Patents by Inventor Akinori Seki

Akinori Seki 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).

  • Patent number: 11522055
    Abstract: A stack including at least a semiconductor drift layer stacked on a single-crystal diamond substrate having a coalescence boundary, wherein the coalescence boundary of the single-crystal diamond substrate is a region that exhibits, in a Raman spectrum at a laser excitation wavelength of 785 nm, a full width at half maximum of a peak near 1332 cm?1 due to diamond that is observed to be broader than a full width at half maximum of the peak exhibited by a region different from the coalescence boundary, the coalescence boundary has a width of 200 ?m or more, and the semiconductor drift layer is stacked on at least the coalescence boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shinya Ohmagari, Hideaki Yamada, Hitoshi Umezawa, Nobuteru Tsubouchi, Akiyoshi Chayahara, Yoshiaki Mokuno, Akinori Seki, Fumiaki Kawai, Hiroaki Saitoh
  • Publication number: 20210066078
    Abstract: There is provided a novel stack that includes a single-crystal diamond substrate having a coalescence boundary, yet effectively uses the coalescence boundary. A stack comprising at least a semiconductor drift layer stacked on a single-crystal diamond substrate having a coalescence boundary, wherein the coalescence boundary of the single-crystal diamond substrate is a region that exhibits, in a Raman spectrum at a laser excitation wavelength of 785 nm, a full width at half maximum of a peak near 1332 cm?1 due to diamond that is observed to be broader than a full width at half maximum of the peak exhibited by a region different from the coalescence boundary, the coalescence boundary has a width of 200 ?m or more, and the semiconductor drift layer is stacked on at least the coalescence boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Shinya OHMAGARI, Hideaki YAMADA, Hitoshi UMEZAWA, Nobuteru TSUBOUCHI, Akiyoshi CHAYAHARA, Yoshiaki MOKUNO, Akinori SEKI, Fumiaki KAWAI, Hiroaki SAITOH
  • Patent number: 9903047
    Abstract: A method for producing an SiC crystal, comprising supplying a raw material gas containing Si, C and N to vapor-grow an N-doped SiC crystal on an SiC substrate, wherein the SiC substrate is an SiC substrate on which La, Ce or Ti is deposited in part or whole of the surface or an SiC substrate in which La, Ce or Ti ion is implanted into part or whole of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN FINE CERAMICS CENTER
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Yukari Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9873955
    Abstract: A method for producing a SiC single crystal substrate that can remove Cr impurity from the surface of a SiC single crystal that contains Cr as an impurity, is provided. This is achieved by a method for producing a SiC single crystal substrate, wherein the method includes a step of immersing a SiC single crystal substrate containing Cr as an impurity in hydrochloric acid at 50° C. to 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinori Seki
  • Patent number: 9587327
    Abstract: A method of production of a SiC single crystal uses the solution method to prevent the formation of defects due to seed touch, i.e., causing a seed crystal to touch the melt, and thereby cause growth of a SiC single crystal reduced in defect density. According to the method, a SiC seed crystal touches a melt containing Si in a graphite crucible to thereby cause growth of the SiC single crystal on the SiC seed crystal. The method includes making the SiC seed crystal touch the melt, and then making the melt rise in temperature once to a temperature higher than the temperature at the time of touch and also higher than the temperature for causing growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Danno, Akinori Seki, Hiroaki Saitoh, Yoichiro Kawai
  • Publication number: 20160369424
    Abstract: A method for producing an SiC crystal, comprising supplying a raw material gas containing Si, C and N to vapor-grow an N-doped SiC crystal on an SiC substrate, wherein the SiC substrate is an SiC substrate on which La, Ce or Ti is deposited in part or whole of the surface or an SiC substrate in which La, Ce or Ti ion is implanted into part or whole of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN FINE CERAMICS CENTER
    Inventors: Akinori SEKI, Yukari ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9508802
    Abstract: A process for producing a semiconductor device includes: forming an SiC epitaxial layer on an SiC substrate; implanting the epitaxial layer with ions; forming a gettering layer having a higher defect density than a defect density of the SiC substrate; and carrying out a heat treatment on the epitaxial layer. The semiconductor device includes an SiC substrate, an SiC epitaxial layer formed on the SiC substrate, and a gettering layer having a higher defect density than a defect density of the SiC substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Katsunori Danno, Hiroaki Saitoh, Akinori Seki, Tsunenobu Kimoto
