrad Schraml, Bernd Leonhard Zippelius
  • Publication number: 20240113026
    Abstract: A silicon carbide device includes a silicon carbide substrate, a contact layer located on the silicon carbide substrate and including nickel and silicon, a barrier layer structure including titanium and tungsten, and a metallization layer comprising copper, wherein the contact layer is located between the silicon carbide substrate and at least a part of the barrier layer structure, wherein the barrier layer structure is located between the silicon carbide substrate and the metallization layer, wherein the metallization layer is configured as a contact pad of the silicon carbide device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Edward Fürgut, Ravi Keshav Joshi, Thomas Basler, Martin Gruber, Jochen Hilsenbeck, Wolfgang Scholz
  • Patent number: 11929397
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a silicon carbide semiconductor body having a source region of a first conductivity type and a body region of a second conductivity type; and a trench structure extending from a first surface into the silicon carbide semiconductor body along a vertical direction, the trench structure having a gate electrode and a gate dielectric. The trench structure is stripe-shaped and runs along a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The source region includes a first source sub-region and a second source sub-region alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction. A doping concentration profile of the first source sub-region along the vertical direction differs from a doping concentration profile of the second source sub-region along the vertical direction. A corresponding method of manufacturing the semiconductor device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Basler, Caspar Leendertz, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 11888032
    Abstract: A method of producing a silicon carbide (SiC) device includes: forming a stripe-shaped trench gate structure that extends from a first surface of a SiC body into the SiC body, the gate structure having a gate length along a lateral first direction, a bottom surface and a first gate sidewall of the gate structure being connected via a first bottom edge of the gate structure; forming at least one source region of a first conductivity type; and forming a shielding region of a second conductivity type in contact with the first bottom edge of the gate structure across at least 20% of the gate length. Forming the shielding region includes: forming a deep shielding portion; and forming a top shielding portion between the first surface and the deep shielding portion, the top shielding portion being in contact with the first bottom edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Caspar Leendertz, Thomas Basler, Paul Ellinghaus, Rudolf Elpelt, Michael Hell, Jens Peter Konrath, Shiqin Niu, Dethard Peters, Konrad Schraml, Bernd Leonhard Zippelius
  • Publication number: 20240014104
    Abstract: A semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor transistor circuit comprising a semiconductor transistor die comprising die terminals, including a collector/drain, a source/emitter, a sense source/sense emitter, a gate, and a load path, a driver line connected with the gate, and a gate control loop in which the a sense source/sense emitter is connected with the driver line, a plurality of external contacts comprising at least one first external contact connected with the drain/collector, at least one second external contact connected with the source/emitter, a third external contact connected with the a sense source/sense emitter, and a fourth external contact connected with the gate, wherein the plurality of external contacts are arranged or configured to reduce or utilize the magnetic coupling induced by a load current flowing through the load path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Edward Fürgut, Wolfgang Scholz, Christian Baeumler, Thomas Basler, Xing Liu, Bernd Schmoelzer
  • Patent number: 11843045
    Abstract: A chip includes a semiconductor body coupled to a first and a second load terminal. The semiconductor body includes an active region including a plurality of breakthrough cells, each of the breakthrough cells includes: an insulation structure; a drift region; an anode region, the anode region being electrically connected to the first load terminal and disposed in contact with the first load terminal; a first barrier region arranged in contact with each of the anode region and the insulation structure, where the first barrier region of the plurality of breakthrough cells forms a contiguous semiconductor layer; a second barrier region separating each of the anode region and at least a part of the first barrier region from the drift region; and a doped contact region arranged in contact with the second load terminal, where the drift region is positioned between the second barrier region and the doped contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Markus Beninger-Bina, Thomas Basler, Matteo Dainese, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 11742391
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor component, including: a merged PiN Schottky (MPS) diode structure in a SiC semiconductor body having a drift zone of a first conductivity type; an injection region of a second conductivity type adjoining a first surface of the SiC semiconductor body; a contact structure at the first surface, the contact structure forming a Schottky contact with the drift zone and electrically contacting the injection region; and a zone of the first conductivity type formed between the injection region and a second surface of the SiC semiconductor body, the second surface being situated opposite the first surface. The zone is at a maximal distance of 1 ?m from the injection region of the second conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Basler, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Patent number: 11721689
