Patents by Inventor Franz-Josef Niedernostheide

Franz-Josef Niedernostheide 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: 20180061971
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a first emitter region of a first doping type, a second emitter region of a second doping type, a body of the second doping type, a drift region of the first doping type, a field-stop region of the first doping type, at least one boost structure, and a gate electrode. The boost structure is arranged between the field-stop region and the second emitter region. The at least one boost structure includes a base region of the first doping type and at least one auxiliary emitter region of the second doping type separated from the second emitter region by the base region. An overall dopant dose in the drift region and the field-stop region in a current flow direction of the transistor device is higher than a breakthrough charge of a semiconductor material of the drift region and the field-stop region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Riteshkumar Bhojani, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Josef Lutz, Roman Baburske
  • Patent number: 9899377
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for producing thereof is provided. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of device cells, each comprising a body region, a source region, and a gate electrode adjacent to the body region and dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric; and an electrically conductive gate layer comprising the gate electrodes or electrically connected to the gate electrodes of the plurality of device cells. The gate layer is electrically connected to a gate conductor and includes at least one of an increased resistance region and a decreased resistance region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Frank Dieter Pfirsch, Francisco Javier Santos Rodriguez, Stephan Voss, Wolfgang Wagner
  • Patent number: 9882038
    Abstract: A method for forming a bipolar semiconductor switch includes providing a semiconductor body which has a main surface, a back surface arranged opposite to the main surface, and a first semiconductor layer, and reducing a charge carrier life-time in the semiconductor body. The charge carrier life-time is reduced by at least one of indiffusing heavy metal into the first semiconductor layer, implanting protons into the first semiconductor layer and implanting helium nuclei into the first semiconductor layer, so that the charge carrier life-time has, in a vertical direction which is substantially orthogonal to the main surface, a minimum in a lower n-type portion of the first semiconductor layer where a concentration of n-type dopants is substantially close to a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide
  • Patent number: 9876004
    Abstract: A semiconductor component including a short-circuit structure. One embodiment provides a semiconductor component having a semiconductor body composed of doped semiconductor material. The semiconductor body includes a first zone of a first conduction type and a second zone of a second conduction type, complementary to the first conduction type, the second zone adjoining the first zone. The first zone and the second zone are coupled to an electrically highly conductive layer. A connection zone of the second conduction type is arranged between the second zone and the electrically highly conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Uwe Kellner-Werdehausen, Reiner Barthelmess
  • Publication number: 20180012764
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bipolar semiconductor device, comprising a semiconductor body having a first surface; and a base region of a first doping type and a first emitter region in the semiconductor body, wherein the first emitter region adjoins the first surface and comprises a plurality of first type emitter regions of a second doping type complementary to the first doping type, a plurality of second type emitter regions of the second doping type, a plurality of third type emitter regions of the first doping type, and a recombination region comprising recombination centers, wherein the first type emitter regions and the second type emitter regions extend from the first surface into the semiconductor body, wherein the first type emitter regions have a higher doping concentration and extend deeper into the semiconductor body from the first surface than the second type emitter regions, wherein the third type emitter regions adjoin the first type emitter regions and the second type emitter regions, and wherein the recom
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Roman Baburske, Christian Jaeger, Franz Josef Niedernostheide, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Antonio Vellei
  • Publication number: 20180006110
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body coupled to first and second load terminal structures, an active cell field in the body, and a plurality of first and second cells in the active cell field. Each cell is electrically connected to the first load terminal structure and to a drift region. Each first cell includes a mesa having a port region electrically connected to the first load terminal structure, and a channel region coupled to the drift region. Each second cell includes a mesa having a port region of the opposite conductivity type electrically connected to the first load terminal structure, and a channel region coupled to the drift region. Each mesa is spatially confined in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the load current within the respective mesa, by an insulation structure and has a total extension of less than 100 nm in the direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Christian Philipp Sandow
  • Publication number: 20180006109
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a semiconductor body coupled to a first load terminal structure and a second load terminal structure, a first cell and a second cell. A first mesa is included in the first cell, the first mesa including: a first port region and a first channel region. A second mesa included in the second cell, the second mesa including a second port region. A third cell is electrically connected to the second load terminal structure and electrically connected to a drift region. The third cell includes a third mesa comprising: a third port region, a third channel region, and a third control electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Frank Dieter Pfirsch, Christian Philipp Sandow
