Combined With Other Solid-state Active Device In Integrated Structure Patents (Class 257/140)
  • Patent number: 10468511
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a third electrode between a first semiconductor region and a second electrode, a fourth electrode between the first semiconductor region and the second electrode, a second semiconductor region between the first semiconductor region and the second electrode and between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, a third semiconductor region between the second semiconductor region and the second electrode, a fourth electrode between the first semiconductor region and the second electrode to be electrically connected to the second electrode, and a fifth semiconductor region between the first electrode and the first semiconductor region. A first insulating film is provided between the third electrode and the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region, the third semiconductor region and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tsuneo Ogura, Tomoko Matsudai
  • Patent number: 10468484
    Abstract: A modified bipolar transistor is provided which can provide improved gain, Early voltage, breakdown voltage and linearity over a finite range of collector voltages. It is known that the gain of a transistor can change with collector voltage. This document teaches a way of reducing this variation by providing structures for the depletion regions with the device to preferentially deplete with. As a result the transistor's response can be made more linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Edward John Coyne, William Allan Lane, Seamus P. Whiston
  • Patent number: 10438971
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (1) is manufactured which includes a SiC epitaxial layer (28), a plurality of transistor cells (18) that are formed in the SiC epitaxial layer (28) and that are subjected to ON/OFF control by a predetermined control voltage, a gate electrode (19) that faces a channel region (32) of the transistor cells (18) in which a channel is formed when the semiconductor device (1) is in an ON state, a gate metal (44) that is exposed at the topmost surface for electrical connection with the outside and that is electrically connected to the gate electrode (19) while being physically separated from the gate electrode (19), and a built-in resistor (21) that is made of polysilicon and that is disposed below the gate metal (44) so as to electrically connect the gate metal (44) and the gate electron (19) together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Nagao, Noriaki Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 10424661
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region formed over a substrate. The active region includes a FET and a diode. The FET includes one or more FET fingers. Each FET finger includes a FET source region, a FET drain region, and a lateral FET gate electrode. The diode includes one or more diode fingers. Each of the diode fingers includes a diode anode region electrically coupled to the FET source region, a diode cathode region electrically coupled to the FET drain region, and a lateral diode gate electrode electrically coupled to the diode anode region and electrically isolated from the lateral FET gate electrode. The FET fingers are active fingers of the semiconductor device and the diode fingers are dummy fingers of the semiconductor device. The diode is configured to clamp a maximum voltage developed across the FET drain region and the FET source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Shanghui Larry Tu, Vadim Kushner, Eric Vann
  • Patent number: 10396071
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided, in which a loss of a sensing element is small. A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate is provided, the semiconductor device including: an upper-surface electrode that is provided on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; a sensing electrode that is provided on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and is separated from the upper-surface electrode; a lower-surface electrode that is provided on a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate; a main transistor portion that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and is connected to the upper-surface electrode and the lower-surface electrode; a main diode portion that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and is connected to the upper-surface electrode and the lower-surface electrode; and a sense diode portion that is provided to the semiconductor substrate and is connected to the sensing electrode and the lower-surface electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeki Sato
  • Patent number: 10381347
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a high side region and a low side region, wherein the high side region includes semiconductor devices, and those semiconductor devices have at least two devices with different operating voltages. In the high side region, at least one isolation structure is located between the devices with different operating voltages to prevent short circuit between the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Nuvoton Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Chang, Wen-Ying Wen, Han-Hui Chiu
  • Patent number: 10381225
    Abstract: Plural sessions of proton irradiation are performed by differing ranges from a substrate rear surface side. After first to fourth n-type layers of differing depths are formed, the protons are activated. Next, helium is irradiated to a position deeper than the ranges of the proton irradiation from the substrate rear surface, introducing lattice defects. When the amount of lattice defects is adjusted by heat treatment, protons not activated in a fourth n-type layer are diffused, forming a fifth n-type layer contacting an anode side of the fourth n-type layer and having a carrier concentration distribution that decreases toward the anode side by a more gradual slope than that of the fourth n-type layer. The fifth n-type layer that includes protons and helium and the first to fourth n-type layers that include protons constitute an n-type FS layer. Thus, a semiconductor device having improved reliability and lower cost may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouji Mukai, Souichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10366985
