Patents by Inventor Brett Hull

Brett Hull 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: 20190013416
    Abstract: A Schottky diode includes a drift region, a channel in an upper portion of the drift region, and first and second adjacent blocking junctions in the upper portion of the drift region that define the channel therebetween. The drift region and channel are doped with dopants having a first conductivity type, and the first and second blocking junctions doped with dopants having a second conductivity type that is opposite the first conductivity type. The blocking junctions extend at least one micron into the upper portion of the drift region and are spaced apart from each other by less than 3.0 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Edward R. Van Brunt, Brett Hull, Scott Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 10115815
    Abstract: A transistor device having a deep recessed P+ junction is disclosed. The transistor device may comprise a gate and a source on an upper surface of the transistor device, and may include at least one doped well region, wherein the at least one doped well region has a first conductivity type that is different from a conductivity type of a source region within the transistor device and the at least one doped well region is recessed from the upper surface of the transistor device by a depth. The deep recessed P+ junction may be a deep recessed P+ implanted junction within a source contact area. The deep recessed P+ junction may be deeper than a termination structure in the transistor device. The transistor device may be a Silicon Carbide (SIC) MOSFET device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Brett Hull
  • Patent number: 10068834
    Abstract: Embodiments of a semiconductor device including a floating bond pad are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, the semiconductor device is a power semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate that includes an active area and a control contact area, a first bond pad on the active area, a floating control bond pad on the control contact area and laterally extending over a portion of the first bond pad, and a dielectric between the portion of the first bond pad and the floating control bond pad. The floating control bond pad enables the active area to extend below the floating control bond pad, which in turn decreases a size of the power semiconductor device for a particular rated current or, conversely, increases a size of the active area and thus a rated current for a particular semiconductor die size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah Kay Haney, Brett Hull, Daniel Namishia
  • Publication number: 20180166530
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices include a semiconductor layer structure comprising a drift region that includes a wide band-gap semiconductor material. A shielding pattern is provided in an upper portion of the drift region in an active region of the device and a termination structure is provided in the upper portion of the drift region in a termination region of the device. A gate trench extends into an upper surface of the semiconductor layer structure. The semiconductor layer structure includes a semiconductor layer that extends above and at least partially covers the termination structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel J. Lichtenwalner, Edward R. Van Brunt, Brett Hull
  • Patent number: 9887287
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices include a semiconductor layer structure having a wide band-gap semiconductor drift region having a first conductivity type. A gate trench is provided in an upper portion of the semiconductor layer structure, the gate trench having first and second opposed sidewalls that extend in a first direction in the upper portion of the semiconductor layer structure. These devices further include a deep shielding pattern having a second conductivity type that is opposite the first conductivity type in the semiconductor layer structure underneath a bottom surface of the gate trench, and a deep shielding connection pattern that has the second conductivity type in the first sidewall of the gate trench. The devices include a semiconductor channel region that has the first conductivity type in the second sidewall of the gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Lichtenwalner, Edward R. Van Brunt, Brett Hull, Alexander V. Suvorov, Craig Capell
  • Publication number: 20170053987
    Abstract: A transistor device having reduced electrical field at the gate oxide interface is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transistor device comprises a gate, a source, and a drain, wherein the gate is at least partially in contact with a gate oxide. The transistor device has a P+ region within a JFET region of the transistor device in order to reduce an electrical field on the gate oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Brett Hull
  • Patent number: 9530844
    Abstract: A transistor device having reduced electrical field at the gate oxide interface is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transistor device comprises a gate, a source, and a drain, wherein the gate is at least partially in contact with a gate oxide. The transistor device has a P+ region within a JFET region of the transistor device in order to reduce an electrical field on the gate oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Brett Hull
  • Patent number: 9455356
