Vertical Channel Patents (Class 438/137)
  • Patent number: 6670230
    Abstract: A CMOS process for double vertical channel thin film transistor (DVC TFT). This process fabricates a CMOS with a double vertical channel (DVC) structure and defines the channel without an additional mask. The DVC structure of the CMOS side steps the photolithography limitation because the deep-submicrometer channel length is determined by the thickness of gate, thereby decreasing the channel length of the CMOS substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corp.
    Inventor: In-Cha Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6656774
    Abstract: Doping of the P type base region in a MOSFET or an IGBT with a combination of boron and one or more of indium, aluminum and gallium, provides a structure having a lower P type doping level in the channel portion of the structure than in the remainder of the structure without requiring counter doping of the channel. The doping level of the emitter region of an MCT is kept high everywhere except in the channel in order to provide a fast turn-off time for the MCT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tat-Sing Paul Chow, Victor Albert Keith Temple
  • Patent number: 6653666
    Abstract: J-FET having a first semiconductor region (2, 3), which comprises a first contact (7) with a highly doped contact layer (8) serving as a source disposed between two second contacts (9) serving as a gate on its first surface (4). The three contacts (7, 9) are each connected to a respective second semiconductor region (5, 6). The first and second semiconductor regions (2, 3, 5, 6) are of opposite conductivity types. The second semiconductor regions (5) connected to the second contacts (9) extend in the first semiconductor region (2, 3) below the second semiconductor region (6) that is connected to the first contact (7), with the result that the three second semiconductor regions (5, 6) at least partially overlap in a projection onto a horizontal plane and a channel region (11) is formed between the three second semiconductor regions (5, 6) in the first semiconductor region (2, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: SiCED Electronics Development GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz Mitlehner, Ulrich Weinert
  • Patent number: 6620653
    Abstract: A negative buffer layer and a positive collector layer are formed on a side of one surface of a semiconductor substrate. The positive collector layer is set to have a low dose amount and set shallow so that a low injection efficiency emitter structure is realized. Break down voltage of a power device is controlled by a thickness of a drift layer. A positive base layer, a negative emitter layer and a positive base contact layer are formed on a side of the other surface of the semiconductor substrate. A negative low resistant layer reduces a junction FET effect. An emitter electrode comes into contact with the negative emitter layer and the positive base contact layer. A collector electrode comes into contact with the positive collector layer. A gate electrode is formed on a gate insulating film above a channel region on a surface portion of the positive base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoko Matsudai, Hidetaka Hattori, Akio Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20030141514
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a p-type base region is provided in an n−-type substrate to extend from a principal surface of the substrate in a perpendicular direction to the principal surface. An n+-type source region extends in the p-type base region from the principal surface in the perpendicular direction, and an n+-type drain region extends in the substrate separately from the p-type base region with a drift region interposed therebetween. A trench is formed to penetrate the p-type base region from the n+-type source region in a direction parallel to the principal surface. A gate electrode is formed in the trench through a gate insulating film. Accordingly, a channel region can be formed with a channel width in a depth direction of the trench when a voltage is applied to the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamaguchi, Toshio Sakakibara, Jun Sakakibara, Takumi Shibata, Toshiyuki Morishita
  • Patent number: 6569715
    Abstract: A vertical thin film transistor formed in a single grain of polysilicon having few or no grain boundaries for use in memory, logic and display applications. The transistor is formed from a thin film of polysilicon having large columnar grains, in which source and drain regions have been formed. The large grain size and columnar grain orientation of the thin film are provided by recrystallizing a thin amorphous silicon film, or by specialized deposition of the thin film. Use of a thin film permits the transistor to be formed on an insulating substrate such as glass, quartz, or inexpensive silicon rather than a semiconductor chip, thereby significantly decreasing device cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 6566223