    Abstract: To improve current detection performance of a sense IGBT particularly in a low current region in a semiconductor device equipped with a main IGBT and the sense IGBT used for current detection of the main IGBT. At a peripheral portion located at an outermost periphery of an active region surrounded by a dummy region within a sense IGBT cell, an n+-type semiconductor region is formed over an upper surface of a well of a floating state adjacent to a trench gate electrode embedded into a trench at an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate and applied with a gate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Takahashi, Hitoshi Matsuura
  • Patent number: 10361191
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a switching device region including an active region having a first conductivity-type emitter region formed on an upper surface side of a first conductivity-type substrate, a second conductivity-type base region formed on an upper surface side of the substrate, a second conductivity-type collector layer formed on a lower surface side of the substrate, and a diode region having a second conductivity-type anode layer formed on the upper surface side of the substrate and a first conductivity-type cathode layer formed on the lower surface side of the substrate, wherein the cathode layer is separated from the active region when planarly viewed, and on an upper surface side of the active region, a second conductivity type high-concentration region having an impurity concentration higher than that of the anode layer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Takahashi, Katsumi Uryu
  • Patent number: 10361293
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit (IC) structure that incorporates a string of vertical devices. Embodiments of the IC structure include a string of two or more vertical diodes. Other embodiments include a vertical diode/silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) string and, more particularly, a diode-triggered silicon-controlled rectifier (VDTSCR). In any case, each embodiment of the IC structure includes an N-well in a substrate and, within that N-well, a P-doped region and an N-doped region that abuts the P-doped region. The P-doped region can be anode of a vertical diode and can be electrically connected to the N-doped region (e.g., by a local interconnect or by contacts and metal wiring) such that the vertical diode is electrically connected to another vertical device (e.g., another vertical diode or a SCR with vertically-oriented features). Also disclosed is a manufacturing method that can be integrated with methods of manufacturing vertical field effect transistors (VFETs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Tsung-Che Tsai, Alain F. Loiseau, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Souvick Mitra, You Li, Mickey H. Yu
  • Patent number: 10319713
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a semiconductor device integrated with a switch device and an ESD protection device, having electrostatic discharge robustness. Formed on a semiconductor substrate of a first type is a drain region of a second type opposite to the first type. The switch device has a source region of the second type, formed on the semiconductor substrate and with a first arch portion facing inwardly toward a first direction. The first arch portion partially surrounds the drain region. A control gate of the switch device controls electric connection between the drain region and the source region. The ESD protection device comprises a first region and a second region, both of the first type. The first region adjoins the drain region. The second region has a second arch portion facing inwardly toward a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the second arch portion partially surrounds the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: LEADTREND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chin Chiu, Chia-Wei Hung
  • Patent number: 10297683
    Abstract: In mesa regions between adjacent trenches disposed in an n?-type drift layer and in which a first gate electrode is disposed via a first gate insulating film, a p-type base region and a floating p+-type region of which a surface is partially covered by a second gate electrode via a second gate insulating film are disposed. An emitter electrode contacts the p-type base region and an n+-type emitter region, and is electrically isolated from first and second gate electrodes and the floating p+-type region by an interlayer insulating film covering the first and second gate electrodes and a portion of the floating p+-type region not covered by the second gate electrode. Thus, turn-on dV/dt controllability by the gate resistance Rg may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kobayashi, Yuichi Onozawa, Manabu Takei, Akio Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10290568
    Abstract: A power module for an electric motor has at least one semiconductor switch half bridge with a high-side semiconductor switch and a low-side semiconductor switch. The semiconductor switches of the semiconductor switch half bridge have contact gap terminals which are each formed by a flat surface region of the semiconductor switch and which each point in the same direction. The high-side semiconductor switch and the low-side semiconductor switch enclose between them a circuit carrier that has at least two electrically conductive layers. A contact gap terminal of the low-side semiconductor switch and a contact gap terminal of the high-side semiconductor switch of the half bridge are electrically connected to each other by the circuit carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Joos, Walter Von Emden
  • Patent number: 10276552
