Patents by Inventor Marianne Germain

Marianne Germain 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: 9847412
    Abstract: A device comprising a III-N layer stack featuring a two-dimensional electron gas is disclosed, comprising: —a III-N layer; —a AI-III-N layer on top of the III-N layer; —a passivation layer on top of said AI-III-N layer, the passivation layer comprising Silicon Nitride (SiN); wherein said passivation layer comprises a fully crystalline sub layer at the AI-III-N interface and at least part of the fully crystalline sub layer comprises Al and/or B; and associated methods for manufacturing the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: EpiGaN nv
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Patent number: 9748331
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of growing III-V epitaxial layers on a substrate, semiconductor structures thus obtained, and devices comprising such semiconductor structures. An example semiconductor substrate includes a substrate and a buffer layer on top of the substrate, where a conductive path is present between the substrate and buffer layer. A conductive path may be present in the conductive interface, and the conductive path may be interrupted by one or more local electrical isolations. The local electrical isolation(s) may be positioned with the device such that at least one of the local electrical isolation(s) is located between a high voltage terminal and a low voltage terminal of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: EpiGaN NV
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Patent number: 9543424
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of growing III-V epitaxial layers on a substrate, a semiconductor structure comprising a substrate, a device comprising such a semiconductor structure, and an electronic circuit. Group III-nitride devices, such as, for example, high-electron-mobility transistors, may include a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) between two active layers. For example, the 2DEG may be between a GaN layer and a AlGaN layer. These transistors may work in depletion-mode operation, which means the channel has to be depleted to turn the transistor off. For certain applications, such as, for example, power switching or integrated logic, negative polarity gate supply is undesired. Transistors may then work in enhancement mode (E-mode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: EpiGaN NV
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Publication number: 20160099309
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of growing III-V epitaxial layers on a substrate, semiconductor structures thus obtained, and devices comprising such semiconductor structures. An example semiconductor substrate includes a substrate and a buffer layer on top of the substrate, where a conductive path is present between the substrate and buffer layer. A conductive path may be present in the conductive interface, and the conductive path may be interrupted by one or more local electrical isolations. The local electrical isolation(s) may be positioned with the device such that at least one of the local electrical isolation(s) is located between a high voltage terminal and a low voltage terminal of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: EpiGaN NV
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Patent number: 9230803
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of growing III-V epitaxial layers on a substrate, semiconductor structures thus obtained, and devices comprising such semiconductor structures. An example semiconductor substrate includes a substrate and a buffer layer on top of the substrate, where a conductive path is present between the substrate and buffer layer. A conductive path may be present in the conductive interface, and the conductive path may be interrupted by one or more local electrical isolations. The local electrical isolation(s) may be positioned with the device such that at least one of the local electrical isolation(s) is located between a high voltage terminal and a low voltage terminal of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Epigan NV
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Publication number: 20150008444
    Abstract: A device comprising a III-N layer stack featuring a two-dimensional electron gas is disclosed, comprising: a III-N layer; a AI-III-N layer on top of the III-N layer; a passivation layer on top of said AI-III-N layer, the passivation layer comprising Silicon Nitride (SiN); wherein said passivation layer comprises a fully crystalline sub layer at the AI-III-N interface and at least part of the fully crystalline sub layer comprises Al and/or B; and associated methods for manufacturing the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: EPIGAN NV
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Patent number: 8809138
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device has a first and second active layer on a substrate, the second active layer having a higher bandgap than the first active layer, being substantially Ga-free and including at least Al. The device has a gate insulating layer on a part of the second active layer formed by thermal oxidation of a part of the second active layer. The device has a gate electrode on at least a part of the gate insulating layer and a source electrode and drain electrode on the second active layer. The device has, when in operation and when the gate and source electrode are at the same voltage, a two-dimensional electron gas layer between the first and second active layer only outside the location of the gate electrode and not at the location of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Farid Medjdoub, Marianne Germain
