Patents by Inventor Mark L. Rinehimer

Mark L. Rinehimer 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: 9509227
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a bridge circuit can include a first bridge including a first plurality of MOSFETs and including a first input terminal and a second input terminal, and a second bridge including a second plurality of MOSFETs and including a third input terminal and a fourth input terminal. The first bridge and the second bridge can be coupled in parallel and being coupled to a first load terminal and a second load terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Scott Pearson, Mark L. Rinehimer, Sungjin Kuen
  • Publication number: 20150194906
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a bridge circuit can include a first bridge including a first plurality of MOSFETs and including a first input terminal and a second input terminal, and a second bridge including a second plurality of MOSFETs and including a third input terminal and a fourth input terminal. The first bridge and the second bridge can be coupled in parallel and being coupled to a first load terminal and a second load terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph A. YEDINAK, Scott PEARSON, Mark L. RINEHIMER, Sungjin KUEN
  • Publication number: 20150187873
    Abstract: A power device includes an active region and a termination region surrounding the active region. A plurality of pillars of first and second conductivity type are alternately arranged in each of the active and termination regions. The pillars of first conductivity type in the active and termination regions have substantially the same width, and the pillars of second conductivity type in the active region have a smaller width than the pillars of second conductivity type in the termination region so that a charge balance condition in each of the active and termination regions results in a higher breakdown voltage in the termination region than in the active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Jaegil Lee, Hocheol Jang, Chongman Yun, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Christopher L. Rexer, Changwook Kim, Jonghun Lee, Jasong M. Higgs, Dwayne S. Reichl, Joelle Sharp, Qi Wang, Yongsub Kim, Jungkil Lee, Mark L. Rinehimer, Jinyoung Jung
  • Publication number: 20150069567
    Abstract: A power device includes a semiconductor region which in turn includes a plurality of alternately arranged pillars of first and second conductivity type. Each of the plurality of pillars of second conductivity type further includes a plurality of implant regions of the second conductivity type arranged on top of one another along the depth of pillars of second conductivity type, and a trench portion filled with semiconductor material of the second conductivity type directly above the plurality of implant regions of second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Christopher L. Rexer, Mark L. Rinehimer, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Jaegil Lee, Hamza Yilmaz, Chongman Yun, Dwayne S. Reichl, James Pan, Rodney S. Ridley, Harold Heidenreich
  • Publication number: 20140264569
    Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a semiconductor region, and a trench defined within the semiconductor region. The trench can have a depth aligned along a vertical axis and have a length aligned along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the vertical axis. The trench can have a first portion of the length included in a termination region of the semiconductor region and can have a second portion of the length included in an active region of the semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. YEDINAK, Dean E. PROBST, Richard STOKES, Suku KIM, Jason HIGGS, Fred SESSION, Hui CHEN, Steven P. SAPP, Jayson PREECE, Mark L. Rinehimer
  • Patent number: 8836028
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a power device can include at least one N-type epitaxial layer disposed on a substrate and a plurality of N-pillars and P-pillars that define alternating P-N-pillars in the at least one N-type epitaxial layer. The power device can also include an active region and a termination region, where the termination region surrounds the active region. The alternating P-N-pillars can be disposed in both the active region and the termination region, where the termination region can include a predetermined number of floating P-pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Jaegil Lee, Dwayne S. Reichl, Harold Heidenreich
  • Patent number: 8772868
    Abstract: A power device includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of alternately arranged pillars of first and second conductivity types. At least one of the plurality of pillars of second conductivity type includes a first trench epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type disposed on a trench sidewall of the second trench and a trench bottom surface of the second trench, a second trench epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type disposed on the first trench epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type, and an insulating material layer disposed on the second trench epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Hamza Yilmaz, James Pan, Rodney S. Ridley, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8673700
    Abstract: A power device includes a semiconductor region which in turn includes a plurality of alternately arranged pillars of first and second conductivity type. Each of the plurality of pillars of second conductivity type further includes a plurality of implant regions of the second conductivity type arranged on top of one another along the depth of pillars of second conductivity type, and a trench portion filled with semiconductor material of the second conductivity type directly above the plurality of implant regions of second conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy
  • Patent number: 8502313
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a semiconductor device including a first metal layer coupled to a source region and a second metal layer coupled to a gate structure, wherein at least a portion of the first and second metal layers overlap vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Rohit Dikshit, Mark L. Rinehimer, Michael D. Gruenhagen, Joseph A. Yedinak, Tracie Petersen, Ritu Sodhi, Dan Kinzer, Christopher L. Rexer, Fred C. Session
  • Patent number: 8492837
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods of making semiconductor devices. An exemplary embodiment comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a first surface, a second surface, and a graded net doping concentration of the first conductivity type within a portion of the semiconductor layer. The graded portion is located adjacent to the top surface of the semiconductor layer, and the graded net doping concentration therein decreasing in value with distance from the top surface of the semiconductor layer. The exemplary device also comprises an electrode disposed at the first surface of the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the graded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Thomas E. Grebs, John L. Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20120273884
    Abstract: A power device includes a semiconductor region which in turn includes a plurality of alternately arranged pillars of first and second conductivity type. Each of the plurality of pillars of second conductivity type further includes a plurality of implant regions of the second conductivity type arranged on top of one another along the depth of pillars of second conductivity type, and a trench portion filled with semiconductor material of the second conductivity type directly above the plurality of implant regions of second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Christopher L. Rexer, Mark L. Rinehimer, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Jaegil Lee, Hamza Yilmaz, Chongman Yun, Dwayne S. Reichl, James Pan, Rodney S. Ridley, SR., Harold Heidenreich
