Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Katou

Hiroaki Katou 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: 20220293755
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of embodiments includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, a conductive portion, a first insulating portion, a gate electrode, a second insulating portion, and a third insulating portion. The first to third semiconductor regions are provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The conductive portion includes a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion on the second electrode side and having a lower impurity concentration than the first conductive portion. The first insulating portion is provided between the first conductive portion and the first semiconductor region. The gate electrode is provided between the second semiconductor region and the second conductive portion. The second insulating portion is provided between the second conductive portion and the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Saya SHIMOMURA, Hiroaki KATOU, Toshifumi NISHIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20220285548
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part, first to third electrodes, and a control electrode. The first electrode is provided on a back surface of the semiconductor part. The second electrode is provided at a front surface side of the semiconductor part. The third electrode and the control electrode are provided inside a trench of the semiconductor part. The control electrode includes first and second control portions. The semiconductor device further includes first to third insulating films. The first insulating film is between the control electrode and the semiconductor part. The second insulating film covers the first and second control portions. The third insulating film is between the second electrode and the second insulating film. The third insulating film includes a portion extending between the first and second control portions. The third electrode is between the first electrode and the extension portion of the third insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroaki KATOU, Saya SHIMOMURA, Shotaro BABA, Atsuro INADA, Hiroshi YOSHIDA, Yasuhiro KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20220149168
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part; first and second electrodes respectively on back and front surfaces of the semiconductor part; and a control electrode between the semiconductor part and the second electrode. The control electrode is provided inside a trench of the semiconductor part. The control electrode is electrically insulated from the semiconductor part by a first insulating film and electrically insulated from the second electrode by a second insulating film. The control electrode includes an insulator at a position apart from the first insulating film and the second insulating film. The semiconductor part includes a first layer of a first conductivity type provided between the first and second electrodes, the second layer of a second conductivity type provided between the first layer and the second electrode and the third layer of the first conductivity type selectively provided between the second layer and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kishimoto, Hiroaki Katou, Toshifumi Nishiguchi, Saya Shimomura, Kouta Tomita
  • Publication number: 20220115371
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part; first and second electrodes respectively on back and front surfaces of the semiconductor part; a control electrode provided inside a trench of the semiconductor part; a third electrode provided inside the trench; a diode element provided at the front surface of the semiconductor part; a resistance element provided on the front surface of the semiconductor part via an insulating film, the diode element being electrically connected to the second electrode; a first interconnect electrically connecting the diode element and the resistance element, the first interconnect being electrically connected to the third electrode; and a second interconnect electrically connecting the resistance element and the semiconductor part. The resistance element is connected in series to the diode element. The diode element is provided to have a rectifying property reverse to a current direction flowing from the resistance element to the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroaki Katou, Tatsuya Nishiwaki, Kenya Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20220093789
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first electrode, first, second, and third semiconductor regions, an insulating portion, a conductive portion, a gate electrode, and a second electrode. The first semiconductor region is provided on the first electrode and electrically connected to the first electrode. The second semiconductor region is provided on the first semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region is provided on the second semiconductor region. The insulating portion are arranged with a portion of the first semiconductor region, and the second and third semiconductor regions. The conductive portion is provided inside the insulating portion and arranged with the first semiconductor region. The gate electrode is provided inside the insulating portion and arranged with the second semiconductor region. The second electrode is provided on the third semiconductor region and electrically connected to the third semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroaki Katou, Yasuhiro Kawai, Atsuro Inada, Toshifumi Nishiguchi
  • Publication number: 20220085201
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes first, second, and third conductive members, a semiconductor member, and a first insulating member. The semiconductor member includes a first semiconductor region provided on the first conductive member, a second semiconductor region provided on a portion of the first semiconductor region, and a third semiconductor region provided on the second semiconductor region. An impurity concentration in the third semiconductor region is greater than in the first semiconductor region. The second conductive member includes a first conductive portion electrically connected to the second and third semiconductor regions. The third conductive member is provided on an other portion of the first semiconductor region. At least a portion of the first insulating member is between the semiconductor member and the third conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Shotaro Baba, Yusuke Kobayashi, Hiroaki Katou, Toshifumi Nishiguchi
  • Publication number: 20220077293
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first to third electrodes, a semiconductor part, a control electrode and an insulating body. The second electrode is opposite to the first electrode. The semiconductor part is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The semiconductor part includes first and second trenches next to each other in a front side facing the second electrode. The second trench has a first width in a first direction directed from the first trench toward the second trench. The third electrode and the control electrode are provided inside the first trench. Another third electrode and the insulating body is provided inside the second trench. The insulating body is positioned in the second trench between said another third electrode and the second electrode. The insulating body has a second width in the first direction. The second width is equal to the first width of the second trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Saya SHIMOMURA, Hiroaki KATOU
  • Patent number: 11251278
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part; first and second electrodes respectively on back and front surfaces of the semiconductor part; and a control electrode between the semiconductor part and the second electrode. The control electrode is provided inside a trench of the semiconductor part. The control electrode is electrically insulated from the semiconductor part by a first insulating film and electrically insulated from the second electrode by a second insulating film. The control electrode includes an insulator at a position apart from the first insulating film and the second insulating film. The semiconductor part includes a first layer of a first conductivity type provided between the first and second electrodes, the second layer of a second conductivity type provided between the first layer and the second electrode and the third layer of the first conductivity type selectively provided between the second layer and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kishimoto, Hiroaki Katou, Toshifumi Nishiguchi, Saya Shimomura, Kouta Tomita
  • Patent number: 11239231
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part; first and second electrodes respectively on back and front surfaces of the semiconductor part; a control electrode provided inside a trench of the semiconductor part; a third electrode provided inside the trench; a diode element provided at the front surface of the semiconductor part; a resistance element provided on the front surface of the semiconductor part via an insulating film, the diode element being electrically connected to the second electrode; a first interconnect electrically connecting the diode element and the resistance element, the first interconnect being electrically connected to the third electrode; and a second interconnect electrically connecting the resistance element and the semiconductor part. The resistance element is connected in series to the diode element. The diode element is provided to have a rectifying property reverse to a current direction flowing from the resistance element to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Katou, Tatsuya Nishiwaki, Kenya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11239357
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first electrode, a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, a metal-including portion being conductive, an insulating portion, a gate electrode, a second electrode, a first interconnect layer, and a second interconnect layer. The first semiconductor region is provided on the first electrode. The second semiconductor region is provided on the first semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region and the metal-including portion are provided on portions of the second semiconductor region. The insulating portion is arranged in a second direction with the third semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region, and a portion of the first semiconductor region. The gate electrode and the second electrode are provided inside the insulating portion. The first interconnect layer is electrically connected to the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nishiwaki, Hiroaki Katou, Kenya Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Kachi
  • Publication number: 20210391459
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part, an first electrode, a control electrode and second electrodes. The control electrode and the second electrodes are provided between the semiconductor part and the first electrode, and provided inside trenches, respectively. The second electrodes include first to third ones. The first and second ones of the second electrodes are adjacent to each other with a portion of the semiconductor part interposed. The second electrodes each are electrically isolated from the semiconductor part by a insulating film including first and second insulating portions adjacent to each other. The first insulating portion has a first thickness. The second insulating portion has a second thickness thinner than the first thickness. The first insulating portion is provided between the first and second ones of the second electrodes. The second insulating portion is provided between the first and third ones of the second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroaki Katou, Atsuro Inada, Tatsuya Shiraishi, Tatsuya Nishiwaki, Kenya Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210367072
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes first and second electrodes, first, second and third semiconductor regions, a first conductive portion, a gate electrode, and a second insulating portion. The first and second semiconductor regions are provided on the first semiconductor region. The third semiconductor regions are selectively provided respectively on the second semiconductor regions. The first conductive portion is provided inside the first semiconductor region with a first insulating portion interposed. The gate electrode is provided on the first conductive portion and the first insulating portion and separated from the first conductive portion. The gate electrode includes first and second electrode parts. The second insulating portion is provided between the first and second electrode parts. The second insulating portion includes first and second insulating parts. The second electrode is provided on the second and third semiconductor regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Saya Shimomura, Tetsuya Ohno, Hiroaki Katou
  • Patent number: 11177381
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part, a first electrode, a plurality of control electrodes and a second electrode. The semiconductor part has a plurality of first trenches and a second trench. The plurality of first trenches are spaced from each other and arranged around the second trench. The first electrode is provided above the semiconductor part. The first electrode is provided over the plurality of first trenches and the second trench. The control electrodes are provided in the first trenches, respectively. The control electrodes each are electrically isolated from the semiconductor part by a first insulating film. The second electrode is provided in the second trench. The second electrode is electrically isolated from the semiconductor part by a second insulating film and electrically connected to the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Katou, Kenya Kobayashi, Tatsuya Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 11164968
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes first and second electrodes, first, second and third semiconductor regions, a first conductive portion, a gate electrode, and a second insulating portion. The first and second semiconductor regions are provided on the first semiconductor region. The third semiconductor regions are selectively provided respectively on the second semiconductor regions. The first conductive portion is provided inside the first semiconductor region with a first insulating portion interposed. The gate electrode is provided on the first conductive portion and the first insulating portion and separated from the first conductive portion. The gate electrode includes first and second electrode parts. The second insulating portion is provided between the first and second electrode parts. The second insulating portion includes first and second insulating parts. The second electrode is provided on the second and third semiconductor regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Saya Shimomura, Tetsuya Ohno, Hiroaki Katou
  • Publication number: 20210296489
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer of first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of first conductivity type provided on the first semiconductor layer; a first semiconductor region of second conductivity type provided on the second semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor region of first conductivity type provided on the first semiconductor region; a first electrode provided in a first trench, the first trench reaching the second semiconductor layer from above the first semiconductor region, the first electrode facing the first semiconductor region via a first insulating film; a second electrode provided in a second trench, the second trench reaching the second semiconductor layer from above the first semiconductor region, the second electrode facing the first semiconductor region via a second insulating film; a third electrode including a first electrode portion, a second electrode portion provided on the first electrode portion and a third electrode portion provided on
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kishimoto, Hiroaki Katou
  • Patent number: 11127854
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part, an first electrode, a control electrode and second electrodes. The control electrode and the second electrodes are provided between the semiconductor part and the first electrode, and provided inside trenches, respectively. The second electrodes include first to third ones. The first and second ones of the second electrodes are adjacent to each other with a portion of the semiconductor part interposed. The second electrodes each are electrically isolated from the semiconductor part by a insulating film including first and second insulating portions adjacent to each other. The first insulating portion has a first thickness. The second insulating portion has a second thickness thinner than the first thickness. The first insulating portion is provided between the first and second ones of the second electrodes. The second insulating portion is provided between the first and third ones of the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Katou, Atsuro Inada, Tatsuya Shiraishi, Tatsuya Nishiwaki, Kenya Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210288176
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second electrodes; a semiconductor part between the first and second electrodes; a control electrode and a third electrode in a trench between the semiconductor part and the second electrode. The device further includes a first insulating part insulating the control electrode from the semiconductor part; a second insulating part insulating the third electrode from the semiconductor part; and a third insulating part insulating the third electrode from the control electrode. The second insulating part includes first and second insulating films and a portion of a third insulating film. The first insulating film is provided between the semiconductor part and the third electrode. The second insulating film is provided between the first insulating film and the third electrode. The third insulating film includes the portion between the first insulating film and the second insulating film, and another portion inside the third insulating part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kouta Tomita, Hiroaki Katou
  • Publication number: 20210225837
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part; first and second electrodes respectively on back and front surfaces of the semiconductor part; a control electrode provided inside a trench of the semiconductor part; a third electrode provided inside the trench; a diode element provided at the front surface of the semiconductor part; a resistance element provided on the front surface of the semiconductor part via an insulating film, the diode element being electrically connected to the second electrode; a first interconnect electrically connecting the diode element and the resistance element, the first interconnect being electrically connected to the third electrode; and a second interconnect electrically connecting the resistance element and the semiconductor part. The resistance element is connected in series to the diode element. The diode element is provided to have a rectifying property reverse to a current direction flowing from the resistance element to the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroaki Katou, Tatsuya Nishiwaki, Kenya Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210202704
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor part; first and second electrodes respectively on back and front surfaces of the semiconductor part; and a control electrode between the semiconductor part and the second electrode. The control electrode is provided inside a trench of the semiconductor part. The control electrode is electrically insulated from the semiconductor part by a first insulating film and electrically insulated from the second electrode by a second insulating film. The control electrode includes an insulator at a position apart from the first insulating film and the second insulating film. The semiconductor part includes a first layer of a first conductivity type provided between the first and second electrodes, the second layer of a second conductivity type provided between the first layer and the second electrode and the third layer of the first conductivity type selectively provided between the second layer and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kishimoto, Hiroaki Katou, Toshifumi Nishiguchi, Saya Shimomura, Kouta Tomita
  • Patent number: 10971621
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body, first and second electrodes, and first and second control electrodes. The first and second electrodes are provided on the semiconductor body. The first and second control electrodes each include a first portion positioned between the semiconductor body and the first electrode, a second portion positioned between the semiconductor body and the second electrode, and a third portion linked to the first and second portions. The semiconductor body includes first to fourth semiconductor layers. The second semiconductor layer is provided on the first semiconductor layer, and extends along the first to third portions. The fourth semiconductor layer is provided selectively on the second semiconductor layer, and extends along the second and third portions. The fourth semiconductor layer includes second conductivity-type impurities with a higher concentration than a concentration of second conductivity-type impurities in the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Katou, Tatsuya Nishiwaki, Kohei Oasa, Toshifumi Nishiguchi