  • Publication number: 20140167114
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of growing III-V epitaxial layers on a substrate, semiconductor structures thus obtained, and devices comprising such semiconductor structures. An example semiconductor substrate includes a substrate and a buffer layer on top of the substrate, where a conductive path is present between the substrate and buffer layer. A conductive path may be present in the conductive interface, and the conductive path may be interrupted by one or more local electrical isolations. The local electrical isolation(s) may be positioned with the device such that at least one of the local electrical isolation(s) is located between a high voltage terminal and a low voltage terminal of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: EpiGaN NV
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Publication number: 20140159119
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of growing III-V epitaxial layers on a substrate, a semiconductor structure comprising a substrate, a device comprising such a semiconductor structure, and an electronic circuit. Group III-nitride devices, such as, for example, high-electron-mobility transistors, may include a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) between two active layers. For example, the 2DEG may be between a GaN layer and a AlGaN layer. These transistors may work in depletion-mode operation, which means the channel has to be depleted to turn the transistor off. For certain applications, such as, for example, power switching or integrated logic, negative polarity gate supply is undesired. Transistors may then work in enhancement mode (E-mode).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: EpiGaN NV
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Publication number: 20130237021
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing Group III-N field-effect devices, such as HEMT, MOSHFET, MISHFET or MESFET devices, comprising two active layers, e.g. a GaN/AlGaN layer. The method produces an enhancement mode device of this type, i.e. a normally-off device, by providing a passivation layer on the AlGaN layer, etching a hole in the passivation layer and not in the layers underlying the passivation layer, and depositing the gate contact in the hole, while the source and drain are deposited directly on the passivation layer. The characteristics of the active layers and/or of the gate are chosen such that no two-dimensional electron gas layer is present underneath the gate, when a zero voltage is applied to the gate. A device with this behavior is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicants: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, IMEC
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Steven Boeykens, Marianne Germain, Gustaaf Borghs
  • Patent number: 8399911
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing Group III-N field-effect devices, such as HEMT, MOSHFET, MISHFET or MESFET devices, comprising two active layers, e.g. a GaN/AlGaN layer. The method produces an enhancement mode device of this type, i.e. a normally-off device, by providing a passivation layer on the AlGaN layer, etching a hole in the passivation layer and not in the layers underlying the passivation layer, and depositing the gate contact in the hole, while the source and drain are deposited directly on the passivation layer. The characteristics of the active layers and/or of the gate are chosen such that no two-dimensional electron gas layer is present underneath the gate, when a zero voltage is applied to the gate. A device with this behavior is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Steven Boeykens, Marianne Germain, Gustaaf Borghs
  • Patent number: 8309987
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device has a first and second active layer on a substrate, the second active layer having a higher bandgap than the first active layer, being substantially Ga-free and including at least Al. The device has a gate insulating layer on a part of the second active layer formed by thermal oxidation of a part of the second active layer. The device has a gate electrode on at least a part of the gate insulating layer and a source electrode and drain electrode on the second active layer. The device has, when in operation and when the gate and source electrode are at the same voltage, a two-dimensional electron gas layer between the first and second active layer only outside the location of the gate electrode and not at the location of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Farid Medjdoub, Marianne Germain
  • Patent number: 7772055
    Abstract: The present invention recites a new method for manufacturing Group III-N field-effect devices, such as HEMT, MOSHFET, MISHFET devices or MESFET devices, grown by Metal-Organic Vapor Phase Expitaxy, with higher performance (power), by covering the surface with a thin SiN layer on the top AlGaN layer, in the reactor where the growth takes place at high temperature, prior cooling down the structure and loading the sample out of the reactor, as well as a method to produce some HEMT transistors on those heterostructures, by depositing the contact on the surface without any removal of the SiN layer by MOCVD. The present invention recites also a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Marianne Germain, Joff Derluyn, Maarten Leys
  • Publication number: 20100012977
