Patents by Inventor James R. Shealy

James R. Shealy 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: 11942537
    Abstract: A method and vertical FET device fabricated in GaN or other suitable material. The device has a selective area implant region comprising an activated impurity configured from a bottom portion of a recessed regions, and substantially free from ion implant damage by using an annealing process. A p-type gate region is configured from the selective area implant region, and each of the recessed regions is characterized by a depth configured to physically separate an n+ type source region and the p-type gate region such that a low reverse leakage gate-source p-n junction is achieved. An extended drain region is configured from a portion of an n? type GaN region underlying the recessed regions. An n+ GaN region is formed by epitaxial growth directly overlying the backside region of the GaN substrate and a backside drain contact region configured from the n+ type GaN region overlying the backside region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Odyssey Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20230387289
    Abstract: A method and vertical FET device fabricated in GaN or other suitable material. The device has a selective area implant region comprising an activated impurity configured from a bottom portion of a recessed regions, and substantially free from ion implant damage by using an annealing process. A p-type gate region is configured from the selective area implant region, and each of the recessed regions is characterized by a depth configured to physically separate an n+ type source region and the p-type gate region such that a low reverse leakage gate-source p-n junction is achieved. An extended drain region is configured from a portion of an n? type GaN region underlying the recessed regions. An n+ GaN region is formed by epitaxial growth directly overlying the backside region of the GaN substrate and a backside drain contact region configured from the n+ type GaN region overlying the backside region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: James R. SHEALY, Richard J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11652165
    Abstract: A method and vertical FET device fabricated in GaN or other suitable material. The device has a selective area implant region comprising an activated impurity configured from a bottom portion of a recessed regions, and substantially free from ion implant damage by using an annealing process. A gate region is configured from the selective area implant region, and each of the recessed regions is characterized by a depth configured to physically separate an n+ type source region and the p-type gate region such that a low reverse leakage gate-source p-n junction is achieved. An extended drain region is configured from a portion of an n? type GaN region underlying the recessed regions. An n+ GaN region is formed by epitaxial growth directly overlying the backside region of the GaN substrate and a backside drain contact region configured from the n+ type GaN region overlying the backside region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Odyssey Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20230010911
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides a method and apparatus to realize incorporation of Beryllium followed by activation to realize p-type materials of lower resistivity than is possible with Magnesium. Lower contact resistances and more effective electron confinement results from the higher hole concentrations made possible with this invention. The result is a higher efficiency GaN-based LED with higher current handling capability resulting in a brighter device of the same area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventor: James R. SHEALY
  • Publication number: 20230008120
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides a method and apparatus to realize incorporation of Beryllium followed by activation to realize p-type materials of lower resistivity than is possible with Magnesium. Lower contact resistances and more effective electron confinement results from the higher hole concentrations made possible with this invention. The result is a higher efficiency GaN-based LED with higher current handling capability resulting in a brighter device of the same area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: James R. SHEALY, Richard J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11469348
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides a method and apparatus to realize incorporation of Beryllium followed by activation to realize p-type materials of lower resistivity than is possible with Magnesium. Lower contact resistances and more effective electron confinement results from the higher hole concentrations made possible with this invention. The result is a higher efficiency GaN-based LED with higher current handling capability resulting in a brighter device of the same area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Odyssey Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20220140130
