Patents by Inventor Matthias Stecher

Matthias Stecher 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: 11754640
    Abstract: A device including a first voltage domain and a second voltage domain is provided, the voltage domains being separated by an isolation barrier. In addition, the device includes a scratch detection circuit including a first and a second electrode at a distance of less than 2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Matthias Stecher, Hermann Gruber, Thorsten Hinderer
  • Patent number: 11380612
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a galvanically isolated signal transfer coupler having a contact pad. The contact pad includes a metallic base layer, a metallic diffusion barrier layer arranged on the metallic base layer, and a metallic wire bondable layer arranged on the metallic diffusion barrier layer. The metallic diffusion barrier layer includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. The first surface has a curved surface at the periphery. The first portion extends in a transverse plane and has a width. The second portion protrudes from the second surface intermediate the width of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Matthias Stecher, Martin Kotzbauer, Julie Mathilde Suzanne Paye, Andreas Zankl
  • Patent number: 11222812
    Abstract: One or more embodiments are related to a semiconductor device, comprising: a metallization layer comprising a plurality of portions, each of the portions having a different thickness. The metallization layer may be a final metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Matthias Stecher
  • Publication number: 20210318392
    Abstract: A device including a first voltage domain and a second voltage domain is provided, the voltage domains being separated by an isolation barrier. In addition, the device includes a scratch detection circuit including a first and a second electrode at a distance of less than 2 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Matthias Stecher, Hermann Gruber, Thorsten Hinderer
  • Patent number: 10727107
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region. The semiconductor device also includes an insulating structure laterally between the first region and the second region in the semiconductor substrate. The insulating structure electrically insulates the first region laterally from the second region in the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a connecting structure at a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The connecting structure contacts at least a sub-structure of the insulating structure and at least one of the first region and the second region. At least a sub-structure of the connecting structure has an electrical resistivity greater than 1*103 ?m and less than 1*1012 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hermann Gruber, Markus Muellauer, Matthias Stecher
  • Patent number: 10347580
    Abstract: A semiconductor component having improved thermomechanical durability has in a semiconductor substrate at least one cell comprising a first main electrode zone, a second main electrode zone and a control electrode zone lying in between. For making contact with the main electrode zone, at least one metallization layer composed of copper or a copper alloy is provided which is connected to at least one bonding electrode which likewise comprises copper or a copper alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Matthias Stecher
  • Patent number: 10199491
    Abstract: A transistor is disclosed that includes a semiconductor body having a first horizontal surface. A drift region is arranged in the semiconductor body. A plurality of gate electrodes is arranged in trenches of the semiconductor body. The trenches have a longitudinal direction and extending parallel relative to each other. The longitudinal direction of the trenches extends in a first lateral direction of the semiconductor body. The body regions and the source regions are arranged between the trenches. The body regions are arranged between the drift region and the source regions in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body. In the first horizontal surface, the source regions and the body regions are arranged alternately in the first lateral direction. A source electrode is electrically connected to the source regions and the body regions in the first horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Rainald Sander, Markus Winkler, Michael Asam, Matthias Stecher
  • Publication number: 20180301414
    Abstract: One or more embodiments are related to a semiconductor device, comprising: a metallization layer comprising a plurality of portions, each of the portions having a different thickness. The metallization layer may be a final metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Matthias Stecher
  • Patent number: 10090192
    Abstract: A method for producing a rounded conductor line of a semiconductor component is disclosed. In that method, a partially completed semiconductor component is provided. The partially completed semiconductor component has a bottom side and a top side spaced distant from the bottom side in a vertical direction. Also provided is an etchant. On the top side, a dielectric layer is arranged. The dielectric layer has at least two different regions that show different etch rates when they are etched with the etchant. Subsequently, a trench is formed in the dielectric layer such that the trench intersects each of the different regions. Then, the trench is widened by etching the trench with the etchant at different etch rates. By filling the widened trench with an electrically conductive material, a conductor line is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Matthias Stecher, Markus Menath, Andreas Zankl, Anja Reitmeier
  • Publication number: 20180218939
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region. The semiconductor device also includes an insulating structure laterally between the first region and the second region in the semiconductor substrate. The insulating structure electrically insulates the first region laterally from the second region in the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a connecting structure at a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The connecting structure contacts at least a sub-structure of the insulating structure and at least one of the first region and the second region. At least a sub-structure of the connecting structure has an electrical resistivity greater than 1*103 ?m and less than 1*1012 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Hermann Gruber, Markus Muellauer, Matthias Stecher
  • Patent number: 10002830
    Abstract: One or more embodiments are related to a semiconductor device, comprising: a metallization layer comprising a plurality of portions, each of the portions having a different thickness. The metallization layer may be a final metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Matthias Stecher