    Abstract: A semiconductor module, comprises a substrate plate; a semiconductor switch chip and a diode chip attached to a collector conductor on the substrate plate, wherein the diode chip is electrically connected antiparallel to the semiconductor switch chip; wherein the semiconductor switch chip is electrically connected via bond wires to an emitter conductor on the substrate plate providing a first emitter current path, which emitter conductor is arranged oppositely to the semiconductor switch chip with respect to the diode chip; wherein a gate electrode of the semiconductor switch chip is electrically connected via a bond wire to a gate conductor on the substrate plate providing a gate current path, which gate conductor is arranged oppositely to the semiconductor switch chip with respect to the diode chip; and wherein a protruding area of the emitter conductor runs besides the diode chip towards the first semiconductor switch chip and the first semiconductor switch chip is directly connected via a bond wire with t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Samuel Hartmann, Ulrich Schlapbach
  • Patent number: 10276556
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a floating buried doped region, a first doped region disposed between the floating buried doped region and a first major surface, and a semiconductor region disposed between the floating buried doped region and a second major surface. Trench isolation portions extend from the first major surface and terminate within the semiconductor region to define an active region. An insulated trench structure is laterally disposed between the trench isolation portions, terminates within the floating buried doped region, and defines a first portion and a second portion of the active region. A biasing semiconductor device is within the first portion, and a functional semiconductor device is within the second portion. The biasing semiconductor device is adapted to set a potential of the floating buried doped region and adapted to divert parasitic currents away from the functional semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Moshe Agam, Johan Camiel Julia Janssens, Bruce Greenwood, Sallie Hose, Agajan Suwhanov
  • Patent number: 10249751
    Abstract: A high-speed diode includes an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer which is laminated on the n-type semiconductor layer, where a pn junction is formed in a boundary portion between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, and crystal defects are formed such that the frequency of appearance is gradually decreased from the upper surface of the p-type semiconductor layer toward the bottom surface of the n-type semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Takaoka
  • Patent number: 10229969
    Abstract: A protective diffusion region includes a first protective diffusion region at a location closest to a termination region, and a second protective diffusion region located away from the first protective diffusion region with a first space therebetween. A second space that is a distance between a termination diffusion region and the first protective diffusion region is greater than the first space. A current diffusion layer of a first conductivity type includes a first current diffusion layer located between the first protective diffusion region and the second protective diffusion region and having a higher impurity concentration than a drift layer, and a second current diffusion layer located between the first protective diffusion region and the termination diffusion region. The second current diffusion layer includes a region having a lower impurity concentration than the current diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kagawa, Rina Tanaka, Yutaka Fukui, Katsutoshi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10224282
    Abstract: A protection device including a substrate, a first doped region, a first well region, a second doped region, a third doped region, a fourth doped region, a second well region, a fifth doped region, and a sixth doped region is provided. The substrate, the first well region, and the third and the fifth doped regions have a first conductivity type. The first doped and the second well regions are disposed in the substrate. The first, second, fourth, and sixth doped regions and the second well region have a second conductivity type. The first well and the second doped regions are disposed in the first doped region. The second doped region is not in contact with the first well region. The third and fourth doped regions are disposed in the first well region. The fifth and sixth doped regions are disposed in the second well region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shao-Chang Huang
  • Patent number: 10186572
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first, second, and gate electrodes. A first silicon carbide region of a first type is between the first and second electrodes and between the gate and second electrodes. Second and third silicon carbide regions of a second type are between the first electrode and first silicon carbide region. A portion of the first silicon carbide region is between the second and third silicon carbide regions. A fourth silicon carbide region of the first type is between the first electrode and second silicon carbide region. A fifth silicon carbide region of the first type is between the first electrode and third silicon carbide region. An insulation layer is between the gate electrode and second and third silicon carbide regions and sixth silicon carbide region of the second type. A second portion of the first silicon carbide region is between the second electrode and sixth silicon carbide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kono, Teruyuki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10177221
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method for manufacturing a semiconductor power device in a semiconductor substrate comprises an active cell area and a termination area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Lingpeng Guan, Anup Bhalla, Madhur Bobde, Tinggang Zhu
  • Patent number: 10134891
    Abstract: A transistor device including a substrate, a gate structure, a first doped region, a second doped region and a body region is provided. The gate structure is disposed on the substrate. The first doped region and the second doped region are respectively disposed in the substrate at one side and another side of the gate structure. The first doped region and the second doped region have a first conductive type. The body region is disposed in the substrate at one side of the first doped region away from the gate structure. The body region has a second conductive type. The body region and the first doped region are separated by a distance, and no isolation structure exists between the body region and the first doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wen-Ting Hsu, Hong-Ze Lin
