Abstract: A semiconductor module (10) includes a heat sink (1), an electronic component (2), a semiconductor device (3), and a thermally-conductive sheet member (4). The thermally-conductive sheet member (4) covers a part of the semiconductor device (3) and has a lower part (4b) and a side part (4c). The lower part (4b) is in contact with a mounting face (11a) of the heat sink (1). The side part (4c) extends from the lower part (4b) and covers a first side surface (3c) of the semiconductor device (3). The electronic component (2) is disposed across the side part (4c) of the thermally-conductive sheet member (4) from the semiconductor device (3).

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device and an electric apparatus each of which can realize both high-speed switching operation and energy loss reduction and excels in resistance to current concentration based on a counter electromotive voltage generated by, for example, an inductance load of the electric apparatus.

Abstract: Ion implantation is carried out to form a p-well region and a source region in parts of a high resistance SiC layer on a SiC substrate, and a carbon film is deposited over the substrate. With the carbon film deposited over the substrate, annealing for activating the implanted dopant ions is performed, and then the carbon film is removed. Thus, a smooth surface having hardly any surface roughness caused by the annealing is obtained. Furthermore, if a channel layer is epitaxially grown, the surface roughness of the channel layer is smaller than that of the underlying layer. Since the channel layer having a smooth surface is provided, it is possible to obtain a MISFET with a high current drive capability.

Abstract: At least two switching devices each including a substrate formed of a wide bandgap semiconductor, source and gate electrodes formed in a principal surface side of the substrate, and a drain electrode formed on the back surface of the substrate are stacked so that respective upper surface sides of the switching face each other.

Abstract: An accumulation-mode MISFET comprises: a high-resistance SiC layer 102 epitaxially grown on a SiC substrate 101; a well region 103; an accumulation channel layer 104 having a multiple ?-doped layer formed on the surface region of the well region 103; a contact region 105; a gate insulating film 108; and a gate electrode 110. The accumulation channel layer 104 has a structure in which undoped layers 104b and ?-doped layers 104a allowing spreading movement of carriers to the undoped layers 104b under a quantum effect are alternately stacked. A source electrode 111 is provided which enters into the accumulation channel layer 104 and the contact region 105 to come into direct contact with the contact region 105. It becomes unnecessary that a source region is formed by ion implantation, leading to reduction in fabrication cost.

Abstract: Ion implantation is carried out to form a p-well region and a source region in parts of a high resistance SiC layer on a SiC substrate, and a carbon film is deposited over the substrate. With the carbon film deposited over the substrate, annealing for activating the implanted dopant ions is performed, and then the carbon film is removed. Thus, a smooth surface having hardly any surface roughness caused by the annealing is obtained. Furthermore, if a channel layer is epitaxially grown, the surface roughness of the channel layer is smaller than that of the underlying layer. Since the channel layer having a smooth surface is provided, it is possible to obtain a MISFET with a high current drive capability.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of implanting ions into a silicon carbide thin film (2) formed on a silicon carbide substrate (1), heating the silicon carbide substrate in a reduced pressure atmosphere to form a carbon layer (5) on the surface of the silicon carbide substrate, and performing activation annealing with respect to the silicon carbide substrate in an atmosphere under a pressure higher than in the step of forming the carbon layer (5) and at a temperature higher than in the step of forming the carbon layer (5).

Abstract: A power device having a transistor structure is formed by using a wide band gap semiconductor. A current path 20 of the power device includes: a JFET (junction) region 2, a drift region 3, and a substrate 4, which have ON resistances exhibiting a positive temperature dependence; and a channel region 1, which has an ON resistance exhibiting a negative temperature dependence. A temperature-induced change in the ON resistance of the entire power device is derived by allowing a temperature-induced change ?Rp in the ON resistance in the JFET (junction) region 2, the drift region 3, and the substrate 4, which have ON resistances exhibiting a positive temperature dependence, and a temperature-induced change ?Rn in the ON resistance in the channel region 1, which has an ON resistance exhibiting a negative temperature dependence, to cancel out each other. With respect to an ON resistance of the entire power device at ?30° C.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to this invention includes: two level shift switches (28A and 28B) each having first and second electrodes, a control electrode, a signal output electrode, and a first semiconductor region forming a transistor device section (28a,28b) which intervenes between the first electrode and the signal output electrode and is brought into or out of conduction according to a signal inputted to the control electrode and a resistor device section (Ra,Rb) which intervenes between the signal output electrode and the second electrode, the first semiconductor region comprising a wide bandgap semiconductor; and a diode (23) having a cathode-side electrode, an anode-side electrode, and a second semiconductor region comprising a wide bandgap semiconductor.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, the top surface of an n-type silicon carbide layer formed on a silicon carbide substrate is miscut from the (0001) plane in the <11-20> direction. A gate electrode, a source electrode and other elements are arranged such that in a channel region, the dominating current flows along a miscut direction. In the present invention, a gate insulating film is formed and then heat treatment is performed in an atmosphere containing a group-V element. In this way, the interface state density at the interface between the silicon carbide layer and the gate insulating film is reduced. As a result, the electron mobility becomes higher in a miscut direction A than in the direction perpendicular to the miscut direction A.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, the top surface of an n-type silicon carbide layer formed on a silicon carbide substrate is miscut from the (0001) plane in the <11-20> direction. A gate electrode, a source electrode and other elements are arranged such that in a channel region, the dominating current flows along a miscut direction. In the present invention, a gate insulating film is formed and then heat treatment is performed in an atmosphere containing a group-V element. In this way, the interface state density at the interface between the silicon carbide layer and the gate insulating film is reduced. As a result, the electron mobility becomes higher in a miscut direction A than in the direction perpendicular to the miscut direction A.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to this invention includes: two level shift switches (28A and 28B) each having first and second electrodes, a control electrode, a signal output electrode, and a first semiconductor region forming a transistor device section (28a,28b) which intervenes between the first electrode and the signal output electrode and is brought into or out of conduction according to a signal inputted to the control electrode and a resistor device section (Ra,Rb) which intervenes between the signal output electrode and the second electrode, the first semiconductor region comprising a wide bandgap semiconductor; and a diode (23) having a cathode-side electrode, an anode-side electrode, and a second semiconductor region comprising a wide bandgap semiconductor.

