Patents by Inventor Toshikazu Hirai

Toshikazu Hirai 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: 9735142
    Abstract: With a microwave FET, an incorporated Schottky junction capacitance or PN junction capacitance is small and such a junction is weak against static electricity. However, with a microwave device, the method of connecting a protecting diode cannot be used since this method increases the parasitic capacitance and causes degradation of the high-frequency characteristics. In order to solve the above problems, a protecting element, having a first n+-type region—insulating region—second n+-type region arrangement is connected in parallel between two terminals of a protected element having a PN junction, Schottky junction, or capacitor. Since discharge can be performed between the first and second n+ regions that are adjacent each other, electrostatic energy that would reach the operating region of an FET can be attenuated without increasing the parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Mikito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20140225227
    Abstract: With a microwave FET, an incorporated Schottky junction capacitance or PN junction capacitance is small and such a junction is weak against static electricity. However, with a microwave device, the method of connecting a protecting diode cannot be used since this method increases the parasitic capacitance and causes degradation of the high-frequency characteristics. In order to solve the above problems, a protecting element, having a first n+-type region—insulating region—second n+-type region arrangement is connected in parallel between two terminals of a protected element having a PN junction, Schottky junction, or capacitor. Since discharge can be performed between the first and second n+ regions that are adjacent each other, electrostatic energy that would reach the operating region of an FET can be attenuated without increasing the parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Mikito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Patent number: 8742506
    Abstract: With a microwave FET, an incorporated Schottky junction capacitance or PN junction capacitance is small and such a junction is weak against static electricity. However, with a microwave device, the method of connecting a protecting diode cannot be used since this method increases the parasitic capacitance and causes degradation of the high-frequency characteristics. In order to solve the above problems, a protecting element, having a first n+-type region-insulating region-second n+-type region arrangement is connected in parallel between two terminals of a protected element having a PN junction, Schottky junction, or capacitor. Since discharge can be performed between the first and second n+ regions that are adjacent each other, electrostatic energy that would reach the operating region of an FET can be attenuated without increasing the parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Mikito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20120228738
    Abstract: With a microwave FET, an incorporated Schottky junction capacitance or PN junction capacitance is small and such a junction is weak against static electricity. However, with a microwave device, the method of connecting a protecting diode cannot be used since this method increases the parasitic capacitance and causes degradation of the high-frequency characteristics. In order to solve the above problems, a protecting element, having a first n+-type region-insulating region-second n+-type region arrangement is connected in parallel between two terminals of a protected element having a PN junction, Schottky junction, or capacitor. Since discharge can be performed between the first and second n+ regions that are adjacent each other, electrostatic energy that would reach the operating region of an FET can be attenuated without increasing the parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro ASANO, Mikito SAKAKIBARA, Toshikazu HIRAI
  • Patent number: 7732868
    Abstract: A protecting element, comprising a first n+-type region, an insulating region, and a second n+-type region, is connected in parallel between two terminals of an FET. Since discharge across the first and second n+ regions is enabled, electrostatic energy that reaches the operating region of the FET can be attenuated without increasing the parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Mikito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Patent number: 7206552
    Abstract: A semiconductor switching device includes two FETs with different device characteristics, a common input terminal, and two output terminals. The gate width of each FET is about 400 ?m, and the maximum power required for the device operation is maintained by a lager conductivity of the channel layer of one FET and by a lower conductivity of the channel layer of another FET. The device operates at frequencies of 2.4 GHz or higher without use of shunt FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20060151816
    Abstract: A protecting element, comprising a first n+-type region, an insulating region, and a second n+-type region, is connected in parallel between two terminals of an FET. Since discharge across the first and second n+ regions is enabled, electrostatic energy that reaches the operating region of the FET can be attenuated without increasing the parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Mikito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Patent number: 6946891
