Patents by Inventor Martin Alter

Martin Alter 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: 7315052
    Abstract: A power transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate and including a lateral array of polysilicon lines separated by alternating source and drain regions includes one or more body contact diffusion regions formed in the source regions where each body contact diffusion region has a length that extends to the edges of the two adjacent polysilicon lines, and one or more body pickup contacts where each body pickup contact is formed over a respective body contact diffusion region. In one embodiment, the body contact diffusion regions are formed in a fabrication process using ion implantation of dopants of a first type through a body diffusion mask. Each body contact diffusion region defined by an exposed area in the body diffusion mask has a drawn area that overlaps the respective two adjacent polysilicon lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20070246790
    Abstract: In a method to form a DMOS or bipolar transistor, two epitaxial silicon layers are grown over a silicon substrate instead of the typical one low-resistivity epitaxial layer. The bottom epitaxial layer has a relatively high resistivity of, for example 10 ohms-cm, while the upper epitaxial layer, acting as a drift region, may have a conventional low resistivity such as 3 ohms-cm. The bottom epi layer, being less doped than the upper epi layer, causes a wider and deeper depletion region to occur for a given drain or collector voltage, as compared to a depletion region where the entire epitaxial layer is formed of the upper epitaxial layer composition. Therefore, the parasitic capacitor's depletion region will be wider and deeper when employing the bottom epitaxial layer. The wider and deeper depletion region in the lower epitaxial layer lowers the overall parasitic capacitance value. This improves the switching speed of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Raymond Zinn, Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20070205461
    Abstract: A power transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate and including a lateral array of polysilicon lines separated by alternating source and drain regions includes one or more body contact diffusion regions formed in the source regions where each body contact diffusion region has a length that extends to the edges of the two adjacent polysilicon lines, and one or more body pickup contacts where each body pickup contact is formed over a respective body contact diffusion region. In one embodiment, the body contact diffusion regions are formed in a fabrication process using ion implantation of dopants of a first type through a body diffusion mask. Each body contact diffusion region defined by an exposed area in the body diffusion mask has a drawn area that overlaps the respective two adjacent polysilicon lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventor: Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20070138648
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a semiconductor chip having a passivation layer forming the top surface of the semiconductor chip and a metal pad formed on the passivation layer and a discrete electronic device having a first terminal formed on a first surface and a second terminal formed on a second surface opposite the first surface of the discrete electronic device where the first surface of the discrete electronic device is attached to the metal pad using a conductive adhesive structure. The semiconductor chip and the discrete electronic device are encapsulated in an encapsulation material. An electrical connection is formed between the metal pad and one of a bond pad of the semiconductor chip or a package post of the integrated circuit package. In one embodiment, the metal pad is an aluminum pad and a metal line connects the metal pad to a bond pad of the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: MICREL, INC.
    Inventors: Chuck Vinn, Martin Alter
  • Patent number: 7211893
    Abstract: Wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology is used for improving performance or reducing size of integrated circuits by using metallization of pad-to-bump-out beams as part of the integrated circuit structure. Chip-scale packaging under bump metal is routed to increase the thickness of top metal of the integrated circuit, increasing current carrying capability and reducing resistance. An exemplary embodiment for a power MOSFET array integrated structure is described. Another exemplary embodiment illustrated the use of chip-scale processes for interconnecting discrete integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Micrel, Incorporated
    Inventors: Martin Alter, Robert Rumsey
  • Patent number: 7195952
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a semiconductor chip having a passivation layer forming the top surface of the semiconductor chip and a metal pad formed on the passivation layer and a discrete electronic device having a first terminal formed on a first surface and a second terminal formed on a second surface opposite the first surface of the discrete electronic device where the first surface of the discrete electronic device is attached to the metal pad using a conductive adhesive structure. The semiconductor chip and the discrete electronic device are encapsulated in an encapsulation material. An electrical connection is formed between the metal pad and one of a bond pad of the semiconductor chip or a package post of the integrated circuit package. In one embodiment, the metal pad is an aluminum pad and a metal line connects the metal pad to a bond pad of the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuck Vinn, Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20070001004
    Abstract: In mixed-component, mixed-signal, semiconductor devices, selective seal ring isolation from the substrate and its electrical potential is provided in order to segregate noise sensitive circuitry from electrical noise generated by electrically noisy circuitry. Appropriate predetermined sections of such a mixed use chip are isolated from the substrate through a non-ohmic contact with the substrate without compromising reliability of the chip's isolation from scribe region contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Shekar Mallikarjunaswamy, Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20070001240
    Abstract: In mixed-component, mixed-signal, semiconductor devices, selective seal ring isolation from the substrate and its electrical potential is provided in order to segregate noise sensitive circuitry from electrical noise generated by electrically noisy circuitry. Appropriate predetermined sections of such a mixed use chip are isolated from the substrate through a non-ohmic contact with the substrate without compromising reliability of the chip's isolation from scribe region contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Shekar Mallikarjunaswamy, Martin Alter
  • Patent number: 7145211
    Abstract: In mixed-component, mixed-signal, semiconductor devices, selective seal ring isolation from the substrate and its electrical potential is provided in order to segregate noise sensitive circuitry from electrical noise generated by electrically noisy circuitry. Appropriate predetermined sections of such a mixed use chip are isolated from the substrate through a non-ohmic contact with the substrate without compromising reliability of the chip's isolation from scribe region contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Micrel, Incorporated
    Inventors: Shekar Mallikarjunaswamy, Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20060216855
