Patents by Inventor Franz Hirler

Franz Hirler 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: 20220231671
    Abstract: Electronic circuits are disclosed. One electronic circuit includes: a transistor device having a load path and a drive input; a first drive circuit configured to receive a supply voltage and generate a drive signal for the transistor device based on the supply voltage; and a biasing circuit connected in parallel with the load path of the transistor device. The biasing circuit includes a bias voltage circuit configured to receive the supply voltage and generate a bias voltage higher than the supply voltage based on the supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Franz Hirler, Matteo-Alessandro Kutschak, Andreas Riegler
  • Patent number: 11342187
    Abstract: Forming a semiconductor arrangement includes providing a first semiconductor layer having a first surface, forming a first plurality of trenches in the first surface of the first semiconductor layer, each of the trenches in the first plurality having first and second sidewalls that extend from the first surface to a bottom of the respective trench, implanting first type dopant atoms into the first and second sidewalls of each of the trenches in the first plurality, implanting second type dopant atoms into the first and second sidewalls of each of the trenches in the first plurality, and annealing the semiconductor arrangement to simultaneously activate the first type dopant atoms and the second type dopant atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Hans Weber, Franz Hirler, Johannes Georg Laven, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Werner Schustereder, Maximilian Treiber, Daniel Tutuc, Andreas Voerckel
  • Patent number: 11323099
    Abstract: Electronic circuits are disclosed. One electronic circuit includes: a transistor device having a load path and a drive input; a first drive circuit configured to receive a supply voltage and generate a drive signal for the transistor device based on the supply voltage; and a biasing circuit connected in parallel with the load path of the transistor device. The biasing circuit includes a bias voltage circuit configured to receive the supply voltage and generate a bias voltage higher than the supply voltage based on the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Franz Hirler, Matteo-Alessandro Kutschak, Andreas Riegler
  • Patent number: 11302781
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A transistor structure is formed is the semiconductor body. A trench structure extends from the first surface into the semiconductor body. An electrostatic discharge protection structure is accommodated in the trench structure. The electrostatic discharge protection structure includes a first terminal region and a second terminal region. A source contact structure at the first surface is electrically connected to source regions of the transistor structure and to the first terminal region. A gate contact structure at the first surface is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the transistor structure and to the second terminal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Joachim Weyers, Stefan Gamerith, Franz Hirler, Anton Mauder
  • Publication number: 20220102549
    Abstract: A silicon carbide device includes a transistor cell with a source region and a gate electrode. The source region is formed in a silicon carbide body and has a first conductivity type. A first low-resistive ohmic path electrically connects the source region and a doped region of a second conductivity type. The doped region and a floating well of the first conductivity type form a pn junction. A first clamp region having the second conductivity type extends into the floating well. A second low-resistive ohmic path electrically connects the first clamp region and the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Joachim Weyers, Franz Hirler, Wolfgang Jantscher, David Kammerlander, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Patent number: 11289597
    Abstract: A transistor device is enclosed. The transistor device includes: a semiconductor body; a plurality of drift regions of a first doping type; a plurality of compensation regions of a second doping type adjoining the drift regions; and a plurality of transistor cells each including a body region adjoining a respective one of the plurality of drift regions, a source region adjoining the body region, and a gate electrode adjacent the body region and dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. The source regions of the plurality of transistor cells are connected to a source node, the body regions of the plurality of transistor cells are separated from the plurality of compensation regions in the semiconductor body, and the plurality of compensation regions are ohmically connected to the source node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Björn Fischer, Franz Hirler, Matteo-Alessandro Kutschak, Andreas Riegler
  • Publication number: 20220077845
    Abstract: Electronic circuits are disclosed. One electronic circuit includes: a transistor device having a load path and a drive input; a first drive circuit configured to receive a supply voltage and generate a drive signal for the transistor device based on the supply voltage; and a biasing circuit connected in parallel with the load path of the transistor device. The biasing circuit includes a bias voltage circuit configured to receive the supply voltage and generate a bias voltage higher than the supply voltage based on the supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Franz Hirler, Matteo-Alessandro Kutschak, Andreas Riegler
