Patents by Inventor Kai Esmark

Kai Esmark 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: 20130122677
    Abstract: Electrostatic discharge devices and methods of forming thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device region disposed within a semiconductor body. A first ESD device is disposed in a first region of the ESD device region, and a second ESD device disposed in a second region of the ESD device region. The second region is separated from the first region by a first trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 8350355
    Abstract: Electrostatic discharge devices and methods of forming thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device region disposed within a semiconductor body. A first ESD device is disposed in a first region of the ESD device region, and a second ESD device disposed in a second region of the ESD device region. The second region is separated from the first region by a first trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 8304806
    Abstract: Devices and circuits related to Electrostatic discharge (ESD) and Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are herein described. An ESD protection device is incorporated into a transistor in order to protect the gate of the transistor from excessive current loads related to ESD or EMC events. In an implementation, a device includes a first diode and a second diode that are electrically connected via their respective cathodes. The breakdown voltage of the first diode is lower than the breakdown voltage of the second diode in order to divert excessive current through the second diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Karl-heinz Mueller, Kai Esmark
  • Publication number: 20120218671
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an SCR ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body, and a plurality of first device regions of the first conductivity type disposed on a second device region of the second conductivity type, where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. Also included is a plurality of third device regions having a sub-region of the first conductivity type and a sub-region of the second conductivity type disposed on the second device region. The first regions and second regions are distributed such that the third regions are not directly adjacent to each other. A fourth device region of the first conductivity type adjacent to the second device region and a fifth device region of the second conductivity type disposed within the fourth device region are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Krzysztof Domanski, Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 8178897
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an SCR ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body, and a plurality of first device regions of the first conductivity type disposed on a second device region of the second conductivity type, where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. Also included is a plurality of third device regions having a sub-region of the first conductivity type and a sub-region of the second conductivity type disposed on the second device region. The first regions and second regions are distributed such that the third regions are not directly adjacent to each other. A fourth device region of the first conductivity type adjacent to the second device region and a fifth device region of the second conductivity type disposed within the fourth device region are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Krzysztof Domanski, Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 8129292
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a Shockley diode or a thyristor. An inner region of the diode or of the thyristor is completely or partially shielded during the implantation of a p-type well. This gives rise to a Shockley diode or a thyristor having improved electrical properties, in particular with regard to the use as an ESD protection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Glaser, Harald Gossner, Kai Esmark
  • Publication number: 20110303948
    Abstract: Devices and circuits related to Electrostatic discharge (ESD) and Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are herein described. An ESD protection device is incorporated into a transistor in order to protect the gate of the transistor from excessive current loads related to ESD or EMC events. In an implementation, a device includes a first diode and a second diode that are electrically connected via their respective cathodes. The breakdown voltage of the first diode is lower than the breakdown voltage of the second diode in order to divert excessive current through the second diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Karl-heinz Mueller, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 8076728
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement including a capacitor in an n-type well is disclosed. A specific polarization of the capacitor ensures that a depletion zone arises in the well and the capacitor has a high ESD strength. An optionally present auxiliary doping layer ensures a high area capacitance of the capacitor despite high ESD strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Kai Esmark, Harald Gossner, Christian Russ, Jens Schneider
  • Publication number: 20110210418
    Abstract: Electrostatic discharge devices and methods of forming thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device region disposed within a semiconductor body. A first ESD device is disposed in a first region of the ESD device region, and a second ESD device disposed in a second region of the ESD device region. The second region is separated from the first region by a first trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 7986009
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement including a capacitor in an n-type well is disclosed. A specific polarization of the capacitor ensures that a depletion zone arises in the well and the capacitor has a high ESD strength. An optionally present auxiliary doping layer ensures a high area capacitance of the capacitor despite high ESD strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Kai Esmark, Harald Gossner, Christian Russ, Jens Schneider
  • Patent number: 7985983
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body of a first semiconductor type, an isolation region surrounding the ESD device region, a first doped region of a second conductivity type disposed at a surface of the semiconductor body within the ESD region, and a second doped region of the first conductivity type disposed between the semiconductor body within the ESD region and at least a portion of the first doped region, where the doping concentration of the second doped region is higher than the semiconductor body. A third doped region of the second semiconductor type is disposed on the semiconductor body and a fourth region of the first conductivity type is disposed over the third doped region. A fifth doped region of the second conductivity type is disposed on the semiconductor body. A trigger device and an SCR is formed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark, David Alvarez, Jens Schneider
