Patents by Inventor John E. Amato

John E. Amato 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: 7094640
    Abstract: A method of forming a trench MOSFET device includes depositing an epitaxial layer over a substrate, both having the first conductivity type, the epitaxial layer having a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate, forming a body region of a second conductivity type within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer, etching a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer, the trench extending to a greater depth from the upper surface of the epitaxial layer than the body region, forming a doped region of the first conductivity type between a bottom portion of the trench and substrate, the doped region having a majority carrier concentration that is lower than that of the substrate and higher than that of the epitaxial layer, wherein the doped region is diffused and spans 100% of the distance from the trench bottom portion to the substrate, forming an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench, forming a conductive region within the trench adjacent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Yan Man Tsui
  • Patent number: 7049194
    Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor device that comprises: (a) a substrate of a first conductivity type; (b) an epitaxial layer of first conductivity type over the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer has a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate; (c) a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer; (d) an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench; (e) a conductive region within the trench adjacent the insulating layer; (f) a body region of a second conductivity type provided within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer and adjacent the trench; (g) a source region of first conductivity type within an upper portion of the body region and adjacent the trench; and (h) one or more low resistivity deep regions extending into the device from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer. The low resistivity deep region acts to provide electrical contact with the substrate, which is a common drain region for the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, William John Nelson, John E. Amato
  • Patent number: 7015125
    Abstract: A trench MOSFET transistor device and a method of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Yan Man Tsui
  • Patent number: 6977203
    Abstract: A method of forming a trench within a semiconductor substrate. The method comprises, for example, the following: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate; (b) providing a patterned first CVD-deposited masking material layer having a first aperture over the semiconductor substrate; (c) depositing a second CVD-deposited masking material layer over the first masking material layer; (d) etching the second masking material layer until a second aperture that is narrower than the first aperture is created in the second masking material within the first aperture; and (e) etching the semiconductor substrate through the second aperture such that a trench is formed in the semiconductor substrate. In preferred embodiments, the method of the present invention is used in the formation of trench MOSFET devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Brian D. Pratt
  • Patent number: 6822288
    Abstract: A trench MOSFET transistor device and a method of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Yan Man Tsui
  • Publication number: 20040113203
    Abstract: A trench MOSFET device and method of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Yan Man Tsui
  • Publication number: 20040108554
    Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor device that comprises: (a) a substrate of a first conductivity type; (b) an epitaxial layer of first conductivity type over the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer has a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate; (c) a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer; (d) an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench; (e) a conductive region within the trench adjacent the insulating layer; (f) a body region of a second conductivity type provided within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer and adjacent the trench; (g) a source region of first conductivity type within an upper portion of the body region and adjacent the trench; and (h) one or more low resistivity deep regions extending into the device from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer. The low resistivity deep region acts to provide electrical contact with the substrate, which is a common drain region for the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, William John Nelson, John E. Amato
  • Patent number: 6657255
    Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor device that comprises: (a) a substrate of a first conductivity type; (b) an epitaxial layer of first conductivity type over the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer has a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate; (c) a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer; (d) an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench; (e) a conductive region within the trench adjacent the insulating layer; (f) a body region of a second conductivity type provided within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer and adjacent the trench; (g) a source region of first conductivity type within an upper portion of the body region and adjacent the trench; and (h) one or more low resistivity deep regions extending into the device from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer. The low resistivity deep region acts to provide electrical contact with the substrate, which is a common drain region for the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, William John Nelson, John E. Amato
  • Patent number: 6657254
    Abstract: A trench MOSFET device and method of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Yan Man Tsui
  • Patent number: 6645815
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming shallow and deep dopant implants adjacent source regions of a first conductivity type within an upper portion of an epitaxial layer in a trench MOSFET device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Brian D. Pratt
  • Patent number: 6630402
    Abstract: In integrated circuits produced by etching and damascene techniques, it is common for cracking to occur in dielectric material surrounding an interconnect metal layer integrated into the device, presumably as a result of the transfer of stresses from the interconnect metal layer to the surrounding dielectric material. The present invention addresses this problem by providing an interconnect metal layer that comprises rounded comers which are believed to reduce the stresses transferred to a surrounding dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato
  • Publication number: 20030107080
    Abstract: A trench MOSFET transistor device and a method of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Yan Man Tsui
  • Publication number: 20030096461
    Abstract: In integrated circuits produced by etching and damascene techniques, it is common for cracking to occur in dielectric material surrounding an interconnect metal layer integrated into the device, presumably as a result of the transfer of stresses from the interconnect metal layer to the surrounding dielectric material. The present invention addresses this problem by providing an interconnect metal layer that comprises rounded corners which are believed to reduce the stresses transferred to a surrounding dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato
  • Publication number: 20030094624
    Abstract: A trench MOSFET device and method of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Yan Man Tsui
  • Publication number: 20030096480
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming shallow and deep dopant implants adjacent source regions of a first conductivity type within an upper portion of an epitaxial layer in a trench MOSFET device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Brian D. Pratt
  • Publication number: 20030096479
    Abstract: A method of forming a trench within a semiconductor substrate. The method comprises, for example, the following: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate; (b) providing a patterned first CVD-deposited masking material layer having a first aperture over the semiconductor substrate; (c) depositing a second CVD-deposited masking material layer over the first masking material layer; (d) etching the second masking material layer until a second aperture that is narrower than the first aperture is created in the second masking material within the first aperture; and (e) etching the semiconductor substrate through the second aperture such that a trench is formed in the semiconductor substrate. In preferred embodiments, the method of the present invention is used in the formation of trench MOSFET devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato, Brian D. Pratt
  • Patent number: 6558984
    Abstract: A trench Schottky barrier and a method of making the same in which the rectifier has a semiconductor region having first and second opposing faces; the semiconductor region having a drift region of a first conductivity type adjacent the first face and a cathode region of the first conductivity type adjacent the second face; the drift region having a lower net doping concentration than that of the cathode region. The rectifier also has a plurality of trenches extending into the semiconductor region from the first face; the trenches defining a plurality of mesas within the semiconductor region, and the trenches forming a plurality of trench intersections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato
  • Publication number: 20030080351
    Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor device that comprises: (a) a substrate of a first conductivity type; (b) an epitaxial layer of first conductivity type over the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer has a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate; (c) a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer; (d) an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench; (e) a conductive region within the trench adjacent the insulating layer; (f) a body region of a second conductivity type provided within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer and adjacent the trench; (g) a source region of first conductivity type within an upper portion of the body region and adjacent the trench; and (h) one or more low resistivity deep regions extending into the device from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer. The low resistivity deep region acts to provide electrical contact with the substrate, which is a common drain region for the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, William John Nelson, John E. Amato
  • Patent number: 6420768
    Abstract: A trench Schottky barrier rectifier and a method of making the same in which the rectifier has a semiconductor region having first and second opposing faces; the semiconductor region having a drift region of first conductivity type adjacent the first face and a cathode region of the first conductivity type adjacent the second face; the drift region having a lower net doping concentration than that of the cathode region. The rectifier also has a plurality of trenches extending into the semiconductor region from the first face; the trenches defining a plurality of mesas within the semiconductor region, and the trenches forming a plurality of trench intersections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: General Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato
  • Publication number: 20020074578
    Abstract: A trench Schottky barrier rectifier and a method of making the same are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Fwu-Iuan Hshieh, Koon Chong So, John E. Amato