Abstract: A driver circuit associated with a power electronic system is disclosed. The driver circuit comprises a gate driver circuit configured to drive a switching circuit comprising a plurality of switches in parallel, each switch comprising a respective source bondwire. The driver circuit further comprises a bondwire fault detection circuit comprising a gate charge estimation circuit configured to measure a parameter of the switching circuit comprising a gate charge of the switching circuit or a parameter indicative of the gate charge associated with the switching circuit. The bondwire fault detection circuit further comprises a detection circuit configured to detect a fault associated with at least one source bondwire of the switching circuit, based on the measured parameter of the switching circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source region and a drain region of a first conductivity type, a body region of a second conductivity type between the source region and the drain region, a gate configured to control current through a channel of the body region, a drift zone of the first conductivity type between the body region and the drain region, a superjunction structure formed by a plurality of regions of the second conductivity type laterally spaced apart from one another by intervening regions of the drift zone, and a diffusion barrier structure disposed along sidewalls of the regions of the second conductivity type of the superjunction structure. The diffusion barrier structure includes alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si and a Si capping layer on the alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source region and a drain region of a first conductivity type, a body region of a second conductivity type between the source region and the drain region, a gate configured to control current through a channel of the body region, a drift zone of the first conductivity type between the body region and the drain region, a superjunction structure formed by a plurality of regions of the second conductivity type laterally spaced apart from one another by intervening regions of the drift zone, and a diffusion barrier structure disposed along sidewalls of the regions of the second conductivity type of the superjunction structure. The diffusion barrier structure includes alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si and a Si capping layer on the alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming one or more device epitaxial layers over a main surface of a doped Si base substrate; forming a diffusion barrier structure including alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si in an upper part of the doped Si base substrate adjacent the main surface of the doped Si base substrate, in a lower part of the one or more device epitaxial layers adjacent the main surface of the doped Si base substrate, or in one or more additional epitaxial layers disposed between the main surface of the doped Si base substrate and the one or more device epitaxial layers; and forming a gate above the diffusion barrier structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a doped Si base substrate, one or more device epitaxial layers formed over a main surface of the doped Si base substrate, a diffusion barrier structure, and a gate formed above the diffusion barrier structure. The diffusion barrier structure includes alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si formed in an upper part of the doped Si base substrate adjacent the main surface of the doped Si base substrate, in a lower part of the one or more device epitaxial layers adjacent the main surface of the doped Si base substrate, or in one or more additional epitaxial layers disposed between the main surface of the doped Si base substrate and the one or more device epitaxial layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes trench gate structures that extend from a first surface into a silicon carbide portion. A shielding region between a drift zone and the trench gate structures along a vertical direction orthogonal to the first surface forms an auxiliary pn junction with the drift zone. Channel regions and the trench gate structures are successively arranged along a first horizontal direction. The channel regions are arranged between a source region and a current spread region along a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first horizontal direction. Portions of mesa sections between neighboring trench gate structures fully deplete at a gate voltage within an absolute maximum rating of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor and a second transistor in a semiconductor substrate. The first transistor includes a first drain contact electrically connected to a first drain region, the first drain contact including a first drain contact portion and a second drain contact portion. The first drain contact portion includes a drain conductive material in direct contact with the first drain region. The second transistor includes a second source contact electrically connected to a second source region. The second source contact includes a first source contact portion and a second source contact portion. The first source contact portion includes a source conductive material in direct contact with the second source region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide semiconductor body including a source region of a first conductivity type, a body region of a second conductivity type, shielding regions of the second conductivity type and compensation regions of the second conductivity type. Trench structures extend from a first surface into the silicon carbide semiconductor body along a vertical direction. Each of the trench structures includes an auxiliary electrode at a bottom of the trench structure and a gate electrode between the auxiliary electrode and the first surface. The auxiliary electrode is electrically insulated from the gate electrode. The auxiliary electrode of each of the trench structures is adjoined by at least one of the shielding regions at the bottom of the trench structure. Each of the shielding regions is adjoined by at least one of the compensation regions at the bottom of the shielding region.

Abstract: Embodiments of SiC devices and corresponding methods of manufacture are provided. In some embodiments, the SiC device has shielding regions at the bottom of some gate trenches and non-linear junctions formed with the SiC material at the bottom of other gate trenches. In other embodiments, the SiC device has the shielding regions at the bottom of the gate trenches and arranged in rows which run in a direction transverse to a lengthwise extension of the trenches. In still other embodiments, the SiC device has the shielding regions and the non-linear junctions, and wherein the shielding regions are arranged in rows which run in a direction transverse to a lengthwise extension of the trenches.

