Patents by Inventor Michael Graf

Michael Graf 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).

  • Publication number: 20080173940
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an electronic device and the resulting electronic device. The method includes forming a gate oxide on an uppermost side of a silicon-on-insulator substrate; forming a first polysilicon layer over the gate oxide; and forming a first silicon dioxide layer over the first polysilicon layer. A first silicon nitride layer is then formed over the first silicon dioxide layer followed by a second silicon dioxide layer. Shallow trenches are etched through all preceding dielectric layers and into the SOI substrate. The etched trenches are filled with another dielectric layer (e.g., silicon dioxide) and planarized. Each of the preceding dielectric layers are removed, leaving an uppermost sidewall area of the dielectric layer exposed for contact with a later-applied polysilicon gate area. Formation of the sidewall area assures a full-field oxide thickness thereby producing a device with a reduced-electric field and a reduced capacitance between gate and drift regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gayle W. Miller, Volker Dudek, Michael Graf
  • Patent number: 7402846
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure is disclosed. The ESD protection structure includes an active device. The active device includes a plurality of drains. Each of the drains has a contact row and at least one body contact row. The at least one body contact row is located on the active device in a manner to reduce the amount of voltage required for triggering the ESD protection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Schwantes, Michael Graf, Volker Dudek, Gayle W. Miller, Jr., Irwin Rathbun, Peter Grombach, Manfred Klaussner
  • Publication number: 20080135933
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an electronic device and the resulting electronic device. The method includes forming a gate oxide on an uppermost side of a silicon-on-insulator substrate; forming a first polysilicon layer over the gate oxide; and forming a first silicon dioxide layer over the first polysilicon layer. A first silicon nitride layer is then formed over the first silicon dioxide layer followed by a second silicon dioxide layer. Shallow trenches are etched through all preceding dielectric layers and into the SOI substrate. The etched trenches are filled with another dielectric layer (e.g., silicon dioxide) and planarized. Each of the preceding dielectric layers are removed, leaving an uppermost sidewall area of the dielectric layer exposed for contact with a later-applied polysilicon gate area. Formation of the sidewall area assures a full-field oxide thickness thereby producing a device with a reduced-electric field and a reduced capacitance between gate and drift regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gayle W. Miller, Volker Dudek, Michael Graf
  • Patent number: 7358508
    Abstract: An ion implanter includes an ion source for generating an ion beam moving along a beam line and a vacuum or implantation chamber wherein a workpiece, such as a silicon wafer is positioned to intersect the ion beam for ion implantation of a surface of the workpiece by the ion beam. A liner has an interior facing surface that bounds at least a portion of the evacuated interior region and that comprises grooves spaced across the surface of the liner to capture contaminants generated within the interior region during operation of the ion implanter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Ring, Michael Graf
  • Patent number: 7348256
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an electronic device and the resulting electronic device. The method includes forming a gate oxide on an uppermost side of a silicon-on-insulator substrate; forming a first polysilicon layer over the gate oxide; and forming a first silicon dioxide layer over the first polysilicon layer. A first silicon nitride layer is then formed over the first silicon dioxide layer followed by a second silicon dioxide layer. Shallow trenches are etched through all preceding dielectric layers and into the SOI substrate. The etched trenches are filled with another dielectric layer (e.g., silicon dioxide) and planarized. Each of the preceding dielectric layers are removed, leaving an uppermost sidewall area of the dielectric layer exposed for contact with a later-applied polysilicon gate area. Formation of the sidewall area assures a full-field oxide thickness thereby producing a device with a reduced-electric field and a reduced capacitance between gate and drift regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gayle W. Miller, Jr., Volker Dudek, Michael Graf
  • Publication number: 20080023654
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing a uniform ion implantation in a single-workpiece two-dimensional mechanical scanning ion implantation system, wherein the transient temperature operating parameter is controlled based on mechanical rotation of the workpiece by a predetermined amount between two or more scans of the workpiece through a fixed ion beam. Rotating the workpiece between scans through the fixed ion beam allows for the transient temperature to decay sufficiently for more uniform ion implantation processes to proceed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Graf, Louis P. Wainwright
  • Publication number: 20070295901
    Abstract: A focusing particle trap system for ion implantation comprising an ion beam source that generates an ion beam, a beam line assembly that receives the ion beam from the ion beam source comprising a mass analyzer that selectively passes selected ions, a focusing electrostatic particle trap that receives the ion beam and removes particles from the ion beam comprising an entrance electrode comprising an entrance aperture and biased to a first base voltage, wherein the first surface of the entrance electrode is facing away from a center electrode and is approximately flat, wherein the second surface of the entrance electrode is facing toward the center electrode and is concave, wherein the center electrode is positioned a distance downstream from the entrance electrode comprising a center aperture and biased to a center voltage, wherein the center voltage is less than the first base voltage, wherein the first surface of the center electrode is facing toward the entrance electrode and is convex, wherein the second
