Patents by Inventor Andreas Hürner

Andreas Hürner 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: 20250151324
    Abstract: A vertical power semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor body having opposite first and second surfaces. The SiC semiconductor body includes a transistor cell area including gate structures, a gate pad area, and an interconnection area electrically coupling a gate electrode of the gate structures and a gate pad of the gate pad area via a gate interconnection. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a sensor electrode and a first interlayer dielectric having a first interface to the sensor electrode and a second interface to at least one of the gate electrode or the gate interconnection. A conduction band offset at the first interface ranges from 1 eV to 2.5 eV. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a second interface to at least one of the gate electrode or the gate interconnection. The second interlayer dielectric laterally adjoins to the first interlayer dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2024
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Dethard Peters, Michael Hell, Andreas Hürner
  • Patent number: 12294018
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device is proposed. The vertical power semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The SiC semiconductor body includes a transistor cell area comprising gate structures, a gate pad area, and an interconnection area electrically coupling a gate electrode of the gate structures and a gate pad of the gate pad area via a gate interconnection. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a source or emitter electrode. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a first interlayer dielectric comprising a first interface to the source or emitter electrode and a second interface to at least one of the gate electrode, or the gate interconnection, or the gate pad, and wherein a conduction band offset at the first interface ranges from 1 eV to 2.5 eV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Dethard Peters, Michael Hell, Andreas Hürner
  • Publication number: 20250089323
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device is proposed. The vertical power semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The SiC semiconductor body includes a transistor cell area comprising gate structures, a gate pad area, and an interconnection area electrically coupling a gate electrode of the gate structures and a gate pad of the gate pad area via a gate interconnection. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a source or emitter electrode. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a first interlayer dielectric comprising a first interface to the source or emitter electrode and a second interface to at least one of the gate electrode, or the gate interconnection, or the gate pad, and wherein a conduction band offset at the first interface ranges from 1 eV to 2.5 eV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas AICHINGER, Dethard PETERS, Michael HELL, Andreas HÜRNER
  • Publication number: 20250089343
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device is proposed. The power semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The SiC semiconductor body includes a transistor cell area comprising transistor cells. Each of the transistor cells includes a gate structure including a gate dielectric structure and a gate electrode structure on the gate dielectric structure. The gate dielectric structure includes a first gate dielectric layer adjoining to the SiC semiconductor body. The gate dielectric structure further includes a second gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric structure further includes charge storage layer arranged between the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Andreas HÜRNER, Michael HELL, Thomas AICHINGER
  • Patent number: 10141456
    Abstract: The invention disclosure describes a manufacturing method for realizing so-called JBS areas for a unipolar power diode on the basis of diamond. In this special method, an n-doped layer is applied to the typically p-doped drift region, e.g. by means of epitaxial layer growth. The applied n-doped layer is then removed again in defined areas. A photolithographic mask may be applied and the n-doped layer is removed by dry or wet chemical etching. Having structured the JBS areas, the Schottky metal is applied to the entire surface. The resulting JBS structure shields an electric field generated by an applied reverse voltage from the Schottky transition. The reverse voltage from which the Schottky transition is fully shielded can be adjusted by altering the distance between the JBS areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angew. Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Hürner, Tobias Erlbacher
  • Publication number: 20180108788
    Abstract: The invention disclosure describes a manufacturing method for realizing so-called JBS areas for a unipolar power diode on the basis of diamond. In this special method, an n-doped layer is applied to the typically p-doped drift region, e.g. by means of epitaxial layer growth. The applied n-doped layer is then removed again in defined areas. A photolithographic mask may be applied and the n-doped layer is removed by dry or wet chemical etching. Having structured the JBS areas, the Schottky metal is applied to the entire surface. The resulting JBS structure shields an electric field generated by an applied reverse voltage from the Schottky transition. The reverse voltage from which the Schottky transition is fully shielded can be adjusted by altering the distance between the JBS areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Hürner, Tobias Erlbacher