Regenerative Type Switching Device (e.g., Scr, Comfet, Thyristor) Patents (Class 257/107)
  • Patent number: 8324656
    Abstract: Embodiments of integrated circuits for mitigating against electrostatic coupling are described. In an embodiment, first gate dielectrics are respectively located over first active regions. First isolation regions are respectively located between the first active regions. Second gate dielectrics are respectively located over second active regions. Second isolation regions are respectively located between the second active regions. In an embodiment, the first active regions are approximately 20 to 80 percent shorter in height/thickness than the second active regions. In another embodiment, the first isolation regions extend above an uppermost surface of the first gate dielectrics while providing gaps between the first isolation regions and sidewalls of the first active regions for receipt of material used in formation of conductive lines. In yet another embodiment, active area stripes are narrower in width at p-base regions and n-base regions than at cathode regions and anode regions respectively thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh N. Gupta, Marc Laurent Tarabbia, Kevin J. Yang
  • Patent number: 8288795
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a plurality of thyristor-based memory cells, each having a cell size of 4F2, and methods for forming the same are provided. The thyristor-based memory cells each include a thyristor having vertically superposed regions of alternating dopant types, and a control gate. The control gate may be electrically coupled with one or more of the thyristors and may be operably coupled to a voltage source. The thyristor-based memory cells may be formed in an array on a conductive strap, which may function as a cathode or a data line. A system may be formed by integrating the semiconductor devices with one or more memory access devices or conventional logic devices, such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanh D. Tang
  • Patent number: 8278715
    Abstract: An ESD protection structure is disclosed. A substrate comprises a first conductive type. A first diffusion region is formed in the substrate. A first doped region is formed in the first diffusion region. A second doped region is formed in the first diffusion region. A third doped region is formed in the substrate. A first isolation region is formed in the substrate, covers a portion of the first diffusion region and is located between the second and the third doped regions. A fourth doped region is formed in the substrate. When the first doped region is coupled to a first power line and the third and the fourth doped regions are coupled to a second power line, an ESD current can be released to the second power line from the first power line. During the release of the ESD current, the second doped region is not electrically connected to the first power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yeh-Ning Jou, Chia-Wei Hung, Hwa-Chyi Chiou, Yeh-Jen Huang, Shu-Ling Chang
  • Patent number: 8247839
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit including an SCR having at least one PNP transistor and at least one NPN transistor such that at least one of the PNP transistor and the NPN transistor having an additional second collector. The circuit further including at least one control circuit coupled to the at least one second collector to control holding voltage of the SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventor: Sven Van Wijmeersch
  • Patent number: 8242534
    Abstract: The present invention improves the performance of a semiconductor device formed with a triac. A thyristor is formed between a back surface electrode and an electrode by p-type semiconductor regions, an n-type substrate region, p-type semiconductor regions and an n-type semiconductor region. A thyristor is formed therebetween by the p-type semiconductor regions, the n-type substrate region, the p-type semiconductor regions and an n-type semiconductor region. The two thyristors are opposite in the direction of currents flowing between the back surface electrode and the electrode. The p-type semiconductor region of a high impurity concentration is formed so as to be internally included in the p-type semiconductor region of a low impurity concentration. The p-type semiconductor region of a low impurity concentration is interposed between the p-type semiconductor region of a high impurity concentration and the n-type substrate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Aki Moroda, Kosuke Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8236623
    Abstract: In some aspects, a method of fabricating a memory cell is provided that includes (1) fabricating a steering element above a substrate; and (2) fabricating a reversible-resistance switching element coupled to the steering element by selectively fabricating carbon nano-tube (CNT) material above the substrate. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: April Schricker, Mark Clark, Brad Herner
  • Patent number: 8227831
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a junction FET having improved characteristics is provided. The semiconductor device has a junction FET as a main transistor and has a MISFET as a transistor for control. The junction FET has a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode. The MISFET has a second gate electrode, a second source electrode, and a second drain electrode. The MISFET is an n-channel type MISFET and has electric characteristics of an enhancement mode MISFET. The second gate electrode and the second drain electrode of the MISFET are connected to each other by short-circuiting. The first gate electrode of the junction FET and the second source electrode of the MISFET are connected to each other by short-circuiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekatsu Onose