Abstract: A semiconductor module comprises independently operable segments 1 (semiconductor elements) on a SiC substrate. Each segment 1 comprises a source electrode pad 2 and a gate electrode pad 3 both provided to the principal surface side of the SiC substrate, and a drain electrode pad provided on the back surface side of the SiC substrate. The semiconductor module further comprises an isolation region such as a trench or a Schottky diode for electrically isolating the adjacent segments 1 from each other. Only electrode pads 2 and 3 of each of the segments 1 determined as conforming items by a test are connected to electrode terminals 41 and 43, respectively.

Abstract: An inventive semiconductor device is provided with: a silicon carbide substrate 1; an n-type high resistance layer 2; well regions 3 provided in a surface region of the high resistance layer 2; a p+ contact region 4 provided within each well region 3; a source region 5 provided to laterally surround the p+ contact region 4 within each well region 3; first source electrodes 8 provided on the source regions 5 and made of nickel; second source electrodes 9 that cover the first source electrodes 8 and that are made of aluminum; a gate insulating film 6 provided on a portion of the high resistance layer 2 sandwiched between the two well regions 3; a gate electrode 10 made of aluminum; and an interlayer dielectric film 11 that covers the second source electrodes 9 and the gate electrode 10 and that is made of silicon oxide.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, the top surface of an n-type silicon carbide layer formed on a silicon carbide substrate is miscut from the (0001) plane in the <11-20> direction. A gate electrode, a source electrode and other elements are arranged such that in a channel region, the dominating current flows along a miscut direction. In the present invention, a gate insulating film is formed and then heat treatment is performed in an atmosphere containing a group-V element. In this way, the interface state density at the interface between the silicon carbide layer and the gate insulating film is reduced. As a result, the electron mobility becomes higher in a miscut direction A than in the direction perpendicular to the miscut direction A.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor element in which the field-effect transistor and the Schottky diode are arranged such that a depletion layer stemming from the Schottky diode is superimposed on a depletion layer stemming from a junction between a second conductivity type semiconductor constituting the field-effect transistor and a drift region (first conductivity type semiconductor) in an off-state. Furthermore, the present invention provides a semiconductor element in which the field-effect transistor and the Schottky diode are arranged so that a second conductivity type semiconductor other than the second conductivity type semiconductor constituting the field-effect transistor is not interposed between the electric field effect transistor and the Schottky diode. According to preferable embodiments of the present invention, the reverse recovery time due to a parasitic diode can be reduced by providing the Schottky diode such that the element area of the semiconductor element is not increased.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, the top surface of an n-type silicon carbide layer formed on a silicon carbide substrate is miscut from the (0001) plane in the <11-20> direction. A gate electrode, a source electrode and other elements are arranged such that in a channel region, the dominating current flows along a miscut direction. In the present invention, a gate insulating film is formed and then heat treatment is performed in an atmosphere containing a group-V element. In this way, the interface state density at the interface between the silicon carbide layer and the gate insulating film is reduced. As a result, the electron mobility becomes higher in a miscut direction A than in the direction perpendicular to the miscut direction A.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of implanting ions into a silicon carbide thin film (2) formed on a silicon carbide substrate (1), heating the silicon carbide substrate in a reduced pressure atmosphere to form a carbon layer (5) on the surface of the silicon carbide substrate, and performing activation annealing with respect to the silicon carbide substrate in an atmosphere under a pressure higher than in the step of forming the carbon layer (5) and at a temperature higher than in the step of forming the carbon layer (5).

Abstract: At least two switching devices each including a substrate formed of a wide bandgap semiconductor, source and gate electrodes formed in a principal surface side of the substrate, and a drain electrode formed on the back surface of the substrate are stacked so that respective upper surface sides of the switching face each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor chip 61 including a power semiconductor device using a wide band gap semiconductor, base materials 62 and 63, first and second intermediate members 65 and 68a, a heat conducting member 66, a radiation fin 67, and an encapsulating material 68 for encapsulating the semiconductor chip 61, the first and second intermediate member 65 and 68a and the heat conducting member 66. The tips of the base materials 62 and 63 work respectively as external connection terminals 62a and 63a. The second intermediate member 68a is made of a material with lower heat conductivity than the first intermediate member 65, and a contact area with the semiconductor chip 61 is larger in the second intermediate member 68a than in the first intermediate member.