Patents by Inventor Adam William Saxler

Adam William Saxler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100012952
    Abstract: High electron mobility transistors and/or methods of fabricating high electron mobility transistors that include a first Group III-nitride layer having vertically grown regions, laterally grown regions and a coalescence region are provided. A Group III-nitride channel layer is provided on the first Group III-nitride layer and a Group III-nitride barrier layer is provided on the Group III-nitride channel layer. A drain contact, a source contact and a gate contact are provided on the barrier layer. The gate contact is disposed on a portion of the barrier layer on a laterally grown region of the first Group III-nitride layer and at least a portion of one of the source contact and/or the drain contact is disposed on a portion of the barrier layer on a vertically grown region of the first Group III-nitride layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Scott Sheppard, Richard Peter Smith
  • Patent number: 7646024
    Abstract: A structure is disclosed that reduces the forward voltage across the interface between silicon carbide and Group III nitride layers. The structure includes a conductive silicon carbide substrate and a conductive layer of aluminum gallium nitride on the silicon carbide substrate. The aluminum gallium nitride layer has a mole fraction of aluminum that is sufficient to bring the conduction bands of the silicon carbide substrate and the aluminum gallium nitride into close proximity, but less than a mole fraction of aluminum that would render the aluminum gallium nitride layer resistive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam William Saxler
  • Patent number: 7626217
    Abstract: Group III-Nitride semiconductor device structures and methods of fabricating Group III-Nitride structures are provided that include an electrically conductive Group III-Nitride substrate, such as a GaN substrate, and a semi-insulating or insulating Group III-Nitride epitaxial layer, such as a GaN epitaxial layer, on the electrically conductive Group III-Nitride substrate. The Group III-Nitride epitaxial layer has a lattice constant that is and a composition that may be substantially the same as a composition and a lattice constant of the Group III-Nitride substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam William Saxler
  • Patent number: 7615774
    Abstract: Aluminum free high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and methods of fabricating aluminum free HEMTs are provided. In some embodiments, the aluminum free HEMTs include an aluminum free Group III-nitride barrier layer, an aluminum free Group III-nitride channel layer on the barrier layer and an aluminum free Group III-nitride cap layer on the channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Cree.Inc.
    Inventor: Adam William Saxler
  • Publication number: 20090272984
    Abstract: A high power, wide-bandgap device is disclosed that exhibits reduced junction temperature and higher power density during operation and improved reliability at a rated power density. The device includes a diamond substrate for providing a heat sink with a thermal conductivity greater than silicon carbide, a single crystal silicon carbide layer on the diamond substrate for providing a supporting crystal lattice match for wide-bandgap material structures that is better than the crystal lattice match of diamond, and a Group III nitride heterostructure on the single crystal silicon carbide layer for providing device characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventor: Adam William Saxler
  • Patent number: 7612390
    Abstract: A heterojunction transistor may include a channel layer comprising a Group III nitride, a barrier layer comprising a Group III nitride on the channel layer, and an energy barrier comprising a layer of a Group III nitride including indium on the channel layer such that the channel layer is between the barrier layer and the energy barrier. The barrier layer may have a bandgap greater than a bandgap of the channel layer, and a concentration of indium (In) in the energy barrier may be greater than a concentration of indium (In) in the channel layer. Related methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Yifeng Wu, Primit Parikh
  • Patent number: 7579626
    Abstract: A high power, wide-bandgap device is disclosed that exhibits reduced junction temperature and higher power density during operation and improved reliability at a rated power density. The device includes a diamond substrate for providing a heat sink with a thermal conductivity greater than silicon carbide, a single crystal silicon carbide layer on the diamond substrate for providing a supporting crystal lattice match for wide-bandgap material structures that is better than the crystal lattice match of diamond, and a Group III nitride heterostructure on the single crystal silicon carbide layer for providing device characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam William Saxler
  • Patent number: 7550784
    Abstract: Contacts for a nitride based transistor and methods of fabricating such contacts provide a recess through a regrowth process. The contacts are formed in the recess. The regrowth process includes fabricating a first cap layer comprising a Group III-nitride semiconductor material. A mask is fabricated and patterned on the first cap layer. The pattern of the mask corresponds to the pattern of the recesses for the contacts. A second cap layer comprising a Group III-nitride semiconductor material is selectively fabricated (e.g. grown) on the first cap layer utilizing the patterned mask. Additional layers may also be formed on the second cap layer. The mask may be removed to provide recess(es) to the first cap layer, and contact(s) may be formed in the recess(es). Alternatively, the mask may comprise a conductive material upon which a contact may be formed, and may not require removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Richard Peter Smith, Scott T. Sheppard
  • Patent number: 7544963
    Abstract: Binary Group III-nitride high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and methods of fabricating binary Group III-nitride HEMTs are provided. In some embodiments, the binary Group III-nitride HEMTs include a first binary Group III-nitride barrier layer, a binary Group III-nitride channel layer on the first barrier layer; and a second binary Group III-nitride barrier layer on the channel layer. In some embodiments, the binary Group III-nitride HEMTs include a first AIN barrier layer, a GaN channel layer and a second AIN barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam William Saxler
  • Publication number: 20090101939
    Abstract: Group III Nitride based field effect transistor (FETs) are provided having a power degradation of less than about 3.0 dB when operated at a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) of about from about 28 to about 70 volts, a gate to source voltage (Vgs) of from about ?3.3 to about ?14 volts and a normal operating temperature for at least about 10 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Richard Peter Smith, Scott T. Sheppard, Adam William Saxler, Yifeng Wu
  • Publication number: 20090042345
    Abstract: High electron mobility transistors are provided that include a non-uniform aluminum concentration AlGaN based cap layer having a high aluminum concentration adjacent a surface of the cap layer that is remote from the barrier layer on which the cap layer is provided. High electron mobility transistors are provided that include a cap layer having a doped region adjacent a surface of the cap layer that is remote from the barrier layer on which the cap layer is provided. Graphitic BN passivation structures for wide bandgap semiconductor devices are provided. SiC passivation structures for Group III-nitride semiconductor devices are provided. Oxygen anneals of passivation structures are also provided. Ohmic contacts without a recess are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Scott Sheppard, Richard Peter Smith
  • Patent number: 7479669
    Abstract: Transistors and/or methods of fabricating transistors that include a source contact, drain contact and gate contact are provided. In some embodiments, a channel region is provided between the source and drain contacts and at least a portion of the channel regions includes a hybrid layer comprising semiconductor material. In particular embodiments of the present invention, the transistor is a current aperture transistor. The channel region may include pendeo-epitaxial layers or epitaxial laterally overgrown layers. Transistors and methods of fabricating current aperture transistors that include a trench that extends through the channel and barrier layers and includes semiconductor material therein are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam William Saxler
  • Patent number: 7465967
    Abstract: Group III Nitride based field effect transistor (FETS) are provided having a power degradation of less than about 3.0 dB when operated at a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) of about 56 volts, a gate to source voltage (Vgs) of from about ?8 to about ?14 volts and a temperature of about 140° C. for at least about 10 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Peter Smith, Scott T. Sheppard, Adam William Saxler, Yifeng Wu
  • Publication number: 20080302298
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed that includes a silicon carbide wafer having a diameter of at least 100 mm with a Group III nitride heterostructure on the wafer that exhibits high uniformity in a number of characteristics. These include: a standard deviation in sheet resistivity across the wafer less than three percent; a standard deviation in electron mobility across the wafer of less than 1 percent; a standard deviation in carrier density across the wafer of no more than about 3.3 percent; and a standard deviation in conductivity across the wafer of about 2.5 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Edward Lloyd Hutchins
  • Patent number: 7456443
    Abstract: High electron mobility transistors are provided that include a non-uniform aluminum concentration AlGaN based cap layer having a high aluminum concentration adjacent a surface of the cap layer that is remote from the barrier layer on which the cap layer is provided. High electron mobility transistors are provided that include a cap layer having a doped region adjacent a surface of the cap layer that is remote from the barrier layer on which the cap layer is provided. Graphitic BN passivation structures for wide bandgap semiconductor devices are provided. SiC passivation structures for Group III-nitride semiconductor devices are provided. Oxygen anneals of passivation structures are also provided. Ohmic contacts without a recess are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Scott Sheppard, Richard Peter Smith
  • Patent number: 7449353
    Abstract: Semi-insulating Group III nitride layers and methods of fabricating semi-insulating Group III nitride layers include doping a Group III nitride layer with a shallow level p-type dopant and doping the Group III nitride layer with a deep level dopant, such as a deep level transition metal dopant. Such layers and/or method may also include doping a Group III nitride layer with a shallow level dopant having a concentration of less than about 1×1017 cm?3 and doping the Group III nitride layer with a deep level transition metal dopant. The concentration of the deep level transition metal dopant is greater than a concentration of the shallow level p-type dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam William Saxler
  • Patent number: 7432142
    Abstract: Transistor fabrication includes forming a nitride-based channel layer on a substrate, forming a barrier layer on the nitride-based channel layer, forming a contact recess in the barrier layer to expose a contact region of the nitride-based channel layer, forming a contact layer on the exposed contact region of the nitride-based channel layer, for example, using a low temperature deposition process, forming an ohmic contact on the contact layer and forming a gate contact disposed on the barrier layer adjacent the ohmic contact. A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) and methods of fabricating a HEMT are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Richard Peter Smith
  • Publication number: 20080217645
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a nucleation layer on the substrate, a compositionally graded layer on the nucleation layer, and a layer of a nitride semiconductor material on the compositionally graded layer. The layer of nitride semiconductor material includes a plurality of substantially relaxed nitride interlayers spaced apart within the layer of nitride semiconductor material. The substantially relaxed nitride interlayers include aluminum and gallium and are conductively doped with an n-type dopant, and the layer of nitride semiconductor material including the plurality of nitride interlayers has a total thickness of at least about 2.0 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Albert Augustus Burk
  • Publication number: 20080220555
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first layer of a nitride semiconductor material, a substantially unstrained nitride interlayer on the first layer of nitride semiconductor material, and a second layer of a nitride semiconductor material on the nitride interlayer. The nitride interlayer has a first lattice constant and may include aluminum and gallium and may be conductively doped with an n-type dopant. The first layer and the second layer together have a thickness of at least about 0.5 ?m. The nitride semiconductor material may have a second lattice constant, such that the first layer may be more tensile strained on one side of the nitride interlayer than the second layer may be on the other side of the nitride interlayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Albert Augustus Burk
  • Patent number: 7405430
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed that includes a silicon carbide wafer having a diameter of at least 100 mm with a Group III nitride heterostructure on the wafer that exhibits high uniformity in a number of characteristics. These include: a standard deviation in sheet resistivity across the wafer less than three percent; a standard deviation in electron mobility across the wafer of less than 1 percent; a standard deviation in carrier density across the wafer of no more than about 3.3 percent; and a standard deviation in conductivity across the wafer of about 2.5 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam William Saxler, Edward Lloyd Hutchins