  • Patent number: 8203171
    Abstract: A graphene-based memristor includes a first electrode, a defective graphene layer adjacent the first electrode, a memristive material that includes a number of ions adjacent the defective graphene layer, a second electrode adjacent the memristive material, and a voltage source that generates an electric field between the first and the second electrodes. Under the influence of the electric field, ions in the memristive material form an ion conducting channel between the second electrode and the defective graphene layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joshua Yang, Feng Miao, Wei Wu, Shih-Yuan Wang, R. Stanley Williams
  • Patent number: 8188601
    Abstract: A semiconductor subassembly is provided for use in a switching module of an inverter circuit for a high power, alternating current motor application. The semiconductor subassembly includes a wafer having first and second opposed metallized faces; a semiconductor switching device electrically coupled to the first metallized face of the wafer and having at least one electrode region; and an interconnect bonded to the semiconductor switching device. The interconnect includes a first metal layer bonded to the at least one electrode region of the semiconductor switching device, a ceramic layer bonded to the first metal layer, the ceramic layer defining a via for accessing the first metal layer, a second metal layer bonded to the ceramic layer, and a conducting substance disposed in the via of the ceramic layer to electrically couple the first metal layer to the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Terence G. Ward, Edward P. Yankoski
  • Patent number: 8174046
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for an integrated circuit having memory including thyristor-based memory cells is described. A pair of the thyristor-based memory cells are commonly coupled via a bitline region, where a parasitic bipolar junction transistor is defined therebetween responsive to the bitline region being common. In another implementation, the pair of the thyristor-based memory cells are commonly coupled via the anode region, where a parasitic bipolar junction transistor is defined therebetween responsive to the anode region being common. The common bitline or anode region, respectively, has a locally thinned region to inhibit charge transfer between the pair via the parasitic bipolar junction transistor. Moreover, a method for forming a field-effect transistor on a silicon-on-insulator wafer is described, where charge transfer facilitated by a parasitic bipolar transistor is reduced responsive to an increase in dopants at least proximate to an insulator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc
    Inventors: Marc Laurent Tarabbia, Maxim Ershov, Rajesh N. Gupta
  • Patent number: 8164110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integration of lateral high-voltage devices, such as a lateral high-voltage diode (LHVD) or a lateral high-voltage thyristor, with other circuitry on a semiconductor wafer, which may be fabricated using low-voltage foundry technology, such as a low-voltage complementary metal oxide semiconductor (LV-CMOS) process. The other circuitry may include low-voltage devices, such as switching transistors used in logic circuits, computer circuitry, or the like, or other high-voltage devices, such as a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch. The reverse breakdown voltage capability of the LHVD may be increased by using an intrinsic material between the anode and the cathode. Similarly, in a lateral high-voltage thyristor, such as a lateral high-voltage Silicon-controlled rectifier (LHV-SCR), the withstand voltage capability of the LHV-SCR may be increased by using an intrinsic material between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Charles Kerr, David C. Dening, Julio Costa
  • Patent number: 8159023
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first semiconductor region of the first conductivity type on the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of second semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type disposed separately in the first semiconductor region. A difference between a charge quantity expressed by an integral value of a net activated doping concentration in the second semiconductor regions in the surface direction of the semiconductor substrate and a charge quantity expressed by an integral value of a net activated doping concentration in the first semiconductor region in the surface direction of the semiconductor substrate is always a positive quantity and becomes larger from the depth of the first junction plane to a depth of a second junction plane on an opposite side from the first junction plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Syotaro Ono, Wataru Saito, Nana Hatano, Hiroshi Ohta, Miho Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120080716
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection comprises a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) including a semiconductor substrate, a first well formed in the substrate, a second well formed in the substrate, a first p-type region formed in the first well to serve as an anode, and a first n-type region partially formed in the second well to serve as a cathode, a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistor formed in the first well including a gate, a first diffused region and a second diffused region separated apart from the first diffused region, a second n-type region formed in the first well electrically connected to the first diffused region of the PMOS transistor, and a second p-type region formed in the substrate electrically connected to the second diffused region of the PMOS transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ming-Dou Ker, Shih-Hung Chen, Kun-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 8145020
