Patents by Inventor David Laforet

David Laforet 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: 11848379
    Abstract: A vertical power semiconductor transistor device includes: a drain region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type; a drift region of the first conductivity type which separates the body region from the drain region; a source region of the first conductivity type separated from the drift region by the body region; a gate trench extending through the source and body regions and into the drift region, the gate trench including a gate electrode; and a field electrode in the gate trench or in a separate trench. The drift region has a generally linearly graded first doping profile which increases from the body region toward a bottom of the trench that includes the field electrode, and a graded second doping profile that increases at a greater rate than the first doping profile from an end of the first doping profile toward the drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, David Laforet, Cédric Ouvrard
  • Patent number: 11764272
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device having a first active region, a plurality of elongated gate regions having an elongated extension in a first lateral direction, respectively, a plurality of elongated field plate regions having an elongated extension in the first lateral direction, respectively, and a first additional gate region, wherein a first one of the elongated gate regions is arranged in a first elongated gate trench at a first side of the first active region, and a second one of the elongated gate regions is arranged in a second elongated gate trench at a second side of the first active region, the second side lying opposite to the first side with respect to a second lateral direction, and wherein the first additional gate region is arranged in a first additional gate trench which extends at least proportionately in the second lateral direction through the first active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: David Laforet, Cesar Augusto Braz, Alessandro Ferrara, Cédric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Publication number: 20230178647
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a transistor device a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, and a cell field including a plurality of transistor cells of a power transistor. The cell field further includes: a body region of a second conductivity type; a source region of a first conductivity type on or in the body region, the first conductivity type opposing the second conductivity type; a gate trench in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric lining the gate trench; a metal gate electrode arranged in the gate trench on the gate dielectric; and an electrically insulating cap arranged on the metal gate electrode. A method of fabricating a gate of the transistor device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Ingmar Neumann, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Roland Moennich, Thomas Ralf Siemieniec
  • Patent number: 11600723
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a transistor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a cell field including a plurality of transistor cells, and an edge termination region laterally surrounding the cell field. The cell field includes a gate trench in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric lining the gate trench, a metal gate electrode arranged in the gate trench on the gate dielectric, and an electrically insulating cap arranged on the metal gate electrode and within the gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ingmar Neumann, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Roland Moennich, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Publication number: 20230055891
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a transistor device comprises a semiconductor body comprising a plurality of transistor cells comprising a drift region of a first conductivity type, a body region of a second conductivity type forming a first pn junction with the drift region, the second conductivity type opposing the first conductivity type, a source region of the first conductivity type forming a second pn junction with the body region, a columnar field plate trench extending into a major surface of a semiconductor body and comprising a columnar field plate and a gate trench structure extending into the major surface of the semiconductor body and comprising a gate electrode. At least one of the depth and doping level of the body region locally varies within the transistor cell to improve VGSTH homogeneity within the transistor cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Oliver Blank, Cesar Augusto Braz, Yan Gao, Olivier Guillemant, Franz Hirler, David Laforet, Peter Lagger, Cédric Ouvrard, Elias Pree, Li Juin Yip
  • Publication number: 20220376062
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor cell region, and a first termination region devoid of transistor cells. The transistor cell region includes a gate structure, a plurality of needle-shaped first field plate structures, body regions of a second conductivity type, and source regions of a first conductivity type. The first termination region surrounds the transistor cell region and includes needle-shaped second field plate structures. The needle-shaped first field plate structures are arranged in a first pattern and the needle-shaped second field plate structures are arranged in a second pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Cédric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 11462620
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a transistor cell region formed in the semiconductor substrate and an inner termination region formed in the semiconductor substrate and devoid of transistor cells. The transistor cell region includes a gate structure extending from a first surface into the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of needle-shaped first field plate structures extending from the first surface into the semiconductor substrate, body regions of a second conductivity type, and source regions of a first conductivity type formed between the body regions and the first surface. The inner termination region surrounds the transistor cell region and includes needle-shaped second field plate structures extending from the first surface into the semiconductor substrate. The needle-shaped first field plate structures are arranged in a first pattern and the needle-shaped second field plate structures are arranged in a second pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Cédric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 11296218