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor region having charge carriers of a first conductivity type; a transistor cell in the semiconductor region; a semiconductor channel region in the transistor cell and having a first doping concentration of charge carriers of a second conductivity type, wherein a transition between the semiconductor channel region and the semiconductor region forms a first pn-junction; a semiconductor auxiliary region in the semiconductor region and having a second doping concentration of charge carriers of the second conductivity type. A transition between the semiconductor auxiliary region and semiconductor region forms a second pn-junction positioned deeper in the semiconductor region as compared to the first pn-junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Johannes Georg Laven, Roman Baburske, Thomas Basler, Philip Christoph Brandt, Maria Cotorogea
  • Patent number: 11646258
    Abstract: An electronic device and method is disclosed. In one example, the electronic device includes an electrically insulating material, a first load electrode arranged on a first surface of the electrically insulating material, and a second load electrode arranged on a second surface of the electrically insulating material opposite to the first surface, wherein the load electrodes are separated by the electrically insulating material along the entire length on which the load electrodes have opposite sections, wherein surfaces of the load electrodes facing away from the electrically insulating material are uncovered by the electrically insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Edward Fuergut, Thomas Basler, Reinhold Bayerer, Ivan Nikitin
  • Patent number: 11626477
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes: gate structures extending from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body; a drift zone of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC semiconductor body; first mesas and second mesas arranged between the gate structures in the SiC semiconductor body; body areas of a second conductivity type arranged in the first mesas and the second mesas, the body areas each adjoining a first side wall of one of the gate structures; first shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining a second side wall of one of the gate structures; second shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining the body areas in the second mesas; and diode areas of the conductivity type of the drift zone, the diode areas forming Schottky contacts with a load electrode between the first shielding areas and the second shielding areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Thomas Basler, Wolfgang Bergner, Rudolf Elpelt, Romain Esteve, Michael Hell, Daniel Kueck, Caspar Leendertz, Dethard Peters, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20230094032
    Abstract: A method of producing a silicon carbide (SiC) device includes: forming a stripe-shaped trench gate structure that extends from a first surface of a SiC body into the SiC body, the gate structure having a gate length along a lateral first direction, a bottom surface and a first gate sidewall of the gate structure being connected via a first bottom edge of the gate structure; forming at least one source region of a first conductivity type; and forming a shielding region of a second conductivity type in contact with the first bottom edge of the gate structure across at least 20% of the gate length. Forming the shielding region includes: forming a deep shielding portion; and forming a top shielding portion between the first surface and the deep shielding portion, the top shielding portion being in contact with the first bottom edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Caspar Leendertz, Thomas Basler, Paul Ellinghaus, Rudolf Elpelt, Michael Hell, Jens Peter Konrath, Shiqin Niu, Dethard Peters, Konrad Schraml, Bernd Leonhard Zippelius
  • Patent number: 11588048
    Abstract: In an example, a semiconductor device includes an insulated gate transistor cell, a first region (e.g., a drain region and/or a drift region), a cathode region, a second region (e.g., an anode region and/or a separation region), and a source electrode. The insulated gate transistor cell includes a source region and a gate electrode. The source region and the cathode region are in a silicon carbide body. The gate electrode and the cathode region are electrically connected. The cathode region, the source region, and the first region have a first conductivity type. The second region has a second conductivity type and is between the cathode region and the first region. The source electrode and the source region are electrically connected. The source electrode and the second region are in contact with each other. A rectifying junction is electrically coupled between the source electrode and the cathode region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Basler, Hans-Guenter Eckel, Jan Fuhrmann, Dethard Peters, Florian Stoermer
  • Patent number: 11563322
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a unipolar power transistor and an RC snubber. The RC snubber has a capacitor between a poly silicon structure and a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor has a p-n junction. The RC snubber has a resistor between a source of the unipolar power transistor and a first layer forming the capacitor. The unipolar transistor and the RC snubber are coupled in parallel. The RC snubber and the unipolar power transistor are formed monolithically on the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Dethard Peters, Thomas Basler, Paul Sochor
  • Patent number: 11552173
    Abstract: A silicon carbide device includes a stripe-shaped trench gate structure extending from a first surface into a silicon carbide body. The gate structure has a gate length along a lateral first direction. A bottom surface and an active first gate sidewall of the gate structure are connected via a first bottom edge of the gate structure. The silicon carbide device further includes at least one source region of a first conductivity type. A shielding region of a second conductivity type is in contact with the first bottom edge of the gate structure across at least 20% of the gate length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Caspar Leendertz, Thomas Basler, Paul Ellinghaus, Rudolf Elpelt, Michael Hell, Jens Peter Konrath, Shiqin Niu, Dethard Peters, Konrad Schraml, Bernd Leonhard Zippelius
