Patents by Inventor Hans-Joachim Schulze

Hans-Joachim Schulze 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: 20230178615
    Abstract: A power transistor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate trench extending into the semiconductor substrate, a transistor gate provided in the gate trench, and an insulating structure formed between the transistor gate and a side wall of the gate trench. The insulating structure is configured to electrically insulate the transistor gate from a channel region which extends along the side wall of the gate trench. The insulating structure includes a layer of piezoelectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Saurabh Roy, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Oliver Blank, Josef Anton Moser, Thomas Aichinger
  • Patent number: 11652022
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor body having a front side and a backside and configured to conduct a load current between the front side and the backside; and a plurality of control cells configured to control the load current. Each control cell is at least partially included in the semiconductor body at the front side and includes a gate electrode that is electrically insulated from the semiconductor body by a gate insulation layer. The gate insulation layer is or includes a first boron nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Josef Schaetz, Dethard Peters, Stephan Pindl, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20230127556
    Abstract: A method of processing a semiconductor wafer includes: forming one or more epitaxial layers over a first main surface of the semiconductor wafer; forming one or more porous layers in the semiconductor wafer or in the one or more epitaxial layers, wherein the semiconductor wafer, the one or more epitaxial layers and the one or more porous layers collectively form a substrate; forming doped regions of a semiconductor device in the one or more epitaxial layers; and after forming the doped regions of the semiconductor device, separating a non-porous part of the semiconductor wafer from a remainder of the substrate along the one or more porous layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Bernhard Goller, Alexander Binter, Tobias Hoechbauer, Martin Huber, Iris Moder, Matteo Piccin, Francisco Javier Santos Rodriguez, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20230125859
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in a semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface is proposed. The method includes implanting protons through the second surface into the semiconductor body. The method further includes implanting ions through the second surface into the semiconductor body. The ions are ions of a non-doping element having an atomic number of at least 9. Thereafter, the method further includes processing the semiconductor body by thermal annealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Schlögl, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Moriz Jelinek, Francisco Javier Santos Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11626477
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes: gate structures extending from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body; a drift zone of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC semiconductor body; first mesas and second mesas arranged between the gate structures in the SiC semiconductor body; body areas of a second conductivity type arranged in the first mesas and the second mesas, the body areas each adjoining a first side wall of one of the gate structures; first shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining a second side wall of one of the gate structures; second shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining the body areas in the second mesas; and diode areas of the conductivity type of the drift zone, the diode areas forming Schottky contacts with a load electrode between the first shielding areas and the second shielding areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Thomas Basler, Wolfgang Bergner, Rudolf Elpelt, Romain Esteve, Michael Hell, Daniel Kueck, Caspar Leendertz, Dethard Peters, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20230092013
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method includes providing a parent substrate including a substrate portion of a first conductivity type. The method further includes forming an absorption layer in the parent substrate by an ion implantation process of an element through a first surface of the parent substrate. The method further includes forming a semiconductor layer structure on the first surface of the parent substrate. The method further includes splitting the parent substrate along a splitting section through a detachment layer. The detachment layer is arranged between the absorption layer and a second surface of the parent substrate at a vertical distance to the absorption layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Mihai Draghici, Matteo Piccin, Marko David Swoboda
  • Publication number: 20230087353
    Abstract: A method of forming a laterally varying dopant concentration profile of an electrically activated dopant in a power semiconductor device includes: providing a semiconductor body; implanting a dopant to form a doped region in the semiconductor body; providing, above the doped region, a mask layer having a first section and a second section, the first section having has a first thickness along a vertical direction and the second section having a second thickness along the vertical direction, the second thickness being different from the first thickness; and subjecting the doped region and both mask sections to a laser thermal annealing, LTA, processing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Werner Schustereder, Roman Baburske, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Publication number: 20230083106
    Abstract: A method includes orienting a silicon carbide layer to a first crystal channel direction relative to a first ion beam and implanting phosphorous into the silicon carbide layer using the first ion beam to define a first doped region in the silicon carbide layer. A deviation angle between the first crystal channel direction and the first ion beam is less than ±1° and the first crystal channel direction comprises a <0001> direction or a <11-23> direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Moriz JELINEK, Paul ELLINGHAUS, Axel KOENIG, Caspar LEENDERTZ, Hans-Joachim SCHULZE, Werner SCHUSTEREDER
  • Patent number: 11576259
    Abstract: A carrier configured to be attached to a semiconductor substrate via a first surface comprises a continuous carbon structure defining a first surface of the carrier, and a reinforcing material constituting at least 2 vol-% of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Andre Brockmeier, Tobias Franz Wolfgang Hoechbauer, Gerhard Metzger-Brueckl, Matteo Piccin, Francisco Javier Santos Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20230035144
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a SiC substrate and a plurality of transistor cells formed in the SiC substrate and electrically connected in parallel to form a transistor. Each transistor cell includes a gate structure including a gate electrode and a gate dielectric stack separating the gate electrode from the SiC substrate. The gate dielectric stack includes a ferroelectric insulator. The transistor has a specified operating temperature range, and the ferroelectric insulator is doped with a doping material such that the Curie temperature of the ferroelectric insulator is in a range above the specified operating temperature range of the transistor. A corresponding method of producing the semiconductor device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Saurabh Roy, Thomas Aichinger, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 11569392
    Abstract: A power semiconductor diode includes a semiconductor body having first and second main surfaces opposite to each other along a vertical direction. A drift region of a second conductivity type is arranged between an anode region of a first conductivity type and the second main surface. A field stop region of the second conductivity type is arranged between the drift region and the second main surface. A dopant concentration profile of the field stop region along the vertical direction includes a maximum peak. An injection region of the first conductivity type is arranged between the field stop region and the second main surface, with a pn-junction between the injection and field stop regions. A cathode contact region of the second conductivity type is arranged between the field stop region and the second main surface. A first vertical distance between the pn-junction and the maximum peak ranges from 200 nm to 1500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Christian Jaeger, Moriz Jelinek, Daniel Schloegl, Benedikt Stoib
  • Publication number: 20230024105
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of manufacturing Ohmic contacts on a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate including providing a 4H—SiC or 6H—SiC substrate, implanting dopants into a surface region of the 4H—SiC or 6H—SiC substrate, annealing the implanted surface regions to form a 3C—SiC layer, and depositing a metal layer on the 3C—SiC layer. An implanting sequence of the implantation of dopants includes a plurality of plasma deposition acts with implantation energy levels including at least two different implantation energy levels. The implantation energy levels and one or more implantation doses of the plurality of plasma deposition acts are selected to form a 3C—SiC layer in the surface region of the 4H—SiC or 6H—SiC substrate during the annealing act.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Werner SCHUSTEREDER, Ravi Keshav JOSHI, Hans-Joachim SCHULZE, Ralf SIEMIENIEC, Axel KOENIG
  • Patent number: 11557506
    Abstract: Methods for processing a semiconductor substrate are proposed. An example of a method includes forming cavities in the semiconductor substrate by implanting ions through a first surface of the semiconductor substrate. The cavities define a separation layer in the semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor layer is formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate. Semiconductor device elements are formed in the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor substrate is separated along the separation layer into a first substrate part including the semiconductor layer and a second substrate part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Werner Schustereder, Alexander Breymesser, Mihai Draghici, Tobias Franz Wolfgang Hoechbauer, Wolfgang Lehnert, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Marko David Swoboda
  • Patent number: 11552172
    Abstract: First dopants are implanted through a larger opening of a first process mask into a silicon carbide body, wherein the larger opening exposes a first surface section of the silicon carbide body. A trench is formed in the silicon carbide body in a second surface section exposed by a smaller opening in a second process mask. The second surface section is a sub-section of the first surface section. The larger opening and the smaller opening are formed self-aligned to each other. At least part of the implanted first dopants form at least one compensation layer portion extending parallel to a trench sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Caspar Leendertz, Romain Esteve, Moriz Jelinek, Anton Mauder, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Werner Schustereder
  • Publication number: 20230005794
    Abstract: A method of splitting off a semiconductor wafer from a semiconductor bottle includes: forming a separation region within the semiconductor boule, the separation region having at least one altered physical property which increases thermo-mechanical stress within the separation region relative to the remainder of the semiconductor boule; and applying an external force to the semiconductor boule such that at least one crack propagates along the separation region and a wafer splits from the semiconductor boule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Beyer, Francisco Javier Santos Rodriguez, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Marko David Swoboda
  • Publication number: 20220406937
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; an electrode structure on or in the semiconductor substrate, the electrode structure including an electrode and an insulating material that separates the electrode from the semiconductor substrate; and a strain-inducing material embedded in the electrode. The electrode structure adjoins a region of the semiconductor substrate through which current flows in a first direction during operation of the semiconductor device. The electrode is under either tensile or compressive stress in the first direction. The strain-inducing material either enhances or at least partly counteracts the stress of the electrode in the first direction. Methods of producing the semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Karner, Oliver Blank, Günter Denifl, Germano Galasso, Saurabh Roy, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Michael Stadtmueller
  • Publication number: 20220406947
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a drift region of a first conductivity type arranged between first and second surfaces of a semiconductor body; a first region of the first conductivity type at the second surface; a second region of a second conductivity type adjacent the first region at the second surface; a field stop region of the first conductivity type between the drift region and second surface; and a first electrode on the second surface directly adjacent to the first region in a first part of the second surface and to the second region in a second part of the second surface. The field stop region includes first and second sub-regions. Over a predominant portion of the first part of the second surface, the second sub-region directly adjoins the first region and includes dopants of the second conductivity type that partially compensate dopants of the first conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Benedikt Stoib, Moriz Jelinek, Marten Mueller, Daniel Schloegl, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Holger Schulze
  • Publication number: 20220406600
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an n-doped drift region between first and second surfaces of a semiconductor body; a p-doped first region at the second surface; and an n-doped field stop region between the drift and first region. The field stop region includes first and second sub-regions with hydrogen related donors. A p-n junction separates the first region and first sub-region. A concentration of the hydrogen related donors, along a first vertical extent of the first sub-region, steadily increases from the pn-junction to a maximum value, and steadily decreases from the maximum value to a reference value at a first transition between the sub-regions. A second vertical extent of the second sub-region ends at a second transition to the drift region where the concentration of hydrogen related donors equals 10% of the reference value. A maximum concentration value in the second sub-region is at most 20% larger than the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Moriz Jelinek, Thomas Waechtler, Bernd Bitnar, Daniel Schloegl, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Oana Julia Spulber, Benedikt Stoib, Christian Krueger
  • Publication number: 20220384624
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is proposed. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a RC-IGBT with a diode area. The diode area includes a p-doped anode region and an n-doped emitter efficiency adjustment region. At least one of the p-doped anode region or the n-doped emitter efficiency adjustment region includes deep level dopants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Matteo Dainese, Sebastian Maass, Hans-Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: RE49546
    Abstract: A semiconductor body having first and second vertically spaced apart surfaces is formed. A gate trench that vertically extends from the first surface of the semiconductor body towards the second surface is formed. A gate electrode and a gate dielectric are formed in the gate trench. The gate dielectric electrically insulates the gate electrode from adjacent semiconductor material. A doped superjunction region vertically extending from a bottom of the gate trench towards the second surface of the semiconductor body is formed. The doped superjunction region includes first, second, and third doped pillars vertically extending from the first surface of the first semiconductor layer and directly adjoining one another. The second pillar is laterally centered between the first and third pillars and has an opposite conductivity type as the first and third pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alice Pei-Shan Hsieh, Hans-Joachim Schulze