Patents by Inventor Alvin J. Joseph

Alvin J. Joseph 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: 8299547
    Abstract: A lateral, extended drain, metal oxide semiconductor, field effect transistor (LEDMOSFET) with a high drain-to-body breakdown voltage (Vb) incorporates gate structure extensions on opposing sides of a drain drift region. The extensions are tapered such that a distance between each extension and the drift region increases linearly from one end adjacent to the channel region to another end adjacent to the drain region. In one embodiment, these extensions can extend vertically through the isolation region that surrounds the LEDMOSFET. In another embodiment, the extensions can sit atop the isolation region. In either case, the extensions create a strong essentially uniform horizontal electric field profile within the drain drift. Also disclosed are a method for forming the LEDMOSFET with a specific Vb by defining the dimensions of the extensions and a program storage device for designing the LEDMOSFET to have a specific Vb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Alan B. Botula, Alvin J. Joseph, Theodore J. Letavic, James A. Slinkman
  • Patent number: 8299558
    Abstract: A Schottky barrier diode comprises a doped guard ring having a doping of a second conductivity type in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The Schottky barrier diode further comprises a first-conductivity-type-doped semiconductor region having a doping of a first conductivity type, which is the opposite of the second conductivity type, on one side of a dummy gate electrode and a Schottky barrier structure surrounded by the doped guard ring on the other side. A Schottky barrier region may be laterally surrounded by the dummy gate electrode and the doped guard ring. The doped guard ring includes an unmetallized portion of a gate-side second-conductivity-type-doped semiconductor region having a doping of a second conductivity type. A Schottky barrier region may be laterally surrounded by a doped guard ring including a gate-side doped semiconductor region and a STI-side doped semiconductor region. Design structures for the inventive Schottky barrier diode are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, Alvin J. Joseph, Alan F. Norris, Robert M. Rassel, Yun Shi
  • Publication number: 20120261719
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture semiconductors are provided which relate to heterojunction bipolar transistors. The structure includes two devices connected by metal wires on a same wiring level. The metal wire of a first of the two devices is formed by selectively forming a metal cap layer on copper wiring structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James S. DUNN, Alvin J. JOSEPH, Anthony K. STAMPER
  • Publication number: 20120212303
    Abstract: A method, structure, and design structure for a through-silicon-via Wilkinson power divider. A method includes: forming an input on a first side of a substrate; forming a first leg comprising a first through-silicon-via formed in the substrate, wherein the first leg electrically connects the input and a first output; forming a second leg comprising a second through-silicon-via formed in the substrate, wherein the second leg electrically connects the input and a second output, and forming a resistor electrically connected between the first output and the second output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi DING, Alvin J. JOSEPH, Wayne H. WOODS, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120199907
    Abstract: A varactor diode includes a portion of a top semiconductor layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and a gate electrode located thereupon. A first electrode having a doping of a first conductivity type laterally abuts a doped semiconductor region having the first conductivity type, which laterally abuts a second electrode having a doping of a second conductivity type, which is the opposite of the first conductivity type. A hyperabrupt junction is formed between the second doped semiconductor region and the second electrode. The gate electrode controls the depletion of the first and second doped semiconductor regions, thereby varying the capacitance of the varactor diode. A design structure for the varactor diode is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Johnson, Alvin J. Joseph, Robert M. Rassel, Yun Shi
  • Patent number: 8237191
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture semiconductors are provided which relate to heterojunction bipolar transistors. The method includes forming two devices connected by metal wires on a same wiring level. The metal wire of a first of the two devices is formed by selectively forming a metal cap layer on copper wiring structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Dunn, Alvin J. Joseph, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Publication number: 20120190190
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture semiconductors are provided which relate to heterojunction bipolar transistors. The method includes forming two devices connected by metal wires on a same wiring level. The metal wire of a first of the two devices is formed by selectively forming a metal cap layer on copper wiring structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James S. DUNN, Alvin J. JOSEPH, Anthony K. STAMPER
  • Patent number: 8216912
    Abstract: A method, structure, and design structure for a through-silicon-via Wilkinson power divider. A method includes: forming an input on a first side of a substrate; forming a first leg comprising a first through-silicon-via formed in the substrate, wherein the first leg electrically connects the input and a first output; forming a second leg comprising a second through-silicon-via formed in the substrate, wherein the second leg electrically connects the input and a second output, and forming a resistor electrically connected between the first output and the second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Alvin J. Joseph, Wayne H. Woods, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8216890