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Kellerman, Victor Benveniste, Alexander Perel, Brian Freer, Michael Graf
  • Publication number: 20070290226
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement for an integrated circuit is provided that includes a first region in which a number of components are formed, a second region, a buried insulating layer for vertically insulating the first region, an insulating structure, which is formed between the first region and the second region for laterally insulating the first region from the second region. The insulating structure can have a trench structure with a dielectric and a conductor structure with a semiconductor material. Whereby the trench structure borders on the buried insulating layer, and the conductor structure is designed to conductively connect the first region to the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Juergen Berntgen, Franz Dietz, Michael Graf, Stefan Schwantes
  • Publication number: 20070262271
    Abstract: An ion implantation cluster tool for implanting ions into a workpiece is provided, wherein a plurality of beamline assemblies having a respective plurality of ion beamlines associated therewith are positioned about a common process chamber. Each of the plurality of ion beamline assemblies are selectively isolated from the common process chamber, and the plurality of beamline intersect at a processing region of the process chamber. A scanning apparatus positioned within the common process chamber is operable to selectively translate a workpiece holder in one or more directions through each of the plurality of ion beamlines within the processing region, and a common dosimetry apparatus within the common process chamber is operable to measure one or more properties of each of the plurality of ion beamlines. A load lock chamber is operably coupled to the common process chamber for exchange of workpieces between the common process chamber and an external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph Ferrara, Patrick Splinter, Michael Graf, Victor Benveniste
  • Publication number: 20070262376
    Abstract: High-voltage field-effect transistor is provided that includes a drain terminal, a source terminal, a body terminal, and a gate terminal. A gate oxide and a gate electrode, adjacent to the gate oxide, is connected to the gate terminal. A drain semiconductor region of a first conductivity type is connected to the drain terminal. A source semiconductor region of a first conductivity type is connected to the source terminal. A body terminal semiconductor region of a second conductivity type is connected to the body terminal. A body semiconductor region of the second conductivity type, is partially adjacent to the gate oxide to form a channel and is adjacent to the body terminal semiconductor region. A drift semiconductor region of the first conductivity type is adjacent to the drain semiconductor region and the body semiconductor region, wherein in the drift semiconductor region, a potential barrier is formed in a region distanced from the body semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Volker Dudek, Michael Graf, Stefan Schwantes
  • Publication number: 20070264792
    Abstract: A method for producing deep trench structures in an STI structure of a semiconductor substrate is provided, with the following successive process steps: subsequent to a full-area filling of STI recesses introduced into a semiconductor substrate with a first filler material, a first surface of a semiconductor structure is subjected to a CMP process to level the applied filler material and produce the STI structure; the leveled STI structure thus produced is structured; using the structured, leveled STI structure as a hard mask, at least one deep trench is etched in the area of this STI structure to create the deep trench structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Franz Dietz, Volker Dudek, Michael Graf, Thomas Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20070235779
    Abstract: A lateral DMOS-transistor is provided that includes a MOS-diode made of a semi-conductor material of a first type of conductivity, a source-area of a second type of conductivity and a drain-area of a second type of conductivity which is separated from the MOS-diode by a drift region made of a semi-conductor material of a second type of conductivity which is at least partially covered by a dielectric gate layer which also covers the semi-conductor material of the MOS-diode. The dielectric gate-layer comprises a first region of a first thickness and a second region of a second thickness. The first region covers the semi-conductor material of the MOS-diode and the second region is arranged on the drift region. A transition takes place from the first thickness to the second thickness such that an edge area of the drift region which is oriented towards the MOS-diode is arranged below the second area of the gate layer. The invention also relates to a method for the production of these types of DMOS-transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Franz Dietz, Volker Dudek, Thomas Hoffmann, Michael Graf, Stefan Schwantes
  • Publication number: 20070228425
    Abstract: By aligning the primary flat of a wafer with a (100) plane rather than a (110) plane, devices can be formed with primary currents flowing along the (100) plane. In this case, the device will intersect the (111) plane at approximately 54.7 degrees. This intersect angle significantly reduces stress propagation/relief along the (111) direction and consequently reduces defects as well as leakage and parasitic currents. The leakage current reduction is a direct consequence of the change in the dislocation length required to short the source-drain junction. By using this technique the leakage current is reduced by up to two orders of magnitude for an N-channel CMOS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Gayle Miller, Volker Dudek, Michael Graf
  • Publication number: 20070221965