    Abstract: Since improvement measures are not taken in regard to the electrostatic breakdown voltage, electrostatic breakdown voltages, between the common input terminal IN—first control terminal Ctl-1, between the common input terminal IN—second control terminal Ctl-2, between the first control terminal Ctl-1—the first output terminal OUT1, and between the second control terminal Ctl-2—the second output terminal OUT2, where both ends of gate Schottky junctions of FETs are lead out to the exterior, are low. To solve the problem, the embodiment of the invention provides a switch circuit device, wherein protecting elements are connected by disposing two electrode pads, for connection to a single control terminal, on a chip and positioning the electrode pads near the common input terminal pad I and an output terminal pad O1 or O2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Mikito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20050121730
    Abstract: With a microwave FET, an incorporated Schottky junction capacitance or PN junction capacitance is small and such a junction is weak against static electricity. However, with a microwave device, the method of connecting a protecting diode cannot be used since this method increases the parasitic capacitance and causes degradation of the high-frequency characteristics. In order to solve the above problems, a protecting element, having a first n+-type region—insulating region—second n+-type region arrangement is connected in parallel between two terminals of a protected element having a PN junction, Schottky junction, or capacitor. Since discharge can be performed between the first and second n+ regions that are adjacent each other, electrostatic energy that would reach the operating region of an FET can be attenuated without increasing the parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Mikito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Patent number: 6903426
    Abstract: A semiconductor switching device includes two FETs with different device characteristics, a common input terminal, and two output terminals. A signal transmitting FET has a gate width of 500 ?m and a signal receiving FET has a gate width of 400 ?m. A resistor connecting a gate electrode and a control terminal of the signal transmitting FET is tightly configured to provide expanding space for the FET. Despite the reduced size, the switching device can allow a maximum power of 22.5 dBm to pass through because of the asymmetrical device design. The switching device operates at frequencies of 2.4 GHz or higher without use of shunt FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Toshikazu Hirai, Mikito Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 6894371
    Abstract: In a case of a semiconductor chip having an electrode pad to be wire-bonded to a header, securing of a fixing region is difficult since the spread of an Ag paste cannot be controlled, therefore, there has existed a problem such that stable manufacturing could not be carried out. Also, there existed a problem such that realization of stable manufacturing resulted in an excessively large external package form. A projection part is provided in a header, and a fixing region of a bonding wire is secured by arranging a chip at a position shifted in a direction to become distant from the projection part. An electrode pad to be connected to the header is arranged closer to the chip center than the other electrode pads of the identical chip side, and a wire is extended therefrom to the projection part or in the vicinity thereof so as to cross the chip and is fixed. Thereby, downsizing of the package and stable manufacturing are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Hirata, Osamu Isaki, Tsutomu Aono, Toshikazu Hirai, Tetsuro Asano
  • Patent number: 6882210
    Abstract: A switching device receives two pairs of balanced signals and outputs one of the two pairs of the signals. The device is composed of two SPDT switches which share two control signals provided to the gates of the FET of the SPDT switches. The package of the device has eight external electrodes on the back side of the package. The eight external electrodes are configured so that they are aligned symmetrically with respect to the center line of the package. The device requires only a small package space and is suitable for mobile communication application such as cell phone accommodating CDMA and GPS signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Hitoshi Tsuchiya, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Patent number: 6867115
    Abstract: The conventional compound semiconductor switching device is prone to have a large chip size as the gate width needs to be large for achieving a low insertion loss and the separation between the connecting pad and the circuit wiring needs to be larger than 20 ?m for obtaining a proper isolation between them. The overall chip size is reduced, first, by reducing the gate width of the switching FET operating at frequencies above 2.4 GHz to 700 ?m or smaller together with the omission of the shunt FET, and, then, by reducing the separation between the connecting pad and the circuit wiring to 20 ?m or smaller. This reduction of the separation is made possible by the introduction of an insulating film and a impurity region between the outermost portion of the connecting pad and the substrate for preventing the extension of the depletion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Toshikazu Hirai, Takayoshi Higashino, Koichi Hirata, Mikito Sakakibara
  • Publication number: 20040223274