    Abstract: A method and vertical FET device fabricated in GaN or other suitable material. The device has a selective area implant region comprising an activated impurity configured from a bottom portion of a recessed regions, and substantially free from ion implant damage by using an annealing process. A gate region is configured from the selective area implant region, and each of the recessed regions is characterized by a depth configured to physically separate an n+ type source region and the p? type gate region such that a low reverse leakage gate-source p-n junction is achieved. An extended drain region is configured from a portion of an n? type GaN region underlying the recessed regions. An n+ GaN region is formed by epitaxial growth directly overlying the backside region of the GaN substrate and a backside drain contact region configured from the n+ type GaN region overlying the backside region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: James R. SHEALY, Richard J. BROWN
  • Patent number: 11251295
    Abstract: A method and vertical FET device fabricated in GaN or other suitable material. The device has a selective area implant region comprising an activated impurity configured from a bottom portion of a recessed regions, and substantially free from ion implant damage by using an annealing process. A p-type gate region is configured from the selective area implant region, and each of the recessed regions is characterized by a depth configured to physically separate an n+ type source region and the p-type gate region such that a low reverse leakage gate-source p-n junction is achieved. An extended drain region is configured from a portion of an n? type GaN region underlying the recessed regions. An n+ GaN region is formed by epitaxial growth directly overlying the backside region of the GaN substrate and a backside drain contact region configured from the n+ type GaN region overlying the backside region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Odyssey Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard J. Brown
  • Patent number: 9991360
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a semiconductor layer over a substrate and forming an aluminum-silicon nitride layer upon the semiconductor layer. When the semiconductor layer in particular comprises a III-V semiconductor material such as a group III nitride semiconductor material or a gallium nitride semiconductor material, the aluminum-silicon nitride material provides a superior passivation in comparison with a silicon nitride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard Brown
  • Patent number: 9306050
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor layer that is passivated with an aluminum-silicon nitride layer. When the semiconductor layer in particular comprises a III-V semiconductor material such as a group III nitride semiconductor material or a gallium nitride semiconductor material, the aluminum-silicon nitride material provides a superior passivation in comparison with a silicon nitride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard Brown
  • Patent number: 9299821
    Abstract: A gated III-V semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the gated III-V semiconductor structure includes a threshold modifying dopant region within a III-V semiconductor barrier layer at the base of an aperture through a passivation layer that otherwise passivates the III-V semiconductor barrier layer. The passivation layer, which may comprise an aluminum-silicon nitride material, has particular bandgap and permittivity properties that provide for enhanced performance of a III-V semiconductor device that derives from the III-V semiconductor structure absent a field plate. The threshold modifying dopant region provides the possibility for forming both an enhancement mode gated III-V semiconductor structure and a depletion mode III-V semiconductor structure on the same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard Brown
  • Patent number: 8791034
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition method for forming an aluminum-silicon nitride layer upon a substrate uses an aluminum precursor, a silicon precursor and a nitrogen precursor under chemical vapor deposition conditions to deposit the aluminum-silicon nitride layer upon the substrate. The aluminum-silicon nitride layer has an index of refraction interposed between silicon nitride and aluminum nitride. The aluminum-silicon nitride layer also has a bandgap from about 4.5 to about 6 eV and a permittivity from about 6×10^-11 to about 8×10^-11 F/m. The aluminum-silicon nitride layer may be further thermally annealed to reduce a hydrogen content of the aluminum-silicon nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard Brown
  • Publication number: 20130153963
    Abstract: A gated III-V semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the gated III-V semiconductor structure includes a threshold modifying dopant region within a III-V semiconductor barrier layer at the base of an aperture through a passivation layer that otherwise passivates the III-V semiconductor barrier layer. The passivation layer, which may comprise an aluminum-silicon nitride material, has particular bandgap and permittivity properties that provide for enhanced performance of a III-V semiconductor device that derives from the III-V semiconductor structure absent a field plate. The threshold modifying dopant region provides the possibility for forming both an enhancement mode gated III-V semiconductor structure and a depletion mode III-V semiconductor structure on the same substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard Brown
  • Publication number: 20120153301