    Abstract: Silicon Carbide (SiC) PiN Diodes are provided having a reverse blocking voltage (VR) from about 3.0 kV to about 10.0 kV and a forward voltage (VF) of less than about 4.3 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Mrinal Das, Brett Hull, Joseph Sumakeris
  • Publication number: 20140246790
    Abstract: Embodiments of a semiconductor device including a floating bond pad are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, the semiconductor device is a power semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate that includes an active area and a control contact area, a first bond pad on the active area, a floating control bond pad on the control contact area and laterally extending over a portion of the first bond pad, and a dielectric between the portion of the first bond pad and the floating control bond pad. The floating control bond pad enables the active area to extend below the floating control bond pad, which in turn decreases a size of the power semiconductor device for a particular rated current or, conversely, increases a size of the active area and thus a rated current for a particular semiconductor die size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah Kay Haney, Brett Hull, Daniel Namishia
  • Publication number: 20140183553
    Abstract: A transistor device having reduced electrical field at the gate oxide interface is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transistor device comprises a gate, a source, and a drain, wherein the gate is at least partially in contact with a gate oxide. The transistor device has a P+ region within a JFET region of the transistor device in order to reduce an electrical field on the gate oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Brett Hull
  • Publication number: 20140183552
    Abstract: A transistor device having a deep recessed P+ junction is disclosed. The transistor device may comprise a gate and a source on an upper surface of the transistor device, and may include at least one doped well region, wherein the at least one doped well region has a first conductivity type that is different from a conductivity type of a source region within the transistor device and the at least one doped well region is recessed from the upper surface of the transistor device by a depth. The deep recessed P+ junction may be a deep recessed P+ implanted junction within a source contact area. The deep recessed P+ junction may be deeper than a termination structure in the transistor device. The transistor device may be a Silicon Carbide (SIC) MOSFET device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Brett Hull
  • Patent number: 8536066
    Abstract: Methods of forming an oxide layer on silicon carbide include thermally growing an oxide layer on a layer of silicon carbide, and annealing the oxide layer in an environment containing NO at a temperature greater than 1175° C. The oxide layer may be annealed in NO in a silicon carbide tube that may be coated with silicon carbide. To form the oxide layer, a preliminary oxide layer may be thermally grown on a silicon carbide layer in dry O2, and the preliminary oxide layer may be re-oxidized in wet O2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Mrinal K. Das, Brett Hull, Sumi Krishnaswami
  • Publication number: 20100221924
    Abstract: Methods of forming an oxide layer on silicon carbide include thermally growing an oxide layer on a layer of silicon carbide, and annealing the oxide layer in an environment containing NO at a temperature greater than 1175° C. The oxide layer may be annealed in NO in a silicon carbide tube that may be coated with silicon carbide. To form the oxide layer, a preliminary oxide layer may be thermally grown on a silicon carbide layer in dry O2, and the preliminary oxide layer may be re-oxidized in wet O2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Mrinal K. Das, Brett Hull, Sumi Krishnaswami
  • Patent number: 7727904
    Abstract: Methods of forming an oxide layer on silicon carbide include thermally growing an oxide layer on a layer of silicon carbide, and annealing the oxide layer in an environment containing NO at a temperature greater than 1175° C. The oxide layer may be annealed in NO in a silicon carbide tube that may be coated with silicon carbide. To form the oxide layer, a preliminary oxide layer may be thermally grown on a silicon carbide layer in dry O2, and the preliminary oxide layer may be re-oxidized in wet O2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Mrinal K. Das, Brett Hull, Sumi Krishnaswami
  • Publication number: 20080233285
    Abstract: Methods of forming an oxide layer on silicon carbide include thermally growing an oxide layer on a layer of silicon carbide, and annealing the oxide layer in an environment containing NO at a temperature greater than 1175° C. The oxide layer may be annealed in NO in a silicon carbide tube that may be coated with silicon carbide. To form the oxide layer, a preliminary oxide layer may be thermally grown on a silicon carbide layer in dry O2, and the preliminary oxide layer may be re-oxidized in wet O2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Mrinal K. Das, Brett Hull, Sumi Krishnaswami
  • Publication number: 20070200115
    Abstract: Silicon Carbide (SiC) PiN Diodes are provided having a reverse blocking voltage (VR) from about 3.0 kV to about 10.0 kV and a forward voltage (VF) of less than about 4.3 V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Mrinal Das, Brett Hull, Joseph Sumakeris