  • Publication number: 20220077309
    Abstract: A method includes forming a trench in a first surface in an edge region of a semiconductor body, forming a plurality of superjunction transistor cells in an inner region of a semiconductor body, and forming an insulation layer on the first surface of the semiconductor body in the edge region and in the inner region, wherein forming the insulation layer includes a thermal oxidation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Christian Fachmann, Franz Hirler, Winfried Kaindl, Markus Rochel
  • Patent number: 11245002
    Abstract: A transistor arrangement includes: a layer stack with first and second semiconductor layers of complementary first and second doping types; a first source region of a first transistor device adjoining the first semiconductor layers; a first drain region of the first transistor device adjoining the second semiconductor layers and spaced apart from the first source region; gate regions of the first transistor device, each gate region adjoining at least one second semiconductor layer, being arranged between the first source region and the first drain region, and being spaced apart from the first source region and the first drain region; a third semiconductor layer adjoining the layer stack and each of the first source region, first drain region, and each gate region; and active regions of a second transistor device integrated in the third semiconductor layer in a second region spaced apart from a first region of the third semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Dresden GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Weis, Henning Feick, Franz Hirler, Andreas Meiser
  • Patent number: 11227945
    Abstract: A transistor device includes at least one transistor cell which includes: a source region, a body region and a drift region in a semiconductor body; a gate electrode dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric; a field electrode dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a field electrode dielectric; and a contact plug extending from a first surface of the semiconductor body to the field electrode. A portion of the semiconductor body is arranged between the field electrode trench and the first surface of the semiconductor body. The portion of the semiconductor body that is arranged between the field electrode trench and the first surface comprises the body region. The body region directly contacts the upper surface of the field electrode dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Markus Zundel, Franz Hirler
  • Patent number: 11211483
    Abstract: A method and a transistor device are disclosed. The method includes: forming a trench in a first surface in an edge region of a semiconductor body; forming an insulation layer in the trench and on the first surface of the semiconductor body; and planarizing the insulation layer so that a trench insulation layer that fills the trench remains, wherein forming the insulation layer comprises a thermal oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Christian Fachmann, Franz Hirler, Winfried Kaindl, Markus Rochel
  • Publication number: 20210376066
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a layer stack with first and second semiconductor layers of complementary doping types are arranged alternatingly between first and second surfaces of the layer stack. A first semiconductor region adjoins the first semiconductor layers and has a first end arranged in a first device region and extends from the first end into a second device region. Second semiconductor regions adjoin at least one of the second semiconductor layers. A third semiconductor region adjoins the first semiconductor layers. The first semiconductor region extends from the first device region into the second device region and is spaced apart from the third semiconductor region. The second semiconductor regions are arranged between, and spaced apart from, the third and first semiconductor regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Ahmed Mahmoud, Franz Hirler, Marco Mueller, Rolf Weis
  • Publication number: 20210376065
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a layer stack with first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers of opposite doping types arranged alternatingly. A first semiconductor region of a first semiconductor device adjoins the first semiconductor layers, and has a first end arranged in a first region of the first semiconductor device and extends from the first end into a second region of the first semiconductor device. Second semiconductor regions of the first semiconductor device adjoin at least one of the second semiconductor layers. A third semiconductor region of the first semiconductor device adjoins the first semiconductor layers. The first semiconductor region extends from the first region into the second region and is spaced apart from the third semiconductor region. The second semiconductor regions are arranged between, and spaced apart from, the third and first semiconductor regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Ahmed Mahmoud, Franz Hirler, Marco Mueller, Rolf Weis
  • Patent number: 11133391
