Patents by Inventor Joel E. Keys

Joel E. Keys 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: 9871008
    Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates and lower resistance inductors for the IC. This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors and interconnections overlying the substrate. The active transistor(s) are formed in the substrate proximate the front face. Planar capacitors are also formed over the front face of the substrate. Various terminals of the transistor(s), capacitor(s) and inductor(s) are coupled to a ground plane on the rear face of the substrate using through-substrate-vias to minimize parasitic resistance. Parasitic resistance associated with the planar inductors and heavy current carrying conductors is minimized by placing them on the outer surface of the IC where they can be made substantially thicker and of lower resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Sanders, Wayne R. Burger, Thuy B. Dao, Joel E. Keys, Michael F. Petras, Robert A. Pryor, Xiaowei Ren
  • Publication number: 20170077051
    Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates and lower resistance inductors for the IC. This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors and interconnections overlying the substrate. The active transistor(s) are formed in the substrate proximate the front face. Planar capacitors are also formed over the front face of the substrate. Various terminals of the transistor(s), capacitor(s) and inductor(s) are coupled to a ground plane on the rear face of the substrate using through-substrate-vias to minimize parasitic resistance. Parasitic resistance associated with the planar inductors and heavy current carrying conductors is minimized by placing them on the outer surface of the IC where they can be made substantially thicker and of lower resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Paul W. Sanders, Wayne R. Burger, Thuy B. Dao, Joel E. Keys, Michael F. Petras, Robert A. Pryor, Xiaowei Ren
  • Patent number: 9508599
    Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates and lower resistance inductors for the IC. This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors and interconnections overlying the substrate. The active transistor(s) are formed in the substrate proximate the front face. Planar capacitors are also formed over the front face (63) of the substrate. Various terminals of the transistor(s), capacitor(s) and inductor(s) are coupled to a ground plane on the rear face of the substrate using through-substrate-vias to minimize parasitic resistance. Parasitic resistance associated with the planar inductors and heavy current carrying conductors is minimized by placing them on the outer surface of the IC where they can be made substantially thicker and of lower resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Sanders, Wayne R. Burger, Thuy B. Dao, Joel E. Keys, Michael F. Petras, Robert A. Pryor, Xiaowei Ren
  • Publication number: 20150228545
    Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates and lower resistance inductors for the IC. This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors and interconnections overlying the substrate. The active transistor(s) are formed in the substrate proximate the front face. Planar capacitors are also formed over the front face (63) of the substrate. Various terminals of the transistor(s), capacitor(s) and inductor(s) are coupled to a ground plane on the rear face of the substrate using through-substrate-vias to minimize parasitic resistance. Parasitic resistance associated with the planar inductors and heavy current carrying conductors is minimized by placing them on the outer surface of the IC where they can be made substantially thicker and of lower resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: PAUL W. SANDERS, WAYNE R. BURGER, THUY B. DAO, JOEL E. KEYS, MICHAEL F. PETRAS, ROBERT A. PRYOR, XIAOWEI REN
  • Patent number: 9064712
    Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates (60) and lower resistance inductors (44?, 45?) for the IC (46). This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors (44, 45) and interconnections (50-1?, 52-1?, 94, 94?, 94?) overlying the substrate (60). The active transistor(s) (41?) are formed in the substrate (60) proximate the front face (63). Planar capacitors (42?, 43?) are also formed over the front face (63) of the substrate (60). Various terminals (42-1?, 42-2?, 43-1, 43-2?,50?, 51?, 52?, 42-1?, 42-2?, etc.) of the transistor(s) (41?), capacitor(s) (42?, 43?) and inductor(s) (44?, 45?) are coupled to a ground plane (69) on the rear face (62) of the substrate (60) using through-substrate-vias (98, 98?) to minimize parasitic resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Sanders, Wayne R. Burger, Thuy B. Dao, Joel E. Keys, Michael F. Petras, Robert A. Pryor, Xiaowei Ren
  • Patent number: 8518764
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a background doping of a first concentration and of a first conductivity type. A through substrate via (TSV) is through the substrate. A device has a first doped region of a second conductivity on a first side of the substrate. A second doped region is around the TSV. The second doped region has a doping of a second concentration greater than the first concentration and is of the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Thuy B. Dao, Joel E. Keys, Hernan A. Rueda, Paul W. Sanders
  • Publication number: 20130099312
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a background doping of a first concentration and of a first conductivity type. A through substrate via (TSV) is through the substrate. A device has a first doped region of a second conductivity on a first side of the substrate. A second doped region is around the TSV. The second doped region has a doping of a second concentration greater than the first concentration and is of the first conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Thuy B. Dao, Joel E. Keys, Hernan A. Rueda, Paul W. Sanders
  • Publication number: 20120037969
    Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates (60) and lower resistance inductors (44?, 45?) for the IC (46). This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors (44, 45) and interconnections (50-1?, 52-1?, 94, 94?, 94?) overlying the substrate (60). The active transistor(s) (41?) are formed in the substrate (60) proximate the front face (63). Planar capacitors (42?, 43?) are also formed over the front face (63) of the substrate (60). Various terminals (42-1?, 42-2?, 43-1, 43-2?,50?, 51?, 52?, 42-1?, 42-2?, etc.) of the transistor(s) (41?), capacitor(s) (42?, 43?) and inductor(s) (44?, 45?) are coupled to a ground plane (69) on the rear face (62) of the substrate (60) using through-substrate-vias (98, 98?) to minimize parasitic resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Sanders, Wayne R. Burger, Thuy B. Dao, Joel E. Keys, Michael F. Petras, Robert A. Pryor, Xiaowei Ren
  • Publication number: 20090267689
    Abstract: A semiconductor amplifier is provided comprising, a substrate and one or more unit amplifying cells (UACs) formed on the substrate, wherein each UAC is laterally surrounded by a first lateral dielectric filled trench (DFT) isolation wall extending at least to the substrate and multiple UACs are surrounded by a second lateral DFT isolation wall of similar depth outside the first isolation walls, and further semiconductor regions lying between the first isolation walls when two or more unit cells are present, and/or lying between the first and second isolation walls, are electrically floating with respect to the substrate. This reduces the parasitic capacitance of the amplifying cells and improves the power added efficiency. Excessive leakage between buried layer contacts when using high resistivity substrates is avoided by providing a further semiconductor layer of intermediate doping between the substrate and the buried layer contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Dragan Zupac, Brian D. Griesbach, Theresa M. Keller, Joel E. Keys, Sandra J. Wipf, Evan F. Yu