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having first and second opposing surfaces, an active area including active transistor cells, and an edge termination region laterally surrounding the active area. Each active transistor cell includes a mesa and a columnar trench having a field plate. The edge termination region includes inactive cells each including a columnar termination trench having a field plate, and a termination mesa including a drift region of a first conductivity type. The edge termination region includes a transition region laterally surrounding the active region and an outer termination region laterally surrounding the transition region. In the transition region, the termination mesa includes a body region of a second conductivity type arranged on the drift region. In the outer termination region, the drift region extends to the first surface. A buried doped region of the edge termination region is positioned in the transition and outer termination regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: Infineon Technologies Austria AG, Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Adam Amali, Michael Hutzler, Laszlo Juhasz, David Laforet, Cedric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 11251275
    Abstract: A power semiconductor die has a semiconductor body coupled to first and second load terminals, and at least one power cell. In a horizontal cross-section of the at least one power cell, a contact has a contact region which horizontally overlaps with a field plate electrode and horizontally protrudes from the field plate trench, and a recess region does not horizontally overlap with the contact region and extends into a horizontal circumference of the field plate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Christof Altstaetter, Marcel Rene Mueller, Oliver Blank, David Laforet
  • Publication number: 20220013665
    Abstract: A vertical power semiconductor transistor device includes: a drain region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type; a drift region of the first conductivity type which separates the body region from the drain region; a source region of the first conductivity type separated from the drift region by the body region; a gate trench extending through the source and body regions and into the drift region, the gate trench including a gate electrode; and a field electrode in the gate trench or in a separate trench. The drift region has a generally linearly graded first doping profile which increases from the body region toward a bottom of the trench that includes the field electrode, and a graded second doping profile that increases at a greater rate than the first doping profile from an end of the first doping profile toward the drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, David Laforet, Cédric Ouvrard
  • Publication number: 20210367045
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device having a first active region, a plurality of elongated gate regions having an elongated extension in a first lateral direction, respectively, a plurality of elongated field plate regions having an elongated extension in the first lateral direction, respectively, and a first additional gate region, wherein a first one of the elongated gate regions is arranged in a first elongated gate trench at a first side of the first active region, and a second one of the elongated gate regions is arranged in a second elongated gate trench at a second side of the first active region, the second side lying opposite to the first side with respect to a second lateral direction, and wherein the first additional gate region is arranged in a first additional gate trench which extends at least proportionately in the second lateral direction through the first active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: David Laforet, Cesar Augusto Braz, Alessandro Ferrara, Cédric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 11158735
    Abstract: A vertical power semiconductor transistor device includes: a drain region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type; a drift region of the first conductivity type which separates the body region from the drain region; a source region of the first conductivity type separated from the drift region by the body region; a gate trench extending through the source and body regions and into the drift region, the gate trench including a gate electrode; and a field electrode in the gate trench or in a separate trench. The drift region has a generally linearly graded first doping profile which increases from the body region toward a bottom of the trench that includes the field electrode, and a graded second doping profile that increases at a greater rate than the first doping profile from an end of the first doping profile toward the drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, David Laforet, Cedric Ouvrard
  • Publication number: 20210249534
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a transistor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a cell field including a plurality of transistor cells, and an edge termination region laterally surrounding the cell field. The cell field includes a gate trench in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric lining the gate trench, a metal gate electrode arranged in the gate trench on the gate dielectric, and an electrically insulating cap arranged on the metal gate electrode and within the gate trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Ingmar Neumann, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Roland Moennich, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Publication number: 20210242340
    Abstract: A vertical power semiconductor transistor device includes: a drain region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type; a drift region of the first conductivity type which separates the body region from the drain region; a source region of the first conductivity type separated from the drift region by the body region; a gate trench extending through the source and body regions and into the drift region, the gate trench including a gate electrode; and a field electrode in the gate trench or in a separate trench. The drift region has a generally linearly graded first doping profile which increases from the body region toward a bottom of the trench that includes the field electrode, and a graded second doping profile that increases at a greater rate than the first doping profile from an end of the first doping profile toward the drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, David Laforet, Cedric Ouvrard