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a direct light-triggered thyristor triggered by an optical gate signal, a first optical fiber connected to the direct light-triggered thyristor and through which the optical gate signal is transmitted, a second optical fiber used to extend the first optical fiber, and a inter-optical-fiber relaying unit configured to connect the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber and to input the optical gate signal output from the second optical fiber to the first optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi—Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8143700
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit with a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) having a plurality of SCR fingers (SCRs) with the advantages to couple the different fingers or SCRs to decrease the multi-triggering problem and to increase the ESD-performance of the circuit. Additionally, a boost circuit can be introduced or additionally multiple SCRs can be coupled inherent through a common base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Pieter Vanysacker, Benjamin Van Camp, Olivier Marichal, Wybo Geert, Steven Thijs, Gerd Vermont
  • Patent number: 8138521
    Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a semiconductor device having a thyristor that can shorten the turn-off time. A first electroconductive type first semiconductor region 20 is formed on a substrate, and a second electroconductive type second semiconductor region 22, a second electroconductive type third semiconductor region 23, designated as an anode, and a first electroconductive type fourth semiconductor region 24, designated as an anode gate, are formed on the surface layer part of the first semiconductor region. Also, a first electroconductive type fifth semiconductor region 26, designated as a cathode, and a second electroconductive type sixth semiconductor region 25, designated as a cathode gate, are formed on the surface layer part of the second semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawahara
  • Patent number: 8134177
    Abstract: A switching element includes a first electrode having a first surface; a second electrode having a second surface which stands off from the first surface; and a channel region constituted by a plurality of unit channels, each unit channel having opposite ends thereof being in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode, and including fine particles which are aligned in lines in a first direction from the first surface of the first electrode to the second surface of the second electrode, and the unit channels being separated from one another in a second direction across the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenichi Murooka
  • Patent number: 8129292
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a Shockley diode or a thyristor. An inner region of the diode or of the thyristor is completely or partially shielded during the implantation of a p-type well. This gives rise to a Shockley diode or a thyristor having improved electrical properties, in particular with regard to the use as an ESD protection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Glaser, Harald Gossner, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 8120023
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel front side illuminated, back side contact photodiodes and arrays thereof. In one embodiment, the photodiode has a substrate with at least a first and a second side and a plurality of electrical contacts physically confined to the second side. The electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the first side through a doped region of a first type and a doped region of a second type, each of the regions substantially extending from the first side through to the second side. In another embodiment, the photodiode comprises a wafer with at least a first and a second side; and a plurality of electrical contacts physically confined to the second side, where the electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the first side through a diffusion of a p+ region through the wafer and a diffusion of an n+ region through the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: UDT Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Patent number: 8115211
    Abstract: An objective is to provide a manufacturing method of a silicon carbide semiconductor device in which an electric field applied to a gate oxide film can be relaxed and thereby reliability can be ensured, and by the manufacturing method increase of the manufacturing cost can also be prevented as much as possible. Well regions, channel regions, and gate electrodes are formed so that, given that extending lengths, with respect to the inner sides of source regions, of each of the well regions, the channel regions, and the gate electrodes are Lwell, Lch, and Lg, respectively, a relationship of Lch<Lg<Lwell is satisfied; and the channel regions are further formed by diffusing by activation annealing boron as a third impurity, having been implanted by activation annealing into the source regions, into a silicon carbide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Tarui
  • Publication number: 20120018738
    Abstract: Electronic device structures including semiconductor ledge layers for surface passivation and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electronic device includes a number of semiconductor layers of a desired semiconductor material having alternating doping types. The semiconductor layers include a base layer of a first doping type that includes a highly doped well forming a first contact region of the electronic device and one or more contact layers of a second doping type on the base layer that have been etched to form a second contact region of the electronic device. The etching of the one or more contact layers causes substantial crystalline damage, and thus interface charge, on the surface of the base layer. In order to passivate the surface of the base layer, a semiconductor ledge layer of the semiconductor material is epitaxially grown on at least the surface of the base layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Anant Agarwal