    Abstract: A high voltage integrated switching device includes at least one high voltage switching circuit, preferably employing DMOS technology and characterized by a breakdown voltage of at least 100 volts, on a dielectrically isolated, bonded and vertically trenched silicon substrate. Multiple high-voltage switching circuits may be located in close proximity on a single substrate without circuit breakdown or shorting during circuit operation. The circuit may further include one or more low- and/or intermediate-voltage circuits employing, for example, CMOS and bipolar technologies on the same silicon substrate and located in close proximity without voltage breakdown during circuit operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: C. P. Clare Corporation
    Inventors: Nestore A. Polce, Scotten W. Jones, Mark F. Heisig
  • Patent number: 6551865
    Abstract: Openings are formed in a laminate of a polycrystalline silicon film and an LTO film on a channel layer. While the laminate is used as a mask, impurities are implanted into a place in the channel layer which is assigned to a source region. Also, impurities are implanted into another place in the channel layer which is assigned to a portion of a second gate region. A portion of the polycrystalline silicon film which extends from the related opening is thermally oxidated. The LTO film and the oxidated portion of the polycrystalline silicon film are removed. While a remaining portion of the polycrystalline silicon film is used as a mask, impurities are implanted into a place in the channel layer which is assigned to the second gate region. Accordingly, the source region and the second gate region are formed on a self-alignment basis which suppresses a variation in channel length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Kumar, Hiroki Nakamura, Jun Kojima
  • Patent number: 6537902
    Abstract: A material layer which contains nitrogen atoms is formed on a first wiring or at a side surface of a first wiring. When etching for forming a via hole is carried out, nitrogen atoms contained in the material layer bind with CF molecules, CF2 molecules, CF3 molecules and the like contained in an etching gas, and compounds thus formed adhere to a surface of a silicon dioxide layer at side walls and a bottom portion of a via hole. As a result, once the material layer is exposed during etching for forming a hole, thereafter, the etching rate decreases. Accordingly even if there is misalignment of a via hole pattern with respect to a first wiring pattern when the via hole pattern is formed by lithography, etching of the silicon dioxide layer does not proceed to an underlying silicon substrate. Thus, short circuits are not formed between the first wiring and the silicon substrate via a second wiring layer which is deposited later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Orita
  • Patent number: 6528355
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a trench MOS transistor includes the step of at least partly filling the trench with a conductive material which is isolated from the inner surface of the trench by an insulating layer. The insulating layer has a layer thickness that is larger in the region of the lower end of the trench than at the upper end of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Manfred Kotek, Joost Larik
  • Patent number: 6524894
    Abstract: An N+ buffer layer formed on the underside of an N− layer includes an inactive region having incompletely activated ions and an active region having highly activated ions. The carrier concentration of the active region is higher than that of the inactive region. In the inactive region, the electrical activation rate X of the ions is expressed as 1%≦X≦30%. It is thus possible to achieve a PT structure using a Raw wafer, which reduces manufacturing costs and suppresses power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideki Nozaki, Yoshiro Baba, Motoshige Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6503782
    Abstract: A method and device produced for design, construction, and use of integrated circuits in wide bandgap semiconductors, including methods for fabrication of n-channel and p-channel junction field effect transistors on a single wafer or die, such that the produced devices may have pinchoff voltages of either positive or negative polarities. A first layer of either p-type or n-type is formed as a base. An alternating, channel layer of either n-type or p-type is then formed, followed by another layer of the same type as the first layer. Etching is used to provide contacts for the gates, source, and drain of the device. In one variation, pinchoff voltage is controlled via dopant level and thickness the channel region. In another variation, pinchoff voltage is controlled by variation of dopant level across the channel layer; and in another variation, pinchoff voltage is controlled by both thickness and variation of dopant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Mississippi State University Research and Technology Corporation (RTC)
    Inventors: Jeffrey Blaine Casady, Benjamin Blalock, Stephen E. Saddow, Michael S. Mazzola
  • Patent number: 6482681
    Abstract: An IGBT is formed in a thin (less than 250 microns thick) float zone silicon wafer using a hydrogen implant to form an N+ buffer layer at the bottom of the wafer. A weak anode is formed on the bottom of the wafer. A single hydrogen implant, or a plurality of hydrogen implants of progressively shallower depth and increasing dose can be used to form the implant in a diffused float zone wafer. The process may also be used to form an N+ contact region in silicon to permit a good ohmic contact to the silicon for any type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Francis, Chiu Ng
