Abstract: A lateral III-N device has a vertical gate module with III-N material orientated in an N-polar or a group-III polar orientation. A III-N material structure has a III-N buffer layer, a III-N barrier layer, and a III-N channel layer. A compositional difference between the III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer causes a 2DEG channel to be induced in the III-N channel layer. A p-type III-N body layer is disposed over the III-N channel layer in a source side access region but not over a drain side access region. A n-type III-N capping layer over the p-type III-N body layer. A source electrode that contacts the n-type III-N capping layer is electrically connected to the p-type III-N body layer and is electrically isolated from the 2DEG channel when the gate electrode is biased relative to the source electrode at a voltage that is below a threshold voltage.

Abstract: An electronic module for a half-bridge circuit includes a base substrate with an insulating layer between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. A trench formed through the first metal layer electrically isolates first, second, and third portions of the first metal layer from one another. A high-side switch includes an enhancement-mode transistor and a depletion-mode transistor. The depletion-mode transistor includes a III-N material structure on an electrically conductive substrate. A drain electrode of the depletion-mode transistor is connected to the first portion, a source electrode of the enhancement-mode transistor is connected to the second portion, a drain electrode of the enhancement-mode transistor is connected to a source electrode of the depletion-mode transistor, a gate electrode of the depletion-mode transistor is connected to the electrically conductive substrate, and the electrically conductive substrate is connected to the second portion.

Abstract: Described herein are lateral III-N (e.g., GaN) devices having a III-N depleting layer. A circuit includes a depletion-mode transistor with a source connected to a drain of an enhancement-mode transistor. The gate of the depletion-mode transistor and the gate of the enhancement-mode transistor are biased at zero volts, and the drain of the depletion-mode transistor is biased at positive voltage to block a current in a forward direction. Then, the bias of the gate of the enhancement-mode transistor is changed to a first voltage greater than the threshold voltage of the enhancement-mode transistor and a first current is allowed to flow through the channel in a forward direction. Then, the bias of the gate of the depletion-mode transistor is changed to a second voltage and a second current is allowed to flow through the channel in a forward direction where the second current is greater than the first current.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a III-N device and a Field Effect Transistor (FET). The III-N device comprises a substrate on a first side of a III-N material structure, a first gate, a first source, and a first drain on a side of the III-N material structure opposite the substrate. The FET comprises a second semiconductor material structure, a second gate, a second source, and a second drain, and the second source being on an opposite side of the second semiconductor material structure from the second drain. The second drain of the FET is directly contacting and electrically connected to the first source of the III-N devices, and a via-hole is formed through a portion of the III-N material structure exposing a portion of the top surface of the substrate and the first gate is electrically connected to the substrate through the via-hole.

Abstract: An electronic module for a half-bridge circuit includes a base substrate with an insulating layer between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. A trench formed through the first metal layer electrically isolates first, second, and third portions of the first metal layer from one another. A high-side switch includes an enhancement-mode transistor and a depletion-mode transistor. The depletion-mode transistor includes a III-N material structure on an electrically conductive substrate. A drain electrode of the depletion-mode transistor is connected to the first portion, a source electrode of the enhancement-mode transistor is connected to the second portion, a drain electrode of the enhancement-mode transistor is connected to a source electrode of the depletion-mode transistor, a gate electrode of the depletion-mode transistor is connected to the electrically conductive substrate, and the electrically conductive substrate is connected to the second portion.

Abstract: A transistor includes a III-N channel layer; a III-N barrier layer on the III-N channel layer; a source contact and a drain contact, the source and drain contacts electrically coupled to the III-N channel layer; an insulator layer on the III-N barrier layer; a gate insulator partially on the insulator layer and partially on the III-N channel layer, the gate insulator including an amorphous Al1-xSixO layer with 0.2<x<0.8; and a gate electrode over the gate insulator, the gate electrode being positioned between the source and drain contacts.

Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic component package that comprises a first lead, a second lead, and a third lead; and a III-N transistor encased in the electronic component package, the III-N transistor including a drain, a gate, and a source, where the source is coupled to the first lead, the gate is coupled to the second lead, and the drain is coupled to the third lead. The circuit includes a high voltage node and a resistor, the resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage node and a second terminal coupled to the third lead. The circuit further includes a ferrite bead connected in parallel to the resistor and coupled between the third lead and the high voltage node. When switching, the deleterious effects of a parasitic inductance of the circuit's power loop are mitigated by the ferrite bead and the resistor.

Abstract: A III-N device includes a III-N layer structure including a III-N channel layer, a III-N barrier layer over the III-N channel layer, and a graded III-N layer over the III-N barrier layer having a first side adjacent to the III-N barrier layer and a second side opposite the first side; a first power electrode and a second power electrode; and a gate between the first and second power electrodes, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. A composition of the graded III-N layer is graded so the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the first side is greater than the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the second side. A region of the graded III-N layer is (i) between the gate and the second power electrode, and (ii) electrically connected to the first power electrode and electrically isolated from the second power electrode.

Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic component package that comprises a first lead, a second lead, and a third lead; and a III-N transistor encased in the electronic component package, the III-N transistor including a drain, a gate, and a source, where the source is coupled to the first lead, the gate is coupled to the second lead, and the drain is coupled to the third lead. The circuit includes a high voltage node and a resistor, the resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage node and a second terminal coupled to the third lead. The circuit further includes a ferrite bead connected in parallel to the resistor and coupled between the third lead and the high voltage node. When switching, the deleterious effects of a parasitic inductance of the circuit's power loop are mitigated by the ferrite bead and the resistor.

Abstract: A lateral III-N device has a vertical gate module with III-N material orientated in an N-polar or a group-III polar orientation. A III-N material structure has a III-N buffer layer, a III-N barrier layer, and a III-N channel layer. A compositional difference between the III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer causes a 2DEG channel to be induced in the III-N channel layer. A p-type III-N body layer is disposed over the III-N channel layer in a source side access region but not over a drain side access region. A n-type III-N capping layer over the p-type III-N body layer. A source electrode that contacts the n-type III-N capping layer is electrically connected to the p-type III-N body layer and is electrically isolated from the 2DEG channel when the gate electrode is biased relative to the source electrode at a voltage that is below a threshold voltage.

Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic component package that comprises a first lead, a second lead, and a third lead; and a III-N transistor encased in the electronic component package, the III-N transistor including a drain, a gate, and a source, where the source is coupled to the first lead, the gate is coupled to the second lead, and the drain is coupled to the third lead. The circuit includes a high voltage node and a resistor, the resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage node and a second terminal coupled to the third lead. The circuit further includes a ferrite bead connected in parallel to the resistor and coupled between the third lead and the high voltage node. When switching, the deleterious effects of a parasitic inductance of the circuit's power loop are mitigated by the ferrite bead and the resistor.

Abstract: A III-N device includes a III-N layer structure including a III-N channel layer, a III-N barrier layer over the III-N channel layer, and a graded III-N layer over the III-N barrier layer having a first side adjacent to the III-N barrier layer and a second side opposite the first side; a first power electrode and a second power electrode; and a gate between the first and second power electrodes, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. A composition of the graded III-N layer is graded so the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the first side is greater than the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the second side. A region of the graded III-N layer is (i) between the gate and the second power electrode, and (ii) electrically connected to the first power electrode and electrically isolated from the second power electrode.