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor layer that is passivated with an aluminum-silicon nitride layer. When the semiconductor layer in particular comprises a III-V semiconductor material such as a group III nitride semiconductor material or a gallium nitride semiconductor material, the aluminum-silicon nitride material provides a superior passivation in comparison with a silicon nitride material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard Brown
  • Publication number: 20120156895
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition method for forming an aluminum-silicon nitride layer upon a substrate uses an aluminum precursor, a silicon precursor and a nitrogen precursor under chemical vapor deposition conditions to deposit the aluminum-silicon nitride layer upon the substrate. The aluminum-silicon nitride layer has an index of refraction interposed between silicon nitride and aluminum nitride. The aluminum-silicon nitride layer also has a bandgap from about 4.5 to about 6 eV and a permittivity from about 6×10?-11 to about 8×10?-11 F/m. The aluminum-silicon nitride layer may be further thermally annealed to reduce a hydrogen content of the aluminum-silicon nitride layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard Brown
  • Publication number: 20120156836
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a semiconductor layer over a substrate and forming an aluminum-silicon nitride layer upon the semiconductor layer. When the semiconductor layer in particular comprises a III-V semiconductor material such as a group III nitride semiconductor material or a gallium nitride semiconductor material, the aluminum-silicon nitride material provides a superior passivation in comparison with a silicon nitride material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Richard Brown
  • Patent number: 7250360
    Abstract: A single step process for nucleation and subsequent epitaxial growth on a lattice mismatched substrate is achieved by pre-treating the substrate surface with at least one group III reactant or at least one group II reactant prior to the introduction of a group V reactant or a group VI reactant. The group III reactant or the group II reactant is introduced into a growth chamber at an elevated growth temperature to wet a substrate surface prior to any actual crystal growth. Once the pre-treatment of the surface is complete, a group V reactant or a group VI reactant is introduced to the growth chamber to commence the deposition of a nucleation layer. A buffer layer is then grown on the nucleation layer providing a surface upon which the epitaxial layer is grown preferably without changing the temperature within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Joseph A. Smart
  • Patent number: 6478871
    Abstract: An epitaxial deposition process produces epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) of nitride based materials directly a patterned substrate (10). The substrate (10) is preferably formed from SiC or sapphire, and is patterned with a mask (12), preferably formed of silicon nitride, having a plurality of openings (13) formed therein. A nucleation layer (14), preferably formed of AlGaN, is grown at a high reactor temperature of 700-1100 degrees C., which wets the exposed substrate surface, without significant nucleation on the mask (12). This eliminates the need for regrowth while producing smooth growth surfaces in the window openings (13) as well as over the mask (12). Subsequent deposition of a nitride based material layer (16), preferably GaN, results in a relatively defect free planar surfaced material grown laterally over the mask (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, Joseph A. Smart
  • Patent number: 5834379
    Abstract: A process for synthesizing wide band gap materials, specifically, GaN, employs plasma-assisted and thermal nitridation with NH.sub.3 to convert GaAs to GaN. Thermal assisted nitridation with NH.sub.3 can be employed for forming layers of substantial thickness (on the order of 1 micron) of cubic and hexagonal GaN on a GaAs substrate. Plasma-assisted nitridation of NH.sub.3 results in formation of predominantly cubic GaN, a form particularly useful in optoelectronic devices. Preferably, very thin GaAs membranes are employed to permit formation thereon of GaN layers of any desired thickness without concern for critical thickness constraints. The thin membranes are preferably formed either with an epitaxial bonding technique, or by undercut etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Shealy, James R. Engstrom, Yu-Hwa Lo
  • Patent number: 5003548
    Abstract: Single quantum well short wavelength AlGaInP GRIN-SCH semiconductor lasers having high output power in the 660-680 nm range were prepared by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy. The laser active region preferably consists of a 100 .ANG. single Ga.sub.0.5 In.sub.0.5 P quantum well and 1600 .ANG. graded index regions on both sides of the well. The graded index regions were produced by lattice-matched graded composition (Al.sub.y Ga.sub.1-y).sub.0.5 In.sub.0.5 P quaternary alloys where y has a value from about 0.2 to 0.6. This structure reduces the broad-area threshold current compared to a double heterostructure laser to give pulsed thresholds as low as 1050 A/cm.sup.2. Total pulsed power of 1.4 W at 658 nm is available from an 80 .mu.m.times.300 .mu.m mesa-stripe laser. A differential quantum efficiency of up to about .about.56% was measured. Indicated uses include diode-pumped solid state laser applications and as a light source in optical disk drives and holographic scanners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Bour, James R. Shealy