  • Publication number: 20020160573
    Abstract: Compact trench-gate semiconductor devices, for example a cellular power MOSFET with sub-micron pitch (Yc), are manufactured with self-aligned techniques that use sidewall spacers (52) in different ways. The trench-gate (11) is accommodated in a narrow trench (20) that is etched via a narrow window (52b) defined by the spacers (52) at sidewalls of a wider window (51a) of a mask (51) at the body surface (10a). The spacers (52) permit a source region (13) adjacent to the trench-gate (11) and an insulating overlayer (18) over the trench-gate (11) to be self-aligned to this narrow trench (20). The overlayer (18), which defines a contact window (18a) for a source electrode (33), is provided in a simple but reproducible manner by deposition and etch-back, after removing the spacers (52). Its overlap (y4, y4′) with the body surface (10a) is well-defined, so reducing a short-circuit risk between the source electrode (33) and the trench-gate (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Steven T. Peake, Georgios Petkos, Robert J. Farr, Christopher M. Rogers, Raymond J. Grover, Peter J. Forbes
  • Publication number: 20020139992
    Abstract: Openings are formed in a laminate of a polycrystalline silicon film and an LTO film on a channel layer. While the laminate is used as a mask, impurities are implanted into a place in the channel layer which is assigned to a source region. Also, impurities are implanted into another place in the channel layer which is assigned to a portion of a second gate region. A portion of the polycrystalline silicon film which extends from the related opening is thermally oxidated. The LTO film and the oxidated portion of the polycrystalline silicon film are removed. While a remaining portion of the polycrystalline silicon film is used as a mask, impurities are implanted into a place in the channel layer which is assigned to the second gate region. Accordingly, the source region and the second gate region are formed on a self-alignment basis which suppresses a variation in channel length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Rajesh Kumar, Hiroki Nakamura, Jun Kojima
  • Patent number: 6455377
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a vertical channel transistor, comprising the following steps. A semiconductor substrate having an upper surface is provided. A high doped N-type lower epitaxial silicon layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A low doped P-type middle epitaxial silicon layer is formed on the lower epitaxial silicon layer. A high doped N-type upper epitaxial silicon layer is formed on the middle epitaxial silicon layer. The lower, middle, and upper epitaxial silicon layers are etched to form a epitaxial layer stack defined by isolation trenches. Oxide is formed within the isolation trenches. The oxide is etched to form a gate trench within one of the isolation trenches exposing a sidewall of the epitaxial layer stack facing the gate trench. Multi-quantum wells or a stained-layer super lattice is formed on the exposed epitaxial layer stack sidewall. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the multi-quantum wells or the stained-layer super lattice and within the gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Jia Zhen Zheng, Lap Chan, Elgin Quek, Ravi Sundaresan, Yang Pan, James Yong Meng Lee, Ying Keung Leung, Yelehanka Ramachandramurthy Pradeep
  • Patent number: 6436770
    Abstract: A method for a vertical MOS transistor whose vertical channel width can be accurately defined and controlled. Isolation regions are formed in a substrate. The isolation regions defining an active area. Then, we form a source region in the active area. A dielectric layer is formed over the active area and the isolation regions. We form a barrier layer over the dielectric layer. We form an opening in the barrier layer. A gate layer is formed in the opening. We form an insulating layer over the conductive layer and the barrier layer. We form a gate opening through the insulating layer, the gate layer and the dielectric layer to expose the source region. Gate dielectric spacers are formed over the sidewalls of the gate layer. Then, we form a conductive plug filling the gate opening. The insulating layer is removed. We form a drain region in top and side portions of the conductive plug and form doped gate regions in the gate layer. The remaining portions of the conductive plug comprise a channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying Keung Leung, Yelehanka Ramachandramurthy Pradeep, Jia Zhen Zheng, Lap Chan, Elgin Quek, Ravi Sundaresan, Yang Pan, James Yong Meng Lee
  • Publication number: 20020081784