  • Publication number: 20210066459
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a transistor cell region formed in the semiconductor substrate and an inner termination region formed in the semiconductor substrate and devoid of transistor cells. The transistor cell region includes a gate structure extending from a first surface into the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of needle-shaped first field plate structures extending from the first surface into the semiconductor substrate, body regions of a second conductivity type, and source regions of a first conductivity type formed between the body regions and the first surface. The inner termination region surrounds the transistor cell region and includes needle-shaped second field plate structures extending from the first surface into the semiconductor substrate. The needle-shaped first field plate structures are arranged in a first pattern and the needle-shaped second field plate structures are arranged in a second pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Cédric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 10872957
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a transistor cell region formed in the semiconductor substrate and an inner termination region formed in the semiconductor substrate and devoid of transistor cells. The transistor cell region includes a plurality of transistor cells and a gate structure that forms a grid separating transistor sections of the transistor cells from each other, each of the transistor sections including a needle-shaped first field plate structure extending from a first surface into the semiconductor substrate. The inner termination region surrounds the transistor cell region and includes needle-shaped second field plate structures extending from the first surface into the semiconductor substrate. The first field plate structures form a first portion of a regular pattern and the second field plate structures form a second portion of the same regular pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Cedric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 10868173
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having drift and body regions. The drift region includes upper and lower drift regions. An active area includes a plurality of spicular trenches extending through the body region and into the drift region. Each spicular trench in the active area has a lower end which together define a lower end of the upper drift region extending towards a first side and a lower drift region extending from the lower end of the upper drift region towards a second side. The edge termination area includes spicular termination trenches extending at least into the upper drift region. A surface doping region arranged in the upper drift region in the edge termination area extends to the first side, is spaced apart from the lower end of the upper drift region, and has a net doping concentration lower than that of the upper drift region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Cedric Ouvrard, Adam Amali, Oliver Blank, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Harsh Naik, Ralf Siemieniec, Li Juin Yip
  • Publication number: 20200365724
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having first and second opposing surfaces, an active area including active transistor cells, and an edge termination region laterally surrounding the active area. Each active transistor cell includes a mesa and a columnar trench having a field plate. The edge termination region includes inactive cells each including a columnar termination trench having a field plate, and a termination mesa including a drift region of a first conductivity type. The edge termination region includes a transition region laterally surrounding the active region and an outer termination region laterally surrounding the transition region. In the transition region, the termination mesa includes a body region of a second conductivity type arranged on the drift region. In the outer termination region, the drift region extends to the first surface. A buried doped region of the edge termination region is positioned in the transition and outer termination regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Adam Amali, Michael Hutzler, Laszlo Juhasz, David Laforet, Cedric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 10811531
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor device with at least one gate electrode, a gate runner connected to the at least one gate electrode and arranged on top of a semiconductor body, and a gate pad arranged on top of the semiconductor body and electrically connected to the gate runner. The gate runner includes a first metal line, a second metal line on top of the first metal line, a first gate runner section, and at least one second gate runner section. The at least one second gate runner section is arranged between the first gate runner section and the gate pad. A cross sectional area of the second metal line in the at least one second gate runner section is less than 50% of the cross sectional area of the second metal line in the first gate runner section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: David Laforet, Oliver Blank, Cesar Augusto Braz, Gerhard Noebauer, Cedric Ouvrard
  • Publication number: 20200328303
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having drift and body regions. The drift region includes upper and lower drift regions. An active area includes a plurality of spicular trenches extending through the body region and into the drift region. Each spicular trench in the active area has a lower end which together define a lower end of the upper drift region extending towards a first side and a lower drift region extending from the lower end of the upper drift region towards a second side. The edge termination area includes spicular termination trenches extending at least into the upper drift region. A surface doping region arranged in the upper drift region in the edge termination area extends to the first side, is spaced apart from the lower end of the upper drift region, and has a net doping concentration lower than that of the upper drift region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Cedric Ouvrard, Adam Amali, Oliver Blank, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Harsh Naik, Ralf Siemieniec, Li Juin Yip