Patents by Inventor Daniel Kueck

Daniel Kueck 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: 11626477
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes: gate structures extending from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body; a drift zone of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC semiconductor body; first mesas and second mesas arranged between the gate structures in the SiC semiconductor body; body areas of a second conductivity type arranged in the first mesas and the second mesas, the body areas each adjoining a first side wall of one of the gate structures; first shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining a second side wall of one of the gate structures; second shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining the body areas in the second mesas; and diode areas of the conductivity type of the drift zone, the diode areas forming Schottky contacts with a load electrode between the first shielding areas and the second shielding areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Thomas Basler, Wolfgang Bergner, Rudolf Elpelt, Romain Esteve, Michael Hell, Daniel Kueck, Caspar Leendertz, Dethard Peters, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20210343835
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes: gate structures extending from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body; a drift zone of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC semiconductor body; first mesas and second mesas arranged between the gate structures in the SiC semiconductor body; body areas of a second conductivity type arranged in the first mesas and the second mesas, the body areas each adjoining a first side wall of one of the gate structures; first shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining a second side wall of one of the gate structures; second shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining the body areas in the second mesas; and diode areas of the conductivity type of the drift zone, the diode areas forming Schottky contacts with a load electrode between the first shielding areas and the second shielding areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Thomas Basler, Wolfgang Bergner, Rudolf Elpelt, Romain Esteve, Michael Hell, Daniel Kueck, Caspar Leendertz, Dethard Peters, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 11101343
    Abstract: A semiconductor component has a gate structure that extends from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body. A body area in the SiC semiconductor body adjoins a first side wall of the gate structure. A first shielding area and a second shielding area of the conductivity type of the body area have at least twice as high a level of doping as the body area. A diode area forms a Schottky contact with a load electrode between the first shielding area and the second shielding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Thomas Basler, Wolfgang Bergner, Rudolf Elpelt, Romain Esteve, Michael Hell, Daniel Kueck, Caspar Leendertz, Dethard Peters, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 10700182
    Abstract: By using at least one of a processor device and model transistor cells, a set of design parameters for at least one of a transistor cell and a drift structure of a wide band-gap semiconductor device is determined, wherein an on state failure-in-time rate and an off state failure-in-time rate of a gate dielectric of the transistor cell are within a same order of magnitude for a predefined on-state gate-to-source voltage, a predefined off-state gate-to-source voltage, and a predefined off-state drain-to-source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Wolfgang Bergner, Romain Esteve, Daniel Kueck, Dethard Peters, Ralf Siemieniec, Bernd Zippelius
  • Patent number: 10553685
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a trench extending from a first surface into a SiC semiconductor body. The trench has a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and a trench bottom. A gate electrode is arranged in the trench and is electrically insulated from the SiC semiconductor body by a trench dielectric. A body region of a first conductivity type adjoins the first sidewall. A shielding structure of the first conductivity type adjoins at least a portion of the second sidewall and the trench bottom. A first section of the trench bottom and a second section of the trench bottom are offset to one another by a vertical offset along a vertical direction extending from the first surface to a second surface of the SiC semiconductor body opposite to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Romain Esteve, Daniel Kueck
  • Publication number: 20200006544
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide body including a transistor cell region and an idle region. The transistor cell region includes transistor cells. The idle region is devoid of transistor cells. The idle region includes a transition region between the transistor cell region and a side surface of the silicon carbide body, a gate pad region, and a diode structure comprising at least one of a merged pin Schottky diode structure or a merged pin heterojunction diode structure in at least one of the transition region or the gate pad region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ralf SIEMIENIEC, Thomas AICHINGER, Wolfgang BERGNER, Romain ESTEVE, Daniel KUECK, Dethard PETERS, Bernd ZIPPELIUS
  • Publication number: 20190341447