    Abstract: Since improvement measures are not taken in regard to the electrostatic breakdown voltage, electrostatic breakdown voltages, between the common input terminal IN—first control terminal Ctl-1, between the common input terminal IN—second control terminal Ctl-2, between the first control terminal Ctl-1—the first output terminal OUT1, and between the second control terminal Ctl-2—the second output terminal OUT2, where both ends of gate Schottky junctions of FETs are lead out to the exterior, are low. To solve the problem, the embodiment of the invention provides a switch circuit device, wherein protecting elements are connected by disposing two electrode pads, for connection to a single control terminal, on a chip and positioning the electrode pads near the common input terminal pad I and an output terminal pad O1 or O2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Mikito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Hirai
  • Patent number: 6737890
    Abstract: A switching circuit device has a first FET and a second FET, and operates with single control terminal. The device also has a common input terminal connected to the drain or source electrode of the two FETs, a first output terminal and a second output terminal connected to the source or the drain electrode of the respective FET, a bias element applying an bias to the first output terminal, a first connection connecting the control terminal to the second FET, a second connection connecting the gate of the second FET to the ground, and a direct current isolation element placed between the two FETs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Hirai, Tetsuro Asano
  • Patent number: 6657266
    Abstract: A switching circuit device has a first FET and a second FET, and operates with single control terminal. The device also has a common input terminal connected to the drain or source electrode of the two FETs, a first output terminal and a second output terminal connected to the source or the drain electrode of the respective FET, a bias element applying an bias to the first output terminal, a first connection connecting the control terminal to the second FET, a second connection connecting the gate of the second FET to the ground, and a direct current isolation element placed between the two FETs. The device is housed in a MCP6 package with six pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Hirai, Tetsuro Asano
  • Patent number: 6627956
    Abstract: A semiconductor switching device of mirror logic includes two FETs having a gate width of 600 &mgr;m, a common input terminal, two control terminal and two output terminals. The resistors connecting the control terminals and the gate electrodes of FETs are placed underneath a pad metal layer extending from the common input terminal. Both FETs extend into the space between the control terminals and the output terminals. The device can be housed in the same package as the device of non-mirror logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Toshikazu Hirai, Mikito Sakakibara
  • Publication number: 20030164536
    Abstract: In a case of a semiconductor chip having an electrode pad to be wire-bonded to a header, securing of a fixing region is difficult since the spread of an Ag paste cannot be controlled, therefore, there has existed a problem such that stable manufacturing could not be carried out. Also, there existed a problem such that realization of stable manufacturing resulted in an excessively large external package form. A projection part is provided in a header, and a fixing region of a bonding wire is secured by arranging a chip at a position shifted in a direction to become distant from the projection part. An electrode pad to be connected to the header is arranged closer to the chip center than the other electrode pads of the identical chip side, and a wire is extended therefrom to the projection part or in the vicinity thereof so as to cross the chip and is fixed. Thereby, downsizing of the package and stable manufacturing are realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Koichi Hirata, Osamu Isaki, Tsutomu Aono, Toshikazu Hirai, Tetsuro Asano
  • Patent number: 6580107
    Abstract: The conventional compound semiconductor switching device is prone to have a large chip size as the gate width needs to be large for achieving a low insertion loss and the separation between the connecting pad and the circuit wiring needs to be larger than 20 &mgr;m for obtaining a proper isolation between them. The overall chip size is reduced, first, by reducing the gate width of the switching FET operating at frequencies above 2.4 GHz to 700 &mgr;m or smaller together with the omission of the shunt FET, and, then, by reducing the separation between the connecting pad and the circuit wiring to 20 &mgr;m or smaller. This reduction of the separation is made possible by the introduction of an insulating film and a impurity region between the outermost portion of the connecting pad and the substrate for preventing the extension of the depletion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Toshikazu Hirai, Takayoshi Higashino, Koichi Hirata, Mikito Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 6573529
    Abstract: A semiconductor switching device includes two FETs with different device characteristics, a common input terminal, and two output terminals. A signal transmitting FET has a gate width of 500 &mgr;m and a signal receiving FET has a gate width of 400 &mgr;m. A resistor connecting a gate electrode and a control terminal of the signal transmitting FET is tightly configured to provide expanding space for the FET. Despite the reduced size, the switching device can allow a maximum power of 22.5 dBm to pass through because of the asymmetrical device design. The switching device operates at frequencies of 2.4 GHz or higher without use of shunt FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Asano, Toshikazu Hirai, Mikito Sakakibara