Patents by Inventor Gilberto Curatola

Gilberto Curatola 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: 9559161
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor device includes a III-nitride buffer and a III-nitride barrier on the III-nitride buffer. The III-nitride barrier has a different band gap than the III-nitride buffer so that a two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel arises along an interface between the III-nitride buffer and the III-nitride barrier. The compound semiconductor device further includes a source and a drain spaced apart from one another and electrically connected to the two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel, a gate for controlling the two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel between the source and the drain, and a patterned III-nitride back-barrier buried in the III-nitride buffer. The patterned III-nitride back-barrier extends laterally beyond the gate towards the drain and terminates prior to the drain so that the patterned III-nitride back-barrier is laterally spaced apart from the drain by a region of the III-nitride buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Gilberto Curatola
  • Patent number: 9553183
    Abstract: A normally-off compound semiconductor transistor includes a heterostructure body and a gate stack on the heterostructure body. The heterostructure body includes a source, a drain spaced apart from the source, and a channel for connecting the source and the drain. The channel includes a first two-dimensional charge carrier gas of a first polarity arising in the heterostructure body due to piezoelectric effects. The gate stack controls the channel in a region of the heterostructure body under the gate stack. The gate stack includes at least one III-nitride material which gives rise to a second two-dimensional charge carrier gas of a second polarity opposite the first polarity in the gate stack or in the heterostructure body under the gate stack due to piezoelectric effects. The second two-dimensional charge carrier gas counter-balances polarization charges in the first two-dimensional charge carrier gas so that the channel is disrupted under the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Gilberto Curatola
  • Publication number: 20160293597
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor device, a second semiconductor device, and a third semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device are integrated to form a half-bridge. The third semiconductor device is a normally-off semiconductor device that is arranged in series with the half-bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Frank Kahlmann
  • Patent number: 9443941
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a compound semiconductor body having a first surface and a two-dimensional charge carrier gas disposed below the first surface in the compound semiconductor body. The transistor device further includes a source in contact with the two-dimensional charge carrier gas and a drain spaced apart from the source and in contact with the two-dimensional charge carrier gas. A first passivation layer is in contact with the first surface of the compound semiconductor body, and a second passivation layer is disposed on the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer has a different etch rate selectivity than the first passivation layer. A gate extends through the second passivation layer into the first passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Oliver Häberlen, Gilberto Curatola
  • Patent number: 9431499
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a heterostructure body with a first doped region, a second doped region spaced apart from the first doped region and a two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel between the first and second doped regions, and forming a gate structure on the heterostructure body for controlling the channel, the gate structure comprising a piezoelectric material and an electrical conductor in contact with the piezoelectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Gilberto Curatola
  • Publication number: 20160247794
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a compound semiconductor body, a drain disposed in the compound semiconductor body and a source disposed in the compound semiconductor body and spaced apart from the drain by a channel region. A gate is provided for controlling the channel region. The transistor device further includes a gate overvoltage protection device connected between the source and the gate, the gate overvoltage protection device including p-type and n-type silicon-containing semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Martin Vielemeyer, Michael Hutzler, Gilberto Curatola, Gianmauro Pozzovivo
  • Publication number: 20160248422
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a switching circuit includes a high voltage depletion mode transistor having a first leakage current and operatively connected in a cascode arrangement to a low voltage enhancement mode transistor having a second leakage current. The second leakage current is larger than the first leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Haeberlen, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Patent number: 9406673
    Abstract: One aspect relates to a semiconductor component with a semiconductor body, a first main contact pad, a second main contact pad, a normally-on first transistor monolithically integrated in the semiconductor body and a normally-off second transistor monolithically integrated in the semiconductor body. The first transistor is a high electron mobility transistor having a first gate electrode and a first load path controllable via a first gate electrode, and the second transistor has a second gate electrode and a second load path controllable via the second gate electrode. The first load path and the second load path are electrically connected in series between the first main contact pad and the second main contact pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Haeberlen, Walter Rieger, Anthony Sanders
  • Patent number: 9397208
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first compound semiconductor material and a second compound semiconductor material on the first compound semiconductor material. The second compound semiconductor material comprises a different material than the first compound semiconductor material such that the first compound semiconductor material has a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The semiconductor device further includes a buried field plate disposed in the first compound semiconductor material and electrically connected to a terminal of the semiconductor device. The 2DEG is interposed between the buried field plate and the second compound semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Haeberlen
  • Patent number: 9373688
    Abstract: A normally-off transistor includes a first region of III-V semiconductor material, a second region of III-V semiconductor material on the first region, a third region of III-V semiconductor material on the second region and a gate electrode adjacent at least one sidewall of the third region. The first region provides a channel of the transistor. The second region has a band gap greater than the band gap of the first region and causes a 2-D electron gas (2DEG) in the channel. The second region is interposed between the first region and the third region. The third region provides a gate of the transistor and has a thickness sufficient to deplete the 2DEG in the channel so that the transistor has a positive threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Häberlen, Gianmauro Pozzovivo
