Patents by Inventor Hiromitsu Tanabe

Hiromitsu Tanabe 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: 20160020310
    Abstract: A semiconductor device provides an element arrangement region on a semiconductor substrate including: a first semiconductor region on the semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor region on the first semiconductor region; multiple trench gates penetrating the first semiconductor region and reaching the second semiconductor region; a third semiconductor region contacting the trench gate; a fourth semiconductor region on a rear surface; a first electrode connected to the first and second semiconductor regions; and a second electrode connected to the fourth semiconductor region. Each trench gate includes a main trench gate for generating a channel and a dummy trench gate for improving a withstand voltage of a component. The device further includes: a dummy gate wiring for applying a predetermined voltage to the dummy trench gate; and a dummy pad connected to the dummy gate wiring. The dummy pad and the first electrode are connected by a conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Tomofusa SHIGA, Hiromitsu TANABE
  • Patent number: 9224730
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device including an IGBT and a freewheeling diode W?2×L1/K1/2, where K?2.5, W denotes a distance between the divided first regions, L1 denotes a thickness of the drift layer, k1 denotes a parameter that depends on structures of the insulated gate bipolar transistor and the freewheeling diode, and K denotes a value calculated by multiplying the parameter k1 by a ratio of a snapback voltage to a built-in potential between the deep well layer and the drift layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno, Yukio Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20150311285
    Abstract: A fabrication method of a semiconductor device that includes trench gate structures each having a gate electrode extending in a depth-direction of an element, where first trench gate structures contribute to controlling the element and second trench gate structures do not contribute. The fabrication method includes forming the trench gate structures on a front face of a semiconductor substrate; forming on the front face, an electrode pad connected to the gate electrode of at least one trench gate structure; executing screening by applying a predetermined voltage between the electrode pad and an electrode portion having a potential other than a gate potential, to apply the predetermined voltage to gate insulator films in contact with each gate electrode connected to the electrode pad; and forming the second trench gate structures having the gate electrodes connected to the electrode pad, by short-circuiting the electrode portion to the electrode pad after executing screening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicants: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Momota, Hitoshi Abe, Kenji Kouno, Hiromitsu Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20140361334
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device including an IGBT and a freewheeling diode W?2×L1/K1/2, where K?2.5, W denotes a distance between the divided first regions, L1 denotes a thickness of the drift layer, k1 denotes a parameter that depends on structures of the insulated gate bipolar transistor and the freewheeling diode, and K denotes a value calculated by multiplying the parameter k1 by a ratio of a snapback voltage to a built-in potential between the deep well layer and the drift layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Hiromitsu TANABE, Kenji KOUNO, Yukio TSUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8847276
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device including an IGBT and a freewheeling diode (FWD), W1, W2, and W3 satisfy predetermined formulas. W1 denotes a distance from a boundary between a cathode region and a collector region to a position, where a peripheral-region-side end of the well layer is projected, on a back side of the drift layer. W2 denotes a distance from a boundary between the IGBT and the FWD in a base region to the peripheral-region-side end of the well layer. W3 denotes a distance from the boundary between the cathode region and the collector region to a position, where a boundary between the base region and the well layer is projected, on the back side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno, Yukio Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8841699
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an IGBT forming region and a diode forming region. The IGBT forming region includes an IGBT operating section that operates as an IGBT and a thinned-out section that does not operate as an IGBT. The IGBT operating section includes a channel region, and the thinned-out section includes a first anode region. The diode forming region includes a second anode region. When an area density is defined as a value calculated by integrating a concentration profile of second conductivity type impurities in each of the channel region, the first anode region, and the second anode region in a depth direction, an area density of the channel region is higher than an area density of the first anode region and an area density of the second anode region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Tsuzuki, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno
  • Patent number: 8729600
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, second conductivity-type channel regions, and second conductivity-type thinning-out regions. The channel regions and the thinning-out regions are formed adjacent to a substrate surface of the semiconductor substrate. Further, a hole stopper layer is formed in each of the thinning-out regions to divide the thinning-out region into a first part adjacent to the substrate surface and a second part adjacent to a bottom of the thinning-out region. The hole stopper layer has an area density of equal to or less than 4.0×1012 cm?2 to permit a depletion layer to punch through the hole stopper layer, thereby to restrict breakdown properties from being decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Tsuzuki, Kenji Kouno, Hiromitsu Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8648385
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a first surface and a second surface. The semiconductor substrate has an element region including an IGBT region and a diode region located adjacent to the IGBT region. An IGBT element is formed in the IGBT region. A diode element is formed in the diode region. A heavily doped region of first conductivity type is located on the first surface side around the element region. An absorption region of first conductivity type is located on the second surface side around the element region. A third semiconductor region of second conductivity type is located on the second surface side around the element region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kouno, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Yukio Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8614483
    Abstract: An insulated gate semiconductor device includes a first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, a second conductivity-type base layer on a first surface side of the substrate, a trench dividing the base layer into channel and floating layers, and a first conductivity-type emitter region that is formed in the channel layer and in contact with the trench. The semiconductor device includes a gate insulation layer in the trench, a gate electrode on the insulation layer, an emitter electrode electrically connected to the emitter region and the floating layer, a second conductivity-type collector layer in the substrate, and a collector electrode on the collector layer. The floating layer has a lower impurity concentration than the channel layer. The floating layer has a first conductivity-type hole stopper layer located at a predetermined depth from the first surface of the substrate and at least partially spaced from the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tanabe, Yukio Tsuzuki, Kenji Kouno, Tomofusa Shiga
  • Publication number: 20130087829
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device including an IGBT and a freewheeling diode (FWD), W1, W2, and W3 satisfy predetermined formulas. W1 denotes a distance from a boundary between a cathode region and a collector region to a position, where a peripheral-region-side end of the well layer is projected, on a back side of the drift layer. W2 denotes a distance from a boundary between the IGBT and the FWD in a base region to the peripheral-region-side end of the well layer. W3 denotes a distance from the boundary between the cathode region and the collector region to a position, where a boundary between the base region and the well layer is projected, on the back side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno, Yukio Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20130009205
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, second conductivity-type channel regions, and second conductivity-type thinning-out regions. The channel regions and the thinning-out regions are formed adjacent to a substrate surface of the semiconductor substrate. Further, a hole stopper layer is formed in each of the thinning-out regions to divide the thinning-out region into a first part adjacent to the substrate surface and a second part adjacent to a bottom of the thinning-out region. The hole stopper layer has an area density of equal to or less than 4.0×1012 cm?2 to permit a depletion layer to punch through the hole stopper layer, thereby to restrict breakdown properties from being decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio TSUZUKI, Kenji Kouno, Hiromitsu Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20120319163
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an IGBT forming region and a diode forming region. The IGBT forming region includes an IGBT operating section that operates as an IGBT and a thinned-out section that does not operate as an IGBT. The IGBT operating section includes a channel region, and the thinned-out section includes a first anode region. The diode forming region includes a second anode region. When an area density is defined as a value calculated by integrating a concentration profile of second conductivity type impurities in each of the channel region, the first anode region, and the second anode region in a depth direction, an area density of the channel region is higher than an area density of the first anode region and an area density of the second anode region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio TSUZUKI, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno
  • Patent number: 8288824
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a vertical IGBT and a vertical free-wheeling diode in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of base regions is disposed at a first-surface side portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of collector regions and a plurality of cathode regions are alternately disposed in a second-surface side portion of the semiconductor substrate. The base regions include a plurality of regions where channels are provided when the vertical IGBT is in an operating state. The first-side portion of the semiconductor substrate include a plurality of IGBT regions each located between adjacent two of the channels, including one of the base regions electrically coupled with an emitter electrode, and being opposed to one of the cathode regions. The IGBT regions include a plurality of narrow regions and a plurality of wide regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Tsuzuki, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno
  • Patent number: 8242536
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A main region and a sensing region are formed on the first surface side of the semiconductor substrate. A RC-IGBT is formed in the main region and a sensing element for passing electric currents proportional to electric currents flowing through the RC-IGBT is formed in the sensing region. A collector region and a cathode region of the sensing element are formed on the second surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The collector region is located directly below the sensing region in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate. The cathode region is not located directly below the sensing region in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno, Yukio Tsuzuki, Shinji Amano