    Abstract: A varactor diode includes a portion of a top semiconductor layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and a gate electrode located thereupon. A first electrode having a doping of a first conductivity type laterally abuts a doped semiconductor region having the first conductivity type, which laterally abuts a second electrode having a doping of a second conductivity type, which is the opposite of the first conductivity type. A hyperabrupt junction is formed between the second doped semiconductor region and the second electrode. The gate electrode controls the depletion of the first and second doped semiconductor regions, thereby varying the capacitance of the varactor diode. A design structure for the varactor diode is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Johnson, Alvin J. Joseph, Robert M. Rassel, Yun Shi
  • Publication number: 20120168766
    Abstract: A lateral, extended drain, metal oxide semiconductor, field effect transistor (LEDMOSFET) with a high drain-to-body breakdown voltage (Vb) incorporates gate structure extensions on opposing sides of a drain drift region. The extensions are tapered such that a distance between each extension and the drift region increases linearly from one end adjacent to the channel region to another end adjacent to the drain region. In one embodiment, these extensions can extend vertically through the isolation region that surrounds the LEDMOSFET. In another embodiment, the extensions can sit atop the isolation region. In either case, the extensions create a strong essentially uniform horizontal electric field profile within the drain drift. Also disclosed are a method for forming the LEDMOSFET with a specific Vb by defining the dimensions of the extensions and a program storage device for designing the LEDMOSFET to have a specific Vb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Alan B. Botula, Alvin J. Joseph, Theodore J. Letavic, James A. Slinkman
  • Publication number: 20120168817
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a lateral, extended drain, metal oxide semiconductor, field effect transistor (LEDMOSFET) having a high drain-to-body breakdown voltage. Discrete conductive field (CF) plates are adjacent to opposing sides of the drain drift region, each having an angled sidewall such that the area between the drain drift region and the CF plate has a continuously increasing width along the length of the drain drift region from the channel region to the drain region. The CF plates can comprise polysilicon or metal structures or dopant implant regions within the same semiconductor body as the drain drift region. The areas between the CF plates and the drain drift region can comprise tapered dielectric regions or, alternatively, tapered depletion regions within the same semiconductor body as the drain drift region. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method for forming an LEDMOSFET and embodiments of a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) incorporating such LEDMOSFETs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Alan B. Botula, Alvin J. Joseph, Theodore J. Letavic, James A. Slinkman
  • Publication number: 20120104496
    Abstract: At least one conductive via structure is formed from an interconnect-level metal line through a middle-of-line (MOL) dielectric layer, a shallow trench isolation structure in a top semiconductor layer, and a buried insulator layer to a bottom semiconductor layer. The shallow trench isolation structure laterally abuts at least two field effect transistors that function as a radio frequency (RF) switch. The at least one conductive via structure and the at interconnect-level metal line may provide a low resistance electrical path from the induced charge layer in a bottom semiconductor layer to electrical ground, discharging the electrical charge in the induced charge layer. The discharge of the charge in the induced charge layer thus reduces capacitive coupling between the semiconductor devices and the bottom semiconductor layer, and thus secondary coupling between components electrically disconnected by the RF switch is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, Alvin J. Joseph, Edward J. Nowak, Yun Shi, James A. Slinkman
  • Patent number: 8163612
    Abstract: Methods and heterostructure barrier varactor (HBV) diodes optimized for application with frequency multipliers at providing outputs at submillimeter wave frequencies and above. The HBV diodes include a silicon-containing substrate, an electrode over the silicon-containing substrate, and one or more heterojunction quantum wells of alternating layers of Si and SiGe of one or more electrodes of the diode. Each SiGe quantum well preferably has a floating SiGe layer between adjacent SiGe gradients followed by adjacent Si layers, such that, a single homogeneous structure is provided characterized by having no distinct separations. The plurality of Si/SiGe heterojunction quantum wells may be symmetric or asymmetric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M Dahlstrom, Alvin J Joseph, Robert M Rassel, David C Sheridan
  • Patent number: 8133774