    Abstract: An insulated gate bipolar transistor is disclosed, which comprises a first conductivity type base layer, a second conductivity type base layer and an emitter layer which are selectively formed in an upper surface of the first conductivity type base layer, a buffer layer and a collector layer which are formed on a back surface of the first conductivity type base layer. A requirement of d2/d1>1.5 is satisfied, where d1 is a depth in the buffer layer, as measured from an interface of the buffer layer and the collector layer, at which a first conductivity type impurity concentration in the buffer layer shows a peak value, and d2 is a shallowest depth in the buffer layer, as measured from the interface of the buffer layer and the collector layer, at which an activation ratio of the first conductivity type impurity in the buffer layer is a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Motoshige Kobayashi, Hideki Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20020061609
    Abstract: A method of making semiconductor devices comprising the steps of: preparing non-defective individual film packages having good quality, wherein leads are formed and a semiconductor chip is mounted on each of the film packages; attaching each of the non-defective individual packages to each of mounting portions of a plate; and cutting the plate into separate pieces, each of the separated pieces corresponding to each of the mounting portions on which each of the non-defective individual film packages is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventor: Nobuaki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6358825
    Abstract: In an improved process for controlling and improving minority carrier lifetime in a P-i-N diode, platinum is deposited on a surface of a silicon semiconductor substrate containing at least one PN junction. The substrate is heated to a temperature of about 800° C., and the platinum is diffused into the substrate as its temperature is increased at a rate of about 5° C./minute to a first selected temperature of about 850-950° C. Platinum diffusion is continued while the substrate is maintained at the first selected temperature for about 30-60 minutes. The substrate temperature is then increased at a rate of about 5° C./minute to a second selected temperature above 950° C. to about 1000° C., and the substrate is maintained at the second selected temperature for about 5-30 minutes before cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jifa Hao, Randall L. Case, John L. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 6303410
    Abstract: Power semiconductor devices having recessed gate electrodes are formed by methods which include the steps of forming a semiconductor substrate having a drift region of first conductivity type therein extending to a face thereof and forming a trench in the substrate so that the trench has a bottom which extends opposite the drift region and a sidewall which extends from the drift region to the face. The sidewall may extend orthogonal to the face or at an angle greater than 90°. A preferred insulated gate electrode is formed by lining the face and trench with a gate electrode insulating layer and then forming a conductive layer on the gate electrode insulating layer. The conductive layer is preferably formed to extend opposite a portion of the face adjacent to the trench and into the trench. A step is then performed to pattern the conductive layer to define a T-shaped or Y-shaped gate electrode which fills the trench and also extends opposite the face at a location adjacent the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventor: Bantval Jayant Baliga
  • Publication number: 20010011729
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a self-aligned bipolar junction transistor in a semiconductor structure having a first layer of silicon carbide generally having a first conductivity type and a second layer of silicon carbide generally having a second conductivity type, opposite to the first conductivity type. The method comprises forming a pillar in the second silicon carbide layer, the pillar having a side wall and defining an adjacent horizontal surface on the second layer, forming a dielectric layer having a predetermined thickness on the second semiconductor layer, including the side wall and the horizontal surface. After formation of the dielectric layer, the dielectric layer on a portion of the horizontal surface adjacent the side wall is anisotropically etched while at least a portion of the dielectric layer remains on the side wall, thereby exposing a portion of the horizontal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: Ranbir Singh, Anant K. Agarwal, Sei-Hyung Ryu
  • Patent number: 6165821
    Abstract: A MOS gated device is resistant to both high radiation and SEE environments. Spaced, N-type body regions are formed in the surface of a P-type substrate of a semiconductor wafer. P-type dopants are introduced into the surface within each of the channel regions to form respective source regions therein. The periphery of each of the source regions is spaced from the periphery of its respective channel region at the surface to define N-type channel regions between the spaced peripheries. A layer of gate oxide is formed over the channel areas. A doped polysilicon gate electrode is formed atop the gate oxide. A source electrode is formed atop the source regions. The MOS gated device is optimized to maintain a threshold voltage of between -2V to -5V for a total irradiation dose of 300 Krad while maintaining SEE withstand capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corp.