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an electronic device and a resulting electronic device. The method includes forming a pad oxide layer on a substrate, forming a silicon nitride layer over the pad oxide layer, and forming a top oxide layer over the silicon nitride layer. A first dopant region is then formed in a first portion of the substrate. A first portion of the top oxide layer is removed; a remaining portion of the top oxide layer is used to align a second dopant mask and a second dopant region is formed. An annealing step drives-in the dopants but oxygen diffusion to the substrate is limited by the silicon nitride layer; the silicon nitride layer thereby assures that the uppermost surface of the silicon is substantially planar in an area proximate to the dopant regions after the annealing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Gayle Miller, Irwin Rathbun, Stefan Schwantes, Michael Graf, Volker Dudek
  • Publication number: 20070207589
    Abstract: A first mark, in a double-well integrated circuit technology, is formed by a first etching of a first mask layer on top of an ONO stack. After a first well is doped, a second etching occurs at the first etching sites in the uppermost layer of oxide of the ONO stack forming a first alignment artifact. A second mask layer is applied after removing the first mask layer. A second well doping occurs at second mask layer etching sites to maintain clearance between the two wells within active areas and provide an overlap of the two wells in a frame area. At the first alignment artifact in the overlap of the two wells, further etchings remove remaining layers of the ONO stack and remove silicon from the upper most layer of the semiconductor forming a second registration mark, which may be covered by a protective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Franz Dietz, Volker Dudek, Michael Graf, Stefan Schwantes, Gayle Miller
  • Publication number: 20070164443
    Abstract: Semiconductor array, with an element region (400), with a conductive substrate (100), with a buried insulation layer (200), which isolates the element region (400) from the conductive substrate (100), with at least one trench (700), which is filled with an insulation material (710) and which isolates at least one element (1000) in the element region (400) from other elements in the element region (400), with an electrical conductor (750), which is connected conductively to the conductive substrate (100), wherein the electrical conductor (750) is disposed within the trench (700) isolated by the insulation material (710), and wherein the trench (700) is formed within a recess (600) in a surface. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor array is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: ATMEL Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Florian, Michael Graf, Stefan Schwantes
  • Publication number: 20070132019
    Abstract: A lateral DMOS transistor is disclosed that includes a first region of a first conductivity type, which is surrounded on the sides by a second region of a second conductivity type, whereby a boundary line between both regions has opposite straight sections and curved sections linking the straight sections, and with a first dielectric structure, which serves as a field region and is embedded in the first region and surrounds a subregion of the first region. Whereby the first distance between the first dielectric structure and the boundary line is greater along the straight sections than along the curved sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Franz Dietz, Michael Graf, Stefan Schwantes
  • Patent number: 7230342
    Abstract: A first mark, in a double-well integrated circuit technology, is formed by a first etching of a first mask layer on top of an ONO stack. After a first well is doped, a second etching occurs at the first etching sites in the uppermost layer of oxide of the ONO stack forming a first alignment artifact. A second mask layer is applied after removing the first mask layer. A second well doping occurs at second mask layer etching sites to maintain clearance between the two wells within active areas and provide an overlap of the two wells in a frame area. At the first alignment artifact in the overlap of the two wells, further etchings remove remaining layers of the ONO stack and remove silicon from the upper most layer of the semiconductor forming a second registration mark, which may be covered by a protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Franz Dietz, Volker Dudek, Michael Graf, Stefan Schwantes, Gayle W. Miller, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20070120190
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure is disclosed. The ESD protection structure comprises an active device. The active device includes a plurality of drains. Each of the drains has a contact row and at least one body contact row. The at least one body contact row is located on the active device in a manner to reduce the amount of voltage required for triggering the ESD protection structure. A system and method in accordance with the present invention utilizes a LDNMOS transistor as ESD protection element with optimised substrate contacts. The ratio of substrate contact rows to drain contact rows is smaller than one in order to reduce the triggering voltage of the inherent bipolar transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Inventors: Stefan Schwantes, Michael Graf, Volker Dudek, Gayle Miller, Irwin Rathbun, Peter Grombach, Manfred Klaussner
  • Publication number: 20070102652
    Abstract: An ion implanter includes an ion source for generating an ion beam moving along a beam line and a vacuum or implantation chamber wherein a workpiece, such as a silicon wafer is positioned to intersect the ion beam for ion implantation of a surface of the workpiece by the ion beam. A liner has an interior facing surface that bounds at least a portion of the evacuated interior region and that comprises grooves spaced across the surface of the liner to capture contaminants generated within the interior region during operation of the ion implanter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Philip Ring, Michael Graf