Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed over the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a first current-carrying electrode and a second current-carrying electrode formed over the semiconductor substrate within openings formed in the first dielectric layer. A control electrode is formed over the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the first current-carrying electrode and a second current-carrying electrode and over the first dielectric layer. A first conductive element is formed over the first dielectric layer, adjacent the control electrode and between the control electrode and the second current-carrying electrode. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the control electrode and over the first conductive element. A second conductive element is disposed over the second dielectric layer and over the first conductive element.

Abstract: A transistor die includes input and output terminals and a source through-substrate via (TSV) between the input and output terminals. First and second primary drain contacts extend from the output terminal toward the input terminal past first and second sides, respectively, of the source TSV. An ancillary region is located adjacent to the source TSV, and boundaries of the ancillary region are defined by the source TSV, the first and second drain contacts, and one of the input terminal or the output terminal. The transistor further includes a primary transistor element, including a primary drain contact, a primary source contact, and a primary gate structure, located outside of the first ancillary region, and an ancillary transistor element, including an ancillary drain contact, an ancillary source contact, and an ancillary gate structure, located within the ancillary region.

Abstract: A transistor includes a source contact connected to a Through-Silicon Via (TSV). A drain contact is connected to a first pad. A gate structure is interposed between the source contact and the drain contact. A second pad is connected to the gate structure, the second pad comprising a first side diametrically opposed to a second side, and a third side interposed therebetween, the source contact proximal to the third side, a first portion of the first side and a second portion of the second side.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate that includes a plurality of epitaxial layers, including a channel layer and a permanent cap over the channel layer, where the permanent cap defines an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and forming a sacrificial cap over the permanent cap in an active region of the device, where the sacrificial cap comprises a semiconductor material that includes aluminum. The method also includes forming one or more current carrying regions (e.g., source and drain regions) in the semiconductor substrate in the active region of the device by performing an ion implantation process to implant ions through the sacrificial cap, and into the semiconductor substrate, completely removing the sacrificial cap in the active region of the device, while refraining from removing the permanent cap, and forming one or more current carrying contacts over the one or more current carrying regions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an isolation test structure (ITS) formed in a non-active region. An electrical isolation between structures of the integrated circuit may be validated based on a measured resistance or conductivity across the ITS. In some embodiments the ITS includes interdigitated buffer layer structures. In some embodiments, the ITS is arranged in series with a test Through-substrate via (TSV). The test TSV is formed with a slower etch rate and smaller diameter than other standard TSVs of the integrated circuit and can be used to validate the formation of the standard TSVs based on measured resistance or conductivity thereof. By arranging the ITS and the test TSV in series, isolation of the integrated circuit and formation of TSVs in the integrated circuit can be validated using a single measurement.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first current-carrying electrode, and a second current-carrying electrode formed over the semiconductor substrate. A control electrode is formed over the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the first current-carrying electrode and the second current-carrying electrode. A conductive element formed over the first dielectric layer, adjacent the control electrode, and between the control electrode and the second current-carrying electrode, includes a first region formed a first distance from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and a second region formed a second distance from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. An insulating region is formed between the control electrode and the conductive element.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed over the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer disposed over the second dielectric layer, a lower opening formed in the first dielectric layer, an upper opening formed in the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer, wherein at least a portion of the upper opening overlaps a portion of the lower opening, and a control electrode formed within at least a portion of the lower opening and within a portion of the upper opening, wherein a portion of the control electrode is formed over the third dielectric layer.

Abstract: Placement of a field plate in a field-effect transistor is optimized by using multiple dielectric layers such that a first end of field plate is separated from a channel region of the transistor by a first set of one or more distinct dielectric material layers. A second end of the field plate overlies the channel region and a control electrode from which it is separated by the first set of dielectric layers and one or more additional dielectric layers.

Abstract: Placement of a field plate in a field-effect transistor is optimized by using multiple dielectric layers such that a first end of field plate is separated from a channel region of the transistor by a first set of one or more distinct dielectric material layers. A second end of the field plate overlies the channel region and a control electrode from which it is separated by the first set of dielectric layers and one or more additional dielectric layers.

Abstract: Placement of a field plate in a field-effect transistor is optimized by using multiple dielectric layers such that a first end of field plate is separated from a channel region of the transistor by a first set of one or more distinct dielectric material layers. A second end of the field plate overlies the channel region and a control electrode from which it is separated by the first set of dielectric layers and one or more additional dielectric layers. Relative positioning of the control electrode and the field plate are determined by a single processing step such that the field plate is self-aligned to the control electrode in order to reduce variations in transistor performance associated with manufacturing process variations.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first current-carrying electrode, and a second current-carrying electrode are formed over the semiconductor substrate. The first current-carrying electrode and the second current-carrying electrode include a first conductive layer formed within first openings formed in the first dielectric layer. A control electrode is formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first current-carrying electrode and the second current-carrying electrode. A first conductive element that includes the first conductive layer is formed over the first dielectric layer, adjacent to the control electrode, and between the control electrode and the second current-carrying electrode.

