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).

  • Patent number: 8039897
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Grebs, Gary M. Dolny, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 8017978
    Abstract: A hybrid device including a silicon based MOSFET operatively connected with a GaN based device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lidow, Daniel M. Kinzer, Srikant Sridevan
  • Publication number: 20110171798
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce D. Marchant, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7955969
    Abstract: Processes are described for forming very thin semiconductor die (1 to 10 microns thick) in which a thin layer of the upper surface of the wafer is processed with junction patterns and contacts while the wafer bulk is intact. The top surface is then contacted by a rigid wafer carrier and the bulk wafer is then ground/etched to an etch stop layer at the bottom of the thin wafer. A thick bottom contact is then applied to the bottom surface and the top wafer carrier is removed. All three contacts of a MOSFET may be formed on the top surface in one embodiment or defined by the patterning of the bottom metal contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Michael A. Briere, Alexander Lidow
  • Patent number: 7936007
    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: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce D. Marchant, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7821032
    Abstract: An enhancement mode III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes normally-off channels along the sidewalls of a recess and a process for fabricating the same, the device including a first power electrode, a second power electrode, and a gate disposed between the first power electrode and the second power electrode over at least a sidewall of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel M Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20100264490
    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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: BRUCE D. MARCHANT, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20100155839
    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: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas E. Grebs, Gary M. Dolny, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20100140689
    Abstract: Exemplary power semiconductor devices with features providing increased breakdown voltage and other benefits are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Ashok Challa, Daniel M. Kinzer, Dean E. Probst
  • Patent number: 7679111
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device having a termination structure that includes a polysilicon field plate, a metallic field plate, and a polysilicon equipotential ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Jianjun Cao, Nazanin Amani, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7619280
    Abstract: The active area of a current sense die is surrounded by a transition region which extends to the terminating periphery of the die. Spaced parallel MOSgated trenches extend through and define an active area. The trench positions in the transition region are eliminated or are deactivated, as by shorting to the MOSFET source of the trench, or by removing the source regions in areas of the transition region. By inactivating MOSgate action in the transition region surrounding the source, the device is made less sensitive to current ratio variation due to varying manufacturing tolerances. The gate to source capacitance is increased by surrounding the active area with an enlarged P+ field region which is at least five times the area of the active region, thereby to make the device less sensitive to ESD failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Jianjun Cao, Ying Xiao, Kyle Spring, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20090218617
    Abstract: A superjunction power semiconductor device which includes spaced drift regions each extending from the bottom of a respective gate trench to the substrate of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: SILICONIX TECHNOLOGY C. V.
    Inventor: Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7564099
    Abstract: A Schottky diode is integrated into a planar or trench topology MOSFET having parallel spaced source regions diffused into spaced base stripes. The diffusions forming the source and base stripes are interrupted to permit the drift region to extend to the top of the die and receive a Schottky barrier metal and the source contact. The MOSFET and Schottky share the same drift region, and the pitch between base and source stripes is not changed to receive the Schottky structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Donald He, Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7550781
    Abstract: A III-nitride based integrated semiconductor device which includes at least two III-nitride based semiconductor devices formed in a common die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Robert Beach
  • Patent number: 7498617
    Abstract: A III-nitride power device that includes a Schottky electrode integrated with a power switch. The combination is used in power supply circuits such as a boost converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7492003
    Abstract: A superjunction power semiconductor device which includes spaced drift regions each extending from the bottom of a respective gate trench to the substrate of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Siliconix Technology C. V.
    Inventor: Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7465997
    Abstract: A III-nitride bidirectional switch which includes an AlGaN/GaN interface that obtains a high current currying channel. The bidirectional switch operates with at least one gate that prevents or permits the establishment of a two dimensional electron gas to form the current carrying channel for the bidirectional switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Robert Beach
  • Patent number: 7462910
    Abstract: A low voltage P-channel power MOSFET using trench technology has an epitaxially deposited constant concentration N channel region adjacent the side walls of a plurality of trenches. The constant concentration channel region is deposited atop a P+ substrate and receives P+ source regions at the tops of each trench. The source contact is connected to both source and channel regions for a unidirectional conduction device, or only to the source regions for a bidirectional device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel M. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7439580
    Abstract: A trench type top drain MOSgated device has a drain electrode on the die top and a source electrode on the die bottom surface. The device is turned on by a control voltage connected between a drain and a gate region. The device cell has a body short trench and a gate trench. Gate poly is disposed in the bottom of the gate trench and is disposed adjacent a thin gate oxide lining a channel region with minimum overlap of the drain drift region. The bottom of the body short trench contains a contact which shorts the body region to the channel region. The body short, top drain region and gate polysilicon are simultaneously silicided. The gate trench is widened at its top to improve Qgd characteristics. Both the body short trench and gate trench are simultaneously filled with gap fill material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, David Paul Jones, Kyle Spring
  • Patent number: RE41509
    Abstract: A high voltage vertical conduction semiconductor device has a plurality of deep trenches or holes in a lightly doped body of one conductivity type. A diffusion of the other conductivity type is formed in the trench walls to a depth and a concentration which matches that of the body so that, under reverse blocking, both regions fully deplete. The elongated trench or hole is filled with a dielectric which may be a composite of nitride and oxide layers having a lateral dimension change matched to that of the silicon. The filler may also be a highly resistive SIPOS which permits leakage current flow from source to drain to ensure a uniform electric field distribution along the length of the trench during blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Srikant Sridevan