  • Patent number: 10109725
    Abstract: A reverse-conducting MOS device is provided having an active cell region and a termination region. Between a first and second main side. The active cell region comprises a plurality of MOS cells with a base layer of a second conductivity type. On the first main side a bar of the second conductivity type, which has a higher maximum doping concentration than the base layer, is arranged between the active cell region and the termination region, wherein the bar is electrically connected to the first main electrode. On the first main side in the termination region a variable-lateral-doping layer of the second conductivity type is arranged. A protection layer of the second conductivity type is arranged in the variable-lateral-doping layer, which protection layer has a higher maximum doping concentration than the maximum doping concentration of the variable-lateral-doping layer in a region attached to the protection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Liutauras Storasta, Chiara Corvasce, Manuel Le Gallo, Munaf Rahimo, Arnost Kopta
  • Patent number: 10083956
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second electrodes, a first semiconductor region between the first and second electrodes, a second semiconductor region between the first semiconductor region and the second electrode, a third semiconductor region between the first semiconductor region and the second electrode, a fourth semiconductor region between the first semiconductor region and the first electrode, a third electrode between the first electrode and the first semiconductor region, a first insulating film between the third electrode and both the first electrode and the first semiconductor region, a fifth semiconductor region between the fourth semiconductor region and the first electrode and in contact with the first electrode, a sixth semiconductor region between the fourth semiconductor region and the first electrode and in contact with the first electrode, and a seventh semiconductor region between the fourth semiconductor region and the first insulating film and in contact with the first semicond
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tsuneo Ogura, Tomoko Matsudai
  • Patent number: 10056309
    Abstract: Each of first and second semiconductor devices mounted on a substrate includes an emitter terminal electrically connected with a front surface electrode of a semiconductor chip and exposed from a main surface of a sealing body located on a front surface side of the semiconductor chip. Each of the first and second semiconductor devices includes a collector terminal electrically connected with a back surface electrode of the semiconductor chip and exposed from the main surface of the sealing body located on a back surface side of the semiconductor chip. The collector terminal of the first semiconductor device is electrically connected with the emitter terminal of the second semiconductor device via a conductor pattern formed on an upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Bando, Akira Muto
  • Patent number: 10008594
    Abstract: A high voltage semiconductor device includes a gate electrode structure disposed on a substrate, a source region disposed in the substrate to be adjacent to one side of the gate electrode structure, a first drift region disposed in the substrate to be adjacent to another side of the gate electrode structure, a drain region electrically connected with the first drift region, and a device isolation region disposed on one side of the drain region. Particularly, the first drift region is spaced apart from the device isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: DB HITEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kee Joon Choi, Bum Seok Kim, Bon Sug Koo, Mi Hye Jun, Hae Taek Kim, Duk Joo Woo
  • Patent number: 9991379
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, which includes: a drift region that has a first conductivity type; a body region that has a second conductivity type and is formed on the drift region; and an impurity region that has the first conductivity type and is formed inward from a surface of the body region. The semiconductor device further includes a trench, which is formed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate and reaches the drift region; a control electrode, which is formed in the trench; an oxide film, which is formed between an inner wall of the trench and the control electrode; an electrode, which is connected to the impurity region; and a transistor, which includes a nitride film formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate excluding an upper side of the control electrode and a formation position of the electrode, in the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Baba, Tomonori Hotate, Satoru Washiya, Hiroshi Shikauchi, Youhei Ohno
  • Patent number: 9960158
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a multilayer structure including an n? i layer, a p anode layer formed on the front surface of the n? i layer, an n? buffer layer formed on the back surface of the n? i layer, an n+ cathode layer and a p collector layer formed on the back surface of the n? buffer layer or on the back surfaces of the n? i layer and the n? buffer layer such that the n+ cathode layer and the p collector layer are adjacent to each other in a plan view or adjacent portions thereof overlap each other in a plan view, a front surface electrode, and a back surface electrode. A vertical position in the multilayer structure of the n+ cathode layer in the multilayer structure differs from that of the p collector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Fujii
  • Patent number: 9911838
    Abstract: An IGBT die structure includes an auxiliary P well region. A terminal, that is not connected to any other IGBT terminal, is coupled to the auxiliary P well region. To accelerate IGBT turn on, a current is injected into the terminal during the turn on time. The injected current causes charge carriers to be injected into the N drift layer of the IGBT, thereby reducing turn on time. To accelerate IGBT turn off, charge carriers are removed from the N drift layer by drawing current out of the terminal. To reduce VCE(SAT), current can also be injected into the terminal during IGBT on time. An IGBT assembly involves the IGBT die structure and an associated current injection/extraction circuit. As appropriate, the circuit injects or extracts current from the terminal depending on whether the IGBT is in a turn on time or is in a turn off time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: IXYS Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoung Wook Seok