    Abstract: A semiconductor component has a gate structure that extends from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body. A body area in the SiC semiconductor body adjoins a first side wall of the gate structure. A first shielding area and a second shielding area of the conductivity type of the body area have at least twice as high a level of doping as the body area. A diode area forms a Schottky contact with a load electrode between the first shielding area and the second shielding area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Thomas Basler, Wolfgang Bergner, Rudolf Elpelt, Romain Esteve, Michael Hell, Daniel Kueck, Caspar Leendertz, Dethard Peters, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 10332876
    Abstract: A first semiconductor body including type IV semiconductor material is provided. A second semiconductor body including type III-V semiconductor material is provided. A first adhesion layer is formed on the first semiconductor body. A second adhesion layer is formed on the second semiconductor body. The first and the second semiconductor bodies are bonded together by adhering the first and the second adhesion layers to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Daniel Kueck, Gilberto Curatola, Romain Esteve
  • Publication number: 20190081039
    Abstract: A first semiconductor body including type IV semiconductor material is provided. A second semiconductor body including type III-V semiconductor material is provided. A first adhesion layer is formed on the first semiconductor body. A second adhesion layer is formed on the second semiconductor body. The first and the second semiconductor bodies are bonded together by adhering the first and the second adhesion layers to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Daniel Kueck, Gilberto Curatola, Romain Esteve
  • Patent number: 10217636
    Abstract: A trench is formed that extends from a main surface into a crystalline silicon carbide semiconductor layer. A mask is formed that includes a mask opening exposing the trench and a rim section of the main surface around the trench. By irradiation with a particle beam a first portion of the semiconductor layer exposed by the mask opening and a second portion outside of the vertical projection of the mask opening and directly adjoining to the first portion are amorphized. A vertical extension of the amorphized second portion gradually decreases with increasing distance to the first portion. The amorphized first and second portions are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Victorina Poenariu, Wolfgang Bergner, Romain Esteve, Daniel Kueck, Dethard Peters, Gerald Reinwald, Roland Rupp, Gerald Unegg
  • Patent number: 10211306
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body formed from a semiconductor material with a band-gap of at least 2.0 eV, the semiconductor body having a diode region and a source region. The semiconductor device further includes a trench gate structure having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall extending along a common longitudinal direction. A doping concentration of a first doping type is higher in the diode region than in the source region. The trench gate structure projects from a first surface of the semiconductor body into the semiconductor body. A first portion of the second sidewall at the first surface is directly adjoined by the source region. A second portion of the second sidewall is in direct contact with the diode region. Additional semiconductor device embodiments are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Dethard Peters, Romain Esteve, Wolfgang Bergner, Thomas Aichinger, Daniel Kueck, Roland Rupp, Bernd Zippelius, Karlheinz Feldrapp, Christian Strenger
  • Publication number: 20180331204
    Abstract: By using at least one of a processor device and model transistor cells, a set of design parameters for at least one of a transistor cell and a drift structure of a wide band-gap semiconductor device is determined, wherein an on state failure-in-time rate and an off state failure-in-time rate of a gate dielectric of the transistor cell are within a same order of magnitude for a predefined on-state gate-to-source voltage, a predefined off-state gate-to-source voltage, and a predefined off-state drain-to-source voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Wolfgang Bergner, Romain Esteve, Daniel Kueck, Dethard Peters, Ralf Siemieniec, Bernd Zippelius
  • Publication number: 20180308938
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a trench extending from a first surface into a SiC semiconductor body. The trench has a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and a trench bottom. A gate electrode is arranged in the trench and is electrically insulated from the SiC semiconductor body by a trench dielectric. A body region of a first conductivity type adjoins the first sidewall. A shielding structure of the first conductivity type adjoins at least a portion of the second sidewall and the trench bottom. A first section of the trench bottom and a second section of the trench bottom are offset to one another by a vertical offset along a vertical direction extending from the first surface to a second surface of the SiC semiconductor body opposite to the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Romain Esteve, Daniel Kueck
  • Publication number: 20180248000
    Abstract: A vertical transistor device includes a silicon-carbide substrate, a gate trench formed in the silicon-carbide substrate, a body region adjacent the gate trench, a source region adjacent the gate trench and above the body region, and a dielectric material covering a bottom and a sidewall of the gate trench. A thickness of the dielectric material is greater at the bottom of the gate trench than along the sidewall of the gate trench. Further vertical transistor device embodiments and corresponding methods of manufacture are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Romain Esteve, Dethard Peters, Wolfgang Bergner, Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Daniel Kueck