    Abstract: A transistor device includes, in a semiconductor body, a drift region, a body region, and a source region separated from the drift region by the body region and connected to a source node. The transistor device further includes a gate electrode dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric, and a field electrode structure. The field electrode structure includes: a first field electrode connected to the source node and dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a first field electrode dielectric; a second field electrode dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a second field electrode dielectric; and a coupling circuit connected between the second field electrode and the source node and configured to connect the second field electrode to the source node dependent on a voltage between the source node and the second field electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Cesar Augusto Braz, Gerhard Noebauer, Martin Henning Vielemeyer
  • Patent number: 11088275
    Abstract: A method for operating a superjunction transistor device and a transistor arrangement are disclosed. The method includes operating the superjunction transistor device in a diode state. Operating the superjunction transistor device in the diode state includes applying a bias voltage different from zero between a drift region of at least one transistor cell of the superjunction transistor device and a compensation region of a doping type complementary to a doping type of the drift region. The compensation region adjoins the drift region, and a polarity of the bias voltage is such that a pn-junction between the drift region and the compensation region is reverse biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Christian Fachmann, Franz Hirler, Matteo-Alessandro Kutschak, Andreas Riegler
  • Publication number: 20210193796
    Abstract: A method for forming a superjunction transistor device includes: forming a plurality of semiconductor layers one on top of the other; implanting dopant atoms of a first doping type into each semiconductor layer to form first implanted regions in each semiconductor layer; implanting dopant atoms of a second doping type into each semiconductor layer to form second implanted regions in each semiconductor layer. Each of implanting the dopant atoms of the first and second doping types into each semiconductor layer includes forming a respective implantation mask on a respective surface of each semiconductor layer, and at least one of forming the first implanted regions and the second implanted regions in at least one of the semiconductor layers includes a tilted implantation process which uses an implantation vector that is tilted by a tilt angle relative to a normal of the respective horizontal surface of the respective semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Wolfgang Jantscher, Yann Ruet, Armin Willmeroth
  • Patent number: 10971582
    Abstract: A method for forming a superjunction transistor device includes: forming a plurality of semiconductor layers one on top of the other; implanting dopant atoms of a first doping type into each semiconductor layer to form first implanted regions in each semiconductor layer; implanting dopant atoms of a second doping type into each semiconductor layer to form second implanted regions in each semiconductor layer. Each of implanting the dopant atoms of the first and second doping types into each semiconductor layer includes forming a respective implantation mask on a respective surface of each semiconductor layer, and at least one of forming the first implanted regions and the second implanted regions in at least one of the semiconductor layers includes a tilted implantation process which uses an implantation vector that is tilted by a tilt angle relative to a normal of the respective horizontal surface of the respective semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Dresden GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Wolfgang Jantscher, Yann Ruet, Armin Willmeroth
  • Publication number: 20210098580
    Abstract: First trenches extend from a process surface into a semiconductor layer. An alignment layer with mask pits in a with respect to the process surface vertical projection of the first trenches is formed on the process surface. Sidewalls of the mask pits have a smaller tilt angle with respect to the process surface than sidewalls of the first trenches. The mask pits are filled with an auxiliary material. A gate trench for a gate structure is formed in a mesa section of the semiconductor layer between the first trenches, wherein the auxiliary material is used as an etch mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Martin Poelzl, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Maximilian Roesch, Li Juin Yip
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20210057576
    Abstract: A transistor device is enclosed. The transistor device includes: a semiconductor body; a plurality of drift regions of a first doping type; a plurality of compensation regions of a second doping type adjoining the drift regions; and a plurality of transistor cells each including a body region adjoining a respective one of the plurality of drift regions, a source region adjoining the body region, and a gate electrode adjacent the body region and dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. The source regions of the plurality of transistor cells are connected to a source node, the body regions of the plurality of transistor cells are separated from the plurality of compensation regions in the semiconductor body, and the plurality of compensation regions are ohmically connected to the source node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Björn Fischer, Franz Hirler, Matteo-Alessandro Kutschak, Andreas Riegler