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a semiconductor chip having a passivation layer forming the top surface of the semiconductor chip and a metal pad formed on the passivation layer and a discrete electronic device having a first terminal formed on a first surface and a second terminal formed on a second surface opposite the first surface of the discrete electronic device where the first surface of the discrete electronic device is attached to the metal pad using a conductive adhesive structure. The semiconductor chip and the discrete electronic device are encapsulated in an encapsulation material. An electrical connection is formed between the metal pad and one of a bond pad of the semiconductor chip or a package post of the integrated circuit package. In one embodiment, the metal pad is an aluminum pad and a metal line connects the metal pad to a bond pad of the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Chuck Vinn, Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20060012003
    Abstract: In mixed-component, mixed-signal, semiconductor devices, selective seal ring isolation from the substrate and its electrical potential is provided in order to segregate noise sensitive circuitry from electrical noise generated by electrically noisy circuitry. Appropriate predetermined sections of such a mixed use chip are isolated from the substrate through a non-ohmic contact with the substrate without compromising reliability of the chip's isolation from scribe region contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: Micrel, Incorporated
    Inventors: Shekar Mallikarjunaswamy, Martin Alter
  • Patent number: 6917105
    Abstract: Wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology is used for improving performance or reducing size of integrated circuits by using metallization of pad-to-bump-out beams as part of the integrated circuit structure. Chip-scale packaging under bump metal is routed to increase the thickness of top metal of the integrated circuit, increasing current carrying capability and reducing resistance. An exemplary embodiment for a power MOSFET array integrated structure is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Micrel, Incorporated
    Inventor: Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20050127505
    Abstract: Active circuit elements for semiconductor devices are integrated with chip-scale bump-out beams. In some embodiments, regions of the beam itself are employed as part of an active element. The bump-out beam is employed to construct selected components of the active circuit elements such as a resistor, an inductor, a capacitor, or an antenna for the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventor: Martin Alter
  • Patent number: 6900538
    Abstract: Wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology is used for improving performance or reducing size of integrated circuits by using metallization of pad-to-bump-out beams as part of the integrated circuit structure. Chip-scale packaging under bump metal is routed to increase the thickness of top metal of the integrated circuit, increasing current carrying capability and reducing resistance. An exemplary embodiment for a power MOSFET array integrated structure is described. Another exemplary embodiment illustrated the use of chip-scale processes for interconnecting discrete integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Alter, Robert Rumsey
  • Publication number: 20050062156
    Abstract: Wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology is used for improving performance or reducing size of integrated circuits by using metallization of pad-to-bump-out beams as part of the integrated circuit structure. Chip-scale packaging under bump metal is routed to increase the thickness of top metal of the integrated circuit, increasing current carrying capability and reducing resistance. An exemplary embodiment for a power MOSFET array integrated structure is described. Another exemplary embodiment illustrated the use of chip-scale processes for interconnecting discrete integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Martin Alter, Robert Rumsey
  • Publication number: 20050046022
    Abstract: Active circuit elements for semiconductor devices are integrated with chip-scale bump-out beams. In some embodiments, regions of the beam itself are employed as part of an active element. The bump-out beam is employed to construct selected components of the active circuit elements such as a resistor, an inductor, a capacitor, or an antenna for the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: MICREL, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Martin Alter
  • Publication number: 20040245633
    Abstract: Wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology is used for improving performance or reducing size of integrated circuits by using metallization of pad-to-bump-out beams as part of the integrated circuit structure. Chip-scale packaging under bump metal is routed to increase the thickness of top metal of the integrated circuit, increasing current carrying capability and reducing resistance. An exemplary embodiment for a power MOSFET array integrated structure is described. Another exemplary embodiment illustrated the use of chip-scale processes for interconnecting discrete integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Martin Alter, Robert Rumsey
  • Publication number: 20040245631
    Abstract: Wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology is used for improving performance or reducing size of integrated circuits by using metallization of pad-to-bump-out beams as part of the integrated circuit structure. Chip-scale packaging under bump metal is routed to increase the thickness of top metal of the integrated circuit, increasing current carrying capability and reducing resistance. An exemplary embodiment for a power MOSFET array integrated structure is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Micrel, Incorporated
    Inventor: Martin Alter
  • Patent number: 6711046
    Abstract: Programmable semiconductor elements, such as zener diodes, are used in an optical array. In one embodiment, an array of zener diodes is formed on a substrate surface and selectively zapped (programmed) to create a reflective filament between anode and cathode contacts of the selected zener diodes. Light is then applied to the surface. The reflected (or transmitted) light pattern may be used for conveying optical information or exposing a photoresist layer. In one use of the array to selectively expose a photoresist layer, the array helps to determine which genes have been expressed in a BioChip. Devices other than zener diodes may also be programmed to create a reflective filament for optically conveying information, such as bipolar transistors, MOSFETS, and non-semiconductor devices. The reflective filament can be a portion of a fuse or anti-fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Micrel, Incorporated
    Inventor: Martin Alter
  • Patent number: 6621138
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a polysilicon layer in which a first region of a first conductivity type and a second region of a second conductivity type is formed. The first region and the second region form a p-n junction in the polysilicon layer. The semiconductor device further includes a first metallization region in electrical contact with the first region and a second metallization region in electrical contact with the second region. In operation, a low resistance path is formed between the first and second metallization region when a voltage or a current exceeding a predetermined threshold level is applied to the first or the second region. The voltage or current is applied for zap trimming of the p-n junction where the voltage or current exceeding a predetermined threshold level, together with the resulting current or resulting voltage, provides power sufficient to cause the low resistance path to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Alter