Patents by Inventor Adrian Finney

Adrian Finney 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: 20240072785
    Abstract: An electronic circuit and a method are disclosed. The electronic circuit includes: a first transistor device having a load path between a first load path node and a second load path node; and a clamping circuit connected to the load path of the first transistor device. The clamping circuit includes: a second transistor device having a load path connected in parallel with the load path of the first transistor device, and a control node; and a drive circuit configured to drive the second transistor device. The drive circuit includes a clamping element and a resistor connected in series between the first and second load path nodes of the first transistor device. The drive circuit is configured to drive the second transistor device dependent on a voltage across the resistor. The first transistor device and the clamping circuit are integrated in a same semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Oliver Blank, Gerhard Prechtl, Dirk Ahlers, Gerhard Nöbauer, Marius Aurel Bodea, Joachim Schönle, Oliver Häberlen
  • Publication number: 20240030137
    Abstract: A semiconductor die includes: a semiconductor substrate having an active region and an edge termination region that separates the active region from an edge of the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of transistor cells formed in the active region; a structured power metallization above the semiconductor substrate and including a gate pad and a gate runner that extends from the gate pad along one or more but not all sides of the semiconductor die above the edge termination region, the gate runner electrically connecting the gate pad to gate electrodes of the transistor cells; and a tungsten runner that follows the gate runner and contacts an underside of the gate runner. The tungsten runner is present above the edge termination region along each side of the semiconductor die that is at least partly devoid of the gate runner. A Method of producing the semiconductor die is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Ingmar Neumann, Adrian Finney, Pascal Bierbaumer, Laszlo Juhasz
  • Publication number: 20230261104
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a drift zone of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate; an array of interconnected gate trenches extending from a first surface of the semiconductor substrate into the drift zone; a plurality of semiconductor mesas delimited by the array of interconnected gate trenches; a plurality of needle-shaped field plate trenches extending from the first surface into the plurality of semiconductor mesas; in the plurality of semiconductor mesas, a source region of the first conductivity type and a body region of a second conductivity type separating the source region from the drift zone; and a current spreading region of the first conductivity type at the bottom of the gate trenches and having a higher average doping concentration than the drift zone. Methods of producing the semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Harsh Naik, Ingmar Neumann
  • Publication number: 20230088305
    Abstract: The application relates to a semiconductor die including a device in an active area of the die. The device includes a field electrode region formed in a field electrode trench extending vertically into a semiconductor body. The field electrode region includes a first and a second field electrode stacked vertically above each other in the field electrode trench. An edge termination structure laterally between the active area and a lateral edge region of the die includes a first and a second shield electrode arranged laterally consecutive between the active area and the lateral edge region to stepwise decrease an electrical potential between the edge region and the active area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Oliver Blank, Alessandro Ferrara, Stefan Tegen
  • Publication number: 20230041169
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having an active area with active transistor cells. Each active transistor cell includes a columnar trench having a field plate and a mesa. An edge termination region that laterally surrounds the active area includes a transition region, an outer termination region, and inactive cells arranged in the transition region and outer termination region. Each inactive cell includes a columnar termination trench having a field plate and a termination mesa including a drift region. In the transition region, the termination mesa includes a body region arranged on the drift region and in the outer termination region the drift region of the termination mesa extends to the first surface. The edge termination region further includes a continuous trench positioned in the outer termination region, that laterally surrounds the columnar termination trenches, and is filled with at least one dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Ingmar Neumann, Adrian Finney, Cesar Augusto Braz
  • Publication number: 20220285532
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor die with a transistor device, which has a channel region formed in a semiconductor body, a gate region aside the channel region, for controlling a channel formation, a drift region formed in the semiconductor body, and a field electrode in a field electrode trench, which extends from a frontside of the semiconductor body vertically into the drift region, wherein an insulating layer is formed on the frontside of the semiconductor body and a frontside metallization is formed on the insulating layer, and wherein a capacitor electrode is formed in the insulating layer, which is conductively connected to at least a portion of the field electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Tegen, Alessandro Ferrara, Adrian Finney, Matthias Kroenke, Christoph Kubasch, Rolf Weis
  • Publication number: 20220262946