    Abstract: At least one conductive via structure is formed from an interconnect-level metal line through a middle-of-line (MOL) dielectric layer, a shallow trench isolation structure in a top semiconductor layer, and a buried insulator layer to a bottom semiconductor layer. The shallow trench isolation structure laterally abuts at least two field effect transistors that function as a radio frequency (RF) switch. The at least one conductive via structure and the at interconnect-level metal line may provide a low resistance electrical path from the induced charge layer in a bottom semiconductor layer to electrical ground, discharging the electrical charge in the induced charge layer. The discharge of the charge in the induced charge layer thus reduces capacitive coupling between the semiconductor devices and the bottom semiconductor layer, and thus secondary coupling between components electrically disconnected by the RF switch is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, Alvin J. Joseph, Edward J. Nowak, Yun Shi, James A. Slinkman
  • Patent number: 8125007
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) radio frequency (RF) switch; and a planar complementary metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The planar MOSFET has a channel on a <100> wafer plane and the FinFET RF switch has a channel on a <100> fin plane. The FinFET RF switch and the planar MOSFET can be oriented at approximately 45° with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Alvin J. Joseph, Edward J. Nowak
  • Publication number: 20120038024
    Abstract: A low harmonic radio-frequency (RF) switch in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and methods of manufacture. A method includes forming at least one trench through an insulator layer. The at least one trench is adjacent a device formed in an active region on the insulator layer. The method also includes forming at least one cavity in a substrate under the insulator layer and extending laterally from the at least one trench to underneath the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan B. BOTULA, Dinh DANG, James S. DUNN, Alvin J. JOSEPH, Peter J. LINDGREN
  • Publication number: 20120025345
    Abstract: A method, integrated circuit and design structure includes a silicon substrate layer having trench structures and an ion impurity implant. An insulator layer is positioned on and contacts the silicon substrate layer. The insulator layer fills the trench structures. A circuitry layer is positioned on and contacts the buried insulator layer. The circuitry layer comprises groups of active circuits separated by passive structures. The trench structures are positioned between the groups of active circuits when the integrated circuit structure is viewed from the top view. Thus, the trench structures are below the passive structures and are not below the groups of circuits when the integrated circuit structure is viewed from the top view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: ALAN B. BOTULA, Alvin J. Joseph, James A. Slinkman, Randy L. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20110309471
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an improved transistor structure (e.g., a bipolar transistor (BT) structure or heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structure) and a method of forming the transistor structure. The structure embodiments can incorporate a dielectric layer sandwiched between an intrinsic base layer and a raised extrinsic base layer to reduce collector-base capacitance Ccb, a sidewall-defined conductive strap for an intrinsic base layer to extrinsic base layer link-up region to reduce base resistance Rb and a dielectric spacer between the extrinsic base layer and an emitter layer to reduce base-emitter Cbe capacitance. The method embodiments allow for self-aligning of the emitter to base regions and further allow the geometries of different features (e.g., the thickness of the dielectric layer, the width of the conductive strap, the width of the dielectric spacer and the width of the emitter layer) to be selectively adjusted in order to optimize transistor performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renata Camillo-Castillo, Mattias E. Dahlstrom, Peter B. Gray, David L. Harame, Russell T. Herrin, Alvin J. Joseph, Andreas D. Stricker
  • Publication number: 20110284961
    Abstract: A Schottky barrier diode comprises a doped guard ring having a doping of a second conductivity type in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The Schottky barrier diode further comprises a first-conductivity-type-doped semiconductor region having a doping of a first conductivity type, which is the opposite of the second conductivity type, on one side of a dummy gate electrode and a Schottky barrier structure surrounded by the doped guard ring on the other side. A Schottky barrier region may be laterally surrounded by the dummy gate electrode and the doped guard ring. The doped guard ring includes an unmetallized portion of a gate-side second-conductivity-type-doped semiconductor region having a doping of a second conductivity type. A Schottky barrier region may be laterally surrounded by a doped guard ring including a gate-side doped semiconductor region and a STI-side doped semiconductor region. Design structures for the inventive Schottky barrier diode are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, Alvin J. Joseph, Alan F. Norris, Robert M. Rassel, Yun Shi
  • Patent number: 8022496
    Abstract: A structure comprises a single wafer with a first subcollector formed in a first region having a first thickness and a second subcollector formed in a second region having a second thickness, different from the first thickness. A method is also contemplated which includes providing a substrate including a first layer and forming a first doped region in the first layer. The method further includes forming a second layer on the first layer and forming a second doped region in the second layer. The second doped region is formed at a different depth than the first doped region. The method also includes forming a first reachthrough in the first layer and forming a second reachthrough in second layer to link the first reachthrough to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Coolbaugh, Alvin J. Joseph, Seong-dong Kim, Louis D. Lanzerotti, Xuefeng Liu, Robert M. Rassel