Abstract: Embodiments of SiC devices and corresponding methods of manufacture are provided. In some embodiments, the SiC device has shielding regions at the bottom of some gate trenches and non-linear junctions formed with the SiC material at the bottom of other gate trenches. In other embodiments, the SiC device has the shielding regions at the bottom of the gate trenches and arranged in rows which run in a direction transverse to a lengthwise extension of the trenches. In still other embodiments, the SiC device has the shielding regions and the non-linear junctions, and wherein the shielding regions are arranged in rows which run in a direction transverse to a lengthwise extension of the trenches.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a silicon carbide device includes: forming a trench in a process surface of a silicon carbide substrate that has a body layer forming second pn junctions with a drift layer structure, wherein the body layer is between the process surface and the drift layer structure and wherein the trench exposes the drift layer structure; implanting dopants through a bottom of the trench to form a shielding region that forms a first pn junction with the drift layer structure; forming dielectric spacers on sidewalls of the trench; and forming a buried portion of an auxiliary electrode in a bottom section of the trench, the buried portion adjoining the shielding region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source region and a drain region of a first conductivity type, a body region of a second conductivity type between the source region and the drain region, a gate configured to control current through a channel of the body region, a drift zone of the first conductivity type between the body region and the drain region, a superjunction structure formed by a plurality of regions of the second conductivity type laterally spaced apart from one another by intervening regions of the drift zone, and a diffusion barrier structure disposed along sidewalls of the regions of the second conductivity type of the superjunction structure. The diffusion barrier structure includes alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si and a Si capping layer on the alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a trench in a first side of a semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer including a drift zone of a first conductivity; forming a drain region of the first conductivity type in the first side of the semiconductor layer and laterally adjoining the drift zone; forming a body region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type and laterally adjoining the drift zone at a side of the drift zone opposite the drain region; and forming source regions of the first conductivity type and body contact regions of the second conductivity type in a sidewall of the trench and arranged in an alternating manner along a length of the trench, using a dopant diffusion process which includes diffusing dopants of both conductivity types from oppositely-doped dopant source layers which are in contact with different regions of the sidewall.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a gate trench extending into a Si substrate; a body region in the Si substrate, the body region including a vertical channel region adjacent a sidewall of the gate trench; a source region in the Si substrate above the body region; a contact trench extending into the Si substrate and separated from the gate trench by a portion of the source region and by a portion of the body region; an electrically conductive material in the contact trench; and a diffusion barrier structure interposed between a sidewall of the contact trench and the vertical channel region, the diffusion barrier structure including alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si and configured to increase carrier mobility within the vertical channel region. Corresponding methods of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor in a semiconductor substrate. The transistor includes a drift zone of a first conductivity type adjacent to a drain region, and a first field plate and a second field plate adjacent to the drift zone. The second field plate is arranged between the first field plate and the drain region. The second field plate is electrically connected to a contact portion arranged in the drift zone. The transistor further includes an intermediate portion of the first conductivity type at a lower doping concentration than the drift zone. A distance between the intermediate portion and the drain region is smaller than the distance between the contact portion and the drain region.

Abstract: A silicon carbide substrate has a trench extending from a main surface of the silicon carbide substrate into the silicon carbide substrate. The trench has a trench width at a trench bottom. A shielding region is formed in the silicon carbide substrate. The shielding region extends along the trench bottom. In at least one doping plane extending approximately parallel to the trench bottom, a dopant concentration in the shielding region over a lateral first width deviates by not more than 10% from a maximum value of the dopant concentration. The first width is less than the trench width and is at least 30% of the trench width.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a trench structure extending from a first surface into a silicon carbide semiconductor body. The trench structure includes an auxiliary electrode at a bottom of the trench structure and a gate electrode arranged between the auxiliary electrode and the first surface. A shielding region adjoins the auxiliary electrode at the bottom of the trench structure and forms a first pn junction with a drift structure. A corresponding method of manufacturing the semiconductor device is also described.

Abstract: A switch comprises a field effect transistor in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The field effect transistor comprises a source region, a drain region, a body region, and a gate electrode at the body region, the gate electrode being configured to control a conductivity of a channel formed in the body region. The gate electrode is disposed in gate trenches. The body region is disposed along a first direction between the source region and the drain region, the first direction being parallel to the first main surface. The body region has a shape of a ridge extending along the first direction. The body region is adjacent to the source region and the drain region. The switch further comprises a source contact and a body contact portion, the source contact being electrically connected to a source terminal. The body contact portion is in contact with the source contact and is electrically connected to the body region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate trench extending into a Si substrate, a body region in the Si substrate, the body region including a channel region which extends along a sidewall of the gate trench, a source region in the Si substrate above the body region, a contact trench extending into the Si substrate and separated from the gate trench by a portion of the source region and a portion of the body region, the contact trench being filled with an electrically conductive material which contacts the source region at a sidewall of the contact trench and a highly doped body contact region at a bottom of the contact trench, and a diffusion barrier structure formed along the sidewall of the contact trench and disposed between the highly doped body contact region and the channel region, the diffusion barrier structure including alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate trench extending into a Si substrate, a body region in the Si substrate, the body region including a channel region which extends along a sidewall of the gate trench, a source region in the Si substrate above the body region, a contact trench extending into the Si substrate and separated from the gate trench by a portion of the source region and a portion of the body region, the contact trench being filled with an electrically conductive material which contacts the source region at a sidewall of the contact trench and a highly doped body contact region at a bottom of the contact trench, and a diffusion barrier structure formed along the sidewall of the contact trench and disposed between the highly doped body contact region and the channel region, the diffusion barrier structure including alternating layers of Si and oxygen-doped Si.