    Inventors: Milton J. Boden, Jr., Yuan Xu
  • Patent number: 6159776
    Abstract: A normally-off semiconductor device with gate regions formed in a high-quality base is manufactured by forming a P.sup.+ layer in a lower surface of an N.sup.- substrate, selectively forming P.sup.+ gate regions in an upper surface of the N.sup.- substrate, forming intergate P.sup.+ regions in the upper surface of the N.sup.- substrate between the P.sup.+ gate regions, forming an N.sup.+ layer in an upper surface of an N.sup.- substrate, joining the N.sup.- substrate and the N.sup.- substrate to each other by heating them at about 800.degree. C. in a hydrogen atmosphere while the upper surface of the N.sup.- substrate and a lower surface of the N.sup.- substrate are being held against each other, and forming an anode electrode and a cathode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Terasawa
  • Patent number: 5930651
    Abstract: A P.sup.+ layer is formed on the lower surface of an N.sup.- substrate, and recesses are defined in the upper surface of the N.sup.- substrate. Then, P.sup.+ gate regions and bottom gate regions are formed in side walls and bottoms of the recesses. The N.sup.- substrate and an N.sup.- substrate are ultrasonically cleaned to remove impurities therefrom, then cleaned by pure water, and dried by a spinner. Then, while lands on the upper surface of the N.sup.- substrate are being held against the surface of the N.sup.- substrate, the N.sup.- substrates are joined to each other by heating them at 800.degree. C. in a hydrogen atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Terasawa
  • Patent number: 5798287
    Abstract: A power MOS chip and package assembly is provided for packaging a power MOS chip that has high heat dissipation. The assembly maintains a low contact resistance to the chip using compression without damaging the chip. The package assembly includes a thermally conductive body, a chip, an electrically conductive contact washer and an external electrical terminal. The chip includes a semiconductor substrate layer, an insulating layer, a conductive material gate layer and a metal layer. The layers form a plurality of first regions that are functionally inactive and a plurality of second regions. The insulating layer is formed to be thicker in the first regions than in the second regions so that the metal layer is elevated with respect to the substrate layer by a greater amount in the first regions than in the second regions. The contact washer is placed in mechanical contact with the chip so that it exerts pressure against the metal layer in the first regions to create an electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel Mezzogiorno
    Inventor: Cesare Ronsisvalle
  • Patent number: 5777346
    Abstract: One embodiment of a metal oxide semiconductor controlled thyristor in accordance with the present invention has a semiconductor wafer with opposing first and second surfaces. The wafer includes first through sixth sequential regions which are disposed one above the other. The first region includes the second surface of the wafer and each of the second through sixth regions has at least a portion which extends up to the first surface. The first, third, and sixth regions have a first type of conductivity and the second, fourth, and fifth regions have a second type of conductivity. A trench with a bottom and sidewalls extends from the first surface and passes through the fourth, fifth, and sixth regions and into the third region. A dielectric material coats the bottom and sidewalls of the trench and a conductive material fills the remainder of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Albert Keith Temple
  • Patent number: 5776813
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a vertical gate-enhanced bipolar transistor is described. The process does not require the presence of an insulating substrate to electrically isolate devices and is suitable for both NPN as well as PNP bipolar transistors. The process begins with the formation of a buried layer. This layer is accessed from the surface through a suitable well region. Then a trench, shaped as a hollow square is formed, lined with a layer of gate oxide and then filled with low resistivity polysilicon to form the gate. A polysilicon emitter layer is formed in the interior of the square, following implantation of arsenic ions with thermal drive-in to form an emitter junction just below the surface. After formation of the emitter junction, isolation layers, including self-aligned spacers, are constructed to cover the polysilicon emitter layer. Another layer of polysilicon is then laid down and then boron ions are implanted. This is followed by a thermal drive-in to form a base contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tzuen-Hsi Huang, Chwan-Ying Lee