  • Patent number: 8093622
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a thyristor SCR with reduced turn-off time. A third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type (anode AN) and a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type (anode gate AG) are formed in the top layer of a first semiconductor region; fifth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type (cathode CA) and sixth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type (cathode gate CG) are formed in the top layer of a second semiconductor region; a gate insulating film and gate electrode MG are formed on the second semiconductor region. When the thyristor is turned off from the on state, a higher potential than that on the anode is applied to the anode gate, and a diode made up of the anode and the anode gate inside the thyristor is made to conduct so as to control the potential of the anode during driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hideaki Kawahara, Toshimi Satoh, Toshiyuki Tani
  • Patent number: 8089095
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes. In another embodiment, the ESD devices has an asymmetrical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu
  • Publication number: 20110316042
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of making memory devices are shown. Methods and configurations as shown provide folded and vertical memory devices for increased memory density. Methods provided reduce a need for manufacturing methods such as deep dopant implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, John K. Zahurak, Michael P. Violette
  • Patent number: 7989841
    Abstract: A fast injection optical switch is disclosed. The optical switch includes a thyristor having a plurality of layers including an outer doped layer and a switching layer. An area of the thyristor is configured to receive a light beam to be directed through at least one of the plurality of layers and exit the thyristor at a predetermined angle. At least two electrodes are coupled to the thyristor and configured to enable a voltage to be applied to facilitate carriers from the outer doped layer to be directed to the switching layer. Sufficient carriers can be directed to the switching layer to provide a change in refractive index of the switching layer to redirect at least a portion of the light beam to exit the thyristor at a deflection angle different from the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexandre M. Bratkovski, Shih-Yuan Wang, Theodore I. Kamins
  • Patent number: 7985983
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body of a first semiconductor type, an isolation region surrounding the ESD device region, a first doped region of a second conductivity type disposed at a surface of the semiconductor body within the ESD region, and a second doped region of the first conductivity type disposed between the semiconductor body within the ESD region and at least a portion of the first doped region, where the doping concentration of the second doped region is higher than the semiconductor body. A third doped region of the second semiconductor type is disposed on the semiconductor body and a fourth region of the first conductivity type is disposed over the third doped region. A fifth doped region of the second conductivity type is disposed on the semiconductor body. A trigger device and an SCR is formed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark, David Alvarez, Jens Schneider
  • Patent number: 7968381
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a thyristor-based device and a pass device exhibits characteristics that may include, for example, resistance to short channel effects that occur when conventional MOSFET devices are scaled smaller in connection with advancing technology. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the semiconductor device includes a pass device having a channel in a fin portion over a semiconductor substrate, and a thyristor device coupled to the pass device. The fin has a top portion and a side portion and extends over the semiconductor substrate. The pass device includes source/drain regions separated by the channel and a gate facing and capacitively coupled to the side portion of the fin that includes the channel. The thyristor device includes anode and cathode end portions, each end portion having base and emitter regions, where one of the emitter regions is coupled to one of the source/drain regions of the pass device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Horch, Scott Robins
  • Patent number: 7940558
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided comprising an array of memory cells connected by word and bit lines, respectively, wherein each memory cell comprises a thyristor structure, an anode terminal that connects the thyristor structure with a respective bit line, a gate terminal that connects the thyristor structure with a respective word line, and a cathode terminal. The integrated circuit further comprises a drive/sensing circuitry configured to apply a first sequence of voltage signals at the anode terminal and the gate terminal, wherein the voltage signals are defined with respect to the cathode terminal. The first sequence comprises a first voltage signal at the anode terminal, a second voltage signal at the gate terminal, and thereafter a combination of a third voltage signal at the anode terminal and a fourth voltage signal at the gate terminal, wherein the third voltage signal is lower than the first voltage signal and lower than the fourth voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventor: Stefan Slesazeck