  • Patent number: 9911733
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of trenches formed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of gate electrodes formed in the trenches, a base region and an anode region formed between adjacent trenches respectively in first and second element regions of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of emitter regions and contact regions selectively formed in the base region, an interlayer insulating film covering the gate electrodes, first and second contact holes penetrating the interlayer insulating film, a plurality of contact plugs embedded in the first contact holes, a first electrode contacting the contact plugs and contacting the anode region via the second contact hole, a collector region and a cathode region formed on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate respectively in the first and second element regions, and a second electrode contacting the collector region and the cathode region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Souichi Yoshida, Hiroshi Miyata
  • Patent number: 9905558
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is formed upon the semiconductor substrate in which the IGBT has an anode terminal, a cathode terminal, and a gate terminal, and a drift region. A diode is also formed on the semiconductor substrate and has an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, in which the anode of the diode is coupled to the anode terminal of the IGBT and the cathode of the diode is coupled to the drift region of the IGBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aravind C Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Patent number: 9882038
    Abstract: A method for forming a bipolar semiconductor switch includes providing a semiconductor body which has a main surface, a back surface arranged opposite to the main surface, and a first semiconductor layer, and reducing a charge carrier life-time in the semiconductor body. The charge carrier life-time is reduced by at least one of indiffusing heavy metal into the first semiconductor layer, implanting protons into the first semiconductor layer and implanting helium nuclei into the first semiconductor layer, so that the charge carrier life-time has, in a vertical direction which is substantially orthogonal to the main surface, a minimum in a lower n-type portion of the first semiconductor layer where a concentration of n-type dopants is substantially close to a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide
  • Patent number: 9871025
    Abstract: A commutation cell having at least one electrical capacitor, at least one controllable semiconductor switch and at least one semiconductor which is connected in series with the controllable semiconductor switch. The commutation cell has three circuit substrates situated in parallel with one another. The controllable semiconductor switch is connected in series with the semiconductor via a circuit substrate situated partially between the controllable semiconductor switch and the semiconductor, and the two remaining circuit substrates being connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via a subassembly made up of the controllable semiconductor switch, the semiconductor and the circuit substrate situated partially between the controllable semiconductor switch and the semiconductor, the electrical capacitor being switched between the two remaining circuit substrates, separately from the subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Daves, Knut Alexander Kasper, Martin Rittner, Silvia Duernsteiner, Michael Guenther
  • Patent number: 9853024
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a low on-voltage of IGBT and a small reverse recovery current of the diode is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a gate trench and a dummy trench. The semiconductor substrate includes emitter, body, barrier and pillar regions between the gate trench and the dummy trench. The emitter region is an n-type region being in contact with the gate insulating film and exposed on a front surface. The body region is a p-type region being in contact with the gate insulating film at a rear surface side of the emitter region. The barrier region is an n-type region being in contact with the gate insulating film at a rear surface side of the body region and in contact with the dummy insulating film. The pillar region is an n-type region connected to the front surface electrode and the barrier region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaru Senoo, Yasuhiro Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 9843181
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor portion with a main FET and a control circuit. The main FET includes a gate electrode to control a current flow through a body zone between a source zone and a drift zone. The control circuit receives a local drift zone potential of the main FET cell and outputs an output signal indicating when the local drift zone potential exceeds a preset threshold. The control circuit may turn down or switch off the main FET and/or may output an overcurrent indication signal when the local drift zone potential exceeds the preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Wolfgang Scholz
  • Patent number: 9808159
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first semiconductor chip including first and second surfaces; a second semiconductor chip including first and second surfaces; and a first adhesive layer between the second surface of the first semiconductor chip and the second surface of the second semiconductor chip, the first semiconductor chip being stacked on the second semiconductor chip via the first adhesive layer such that a footprint of the first semiconductor chip is larger than a footprint of the second semiconductor chip with respect to a plan view of the image sensor, the first semiconductor chip including an array of unit pixels configured to capture light corresponding to an image and to generate image signals based on the captured light, the second semiconductor chip including first peripheral circuits configured to control the array of unit pixels and receive the generated image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Makoto Shizukuishi