  • Patent number: 9157171
    Abstract: A method for producing n-type SiC single crystal, including: adding gallium and nitrogen, which is a donor element, for obtaining an n-type semiconductor during crystal growth of SiC single crystal, such that the amount of nitrogen as represented in atm unit is greater than the amount of gallium as represented in atm unit; an n-type SiC single crystal obtained according to this production method; and, a semiconductor device that includes the n-type SiC single crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Yasuyuki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20150259829
    Abstract: A method for producing a SiC single crystal substrate that can remove Cr impurity from the surface of a SiC single crystal that contains Cr as an impurity, is provided. This is achieved by a method for producing a SiC single crystal substrate, wherein the method includes a step of immersing a SiC single crystal substrate containing Cr as an impurity in hydrochloric acid at 50° C. to 80° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Akinori SEKI
  • Publication number: 20150064882
    Abstract: A process for producing a semiconductor device includes: forming an SiC epitaxial layer on an SiC substrate; implanting the epitaxial layer with ions; forming a gettering layer having a higher defect density than a defect density of the SiC substrate; and carrying out a heat treatment on the epitaxial layer. The semiconductor device includes an SiC substrate, an SiC epitaxial layer formed on the SiC substrate, and a gettering layer having a higher defect density than a defect density of the SiC substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Katsunori Danno, Hiroaki Saitoh, Akinori Seki, Tsunenobu Kimoto
  • Patent number: 8716121
    Abstract: An ohmic electrode for a p-type SiC semiconductor, and a method of forming the ohmic electrode. The ohmic electrode has an ohmic electrode layer, which has an amorphous structure and which is made of a Ti(1-x-y)Si(x)C(y) ternary film of which a composition ratio is within a composition range that is surrounded by two lines and two curves expressed by an expression x=0 (0.35?y?0.5), an expression y=?1.120x+0.5200 (0.1667?x?0.375), an expression y=1.778(x?0.375)2+0.1 (0?x?0.375) and an expression y=?2.504x2?0.5828x+0.5 (0?x?0.1667) and that excludes the line expressed by the expression x=0. The ohmic layer is directly laminated on a surface of a p-type SiC semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Masahiro Sugimoto, Akira Kawahashi, Yasuo Takahashi, Masakatsu Maeda
  • Patent number: 8633101
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including an electrode having low contact resistivity to a nitride semiconductor is provided. The manufacturing method includes a carbon containing layer forming step of forming a carbon containing layer containing carbon on a nitride semiconductor layer, and a titanium containing layer forming step of forming a titanium containing layer containing titanium on the carbon containing layer. A complete solid solution Ti (C, N) layer of TiN and TiC is formed between the titanium containing layer and the nitride semiconductor layer. As a result, the titanium containing layer comes to be in ohmic contact with the nitride semiconductor layer throughout the border therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Sugimoto, Akinori Seki, Akira Kawahashi, Yasuo Takahashi, Masakatsu Maeda
  • Patent number: 8470698
    Abstract: In a method for growing a p-type SiC semiconductor single crystal on a SiC single crystal substrate, using a first solution in which C is dissolved in a melt of Si, a second solution is prepared by adding Al and N to the first solution such that an amount of Al added is larger than that of N added, and the p-type SiC semiconductor single crystal is grown on the SiC single crystal substrate from the second solution. A p-type SiC semiconductor single crystal is provided which is grown by the method as described above, and which contains 1×1020 cm?3 of Al and 2×1018 to 7×1018 cm?3 of N as impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Yasuyuki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8399888
    Abstract: A p-type SiC semiconductor includes a SiC crystal that contains Al and Ti as impurities, wherein the atom number concentration of Ti is equal to or less than the atom number concentration of Al. It is preferable that the concentration of Al and the concentration of Ti satisfy the following relations: (Concentration of Al)?5×1018/cm3; and 0.01%?(Concentration of Ti)/(Concentration of Al)?20%. It is more preferable that the concentration of Al and the concentration of Ti satisfy the following relations: (Concentration of Al)?5×1018/cm3; and 1×1017/cm3?(Concentration of Ti)?1×1018/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Saitoh, Akinori Seki, Tsunenobu Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20130042802