  • Publication number: 20120273875
    Abstract: A power device includes a semiconductor region which in turn includes a plurality of alternately arranged pillars of first and second conductivity type. Each of the plurality of pillars of second conductivity type further includes a plurality of implant regions of the second conductivity type arranged on top of one another along the depth of pillars of second conductivity type, and a trench portion filled with semiconductor material of the second conductivity type directly above the plurality of implant regions of second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Hamza Yilmaz, James Pan, Rodney S. Ridley
  • Publication number: 20120273916
    Abstract: A power device includes a semiconductor region which in turn includes a plurality of alternately arranged pillars of first and second conductivity type. Each of the plurality of pillars of second conductivity type further includes a plurality of implant regions of the second conductivity type arranged on top of one another along the depth of pillars of second conductivity type, and a trench portion filled with semiconductor material of the second conductivity type directly above the plurality of implant regions of second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Christopher L. Rexer, Mark L. Rinehimer, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Jaegil Lee, Hamza Yilmaz, Chongman Yun, Dwayne S. Reichl, James Pan, Rodney S. Ridley, SR., Harold Heidenreich
  • Publication number: 20120276701
    Abstract: A power device includes a semiconductor region which in turn includes a plurality of alternately arranged pillars of first and second conductivity type. Each of the plurality of pillars of second conductivity type further includes a plurality of implant regions of the second conductivity type arranged on top of one another along the depth of pillars of second conductivity type, and a trench portion filled with semiconductor material of the second conductivity type directly above the plurality of implant regions of second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy
  • Publication number: 20120267714
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a semiconductor device including a first metal layer coupled to a source region and a second metal layer coupled to a gate structure, wherein at least a portion of the first and second metal layers overlap vertically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Rohit Dikshit, Mark L. Rinehimer, Michael D. Gruenhagen, Joseph A. Yedinak, Tracie Petersen, Ritu Sodhi, Dan Kinzer, Christopher L. Rexer, Fred Session
  • Publication number: 20120037982
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods of making semiconductor devices. An exemplary embodiment comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a first surface, a second surface, and a graded net doping concentration of the first conductivity type within a portion of the semiconductor layer. The graded portion is located adjacent to the top surface of the semiconductor layer, and the graded net doping concentration therein decreasing in value with distance from the top surface of the semiconductor layer. The exemplary device also comprises an electrode disposed at the first surface of the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the graded portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Thomas E. Grebs, John L. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 8049276
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods of making semiconductor devices. An exemplary embodiment comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a first surface, a second surface, and a graded net doping concentration of the first conductivity type within a portion of the semiconductor layer. The graded portion is located adjacent to the top surface of the semiconductor layer, and the graded net doping concentration therein decreasing in value with distance from the top surface of the semiconductor layer. The exemplary device also comprises an electrode disposed at the first surface of the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the graded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Thomas E. Grebs, John L. Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20100314707
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods of making semiconductor devices. An exemplary embodiment comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a first surface, a second surface, and a graded net doping concentration of the first conductivity type within a portion of the semiconductor layer. The graded portion is located adjacent to the top surface of the semiconductor layer, and the graded net doping concentration therein decreasing in value with distance from the top surface of the semiconductor layer. The exemplary device also comprises an electrode disposed at the first surface of the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the graded portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Mark L. Rinehimer, Thomas E. Grebs, John L. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 6831329
    Abstract: A quick punch-through integrated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a drift region and a gate. The drift region has a drift region dopant concentration and a drift region thickness. The gate has a gate capacitance. The drift region dopant concentration, drift region thickness and gate capacitance are adjusted dependent at least in part upon the PNP gain of the IGBT to maintain the potential difference between the gate and emitter at a level greater than the IGBT threshold voltage when the collector voltage reaches the bus voltage. This insures that the hole carrier concentration remains approximately equal to or greater than the drift region dopant concentration when the depletion layer punches through to the buffer region during the turn-off delay. Thus, the collector voltage overshoot and the rate of change of voltage and current are controlled, and electromagnetic interference is reduced, during turn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Jon Gladish, Sampat Shekhawat, Gary M. Dolny, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Douglas Joseph Lange, Mark L. Rinehimer
  • Publication number: 20030080377
    Abstract: A quick punch-through integrated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a drift region and a gate. The drift region has a drift region dopant concentration and a drift region thickness. The gate has a gate capacitance. The drift region dopant concentration, drift region thickness and gate capacitance are adjusted dependent at least in part upon the PNP gain of the IGBT to maintain the potential difference between the gate and emitter at a level greater than the IGBT threshold voltage when the collector voltage reaches the bus voltage. This insures that the hole carrier concentration remains approximately equal to or greater than the drift region dopant concentration when the depletion layer punches through to the buffer region during the turn-off delay. Thus, the collector voltage overshoot and the rate of change of voltage and current are controlled, and electromagnetic interference is reduced, during turn off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Joseph A. Yedinak, Jon Gladish, Sampat Shekhawat, Gary M. Dolny, Praveen Muraleedharan Shenoy, Douglas Joseph Lange, Mark L. Rinehimer