  • Patent number: 9812436
    Abstract: An Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a plurality of groups of p-type heavily doped semiconductor strips (p+ strips) and a plurality of groups of n-type heavily doped semiconductor strips (n+ strips) forming an array having a plurality of rows and columns. In each of the rows and the columns, the plurality of groups of p+ strips and the plurality of groups of n+ strips are allocated in an alternating layout. The ESD protection circuit further includes a plurality of gate stacks, each including a first edge aligned to an edge of a group in the plurality of groups of p+ strips, and a second edge aligned to an edge of a group in the plurality of groups of n+ strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Ti Su, Wun-Jie Lin, Han-Jen Yang, Shui-Ming Cheng, Ming-Hsiang Song
  • Patent number: 9768286
    Abstract: In a back surface hole injection type diode, by more effectively securing the effect of hole injection from the back surface of a semiconductor substrate, the performance of a semiconductor device is improved. In the semiconductor device, in a diode formed of a P-N junction including an anode P-type layer formed in the main surface of a semiconductor substrate and a back surface N+-type layer formed in the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, a back surface P+-type layer is formed in the back surface, and a surface P+-type layer is formed in the main surface right above the back surface P+-type layer to thereby promote the effect of hole injection from the back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sho Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9761582
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising: a first electrode; a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type; a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type provided between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region on the first electrode and having a higher carrier concentration of the second conductivity type than the second semiconductor region; a fourth semiconductor region; a fifth semiconductor region; a sixth semiconductor region; a seventh semiconductor region; a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer; and a second electrode provided on the fifth semiconductor region and the seventh semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryohei Gejo, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Norio Yasuhara, Tomohiro Tamaki
  • Patent number: 9755045
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a first III-V compound layer, a second III-V compound layer over the first III-V compound layer, a gate dielectric over the second III-V compound layer, and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode are formed on opposite sides of the gate electrode. The anode electrode is electrically connected to the gate electrode. The anode electrode, the cathode electrode, and the gate electrode form portions of a rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: King-Yuen Wong, Chen-Ju Yu, Jiun-Lei Jerry Yu, Po-Chih Chen, Fu-Wei Yao, Fu-Chih Yang
  • Patent number: 9685446
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a light ion source, a first mask and a second mask. A side of a first region on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate is shielded by using the first mask. The top surface, with the side of the first region thereon being shielded with the first mask, is irradiated with light ions by operating the light ion source to introduce lattice defects at a specified depth on a side of a second region on the top surface. A side of the second region on a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate is shielded by using the second mask. The bottom surface, with the side of the second region thereon being shielded with the second mask, is irradiated with light ions by operating the light ion source to introduce lattice defects at a specified depth on the side of the first region on the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomonori Mizushima
  • Patent number: 9679997
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an IGBT region with a bottom-body region on a front surface side of an IGBT drift region, an IGBT barrier region on a front surface side of the bottom-body region, and a top-body region on a front surface side of the IGBT barrier region. A diode region is include with a bottom-anode region on a front surface side of the diode drift region, a diode barrier region on a front surface side of the bottom-anode region, a top-anode region on a front surface side of the diode barrier region, and a pillar region extending from the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, piercing the top-anode region, and reaching the diode barrier region, and connected to the front surface electrode and the diode barrier region. An impurity concentration of the top-body region is lower than an impurity concentration of the bottom-anode region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akitaka Soeno
  • Patent number: 9666713
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided. The device includes: The second region has a greater curvature than the first region. The device includes: an N-type epitaxy layer; a P-well in the N-type epitaxy layer; a drain in the N-type epitaxy layer; a source in the P-well; and a bulk in the P-well and in contact with the source, wherein the bulk has a greater area in the second region than in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Tsai, Yu-Ti Su, Jen-Chou Tseng
  • Patent number: 9653458
