Patents by Inventor Michael Hell
Michael Hell 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).
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Publication number: 20250151324Abstract: A vertical power semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor body having opposite first and second surfaces. The SiC semiconductor body includes a transistor cell area including gate structures, a gate pad area, and an interconnection area electrically coupling a gate electrode of the gate structures and a gate pad of the gate pad area via a gate interconnection. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a sensor electrode and a first interlayer dielectric having a first interface to the sensor electrode and a second interface to at least one of the gate electrode or the gate interconnection. A conduction band offset at the first interface ranges from 1 eV to 2.5 eV. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a second interface to at least one of the gate electrode or the gate interconnection. The second interlayer dielectric laterally adjoins to the first interlayer dielectric.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2024Publication date: May 8, 2025Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Dethard Peters, Michael Hell, Andreas Hürner
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Patent number: 12294018Abstract: A power semiconductor device is proposed. The vertical power semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The SiC semiconductor body includes a transistor cell area comprising gate structures, a gate pad area, and an interconnection area electrically coupling a gate electrode of the gate structures and a gate pad of the gate pad area via a gate interconnection. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a source or emitter electrode. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a first interlayer dielectric comprising a first interface to the source or emitter electrode and a second interface to at least one of the gate electrode, or the gate interconnection, or the gate pad, and wherein a conduction band offset at the first interface ranges from 1 eV to 2.5 eV.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2024Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Thomas Aichinger, Dethard Peters, Michael Hell, Andreas Hürner
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Patent number: 12266694Abstract: A silicon carbide device includes: a transistor cell having a stripe-shaped trench gate structure extending from a first surface into a silicon carbide body, the gate structure having a gate length along a lateral first direction, a bottom surface and a first gate sidewall of the gate structure being connected via a first bottom edge of the gate structure; at least one source region of a first conductivity type in contact with the first gate sidewall; and a shielding region of a second conductivity type in contact with the first bottom edge of the gate structure across at least 20% of the gate length. No source regions of the first conductivity type are in contact with a second gate sidewall of the gate structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2023Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Caspar Leendertz, Thomas Basler, Paul Ellinghaus, Rudolf Elpelt, Michael Hell, Jens Peter Konrath, Shiqin Niu, Dethard Peters, Konrad Schraml, Bernd Leonhard Zippelius
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Publication number: 20250107202Abstract: A transistor device is disclosed. The transistor device includes a semiconductor body and plurality of transistor cells. Each transistor cell includes: a drift region and a source region of a first doping type; a body region of a second doping type complementary to the first doping type; a field shaping region of the second doping type connected to a source node; and a gate electrode connected to a gate node. The gate electrode is arranged in a trench extending from a first surface into the semiconductor body. The gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. At least portions of the gate electrode are dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a field dielectric. The field shaping region adjoins the trench. The field dielectric comprises a high-k dielectric.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2024Publication date: March 27, 2025Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Hans Weber, Michael Hell, Wolfgang Bergner, Armin Tilke, Grazvydas Ziemys, Alexey Mikhaylov, Gerald Rescher
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Publication number: 20250089343Abstract: A power semiconductor device is proposed. The power semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The SiC semiconductor body includes a transistor cell area comprising transistor cells. Each of the transistor cells includes a gate structure including a gate dielectric structure and a gate electrode structure on the gate dielectric structure. The gate dielectric structure includes a first gate dielectric layer adjoining to the SiC semiconductor body. The gate dielectric structure further includes a second gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric structure further includes charge storage layer arranged between the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2024Publication date: March 13, 2025Inventors: Andreas HÜRNER, Michael HELL, Thomas AICHINGER
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Publication number: 20250089323Abstract: A power semiconductor device is proposed. The vertical power semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The SiC semiconductor body includes a transistor cell area comprising gate structures, a gate pad area, and an interconnection area electrically coupling a gate electrode of the gate structures and a gate pad of the gate pad area via a gate interconnection. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a source or emitter electrode. The vertical power semiconductor device further includes a first interlayer dielectric comprising a first interface to the source or emitter electrode and a second interface to at least one of the gate electrode, or the gate interconnection, or the gate pad, and wherein a conduction band offset at the first interface ranges from 1 eV to 2.5 eV.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2024Publication date: March 13, 2025Inventors: Thomas AICHINGER, Dethard PETERS, Michael HELL, Andreas HÜRNER
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Publication number: 20250063775Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor having a plurality of gate trenches formed in a semiconductor substrate, the gate trenches patterning the semiconductor substrate into ridges. The transistor further includes a gate electrode arranged in at least one of the gate trenches. A source region, a channel region and a part of a current spread region are arranged in the ridges. The semiconductor device further includes a superjunction structure arranged at a larger distance to the source region than the channel region. The superjunction structure includes a first compensation region of the first conductivity type and a second compensation region of the second conductivity type. A doping concentration of the doped portion of the second conductivity type of the channel region decreases in a second horizontal direction intersecting the first horizontal direction from a region close to the gate electrode to a central portion of the ridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2024Publication date: February 20, 2025Inventors: Michael Hell, Caspar Leendertz, Rudolf Elpelt, Björn Fischer