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device has a first and second active layer on a substrate, the second active layer having a higher bandgap than the first active layer, being substantially Ga-free and including at least Al?. The device has a gate insulating layer on a part of the second active layer formed by thermal oxidation of a part of the second active layer. The device has a gate electrode on at least a part of the gate insulating layer and a source electrode and drain electrode on the second active layer. The device has, when in operation and when the gate and source electrode are at the same voltage, a two-dimensional electron gas layer between the first and second active layer only outside the location of the gate electrode and not at the location of the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum vzw (IMEC)
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Farid Medjdoub, Marianne Germain
  • Publication number: 20090191674
    Abstract: The present invention recites a new method for manufacturing Group III-N field-effect devices, such as HEMT, MOSHFET, MISHFET devices or MESFET devices, grown by Metal-Organic Vapor Phase Expitaxy, with higher performance (power), by covering the surface with a thin SiN layer on the top AlGaN layer, in the reactor where the growth takes place at high temperature, prior cooling down the structure and loading the sample out of the reactor, as well as a method to produce some HEMT transistors on those heterostructures, by depositing the contact on the surface without any removal of the SiN layer by MOCVD. The present invention recites also a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum vzw (IMEC)
    Inventors: Marianne Germain, Joff Derluyn, Maarten Leys
  • Patent number: 7547928
    Abstract: The present invention recites a new method for manufacturing Group III-N field-effect devices, such as HEMT, MOSHFET, MISHFET devices or MESFET devices, grown by Metal-Organic Vapor Phase Expitaxy, with higher performance (power), by covering the surface with a thin SiN layer on the top AlGaN layer, in the reactor where the growth takes place at high temperature, prior cooling down the structure and loading the sample out of the reactor, as well as a method to produce some HEMT transistors on those heterostructures, by depositing the contact on the surface without any removal of the SiN layer by MOCVD. The present invention recites also a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Marianne Germain, Joff Derluyn, Maarten Leys
  • Patent number: 7327036
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a device comprising a substrate comprising a silicon substrate having a porous top layer, a second layer on said top layer, said second layer made of a material comprising Ge, and a further layer of a Group III-nitride material on the second layer. The present invention further is related to methods of production and to intermediate or template devices highly suitable for the epitaxial growth of a high quality Group III-nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Gustaaf Borghs, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Publication number: 20080006845
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing Group III-N field-effect devices, such as HEMT, MOSHFET, MISHFET or MESFET devices, comprising two active layers, e.g. a GaN/AlGaN layer. The method produces an enhancement mode device of this type, i.e. a normally-off device, by providing a passivation layer on the AlGaN layer, etching a hole in the passivation layer and not in the layers underlying the passivation layer, and depositing the gate contact in the hole, while the source and drain are deposited directly on the passivation layer. The characteristics of the active layers and/or of the gate are chosen such that no two-dimensional electron gas layer is present underneath the gate, when a zero voltage is applied to the gate. A device with this behavior is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicants: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum vzw (IMEC), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Steven Boeykens, Marianne Germain, Gustaaf Borghs
  • Publication number: 20060006414
    Abstract: The present invention recites a new method for manufacturing Group III-N field-effect devices, such as HEMT, MOSHFET, MISHFET devices or MESFET devices, grown by Metal-Organic Vapor Phase Expitaxy, with higher performance (power), by covering the surface with a thin SiN layer on the top AlGaN layer, in the reactor where the growth takes place at high temperature, prior cooling down the structure and loading the sample out of the reactor, as well as a method to produce some HEMT transistors on those heterostructures, by depositing the contact on the surface without any removal of the SiN layer by MOCVD. The present invention recites also a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Marianne Germain, Joff Derluyn, Maarten Leys
  • Publication number: 20050199883
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a device comprising a substrate comprising a silicon substrate having a porous top layer, a second layer on said top layer, said second layer made of a material comprising Ge, and a further layer of a Group III-nitride material on the second layer. The present invention further is related to methods of production and to intermediate or template devices highly suitable for the epitaxial growth of a high quality Group III-nitride layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Gustaaf Borghs, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain