Patents by Inventor Houqiang Fu

Houqiang Fu 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: 11626483
    Abstract: Fabricating a regrown GaN p-n junction includes depositing a n-GaN layer on a substrate including n+-GaN, etching a surface of the n-GaN layer to yield an etched surface, depositing a p-GaN layer on the etched surface, etching a portion of the n-GaN layer and a portion of the p-GaN layer to yield a mesa opposite the substrate, and passivating a portion of the p-GaN layer around an edge of the mesa. The regrown GaN p-n junction is defined at an interface between the n-GaN layer and the p-GaN layer. The regrown GaN p-n junction includes a substrate, a n-GaN layer on the substrate having an etched surface, a p-GaN layer on the etched surface, a mesa defined by an etched portion of the n-GaN layer and an etched portion of the p-GaN layer, and a passivated portion of the p-GaN layer around an edge of the mesa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Kai Fu, Houqiang Fu
  • Publication number: 20230106300
    Abstract: Fabricating a vertical-channel junction field-effect transistor includes forming an unintentionally doped GaN layer on a bulk GaN layer by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, forming a Cr/SiO2 hard mask on the unintentionally doped GaN layer, patterning a fin by electron beam lithography, defining the Cr and SiO2 hard masks by reactive ion etching, improving a regrowth surface with inductively coupled plasma etching, removing hard mask residuals, regrowing a p-GaN layer, selectively etching the p-GaN layer, forming gate electrodes by electron beam evaporation, and forming source and drain electrodes by electron beam evaporation. The resulting vertical-channel junction field-effect transistor includes a doped GaN layer, an unintentionally doped GaN layer on the doped GaN layer, and a p-GaN regrowth layer on the unintentionally doped GaN layer. Portions of the p-GaN regrowth layer are separated by a vertical channel of the unintentionally doped GaN layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Chen Yang, Houqiang Fu, Xuanqi Huang, Kai Fu
  • Patent number: 11527573
    Abstract: A switching device including a GaN substrate; an unintentionally doped GaN layer on a first surface of the GaN substrate; a regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer on the unintentionally doped GaN layer; a regrowth interface between the unintentionally doped GaN layer and the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a p-GaN layer on the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a first electrode on the p-GaN layer; and a second electrode on a second surface of the GaN substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Kai Fu, Houqiang Fu, Yuji Zhao
  • Patent number: 11495694
    Abstract: Fabricating a vertical-channel junction field-effect transistor includes forming an unintentionally doped GaN layer on a bulk GaN layer by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, forming a Cr/SiO2 hard mask on the unintentionally doped GaN layer, patterning a fin by electron beam lithography, defining the Cr and SiO2 hard masks by reactive ion etching, improving a regrowth surface with inductively coupled plasma etching, removing hard mask residuals, regrowing a p-GaN layer, selectively etching the p-GaN layer, forming gate electrodes by electron beam evaporation, and forming source and drain electrodes by electron beam evaporation. The resulting vertical-channel junction field-effect transistor includes a doped GaN layer, an unintentionally doped GaN layer on the doped GaN layer, and a p-GaN regrowth layer on the unintentionally doped GaN layer. Portions of the p-GaN regrowth layer are separated by a vertical channel of the unintentionally doped GaN layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Chen Yang, Houqiang Fu, Xuanqi Huang, Kai Fu
  • Patent number: 11417529
    Abstract: A p-n diode includes a first electrode, a n-GaN layer on the first electrode, a p-GaN layer on the n-GaN layer, and a second electrode on a first portion of the p-GaN layer. A region of the p-GaN layer surrounding the electrode is a passivated region. Treating a GaN power device having a p-GaN layer includes covering a portion of the p-GaN layer with a metal layer, exposing the p-GaN layer to a hydrogen plasma, and thermally annealing the p-GaN layer, thereby passivating a region of the p-GaN layer proximate the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Houqiang Fu, Kai Fu
  • Publication number: 20220013671
    Abstract: Fabricating a vertical-channel junction field-effect transistor includes forming an unintentionally doped GaN layer on a bulk GaN layer by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, forming a Cr/SiO2 hard mask on the unintentionally doped GaN layer, patterning a fin by electron beam lithography, defining the Cr and SiO2 hard masks by reactive ion etching, improving a regrowth surface with inductively coupled plasma etching, removing hard mask residuals, regrowing a p-GaN layer, selectively etching the p-GaN layer, forming gate electrodes by electron beam evaporation, and forming source and drain electrodes by electron beam evaporation. The resulting vertical-channel junction field-effect transistor includes a doped GaN layer, an unintentionally doped GaN layer on the doped GaN layer, and a p-GaN regrowth layer on the unintentionally doped GaN layer. Portions of the p-GaN regrowth layer are separated by a vertical channel of the unintentionally doped GaN layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Chen Yang, Houqiang Fu, Xuanqi Huang, Kai Fu
  • Publication number: 20210242281
    Abstract: A switching device including a GaN substrate; an unintentionally doped GaN layer on a first surface of the GaN substrate; a regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer on the unintentionally doped GaN layer; a regrowth interface between the unintentionally doped GaN layer and the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a p-GaN layer on the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a first electrode on the p-GaN layer; and a second electrode on a second surface of the GaN substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Kai Fu, Houqiang Fu, Yuji Zhao
  • Publication number: 20210202257
    Abstract: A p-n diode includes a first electrode, a n-GaN layer on the first electrode, a p-GaN layer on the n-GaN layer, and a second electrode on a first portion of the p-GaN layer. A region of the p-GaN layer surrounding the electrode is a passivated region. Treating a GaN power device having a p-GaN layer includes covering a portion of the p-GaN layer with a metal layer, exposing the p-GaN layer to a hydrogen plasma, and thermally annealing the p-GaN layer, thereby passivating a region of the p-GaN layer proximate the metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Houqiang Fu, Kai Fu
  • Publication number: 20210104603
    Abstract: Fabricating a regrown GaN p-n junction includes depositing a n-GaN layer on a substrate including n+-GaN, etching a surface of the n-GaN layer to yield an etched surface, depositing a p-GaN layer on the etched surface, etching a portion of the n-GaN layer and a portion of the p-GaN layer to yield a mesa opposite the substrate, and passivating a portion of the p-GaN layer around an edge of the mesa. The regrown GaN p-n junction is defined at an interface between the n-GaN layer and the p-GaN layer. The regrown GaN p-n junction includes a substrate, a n-GaN layer on the substrate having an etched surface, a p-GaN layer on the etched surface, a mesa defined by an etched portion of the n-GaN layer and an etched portion of the p-GaN layer, and a passivated portion of the p-GaN layer around an edge of the mesa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Kai Fu, Houqiang Fu
  • Patent number: 10964749
    Abstract: A switching device including a GaN substrate; an unintentionally doped GaN layer on a first surface of the GaN substrate; a regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer on the unintentionally doped GaN layer; a regrowth interface between the unintentionally doped GaN layer and the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a p-GaN layer on the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a first electrode on the p-GaN layer; and a second electrode on a second surface of the GaN substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Kai Fu, Houqiang Fu, Yuji Zhao
  • Publication number: 20200295214
    Abstract: A pn heterojunction diode includes a p-GaN substrate, a layer of ?-Ga2O3 on a surface of the p-GaN substrate, an n contact disposed on a surface of the ?-Ga2O3 layer opposite the p-GaN substrate, and a p contact disposed on the surface of the p-GaN substrate and proximate the GaN substrate. Fabricating a pn heterojunction diode includes depositing a metal on a first surface of a ?-Ga2O3 wafer to form a first contact on the first surface of the ?-Ga2O3 wafer, adhering the first contact to an adhesive material, thereby exposing a second surface of the ?-Ga2O3 wafer, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, exfoliating layers of the ?-Ga2O3 wafer from the second surface to yield an exfoliated surface on the ?-Ga2O3 wafer, and contacting the exfoliated surface with a surface of a p-GaN substrate to yield a stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jossue Montes, Chen Yang, Houqiang Fu, Jingan Zhou, Yuji Zhao
  • Patent number: 10700218
    Abstract: An AlN Schottky barrier diode device on sapphire substrates is formed using metal organic chemical vapor deposition and demonstrates a kV-level breakdown voltage. The device structure employs a thin n-AlN epilayer as the device active region and thick resistive AlN underlayer as the insulator. At room temperature, the device was characterized by a low turn-on voltage of 1.2 V, a high on/off ratio of ˜105, a low ideality factor of 5.5, and a low reverse leakage current below 1 nA. Due to the ultra-wide bandgap of AlN, the device also exhibited excellent thermal stability over 500 K representing, therefore, a cost-effective route to high performance AlN based Schottky barrier diodes for high power, high voltage and high temperature applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Houqiang Fu
  • Publication number: 20200144328
    Abstract: A switching device including a GaN substrate; an unintentionally doped GaN layer on a first surface of the GaN substrate; a regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer on the unintentionally doped GaN layer; a regrowth interface between the unintentionally doped GaN layer and the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a p-GaN layer on the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a first electrode on the p-GaN layer; and a second electrode on a second surface of the GaN substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Kai Fu, Houqiang Fu, Yuji Zhao
  • Publication number: 20190140110
    Abstract: An AlN Schottky barrier diode device on sapphire substrates is formed using metal organic chemical vapor deposition and demonstrates a kV-level breakdown voltage. The device structure employs a thin n-AlN epilayer as the device active region and thick resistive AlN underlayer as the insulator. At room temperature, the device was characterized by a low turn-on voltage of 1.2 V, a high on/off ratio of ˜105, a low ideality factor of 5.5, and a low reverse leakage current below 1 nA. Due to the ultra-wide bandgap of AlN, the device also exhibited excellent thermal stability over 500 K representing, therefore, a cost-effective route to high performance AlN based Schottky barrier diodes for high power, high voltage and high temperature applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Yuji Zhao, Houqiang Fu