  • Patent number: 7939850
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor body with a semiconductor device structure including at least a first electrode and a second electrode. Between the two electrodes, a drift region is arranged, the drift region including charge compensation zones and drift zones arranged substantially parallel to one another. At least one charge carrier storage region which is at least partially free of charge compensation zones is arranged in the semiconductor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Giulliano Aloise
  • Patent number: 7910949
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a conductive board and a switching element mounted on the conductive board and electrically connected thereto. The power semiconductor device also includes an integrated circuit mounted on the conductive board at a distance from the switching element and electrically connected thereto. The switching element turns ON/OFF a connection between first and second main electrodes in response to a control signal inputted to a control electrode. The integrated circuit includes a control circuit which controls ON/OFF the switching element and a back side voltage detection element which detects a voltage of the back side of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Yasuda, Atsunobu Kawamoto, Shinsuke Goudo
  • Publication number: 20110049561
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor bistable switching device that includes a thyristor portion including an anode layer, a drift layer, a gate layer and a cathode layer, the gate layer operable to receive a gate trigger current that, when the anode layer is positively biased relative to the cathode layer, causes the thyristor portion to latch into a conducting mode between the anode and the cathode. The device also includes a transistor portion formed on the thyristor portion, the transistor portion including a source, a drain and a transistor gate, the drain coupled to the cathode of the thyristor portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Robert J. Callanan, Sei-Hyung Ryu, Qingchun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7897440
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may comprise a plurality of memory cells. A memory cell may comprise a thyristor, at least a portion of which is formed in a pillar of semiconductor material. The pillar may comprise sidewalls defining a cylindrical circumference of a first diameter. In a particular embodiment, the pillars associated with the plurality of memory cells may define rows and columns of an array. In a further embodiment, a pillar may be spaced by a first distance of magnitude up to the first diameter relative to a neighboring pillar within its row. In an additional further embodiment, the pillar may be spaced by a second distance of a magnitude up to twice the first diameter, relative to a neighboring pillar within its column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew E. Horch
  • Patent number: 7893456
    Abstract: A thyristor-based memory may comprise a thyristor accessible via an access transistor. A temperature dependent bias may be applied to at least one of a supporting substrate and an electrode capacitively-coupled to a base region of the thyristor. The voltage level of the adaptive bias may change with respect to temperature and may influence and/or compensate an inherent bipolar gain of the thyristor in accordance with the change in bias and may enhance its performance and/or reliability over a range of operating temperature. In a particular embodiment, the thyristor may be formed in a layer of silicon of an SOI substrate and the adaptive bias coupled to a supporting substrate of the SOI structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Farid Nemati, Kevin J. Yang
  • Patent number: 7893455
    Abstract: An inclined surface having an inclination angle ? is formed in an edge portion which forms an opening portion of an inter-layer insulating film, thereby reducing a stress by the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Ogihara, Hiroyuki Fujiwara, Masataka Muto, Tomoki Igari, Hiroshi Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 7888701
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a Shockley diode or a thyristor. An inner region of the diode or of the thyristor is completely or partially shielded during the implantation of a p-type well. This gives rise to a Shockley diode or a thyristor having improved electrical properties, in particular with regard to the use as an ESD protection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Glaser, Harald Gossner, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 7888704
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for electrostatic discharge protection is disclosed, and at least comprises a high-voltage parasite silicon controlled rectifier (HVSCR) and a diode. The HVSCR has an anode and a cathode, and the cathode of HVSCR is coupled to a ground. The diode, coupled to the HVSCR in series, also has an anode and a cathode. The anode of the diode is coupled to the anode of the HVSCR, and the cathode of the diode is coupled to a terminal applied with a positive voltage. The diode has a second conductivity type zone that could be constructed to form several strips or small blocks spaced apart from each other. Those small blocks could be any shapes and arranged regularly or randomly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Chiu-Chih Chiang, Han-Chung Tai
  • Publication number: 20110024791
