Patents by Inventor Daniel M. Kinzer

Daniel M. Kinzer 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: 20160079964
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions. Some devices employ electro-static discharge circuits and features formed within the GaN-based devices to improve the reliability and performance of the half bridge power conversion circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Jason Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160079978
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions. Some devices employ electro-static discharge circuits and features formed within the GaN-based devices to improve the reliability and performance of the half bridge power conversion circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Jason Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160079975
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments, a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Jason Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160056817
    Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit includes a distributed power switch. In some embodiments, the electronic circuit also includes one or more of a distributed gate driver, a distributed gate pulldown device, a distributed diode, and a low resistance gate and/or source connection structure. An electronic component comprising the circuit, and methods of manufacturing the circuit are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20160056721
    Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit includes a distributed power switch. In some embodiments, the electronic circuit also includes one or more of a distributed gate driver, a distributed gate pulldown device, a distributed diode, and a low resistance gate and/or source connection structure. An electronic component comprising the circuit, and methods of manufacturing the circuit are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20160049786
    Abstract: A gallium-nitride based power transistor is coupled to a voltage source that has transient overvoltage conditions exceeding the allowable withstanding voltage of the power transistor. An overvoltage protection circuit is coupled to the power transistor to temporarily turn on the power transistor during the overvoltage condition to protect the power transistor from overvoltage breakdown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20150194521
    Abstract: Exemplary power semiconductor devices with features providing increased breakdown voltage and other benefits are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Ashok Challa, Daniel M. Kinzer, Dean E. Probst, Daniel Calafut
  • Patent number: 8963212
    Abstract: In one general aspsect, a semiconductor device can include at least a first device region and a second device region disposed at a surface of a semiconductor region where the second device region is adjacent to the first device region and spaced apart from the first device region. That semiconductor device can include a connection region disposed between the first device region and the second device region, and a trench extending into the semiconductor region and at least extending from the first device region, through the connection region, and to the second device region. The semiconductor device can include a dielectric layer lining opposing sidewalls of the trench, an electrode disposed in the trench, and a conductive trace disposed over a portion of the trench in the connection region and electrically coupled to a portion of the electrode disposed in the connection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Ashok Challa, Daniel M. Kinzer, Dean E. Probst, Daniel Calafut
  • Patent number: 8866218
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a system can include a through-silicon-via (TSV) coupling a drain region associated with a vertical transistor to a back metal disposed on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side. The system can include a first metal layer, and a second metal layer aligned orthogonal to the first metal layer. The system can define a conduction path extending substantially vertically through the TSV to the substrate and laterally through the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Steven Sapp, Chung-Lin Wu, Oseob Jeon, Bigidis Dosdos
  • Publication number: 20140042532
    Abstract: Exemplary power semiconductor devices with features providing increased breakdown voltage and other benefits are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Ashok Challa, Daniel M. Kinzer, Dean E. Probst, Daniel Calafut
  • Publication number: 20130277735
    Abstract: Systems and methods of fabricating Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging (WLCSP) devices with transistors having source, drain and gate contacts on one side of the transistor while still having excellent electrical performance with low drain-to-source resistance RDS(on) include using a two-metal drain contact technique. The RDS(on) is further improved by using a through-silicon-via (TSV) technique to form a drain contact or by using a copper layer closely connected to the drain drift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel M. KINZER, Steven SAPP, Chung-Lin WU, Oseob JEON, Bigidis DOSDOS
  • Patent number: 8564024
    Abstract: Exemplary power semiconductor devices with features providing increased breakdown voltage and other benefits are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Ashok Challa, Daniel M. Kinzer, Dean E. Probst
  • Patent number: 8525224
    Abstract: A III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes a first III-nitride power semiconductor device and a second III-nitride power semiconductor device formed in a common semiconductor die and operatively integrated to form a half-bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel M Kinzer
  • Patent number: 8487371
    Abstract: Systems and methods of fabricating Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging (WLCSP) devices with transistors having source, drain and gate contacts on one side of the transistor while still having excellent electrical performance with low drain-to-source resistance RDS(on) include using a two-metal drain contact technique. The RDS(on) is further improved by using a through-silicon-via (TSV) technique to form a drain contact or by using a copper layer closely connected to the drain drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Steven Sapp, Chung-Lin Wu, Oseob Jeon, Bigildis Dosdos
  • Patent number: 8450177
    Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of the semiconductor region extending over and abutting a substrate. A well regions of a second conductivity type is disposed within the semiconductor region. The field effect transistor also includes source regions of the first conductivity type disposed in the well regions and a gate electrode extending over each well region and overlapping a corresponding one of the source regions. Each gate electrode is insulated from the underlying well region by a gate dielectric. At least one LDD region of the first conductivity type is disposed in the semiconductor region between every two adjacent well regions such that the at least one LDD region is in contact with the two adjacent well regions between which it is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce D. Marchant, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 8432145
    Abstract: A voltage supply circuit for providing an output DC voltage from an input DC voltage bus that includes a III-nitride based power semiconductor device series connected between the input DC voltage bus and an output capacitor, which is switchable from an on state to an off state in order to charge up the output capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 8368120
    Abstract: A hybrid device including a silicon based MOSFET operatively connected with a GaN based device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lidow, Daniel M. Kinzer, Srikant Sridevan
  • Publication number: 20120248526
    Abstract: Systems and methods of fabricating Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging (WLCSP) devices with transistors having source, drain and gate contacts on one side of the transistor while still having excellent electrical performance with low drain-to-source resistance RDS(on) include using a two-metal drain contact technique. The RDS(on) is further improved by using a through-silicon-via (TSV) technique to form a drain contact or by using a copper layer closely connected to the drain drift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Steven Sapp, Chung-Lin Wu, Oseob Jeon, Bigidis Dosdos
  • Publication number: 20120043553
    Abstract: A hybrid device including a silicon based MOSFET operatively connected with a GaN based device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Lidow, Daniel M. Kinzer, Srikant Sridevan
  • Publication number: 20120018803
    Abstract: In one form a lateral MOSFET includes an active gate positioned laterally between a source region and a drain region, the drain region extending from an upper surface of a monocrystalline semiconductor body to a bottom surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor body, and a non-active gate positioned above the drain region. In another form the lateral MOSFET includes a gate positioned laterally between a source region and a drain region, the drain region extending from an upper surface of a monocrystalline semiconductor body to a bottom surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor body, the source region and the drain region being of a first conductivity type, a heavy body region of a second conductivity type in contact with and below the source region, and the drain region comprising a lightly doped drain (LDD) region proximate an edge of the gate and a sinker extending from the upper surface of the monocrystalline body to the bottom surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas E. Grebs, Gary M. Dolny, Daniel M. Kinzer