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of production of SiC single crystal using the solution method which prevents the formation of defects due to causing a seed crystal to touch the melt for seed touch, and thereby causes growth of an Si single crystal reduced in defect density. The method of the present invention is a method of production of an SiC single crystal which causes an SiC seed crystal to touch a melt containing Si in a graphite crucible to thereby cause growth of the SiC single crystal on the SiC seed crystal, characterized by making the SiC seed crystal touch the melt in the state where the C is not yet saturated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Katsunori Danno, Akinori Seki, Hiroaki Saitoh, Kawai Yoichiro
  • Patent number: 8338833
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate in which a silicon carbide buffer layer doped with germanium and a semiconductor device layer are sequentially laminated on the buffer layer, a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate obtained by the method and a silicon carbide semiconductor in which electrodes are disposed on the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Fine Ceramics Center
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Yukari Tani, Noriyoshi Shibata
  • Publication number: 20120217639
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including an electrode having low contact resistivity to a nitride semiconductor is provided. The manufacturing method includes a carbon containing layer forming step of forming a carbon containing layer containing carbon on a nitride semiconductor layer, and a titanium containing layer forming step of forming a titanium containing layer containing titanium on the carbon containing layer. A complete solid solution Ti (C, N) layer of TiN and TiC is formed between the titanium containing layer and the nitride semiconductor layer. As a result, the titanium containing layer comes to be in ohmic contact with the nitride semiconductor layer throughout the border therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAIHSA
    Inventors: Masahiro Sugimoto, Akinori Seki, Akira Kawahashi, Yasuo Takahashi, Masakatsu Maeda
  • Publication number: 20120132927
    Abstract: An ohmic electrode for a p-type SiC semiconductor, and a method of forming the ohmic electrode. The ohmic electrode has an ohmic electrode layer, which has an amorphous structure and which is made of a Ti(1?x?y)Si(s)C(y) ternary film of which a composition ratio is within a composition range that is surrounded by two lines and two curves expressed by an expression x=0 (0.35?y?0.5), an expression y=?1.120x+0.5200 (0.1667?x?0.375), an expression y=1.778(x?0.375)2+0.1 (0?x?0.375) and an expression y=?2.504x2?0.5828x+0.5 (0?x?0.1667) and that excludes the line expressed by the expression x=0. The ohmic layer is directly laminated on a surface of a p-type SiC semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Masahiro Sugimoto, Akira Kawahashi, Yasuo Takahashi, Masakatsu Maeda
  • Publication number: 20120118221
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of production of an SiC single crystal using the solution method which prevents the formation of defects due to seed tough, i.e., causing a seed crystal to touch the melt, and thereby causes growth of an Si single crystal reduced in defect density. The method of the present invention is a method of production of an SiC single crystal by causing an SiC seed crystal to touch a melt containing Si in a graphite crucible to thereby cause growth of the SiC single crystal on the SiC seed crystal, characterized by making the SiC seed crystal touch the melt, then making the melt rise in temperature once to a temperature higher than the temperature at the time of touch and also higher than the temperature for causing growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Katsunori Danno, Akinori Seki, Hiroaki Saitoh, Yoichiro Kawai
  • Publication number: 20110297893
    Abstract: A method for producing n-type SiC single crystal, including: adding gallium and nitrogen, which is a donor element, for obtaining an n-type semiconductor during crystal growth of SiC single crystal, such that the amount of nitrogen as represented in atm unit is greater than the amount of gallium as represented in atm unit; an n-type SiC single crystal obtained according to this production method; and, a semiconductor device that includes the n-type SiC single crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Yasuyuki Fujiwara