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a power device, having a channel region, a gate region formed aside the channel region, for controlling a channel formation, a drift region formed vertically below the channel region, a field electrode formed in a field electrode trench extending vertically into the drift region, wherein the field electrode comprises a first and a second field electrode structure, the first field electrode structure capacitively coupling to a first section of the drift region and the second field electrode structure capacitively coupling to a second section of the drift region, arranged vertically above the first section, the first and the second field electrode structure formed with a vertical overlap and adapted to balance a capacitive coupling between the first and the second field electrode structure and between the field electrode and the drift region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Blank, Adrian Finney, Alessandro Ferrara, Franz Hirler, Stefan Tegen
  • Publication number: 20210193827
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement is disclosed. The semiconductor arrangement includes: a semiconductor body and a temperature sensor (TES) integrated in the semiconductor body. The TES includes: a first semiconductor region of a first doping type arranged, in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body, between a second semiconductor region of a second doping type and a third semiconductor of the second doping type, and a contact plug ohmically connecting the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region. The first semiconductor region includes a base region section spaced apart from the contact plug in a first lateral direction of the semiconductor body and a resistor section arranged between the base region section and the contact plug. The resistor section is implemented such that an ohmic resistance of the resistor section between the base region section and the first semiconductor region is at least 1 M?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Norbert Krischke, Mathias Racki
  • Patent number: 10931272
    Abstract: A transistor arrangement and an electronic circuit with a transistor arrangement are disclosed. The transistor arrangement includes: drift and drain regions arranged in a semiconductor body and connected to a drain node; at least one load transistor cell having a source region integrated in a first active region of the semiconductor body; at least one sense transistor cell having a source region integrated in a second active region of the semiconductor body; a first source node electrically coupled to the source region of the at least one load transistor cell; a second source node electrically coupled to the source region of the at least one sense transistor cell; and a compensation resistor connected between the source region of the at least one sense transistor cell and the second source node. The compensation resistor is integrated in the semiconductor body and has a resistive conductor which includes a doped semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Cristian Mihai Boianceanu
  • Publication number: 20200304117
    Abstract: A transistor arrangement and an electronic circuit with a transistor arrangement are disclosed. The transistor arrangement includes: drift and drain regions arranged in a semiconductor body and connected to a drain node; at least one load transistor cell having a source region integrated in a first active region of the semiconductor body; at least one sense transistor cell having a source region integrated in a second active region of the semiconductor body; a first source node electrically coupled to the source region of the at least one load transistor cell; a second source node electrically coupled to the source region of the at least one sense transistor cell; and a compensation resistor connected between the source region of the at least one sense transistor cell and the second source node. The compensation resistor is integrated in the semiconductor body and has a resistive conductor which includes a doped semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Cristian Mihai Boianceanu
  • Publication number: 20190043982
    Abstract: Disclosed are a transistor device and a method. The transistor device includes a semiconductor body with a first surface, an inner region, and an edge region, a drift region of a first doping type in the inner region and the edge region, a plurality of transistor cells in the inner region, and a termination structure in the edge region. The termination structure includes a recess extending from the first surface in the edge region into the semiconductor body, and a floating compensation region with dopant atoms of a second doping type complementary to the first doping type in the drift region adjacent the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Marius Aurel Bodea
  • Patent number: 10199490
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a guard structure located laterally between a first active area of a semiconductor substrate and a second active area of the semiconductor substrate. The guard structure includes a first doping region located at a front side surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a wiring structure electrically connecting the first doping region to a highly doped portion of a common doping region. The common doping region extends from a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate to at least a part of the front side surface of the semiconductor substrate in contact with the wiring structure of the guard structure. Corresponding methods for forming the semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Radu Eugen Cazimirovici, Dietmar Kotz, Thomas Ostermann
  • Publication number: 20180197982
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a guard structure located laterally between a first active area of a semiconductor substrate and a second active area of the semiconductor substrate. The guard structure includes a first doping region located at a front side surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a wiring structure electrically connecting the first doping region to a highly doped portion of a common doping region. The common doping region extends from a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate to at least a part of the front side surface of the semiconductor substrate in contact with the wiring structure of the guard structure. Corresponding methods for forming the semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Radu Eugen Cazimirovici, Dietmar Kotz, Thomas Ostermann
  • Patent number: 9941402
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a guard structure located laterally between first and second active areas of a semiconductor substrate. The guard structure includes a first doping region at a front side surface of the substrate and a wiring structure electrically connecting the first doping region to a highly doped portion of a common doping region. The common doping region extends from a backside surface of the substrate to at least a part of the front side surface in contact with the wiring structure. An edge termination doping region laterally surrounds the first and second active areas. The edge termination doping region and the first doping region have a first conductivity type, and the common doping region has a second conductivity type. A resistive connection between the edge termination doping region and the first doping region is present at least during reverse operating conditions of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Dietmar Kotz, Radu Eugen Cazimirovici, Thomas Ostermann
  • Patent number: 9929150
    Abstract: Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a bandgap reference voltage using at least one polysilicon diode and no silicon diodes. The polysilicon diode is comprised of three portions, a lightly doped portion flanked by a more heavily doped portion on each end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Adrian Finney
  • Publication number: 20170373182
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a guard structure located laterally between first and second active areas of a semiconductor substrate. The guard structure includes a first doping region at a front side surface of the substrate and a wiring structure electrically connecting the first doping region to a highly doped portion of a common doping region. The common doping region extends from a backside surface of the substrate to at least a part of the front side surface in contact with the wiring structure. An edge termination doping region laterally surrounds the first and second active areas. The edge termination doping region and the first doping region have a first conductivity type, and the common doping region has a second conductivity type. A resistive connection between the edge termination doping region and the first doping region is present at least during reverse operating conditions of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Dietmar Kotz, Radu Eugen Cazimirovici, Thomas Ostermann
  • Patent number: 9590091
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device includes a power device well in a semiconductor substrate, a logic device well in the substrate and spaced apart from the power device well by a separation region of the substrate, and a minority carrier conversion structure including a first doped region of a first conductivity type in the separation region, a second doped region of a second conductivity type in the separation region and a conducting layer connecting the first and second doped regions. The second doped region includes a first part interposed between the first doped region and the power device well and a second part interposed between the first doped region and the logic device well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Paolo Del Croce, Luca Petruzzi, Norbert Krischke
  • Patent number: 9406754
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate doped with dopants of a first type and a vertical transistor composed of one or more transistor cells. Each transistor cell has a first region formed in the substrate and doped with dopants of a second type, and the first regions form first pn-junctions with the surrounding substrate. At least a first well region is formed in the substrate and doped with dopants of a second type to form a second pn-junction with the substrate. The first well region is electrically connected to the first regions of the vertical transistor via a semiconductor switch. The semiconductor device comprises a detection circuit, which is integrated in the substrate and configured to detect whether the first pn-junctions are reverse biased. The switch is opened when the first pn-junctions are reverse biased and the switch is closed when the first pn-junctions are not reverse biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dorin Ioan Mohai, Ilie-Ionut Cristea, Adrian Finney, Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Andrei Cobzaru
  • Patent number: 9406755
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises semiconductor substrate including vertical transistor and with dopants of a first type. Each transistor cell of transistor has body region formed in substrate and with dopants of second type. The body regions form first pn-junctions with substrate. A first well region is formed in substrate and with dopants of a second type forming a second pn-junction with substrate. Switch connects this first well region to body regions. A second well region is formed in the substrate and with dopants of a second type to form third pn-junction with substrate. Detection circuit is integrated in the second well region and to detect whether the first pn-junctions are reverse biased. The switch connects or disconnects the first well region(s) and the body regions of the transistor cell, and is opened, when the first pn-junctions are reverse biased, and closed, when the first pn-junctions are not reverse biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dorin Ioan Mohai, Adrian Finney, Adrian Apostol, Andrei V. Danchiv, Andrei Cobzaru
  • Patent number: 9344078
    Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit includes a low-voltage control circuit, a vertical power transistor, and a source follower. The vertical power transistor includes at least a drain. The source follower includes a drain that is coupled to the drain of the vertical power transistor, a gate that is coupled to a limit voltage node, and a source that is coupled to a high impedance node. The source follower is arranged such that a source voltage at the source of the source follower is a voltage-limited version of the drain voltage of the vertical power transistor. The low-voltage control circuit includes a driver and protection circuit that is arranged to detect the source voltage, to drive the vertical power transistor, and to adjust how the vertical power transistor is biased based, at least in part, on the source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Bogdan-Eugen Matei