  • Patent number: 7888701
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a Shockley diode or a thyristor. An inner region of the diode or of the thyristor is completely or partially shielded during the implantation of a p-type well. This gives rise to a Shockley diode or a thyristor having improved electrical properties, in particular with regard to the use as an ESD protection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Glaser, Harald Gossner, Kai Esmark
  • Publication number: 20100321843
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an SCR ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body, and a plurality of first device regions of the first conductivity type disposed on a second device region of the second conductivity type, where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. Also included is a plurality of third device regions having a sub-region of the first conductivity type and a sub-region of the second conductivity type disposed on the second device region. The first regions and second regions are distributed such that the third regions are not directly adjacent to each other. A fourth device region of the first conductivity type adjacent to the second device region and a fifth device region of the second conductivity type disposed within the fourth device region are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Krzysztof Domanski, Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 7800128
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an SCR ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body, and a plurality of first device regions of the first conductivity type disposed on a second device region of the second conductivity type, where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. Also included is a plurality of third device regions having a sub-region of the first conductivity type and a sub-region of the second conductivity type disposed on the second device region. The first regions and second regions are distributed such that the third regions are not directly adjacent to each other. A fourth device region of the first conductivity type adjacent to the second device region and a fifth device region of the second conductivity type disposed within the fourth device region are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Krzysztof Domanski, Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark
  • Publication number: 20100208405
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body of a first semiconductor type, an isolation region surrounding the ESD device region, a first doped region of a second conductivity type disposed at a surface of the semiconductor body within the ESD region, and a second doped region of the first conductivity type disposed between the semiconductor body within the ESD region and at least a portion of the first doped region, where the doping concentration of the second doped region is higher than the semiconductor body. A third doped region of the second semiconductor type is disposed on the semiconductor body and a fourth region of the first conductivity type is disposed over the third doped region. A fifth doped region of the second conductivity type is disposed on the semiconductor body. A trigger device and an SCR is formed therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark, David Alvarez, Jens Schneider
  • Patent number: 7732834
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body of a first semiconductor type, an isolation region surrounding the ESD device region, a first doped region of a second conductivity type disposed at a surface of the semiconductor body within the ESD region, and a second doped region of the first conductivity type disposed between the semiconductor body within the ESD region and at least a portion of the first doped region, where the doping concentration of the second doped region is higher than the semiconductor body. A third doped region of the second semiconductor type is disposed on the semiconductor body and a fourth region of the first conductivity type is disposed over the third doped region. A fifth doped region of the second conductivity type is disposed on the semiconductor body. A trigger device and an SCR is formed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Cornelius Christian Russ, Kai Esmark, David Alvarez, Jens Schneider
  • Publication number: 20100120208
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a Shockley diode or a thyristor. An inner region of the diode or of the thyristor is completely or partially shielded during the implantation of a p-type well. This gives rise to a Shockley diode or a thyristor having improved electrical properties, in particular with regard to the use as an ESD protection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Ulrich Glaser, Harald Gossner, Kai Esmark
  • Publication number: 20100117116
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a Shockley diode or a thyristor. An inner region of the diode or of the thyristor is completely or partially shielded during the implantation of a p-type well. This gives rise to a Shockley diode or a thyristor having improved electrical properties, in particular with regard to the use as an ESD protection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Ulrich Glaser, Harald Gossner, Kai Esmark
  • Patent number: 7694247
    Abstract: A program-controlled arrangement for the identification of ESD and/or latch-up weak points in the design or in the concept of an integrated circuit comprises a pre-processor, which processes first data about the description of the integrated circuit, second data about already ESD-characterized circuit parts of the integrated circuit, and third data which contain information about ESD test standards. A simulator device is connected downstream of the pre-processor which has a simulator which, by using the fourth and fifth data generated by the pre-processor, performs an ESD simulation of the integrated circuit, which has a monitoring controller for controlling the ESD simulation sequence in the simulator. An analysis device is connected downstream of the simulator device, which performs an evaluation of the sixth data generated in the simulator device with regard to their physical validity and meaningfulness, and marks the simulation runs having physically relevant ESD failure events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Kai Esmark, Harald Gossner, Wolfgang Stadler, Marin Streibl
  • Patent number: 7679103
    Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes a Shockley diode or a thyristor. An inner region of the diode or of the thyristor is completely or partially shielded during the implantation of a p-type well. This gives rise to a Shockley diode or a thyristor having improved electrical properties, in particular with regard to the use as an ESD protection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Glaser, Harald Gossner, Kai Esmark