  • Patent number: 10056365
    Abstract: A semiconductor device incudes a cell region and a contact region, the cell region including a functional unit including a gate electrode, a source and a drain electrode, and the contact region including a gate pad. The gate electrode, the gate pad and the source electrode are disposed on a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate, and the drain electrode is disposed on a second main surface of the semiconductor substrate, the second main surface being opposite to the first main surface. A shielding member is disposed between the gate pad and the drain electrode, the shielding member being electrically connected to the source electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Daniel Kueck, Rudolf Elpelt
  • Publication number: 20180204725
    Abstract: A trench is formed that extends from a main surface into a crystalline silicon carbide semiconductor layer. A mask is formed that includes a mask opening exposing the trench and a rim section of the main surface around the trench. By irradiation with a particle beam a first portion of the semiconductor layer exposed by the mask opening and a second portion outside of the vertical projection of the mask opening and directly adjoining to the first portion are amorphized. A vertical extension of the amorphized second portion gradually decreases with increasing distance to the first portion. The amorphized first and second portions are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Victorina Poenariu, Wolfgang Bergner, Romain Esteve, Daniel Kueck, Dethard Peters, Gerald Reinwald, Roland Rupp, Gerald Unegg
  • Publication number: 20180158920
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body formed from a semiconductor material with a band-gap of at least 2.0 eV, the semiconductor body having a diode region and a source region. The semiconductor device further includes a trench gate structure having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall extending along a common longitudinal direction. A doping concentration of a first doping type is higher in the diode region than in the source region. The trench gate structure projects from a first surface of the semiconductor body into the semiconductor body. A first portion of the second sidewall at the first surface is directly adjoined by the source region. A second portion of the second sidewall is in direct contact with the diode region. Additional semiconductor device embodiments are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Dethard Peters, Romain Esteve, Wolfgang Bergner, Thomas Aichinger, Daniel Kueck, Roland Rupp, Bernd Zippelius, Karlheinz Feldrapp, Christian Strenger
  • Patent number: 9960230
    Abstract: A SIC transistor device includes a silicon-carbide semiconductor substrate having a plurality of first doped regions laterally spaced apart from one another and beneath a main surface of the substrate, a second doped region extending from the main surface to a third doped region that is above the first doped regions, and a plurality of fourth doped regions in the substrate extending from the main surface to the first doped regions. The second doped region has a first conductivity type. The first, third and fourth doped regions have a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. A gate trench extends through the second and third doped regions. The gate trench has sidewalls, a bottom and rounded corners between the bottom and the sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Romain Esteve, Dethard Peters, Wolfgang Bergner, Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Daniel Kueck
  • Patent number: 9934972
    Abstract: A trench is formed that extends from a main surface into a crystalline silicon carbide semiconductor layer. A mask is formed that includes a mask opening exposing the trench and a rim section of the main surface around the trench. By irradiation with a particle beam a first portion of the semiconductor layer exposed by the mask opening and a second portion outside of the vertical projection of the mask opening and directly adjoining to the first portion are amorphized. A vertical extension of the amorphized second portion gradually decreases with increasing distance to the first portion. The amorphized first and second portions are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Wolfgang Bergner, Romain Esteve, Daniel Kueck, Dethard Peters, Victorina Poenariu, Gerald Reinwald, Roland Rupp, Gerald Unegg
  • Patent number: 9923053
    Abstract: A SIC transistor device includes a silicon-carbide semiconductor substrate having a plurality of first doped regions laterally spaced apart from one another and beneath a main surface of the substrate, a second doped region extending from the main surface to a third doped region that is above the first doped regions, and a plurality of fourth doped regions in the substrate extending from the main surface to the first doped regions. The second doped region has a first conductivity type. The first, third and fourth doped regions have a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. A gate trench extends through the second and third doped regions. The gate trench has sidewalls, a bottom and rounded corners between the bottom and the sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Romain Esteve, Dethard Peters, Wolfgang Bergner, Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Daniel Kueck