  • Publication number: 20180006027
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device is disclosed. In one example, the device includes a semiconductor body coupled to a first load terminal structure and a second load terminal structure. An active cell field is implemented in the semiconductor body. The active cell field is surrounded by an edge termination zone. A plurality of first cells and a plurality of second cells are provided in the active cell field. Each first cell includes a first mesa, the first mesa including: a first port region and a first channel region. Each second cell includes a second mesa, the second mesa including a second port region. The active cell field is surrounded by a drainage region that is arranged between the active cell field and the edge termination zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Christian Philipp Sandow
  • Publication number: 20180006029
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body coupled to first and second load terminal structures, and first and second cells each configured for controlling a load current and electrically connected to the first load terminal structure and to a drift region. A first mesa in the first cell includes a port region electrically connected to the first load terminal structure, and a first channel region coupled to the drift region. A second mesa included in the second cell includes a port region electrically connected to the first load terminal structure, and a second channel region coupled to the drift region. The mesas are spatially confined in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the load current by an insulation structure, and have a total extension of less than 100 nm in that direction. The first channel region includes an inversion channel. The second channel region includes an accumulation channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Christian Philipp Sandow
  • Publication number: 20180006115
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body coupled to first and second load terminal structures, first and second cells electrically connected to the first load terminal structure and to a drift region, the drift region having a first conductivity type; a first mesa in the first cell and including: a port region electrically connected to the first load terminal structure, and a channel region coupled to the drift region; a second mesa in the second cell and including: a port region of the opposite conductivity type and electrically connected to the first load terminal structure, and a channel region coupled to the drift region. Each mesa is spatially confined, in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the load current within the respective mesa, by an insulation structure. The insulation structure houses a control electrode structure, and a guidance electrode arranged between the mesas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Christian Philipp Sandow, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide
  • Patent number: 9859408
    Abstract: A power semiconductor transistor includes a semiconductor body coupled to a load terminal, a drift region, a first trench extending into the semiconductor body and including a control electrode electrically insulated from the semiconductor body by an insulator, a source region arranged laterally adjacent to a sidewall of the first trench and electrically connected to the load terminal, a channel region arranged laterally adjacent to the same trench sidewall as the source region, a second trench extending into the semiconductor body, and a guidance zone electrically connected to the load terminal and extending deeper into the semiconductor body than the first trench. The guidance zone is adjacent the opposite sidewall of the first trench as the source region and adjacent one sidewall of the second trench. In a section arranged deeper than the bottom of the first trench, the guidance zone extends laterally towards the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Christian Philipp Sandow
  • Patent number: 9859272
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a source region being electrically connected to a first load terminal (E) of the semiconductor device and a drift region comprising a first semiconductor material (M1) having a first band gap, the drift region having dopants of a first conductivity type and being configured to carry at least a part of a load current between the first load terminal (E) and a second load terminal (C) of the semiconductor device, is presented. The semiconductor device further comprises a semiconductor body region having dopants of a second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type and being electrically connected to the first load terminal (E), a transition between the semiconductor body region and the drift region forming a pn-junction, wherein the pn-junction is configured to block a voltage applied between the first load terminal (E) and the second load terminal (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Holger Huesken, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Frank Dieter Pfirsch, Roman Roth, Christian Philipp Sandow, Carsten Schaeffer, Stephan Voss
  • Patent number: 9825136
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes an element composed of a conductive material, which is arranged above a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The element includes an element region not adjoined by any electrical contacts to an overlying or underlying electrically conductive plane. In this case, a surface of the element facing away from the semiconductor substrate is patterned with elevations or depressions and a surface of the element region facing the semiconductor substrate is patterned to a lesser extent or is not patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Franz Josef Niedernostheide, Manfred Pfaffenlehner, Frank Dieter Pfirsch, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Holger Schulze, Christoph Weiss
  • Patent number: 9819341
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor cell of a plurality of transistor cells of a vertical field effect transistor arrangement, and a second transistor cell of the plurality of transistor cells. The first transistor cell and the second transistor cell are electrically connected in parallel. A gate of the first transistor cell and a gate of the second transistor cell are controllable by different gate control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christian Philipp Sandow, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide
  • Publication number: 20170309619
    Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device comprises a transistor cell array in a semiconductor body. The transistor cell array comprises transistor cell units. Each of the transistor cell units comprises a control terminal and first and second load terminals, respectively. The transistor cell units are electrically connected in parallel, and the control terminals of the transistor cells units are electrically connected. A first group of the transistor cell units includes a first threshold voltage. A second group of the transistor cell units includes a second threshold voltage larger than the first threshold voltage. A channel width of a transistor cell unit of the first group is smaller than a channel width of a transistor cell unit of the second group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Markus Bina, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Alexander Philippou
  • Publication number: 20170250271
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate having a first main surface and a transistor cell includes a drift region, a body region between the drift region and the first main surface, an active trench at the first main surface extending into the drift region, a gate insulating layer at sidewalls and a bottom side of the active trench, a gate conductive layer in the active trench, a source region in the body region, and adjacent to the active trench, a body trench at the first main surface extending into the drift region, the body trench being adjacent to the body region and to the drift region, an insulating layer at sidewalls and at a bottom side of the body trench, the insulating layer being asymmetric with respect to an axis extending perpendicular to the first main surface at a center of the body trench, and a conductive layer in the body trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Maria Cotorogea, Frank Wolter, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Yvonne Gawlina-Schmidl
  • Patent number: 9741571
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bipolar semiconductor device, comprising a semiconductor body having a first surface; and a base region of a first doping type and a first emitter region in the semiconductor body, wherein the first emitter region adjoins the first surface and comprises a plurality of first type emitter regions of a second doping type complementary to the first doping type, a plurality of second type emitter regions of the second doping type, a plurality of third type emitter regions of the first doping type, and a recombination region comprising recombination centers, wherein the first type emitter regions and the second type emitter regions extend from the first surface into the semiconductor body, wherein the first type emitter regions have a higher doping concentration and extend deeper into the semiconductor body from the first surface than the second type emitter regions, wherein the third type emitter regions adjoin the first type emitter regions and the second type emitter regions, and wherein the recom
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Roman Baburske, Christian Jaeger, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Antonio Vellei
  • Patent number: 9741795
    Abstract: An IGBT includes at least one first type transistor cell, including a base region, first and second emitter regions, and a body region arranged between the first emitter region and base region. The base region is arranged between the body region and second emitter region. A gate electrode adjacent the body region is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. A base electrode adjacent the base region is dielectrically insulated from the base region by a base electrode dielectric. The base region has a first base region section adjoining the base electrode dielectric and a second base region section arranged between the second emitter region and the first base region section. A ratio between the doping concentration of the first base region section and the doping concentration of the second base region section is at least 10. The base electrode dielectric is thicker than the gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christian Philipp Sandow, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Johannes Georg Laven, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Frank Pfirsch, Hans-Peter Felsl
  • Publication number: 20170179268
    Abstract: A method for forming a bipolar semiconductor switch includes providing a semiconductor body which has a main surface, a back surface arranged opposite to the main surface, and a first semiconductor layer, and reducing a charge carrier life-time in the semiconductor body. The charge carrier life-time is reduced by at least one of indiffusing heavy metal into the first semiconductor layer, implanting protons into the first semiconductor layer and implanting helium nuclei into the first semiconductor layer, so that the charge carrier life-time has, in a vertical direction which is substantially orthogonal to the main surface, a minimum in a lower n-type portion of the first semiconductor layer where a concentration of n-type dopants is substantially close to a maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide
  • Patent number: 9680005
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate having a first main surface and a transistor cell includes a drift region, a body region between the drift region and the first main surface, an active trench at the first main surface extending into the drift region, a gate insulating layer at sidewalls and a bottom side of the active trench, a gate conductive layer in the active trench, a source region in the body region, and adjacent to the active trench, a body trench at the first main surface extending into the drift region, the body trench being adjacent to the body region and to the drift region, an insulating layer at sidewalls and at a bottom side of the body trench, the insulating layer being asymmetric with respect to an axis extending perpendicular to the first main surface at a center of the body trench, and a conductive layer in the body trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Maria Cotorogea, Frank Wolter, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Yvonne Gawlina-Schmidl