  • Publication number: 20180166375
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a galvanically isolated signal transfer coupler having a contact pad. The contact pad includes a metallic base layer, a metallic diffusion barrier layer arranged on the metallic base layer, and a metallic wire bondable layer arranged on the metallic diffusion barrier layer. The metallic diffusion barrier layer includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. The first surface has a curved surface at the periphery. The first portion extends in a transverse plane and has a width. The second portion protrudes from the second surface intermediate the width of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Matthias Stecher, Martin Kotzbauer, Julie Mathilde Suzanne Paye, Andreas Zankl
  • Patent number: 9972619
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device arrangement including a first semiconductor device having a load path, and a plurality of second transistors, each having a load path between a first and a second load terminal and a control terminal. The second transistors have their load paths connected in series and connected in series to the load path of the first transistor, each of the second transistors has its control terminal connected to the load terminal of one of the other second transistors, and one of the second transistors has its control terminal connected to one of the load terminals of the first semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Rolf Weis, Franz Hirler, Martin Feldtkeller, Gerald Deboy, Matthias Stecher, Armin Willmeroth
  • Patent number: 9953968
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having an ESD protection structure is described. One embodiment includes a circuit section interconnected with a first terminal and with a second terminal and being operable at voltage differences between the first terminal and second terminal of greater than +10 V and less than ?10 V. The integrated circuit additionally includes an ESD protection structure operable to protect the circuit section against electrostatic discharge between the first terminal and the second terminal. The ESD protection structure is operable with voltage differences between the first and second terminals of greater than +10 V and less than ?10 V without triggering. The ESD protection structure is electrically and optically coupled to a photon source such that photons emitted by the photon source upon ESD pulse loading are absorbable in the ESD protection structure and an avalanche breakdown is initiatable by electron-hole pairs generated by the absorbed photons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Yiqun Cao, Ulrich Glaser, Magnus-Maria Hell, Julien Lebon, Michael Mayerhofer, Andreas Meiser, Matthias Stecher, Joost Willemen
  • Patent number: 9754912
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for production is disclosed. One embodiment provides an integrated component having a first layer which is composed of copper or a copper alloy or which contains copper or a copper alloy, and having an electrically conductive second layer, whose material differs from the material of the first layer, and a connection apparatus which is arranged on the first layer and on the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Khalil Hosseini, Matthias Stecher
  • Patent number: 9705026
    Abstract: A method of triggering avalanche breakdown in a semiconductor device includes providing an electrical coupling and an optical coupling between an auxiliary semiconductor device configured to emit radiation and the semiconductor device including a pn junction between a first layer of a first conductivity type buried below a surface of a semiconductor body and a doped semiconductor region of a second conductivity type disposed between the surface and the first layer. The electrical and optical coupling includes triggering emission of radiation by the auxiliary semiconductor device and triggering avalanche breakdown in the semiconductor device by absorption of the radiation in the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Joost Willemen, Michael Mayerhofer, Ulrich Glaser, Yiqun Cao, Andreas Meiser, Magnus-Maria Hell, Matthias Stecher, Julien Lebon
  • Publication number: 20160372466
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device arrangement including a first semiconductor device having a load path, and a plurality of second transistors, each having a load path between a first and a second load terminal and a control terminal. The second transistors have their load paths connected in series and connected in series to the load path of the first transistor, each of the second transistors has its control terminal connected to the load terminal of one of the other second transistors, and one of the second transistors has its control terminal connected to one of the load terminals of the first semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Rolf Weis, Franz Hirler, Martin Feldtkeller, Gerald Deboy, Matthias Stecher, Armin Willmeroth
  • Publication number: 20160343850
    Abstract: A transistor is disclosed that includes a semiconductor body having a first horizontal surface. A drift region is arranged in the semiconductor body. A plurality of gate electrodes is arranged in trenches of the semiconductor body. The trenches have a longitudinal direction and extending parallel relative to each other. The longitudinal direction of the trenches extends in a first lateral direction of the semiconductor body. The body regions and the source regions are arranged between the trenches. The body regions are arranged between the drift region and the source regions in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body. In the first horizontal surface, the source regions and the body regions are arranged alternately in the first lateral direction. A source electrode is electrically connected to the source regions and the body regions in the first horizontal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Rainald Sander, Markus Winkler, Michael Asam, Matthias Stecher
  • Patent number: 9466677
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure, comprising: a conductive feature; an outer guard ring; and an inner guard ring between the outer guard ring and the conductive feature, the inner guard ring being electrically coupled to the conductive feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Martin Kerber, Matthias Stecher
  • Publication number: 20160284661
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for production is disclosed. One embodiment provides an integrated component having a first layer which is composed of copper or a copper alloy or which contains copper or a copper alloy, and having an electrically conductive second layer, whose material differs from the material of the first layer, and a connection apparatus which is arranged on the first layer and on the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Khalil Hosseini, Matthias Stecher