    Abstract: A bipolar semiconductor device and method are provided. One embodiment provides a bipolar semiconductor device including a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type having a first doping concentration, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type forming a pn-junction with the first semiconductor region, and a plurality of third semiconductor regions of the first conductivity type at least partially arranged in the first semiconductor region and having a doping concentration which is higher than the first doping concentration. Each of the third semiconductor regions is provided with at least one respective junction termination structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Frank Pfirsch, Franz-Josef Niedemostheide
  • Patent number: 7875902
    Abstract: An electro-static discharge protection device includes a first conductive type well and a second conductive type well which are formed in a surface of the first conductive type layer or a first conductive type substrate. A first high concentration second conductive type region, a first high concentration first conductive type region, and a second high concentration second conductive type region are formed in a surface of the second conductive type well. A third high concentration second conductive type region is formed in a surface of the first conductive type well. The first high concentration second conductive type region and the first high concentration first conductive type region are connected with a first power supply of a potential. The third high concentration second conductive type region is connected with a second power supply having a potential different from the potential of the first power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kodama, Koichi Sawahata
  • Patent number: 7872315
    Abstract: An integrated switching device has a switching IGFET connected between a pair of main terminals, a protector IGFET connected between the drain and gate electrodes of the switching IGFET, and a gate resistor connected between a main control terminal and the gate electrode of the switching IGFET. The protector IGFET has its gate electrode connected to the source electrode of the switching IGFET. The protector IGFET turns on in response to an application of a verse voltage to the switching IGFET thereby protecting the same from a reverse current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7859009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integration of lateral high-voltage devices, such as a lateral high-voltage diode (LHVD) or a lateral high-voltage thyristor, with other circuitry on a semiconductor wafer, which may be fabricated using low-voltage foundry technology, such as a low-voltage complementary metal oxide semiconductor (LV-CMOS) process. The other circuitry may include low-voltage devices, such as switching transistors used in logic circuits, computer circuitry, or the like, or other high-voltage devices, such as a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch. The reverse breakdown voltage capability of the LHVD may be increased by using an intrinsic material between the anode and the cathode. Similarly, in a lateral high-voltage thyristor, such as a lateral high-voltage Silicon-controlled rectifier (LHV-SCR), the withstand voltage capability of the LHV-SCR may be increased by using an intrinsic material between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Charles Kerr, David C. Dening, Julio Costa
  • Publication number: 20100270584
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor switching device including a substrate having deposited thereon a cathode, an anode and a gate of the semiconductor switching device, and a connection means for electrically connecting the cathode in the gate of the semiconductor switching device to an external circuit unit. The connection includes a cathode-gate connection unit having a coaxial structure including a gate conductor and a cathode conductor for electrically connecting the cathode and the gate of the semiconductor switching device to the external circuit unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Didier Cottet, Thomas Stiasny, Tobias Wikstroem
  • Patent number: 7816767
    Abstract: A negative differential resistance (NDR) diode and a memory cell incorporating that NDR diode are provided. The NDR diode comprises a p-type germanium region in contact with an n-type germanium region and forming a germanium pn junction diode. A first gate electrode overlies the p-type germanium region, is electrically coupled to the n-type germanium region, and is configured for coupling to a first electrical potential. A second gate electrode overlies the n-type germanium region and is configured for coupling to a second electrical potential. A third electrode is electrically coupled to the p-type germanium region and may be coupled to the second gate electrode. A small SRAM cell uses two such NDR diodes with a single pass transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Gen Pei, Zoran Krivokapic
  • Patent number: 7812367
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Salih, Mingjiao Liu, Thomas Keena
  • Patent number: 7804107
    Abstract: In a method of processing a semiconductor device, a silicide-blocking layer may be formed over a semiconductor material. After defining the silicide-blocking layer, impurities may be implanted into portions of the semiconductor material as defined by the silicide-blocking layer. After the implant, silicide may be formed in a surface region of the semiconductor material as permitted by the silicide-blocking layer. Regions of the impurity implant may comprise boundaries that are related to the outline of the silicide formed thereover. In a further embodiment, the implant may define a base region to a thyristor device. The implant may be performed with an angle of incidence to extend portions of the base region beneath a peripheral edge of the blocking mask. Next, an anode-emitter region may be formed using an implant of a substantially orthogonal angle of incidence and self-aligned to the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew E. Horch, Fred Hause