    Abstract: An integrated device includes a substrate, first and second vertical transistors and first and second common epitaxy. The substrate includes an upper surface with first substrate regions doped with a first dopant and second substrate regions doped with a second dopant. The first vertical transistor is operably disposed on the upper surface at a first one of the first substrate regions. The second vertical transistor is operably disposed on the upper surface at a first one of the second substrate regions. The first diode is operably disposed on the upper surface at a second one of the first substrate regions. The second diode is operably disposed on the upper surface at a second one of the second substrate regions. The first common epitaxy is provided for the first vertical transistor and the second diode and the second common epitaxy is provided for the second vertical transistor and the first diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Wenyu Xu, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9653557
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region having a second conductivity type, a first insulating layer on the first and second semiconductor regions, and field plate electrodes are provided in the first insulating layer at different distances from the first semiconductor layer. A first field plate electrode is at a first distance, a second field plate electrode is at a second distance greater than the first distance, and a third field plate electrode is at a distance greater than the second distance. The first through third field plate electrodes are electrically connected to each other and the third electrode is electrically connected to the second semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tomoko Matsudai, Yuichi Oshino, Keiko Kawamura, Bungo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9614106
    Abstract: In an IGBT portion, a first gate electrode is provided in a first trench via a first gate insulating film. A thickness of a first gate insulating film lower portion is thicker than a thickness of a first gate insulating film upper portion, whereby a width of a mesa portion between adjacent first trenches is narrower at a portion of a collector side than at an emitter side. In a diode portion, a second gate electrode is provided inside a second trench via second gate insulating film. A width of the second trench is uniform along a depth direction or narrows from the emitter side toward the collector side. Widths of the second trench are narrower than a sum of a width of the first trench lower portion and the thickness of the first gate insulating film lower portion of both side walls of the first trench lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Souichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9553086
    Abstract: A Reverse-conducting semiconductor device which comprises a freewheeling diode and an insulated gate bipolar transistor on a common wafer, part of which wafer forms a base layer of a first conductivity type with a first doping concentration and a base layer thickness. The insulated gate bipolar transistor comprises a collector side and an emitter side opposite the collector side of the wafer. A cathode layer of a first conductivity type with at least one first region and a anode layer of a second conductivity type with at least one second and pilot region are alternately arranged on the collector side. Each region has a region area with a region width surrounded by a region border. The Reverse-conducting-IGBT of the present application satisfies a number of specific geometrical rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Liutauras Storasta, Chiara Corvasce, Manuel Le-Gallo, Munaf Rahimo
  • Patent number: 9536961
    Abstract: A semiconductor layer of a reverse conducting insulated gate bipolar transistor is provided with a drift region of a first conductive type, a body region of a second conductive type that is disposed above the drift region, and a barrier region of the first conductive type that is disposed in the body region and electrically connects to the emitter electrode via a pillar member which extends from the one of main surfaces of the semiconductor layer. The barrier region is not contact with a side surface of the insulated trench gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hirabayashi, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yoshifumi Yasuda, Akitaka Soeno, Masaru Senoo, Satoru Machida, Yusuke Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9530836
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate including a device region and a peripheral region. The peripheral region includes guard rings. A first peripheral insulating film, first peripheral conducting films, a second peripheral insulating film and second peripheral conducting films are laminated in the peripheral region. Each of the first peripheral conducting films extends annularly. Each of the second peripheral conducting films overlaps a part of the corresponding first peripheral conducting film. Each of the second peripheral conducting films is connected to the corresponding first peripheral conducting film via a first contact hole. Each of the second peripheral conducting films is connected to the corresponding guard ring via a second contact hole. A center of at least one of the second contact holes is located on inner side with respect to a center line of the guard ring in a width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaru Senoo
  • Patent number: 9508710
    Abstract: A technology capable of suppressing a fluctuation in voltage in a diode region is provided. A resistance value between the emitter electrode and the lower body region is lower than a resistance value between the anode electrode and the lower anode region when the semiconductor device operates as a diode. A quantity of holes between the emitter electrode and the second barrier region is smaller than a quantity of holes between the anode electrode and the first barrier region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Saito, Satoru Machida, Yusuke Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9490244
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises a load transistor including first and second load terminals and a load control terminal. The integrated circuit further comprises a clamping structure. The clamping structure comprises a clamping transistor, the clamping transistor including first and second clamping transistor load terminals and a gate terminal. The clamping transistor is electrically coupled between the load control terminal and the first load terminal and a clamping voltage of the load transistor is determined by a threshold voltage Vth of the clamping transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Jens Barrenscheen, Anton Mauder