  • Publication number: 20220367443
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor region having charge carriers of a first conductivity type; a transistor cell in the semiconductor region; a semiconductor channel region in the transistor cell and having a first doping concentration of charge carriers of a second conductivity type, wherein a transition between the semiconductor channel region and the semiconductor region forms a first pn-junction; a semiconductor auxiliary region in the semiconductor region and having a second doping concentration of charge carriers of the second conductivity type. A transition between the semiconductor auxiliary region and semiconductor region forms a second pn-junction positioned deeper in the semiconductor region as compared to the first pn-junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Johannes Georg Laven, Roman Baburske, Thomas Basler, Philip Christoph Brandt, Maria Cotorogea
  • Publication number: 20220285283
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a wide bandgap semiconductor material and a first surface, an insulation layer above the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, the insulation layer including at least one opening extending through the insulation layer in a vertical direction, a front metallization above the insulation layer with the insulation layer being interposed between the front metallization and the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a metal connection arranged in the opening of the insulation layer and electrically conductively connecting the front metallization with the semiconductor substrate; wherein the front metallization includes at least one layer that is a metal or a metal alloy having a higher melting temperature than an intrinsic temperature of the wide bandgap semiconductor material of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Edward Fuergut, Ravi Keshav Joshi, Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Basler, Martin Gruber, Jochen Hilsenbeck, Dethard Peters, Roland Rupp, Wolfgang Scholz
  • Patent number: 11437470
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor component having an SiC semiconductor body and a first load terminal on a first surface of the SiC semiconductor body. A second load terminal is formed on a second surface of the SiC semiconductor body opposite the first surface. The semiconductor component has a drift zone of a first conductivity type in the SiC semiconductor body and a first semiconductor area of a second conductivity type which is electrically connected to the first load terminal. A pn junction between the drift zone and the first semiconductor area defines a voltage blocking strength of the semiconductor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Basler, Rudolf Elpelt, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 11410989
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is operable a forward current mode and a reverse current mode and comprises a semiconductor region, and a controllable charge carrier injector, and a gate. A method includes detecting, in the reverse current mode, if the present load current in the reversed direction does not exceed a threshold value, providing a gate signal such that the gate electrode causes the charge carrier injector to induce a first charge carrier density within the semiconductor region so as to conduct a nominal load current in the reverse direction; if the present load current in the reverse direction does exceed the threshold value, operating the semiconductor device in an overload state by providing the gate signal with a voltage that causes the semiconductor region to conduct an overload current in the reverse direction, wherein the second charge carrier density is higher than the first charge carrier density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Johannes Georg Laven, Roman Baburske, Thomas Basler, Philip Christoph Brandt, Maria Cotorogea
  • Patent number: 11404370
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. In an embodiment, the semiconductor device comprises a control region, a first power region, a second power region, an isolation region and/or a short circuit structure. The control region comprises a control terminal. The first power region comprises a first power terminal. The second power region comprises a second power terminal. The isolation region is between the control region and the first power region. The short circuit structure extends from the first power region, through the isolation region, to the control region. The short circuit structure is configured to form a low-resistive connection between the control region and the first power region during a failure state of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Basler, Andreas Huerner, Caspar Leendertz, Dethard Peters
  • Patent number: 11394194
    Abstract: A power inverter includes a bridge circuit including a first half-bridge and a second half-bridge, each half-bridge including a high-side device and a low-side device, and a gate driver circuit connected with each gate of the high-side device and low-side power device of the first and second half-bridges and operable to provide each gate with a respective voltage to control operation of the respective power device. The gate driver is operable to provide a first voltage which is higher than a first threshold voltage of the respective power device, and a second voltage which is higher than a surge threshold of the respective power device. The surge threshold is higher than the first threshold and defines the onset of a surge current operation area of the respective power device at which the power device becomes conducts a surge current that is larger than the rated current of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Johannes Georg Laven, Thomas Basler, Hans-Joachim Schulze