  • Patent number: 7800135
    Abstract: A semiconductor power switch having an array of basic cells in which peripheral regions in the active drain region extend beside the perimeter of the base-drain junction, the peripheral regions being of higher dopant density than the rest of the second drain layer. Intermediate regions in the centre of the active drain region are provided of lighter dopant density than the rest of the second drain layer. This provides an improved compromise between the on-state resistance and the breakdown voltage by enlarging the current conduction path at in its active drain region. On the outer side of each edge cell of the array, the gate electrode extends over and beyond at least part of the perimeters of the base-source junction and the base-drain junction towards the adjacent edge of the die. Moreover, on the outer side of each edge cell, the second drain layer includes a region of reduced dopant density that extends beyond the gate electrode right to the adjacent edge of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Reynes, Stephane Alves, Alain Deram, Blandino Lopes, Joel Margheritta
  • Patent number: 7790520
    Abstract: An embodiment of a process for manufacturing a semiconductor power device envisages the steps of: providing a body made of semiconductor material having a first top surface; forming an active region with a first type of conductivity in the proximity of the first top surface and inside an active portion of the body; and forming an edge-termination structure. The edge-termination structure is formed by: a ring region having the first type of conductivity and a first doping level, set within a peripheral edge portion of the body and electrically connected to the active region; and a guard region, having the first type of conductivity and a second doping level, higher than the first doping level, set in the proximity of the first top surface and connecting the active region to the ring region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mario Giuseppe Saggio, Domenico Murabito, Ferruccio Frisina
  • Patent number: 7786506
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor region having a pn junction and a field shaping region located adjacent the pn junction to increase the reverse breakdown voltage of the device. The field shaping region is coupled via capacitive voltage coupling regions to substantially the same voltages as are applied to the pn junction. When a reverse voltage is applied across the pn junction and the device is non-conducting, a capacitive electric field is present in a part of the field shaping region which extends beyond a limit of the pn junction depletion region which would exist in the absence of the field shaping region. The electric field in the field shaping region inducing a stretched electric field limited to a correspondingly stretched pn junction depletion region in the semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Anco Heringa, Raymond J. E. Hueting, Jan W. Slotboom
  • Patent number: 7786505
    Abstract: Formation of a thyristor-based memory cell is described. A first gate dielectric of the storage element is formed over a base region thereof located in a silicon layer. A transistor is coupled to the storage element via a cathode region located in the silicon layer. The transistor has a gate electrode formed over a second gate dielectric. A spacer is formed at least in part along a sidewall of the gate electrode facing a gate electrode of the storage element. A shallow implant region is formed in the silicon layer responsive at least in part to the spacer. The spacer offsets the shallow implant region from the sidewall. A portion of the shallow implant region is for an extension region. The first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric are formed at least in part by deposition of a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Yang, Hyun-Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 7781827
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include at least one vertical Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) on a substrate. The vertical MOSFET may include at least one superlattice including a plurality of laterally stacked groups of layers transverse to the substrate. The vertical MOSFET(s) may further include a gate laterally adjacent the superlattice, and regions vertically above and below the superlattice and cooperating with the gate for causing transport of charge carriers through the superlattice in the vertical direction. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include 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. At least some atoms from opposing base semiconductor portions may be chemically bound together with the chemical bonds traversing the at least one intervening non-semiconductor monolayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Mears Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kalipatnam Vivek Rao
  • Patent number: 7763908
    Abstract: A silicon-controlled rectifier apparatus, comprising a substrate upon which a low-voltage triggered silicon-controlled rectifier is configured. A plurality of triggering components (e.g., NMOS fingers) are formed upon the substrate and integrated with the low-voltage triggered silicon-controlled rectifier, wherein the plurality of triggering components are inserted into the low-voltage triggered silicon-controlled rectifier in order to permit the low-voltage triggered silicon-controlled rectifier to protect against electrostatic discharge during human-body model and charged-device model stress events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Jau-Wen Chen