  • Publication number: 20120146091
    Abstract: An insulated gate semiconductor device includes a first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, a second conductivity-type base layer on a first surface side of the substrate, a trench dividing the base layer into channel and floating layers, and a first conductivity-type emitter region that is formed in the channel layer and in contact with the trench. The semiconductor device includes a gate insulation layer in the trench, a gate electrode on the insulation layer, an emitter electrode electrically connected to the emitter region and the floating layer, a second conductivity-type collector layer in the substrate, and a collector electrode on the collector layer. The floating layer has a lower impurity concentration than the channel layer. The floating layer has a first conductivity-type hole stopper layer located at a predetermined depth from the first surface of the substrate and at least partially spaced from the insulation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tanabe, Yukio Tsuzuki, Kenji Kouno, Tomofusa Shiga
  • Publication number: 20120132954
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a first surface and a second surface. The semiconductor substrate has an element region including an IGBT region and a diode region located adjacent to the IGBT region. An IGBT element is formed in the IGBT region. A diode element is formed in the diode region. A heavily doped region of first conductivity type is located on the first surface side around the element region. An absorption region of first conductivity type is located on the second surface side around the element region. A third semiconductor region of second conductivity type is located on the second surface side around the element region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji KOUNO, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Yukio Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20120056242
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a vertical IGBT and a vertical free-wheeling diode in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of base regions is disposed at a first-surface side portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of collector regions and a plurality of cathode regions are alternately disposed in a second-surface side portion of the semiconductor substrate. The base regions include a plurality of regions where channels are provided when the vertical IGBT is in an operating state. The first-side portion of the semiconductor substrate include a plurality of IGBT regions each located between adjacent two of the channels, including one of the base regions electrically coupled with an emitter electrode, and being opposed to one of the cathode regions. The IGBT regions include a plurality of narrow regions and a plurality of wide regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio TSUZUKI, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno
  • Patent number: 8080853
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a vertical IGBT and a vertical free-wheeling diode in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of base regions is disposed at a first-surface side portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of collector regions and a plurality of cathode regions are alternately disposed in a second-surface side portion of the semiconductor substrate. The base regions include a plurality of regions where channels are provided when the vertical IGBT is in an operating state. The first-side portion of the semiconductor substrate include a plurality of IGBT regions each located between adjacent two of the channels, including one of the base regions electrically coupled with an emitter electrode, and being opposed to one of the cathode regions. The IGBT regions include a plurality of narrow regions and a plurality of wide regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Tsuzuki, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno
  • Publication number: 20100187567
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A main region and a sensing region are formed on the first surface side of the semiconductor substrate. A RC-IGBT is formed in the main region and a sensing element for passing electric currents proportional to electric currents flowing through the RC-IGBT is formed in the sensing region. A collector region and a cathode region of the sensing element are formed on the second surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The collector region is located directly below the sensing region in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate. The cathode region is not located directly below the sensing region in the thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno, Yukio Tsuzuki, Shinji Amano
  • Publication number: 20100156506
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a vertical IGBT and a vertical free-wheeling diode in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of base regions is disposed at a first-surface side portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of collector regions and a plurality of cathode regions are alternately disposed in a second-surface side portion of the semiconductor substrate. The base regions include a plurality of regions where channels are provided when the vertical IGBT is in an operating state. The first-side portion of the semiconductor substrate include a plurality of IGBT regions each located between adjacent two of the channels, including one of the base regions electrically coupled with an emitter electrode, and being opposed to one of the cathode regions. The IGBT regions include a plurality of narrow regions and a plurality of wide regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Tsuzuki, Hiromitsu Tanabe, Kenji Kouno