  • Patent number: 9356130
    Abstract: A high electron mobility transistor includes a source, a gate and a drain, a first III-V semiconductor region, and a second III-V semiconductor region below the first III-V semiconductor region. The high electron mobility transistor further includes a compensation structure interposed between the first and second III-V semiconductor regions so that the first and second III-V semiconductor regions are spaced apart from one another by the compensation structure. The compensation structure has a different band gap than the first and second III-V semiconductor regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Häberlen
  • Patent number: 9356017
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a switch circuit includes an input drain node, an input source node and an input gate node, and a high voltage transistor having a current path coupled in parallel with a hybrid diode. The hybrid diode includes a depletion mode transistor serially coupled with a diode and operatively coupled in a cascode arrangement with the input source node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Gilberto Curatola
  • Publication number: 20160141354
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor device includes a III-nitride buffer and a III-nitride barrier on the III-nitride buffer. The III-nitride barrier has a different band gap than the III-nitride buffer so that a two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel arises along an interface between the III-nitride buffer and the III-nitride barrier. The compound semiconductor device further includes a source and a drain spaced apart from one another and electrically connected to the two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel, a gate for controlling the two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel between the source and the drain, and a patterned III-nitride back-barrier buried in the III-nitride buffer. The patterned III-nitride back-barrier extends laterally beyond the gate towards the drain and terminates prior to the drain so that the patterned III-nitride back-barrier is laterally spaced apart from the drain by a region of the III-nitride buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: Gilberto Curatola
  • Patent number: 9305917
    Abstract: A high electron mobility transistor includes a buffer region and a barrier region adjoining and extending along the buffer region, the buffer and barrier regions are formed from semiconductor materials having different band-gaps and form an electrically conductive channel from a two-dimensional charge carrier gas. A gate structure is configured to control a conduction state of the channel and includes an electrically conductive gate electrode, a first doped semiconductor region, a second doped semiconductor region, and a resistor. The first doped semiconductor region is in direct electrical contact with a first section of the gate electrode. The second doped semiconductor region is in direct electrical contact with a second section of the gate electrode. The first and second doped semiconductor regions form a p-n junction with one another. The first and second sections of the gate electrode are electrically coupled to one another by the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Haeberlen
  • Publication number: 20160079233
    Abstract: A power circuit is described that includes a semiconductor die and a coupling structure. The semiconductor die includes a common substrate and a III-V semiconductor layer formed atop the common substrate. At least one bidirectional switch device is formed at least partially within the III-V semiconductor layer. The at least one bidirectional switch has at least a first load terminal and a second load terminal. The coupling structure is configured to dynamically couple the common substrate of the semiconductor die to a lowest potential out of a first potential of the first load terminal and a second potential of the second load terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Gerald Deboy, Gilberto Curatola
  • Patent number: 9287414
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a Schottky diode, and a method of making the same. The diode includes an active region bordered by an isolation region in a semiconductor substrate of the integrated circuits, a first electrode having a metal contact provided on a surface of the active region, and a second electrode having a silicide contact also provided on the surface of the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Georgios Vellianitis, Gilberto Curatola, Kyriaki Fotopoulou, Nader Akil
  • Patent number: 9276097
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a compound semiconductor body, a drain disposed in the compound semiconductor body and a source disposed in the compound semiconductor body and spaced apart from the drain by a channel region. A gate is provided for controlling the channel region. The transistor device further includes a gate overvoltage protection device connected between the source and the gate, the gate overvoltage protection device including p-type and n-type silicon-containing semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Martin Vielemeyer, Michael Hutzler, Gilberto Curatola, Gianmauro Pozzovivo
  • Publication number: 20160043210
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first compound semiconductor material and a second compound semiconductor material on the first compound semiconductor material. The second compound semiconductor material comprises a different material than the first compound semiconductor material such that the first compound semiconductor material has a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The semiconductor device further includes a buried field plate disposed in the first compound semiconductor material and electrically connected to a terminal of the semiconductor device. The 2DEG is interposed between the buried field plate and the second compound semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Haeberlen
  • Publication number: 20150349105
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a device region including a compound semiconductor material and a non-device region at least partially surrounding the device region. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric material in the non-device region and at least one electrode in the device region. The semiconductor device further includes at least one pad electrically coupled to the at least one electrode, wherein the at least one pad is arranged on the dielectric material in the non-device region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Haeberlen, Simone Lavanga, Gianmauro Pozzovivo, Fabian Reiher
  • Patent number: 9196693
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first compound semiconductor material on a semiconductor substrate and forming a second compound semiconductor material on the first compound semiconductor material. The second compound semiconductor material includes a different material than the first compound semiconductor material such that the first compound semiconductor material has a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The method further includes forming a buried field plate in the first compound semiconductor material so that the 2DEG is interposed between the buried field plate and the second compound semiconductor material, and electrically connecting the buried field plate to a terminal of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Haeberlen