Abstract: A transistor includes a source contact connected to a Through-Silicon Via (TSV). A drain contact is connected to a first pad. A gate structure is interposed between the source contact and the drain contact. A second pad is connected to the gate structure, the second pad comprising a first side diametrically opposed to a second side, and a third side interposed therebetween, the source contact proximal to the third side, a first portion of the first side and a second portion of the second side.

Abstract: A wafer includes a substrate that includes a channel layer, a first active region, a second active region, and a saw street region between the first active region and the second active region. The wafer includes a first device formed on the substrate in the first active region. The first device includes a first portion of the channel layer. The wafer includes a second device formed on the substrate in the second active region. The second device includes a second portion of the channel layer. The wafer includes a conductive channel between the first active region and the second active region. The conductive channel is in the saw street of the wafer and includes a third portion of the channel layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first current-carrying electrode, and a second current-carrying electrode formed over the semiconductor, a control electrode formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first current carrying electrode and the second current carrying electrode, and a first dielectric layer disposed over the control electrode, and a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer. A first opening is formed in the second dielectric layer, adjacent the control electrode and the second current-carrying electrode, having a first edge laterally adjacent to and nearer the second current-carrying electrode, and a second edge laterally adjacent to and nearer to the control electrode, and a conductive element formed over the first dielectric layer and within the first opening, wherein the portion of the conductive element formed within the first opening forms a first metal-insulator-semiconductor region within the first opening.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, an insulating layer that includes an etch stop layer formed over an upper surface of the substrate, a first conductive region formed over the insulating layer, and an opening formed within the substrate that extends from a lower surface of the substrate, through the upper surface of the substrate, and through at least a portion the insulating layer, terminating on the first conductive region. A method for forming the device includes forming the substrate, forming the insulating layer that includes the etch stop layer over the upper surface of the substrate, forming a first conductive region over the insulating layer; and forming an opening within the substrate that extends from the lower surface of the substrate, through the upper surface of the substrate, and through at least a portion the insulating layer, terminating on the first conductive region formed over the insulating layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed over the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a first current-carrying electrode and a second current-carrying electrode formed over the semiconductor substrate within openings formed in the first dielectric layer. A control electrode is formed over the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the first current-carrying electrode and a second current-carrying electrode and over the first dielectric layer. A first conductive element is formed over the first dielectric layer, adjacent the control electrode and between the control electrode and the second current-carrying electrode. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the control electrode and over the first conductive element. A second conductive element is disposed over the second dielectric layer and over the first conductive element.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, an insulating layer that includes an etch stop layer formed over an upper surface of the substrate, a first conductive region formed over the insulating layer, and an opening formed within the substrate that extends from a lower surface of the substrate, through the upper surface of the substrate, and through at least a portion the insulating layer, terminating on the first conductive region. A method for forming the device includes forming the substrate, forming the insulating layer that includes the etch stop layer over the upper surface of the substrate, forming a first conductive region over the insulating layer; and forming an opening within the substrate that extends from the lower surface of the substrate, through the upper surface of the substrate, and through at least a portion the insulating layer, terminating on the first conductive region formed over the insulating layer.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate that includes a plurality of epitaxial layers, including a channel layer and a permanent cap over the channel layer, where the permanent cap defines an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and forming a sacrificial cap over the permanent cap in an active region of the device, where the sacrificial cap comprises a semiconductor material that includes aluminum. The method also includes forming one or more current carrying regions (e.g., source and drain regions) in the semiconductor substrate in the active region of the device by performing an ion implantation process to implant ions through the sacrificial cap, and into the semiconductor substrate, completely removing the sacrificial cap in the active region of the device, while refraining from removing the permanent cap, and forming one or more current carrying contacts over the one or more current carrying regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a base substrate, a doped region at an upper surface of the base substrate, and a transistor over the upper surface of the base substrate and formed from a plurality of epitaxially-grown semiconductor layers. The doped region includes one or more ion species, and has a lower boundary above a lower surface of the base substrate. The base substrate may be a silicon substrate, and the transistor may be a GaN HEMT formed from a plurality of heteroepitaxial layers that include aluminum nitride and/or aluminum gallium nitride. The doped region may be a diffusion barrier region and/or an enhanced resistivity region. The ion species may be selected from phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, argon, helium, nitrogen, and oxygen. When the ion species includes oxygen, the doped region may include a silicon dioxide layer formed from annealing the doped region after introduction of the oxygen.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate configured to include a channel, first and second ohmic contacts supported by the semiconductor substrate, in ohmic contact with a contact region formed within the semiconductor substrate, and spaced from one another for current flow between the first and second ohmic contacts through the channel, and first and second dielectric layers supported by the semiconductor substrate. At least one of the first and second ohmic contacts extends through respective openings in the first and second dielectric layers. The second dielectric layer is disposed between the first dielectric layer and a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the second dielectric layer includes a wet etchable material having an etch selectivity to a dry etchant of the first dielectric layer.