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Publication number: 20250056869Abstract: A wide band gap semiconductor device is proposed. The wide band gap semiconductor device includes a wide band gap semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface along a vertical direction. A gate electrode structure is arranged in an active transistor area. The gate electrode structure includes a gate electrode and a gate dielectric arranged between the gate electrode and the wide band gap semiconductor body. A gate interconnection structure is arranged outside of the active transistor area. The gate interconnection structure includes an interconnection electrode and an interconnection dielectric arranged between the interconnection electrode and the wide band gap semiconductor body. Dielectric constants of a main dielectric component of at least two of i) a part of the gate interconnection dielectric, or ii) a first part of the gate dielectric, or iii) a second part of the gate dielectric differ from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2024Publication date: February 13, 2025Inventors: Fabian RASINGER, Michael HELL, Thomas AICHINGER, Alexey MIKHAYLOV
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Publication number: 20250015148Abstract: A transistor device and a method for manufacturing a transistor device are disclosed. The transistor device includes a semiconductor body and a plurality of transistor cells. Each transistor cell includes: a drift region, a body region, and a source region; a gate electrode connected to a gate node; and a field electrode connected to a source node. The gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric, and is arranged in a first trench extending from a first surface into the semiconductor body. The field electrode is dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a high-k dielectric, and is arranged in a second trench. The second trench extends from the first surface into the semiconductor body and is spaced apart from the first trench, and the field electrode extends at least as deep as the first trench into the semiconductor body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventors: Thomas AICHINGER, Wolfgang BERGNER, Hans WEBER, Michael HELL, Armin TILKE, Grazvydas ZIEMYS
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Patent number: 12176396Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide semiconductor body. A first shielding region of a first conductivity type is connected to a first contact at a first surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor body. A current spread region of a second conductivity type is connected to a second contact at a second surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor body. A doping concentration profile of the current spread region includes peaks along a vertical direction perpendicular to the first surface. A doping concentration of one peak or one peak-group of the peaks is at least 50% higher than a doping concentration of any other peak of the current spread region. A vertical distance between the one peak or the one peak-group of the current spread region and the first surface is larger than a second vertical distance between the first surface and a maximum doping peak of the first shielding region.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Michael Hell, Rudolf Elpelt, Thomas Ganner, Caspar Leendertz
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Patent number: 12119377Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a SiC substrate; a device structure in or on the SiC substrate and subject to an electric field during operation of the semiconductor device; a current-conduction region of a first conductivity type in the SiC substrate adjoining the device structure; and a shielding region of a second conductivity type laterally adjacent to the current-conduction region and configured to at least partly shield the device structure from the electric field. The shielding region has a higher net doping concentration than the current-conduction region, and has a length (L) measured from a first position which corresponds to a bottom of the device structure to a second position which corresponds to a bottom of the shielding region. The current-conduction region has a width (d) measured between opposing lateral sides of the current-conduction region, and L/d is in a range of 1 to 10.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Michael Hell, Rudolf Elpelt, Caspar Leendertz
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Publication number: 20240194778Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having an active device region that includes a plurality of device cells and a termination region between the active device region and an edge of the semiconductor substrate; a field termination structure in the termination region and including a continuous region of a first conductivity type and a plurality of rings of the first conductivity type in the continuous region and having a higher average doping concentration than the continuous region; and a charge balance structure in the active device region and including interleaved columns of the first conductivity type and of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. The charge balance structure extends into the termination region below the field termination structure such that at least an outermost one of the columns of the first conductivity type is connected to the continuous region of the field termination structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2022Publication date: June 13, 2024Inventors: Michael Hell, Rudolf Elpelt, Frank Hille, Caspar Leendertz, Armin Willmeroth
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Publication number: 20240145247Abstract: In an example, a substrate is oriented to a target axis, wherein a residual angular misalignment between the target axis and a preselected crystal channel direction in the substrate is within an angular tolerance interval. Dopant ions are implanted into the substrate using an ion beam that propagates along an ion beam axis. The dopant ions are implanted at implant angles between the ion beam axis and the target axis. The implant angles are within an implant angle range. A channel acceptance width is effective for the preselected crystal channel direction. The implant angle range is greater than 80% of a sum of the channel acceptance width and twofold the angular tolerance interval. The implant angle range is smaller than 500% of the sum of the channel acceptance width and twofold the angular tolerance interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Moriz JELINEK, Michael HELL, Caspar LEENDERTZ, Kristijan Luka MLETSCHNIG, Hans-Joachim SCHULZE
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Publication number: 20240136406Abstract: A silicon carbide device includes: a transistor cell having a stripe-shaped trench gate structure extending from a first surface into a silicon carbide body, the gate structure having a gate length along a lateral first direction, a bottom surface and a first gate sidewall of the gate structure being connected via a first bottom edge of the gate structure; at least one source region of a first conductivity type in contact with the first gate sidewall; and a shielding region of a second conductivity type in contact with the first bottom edge of the gate structure across at least 20% of the gate length. No source regions of the first conductivity type are in contact with a second gate sidewall of the gate structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Caspar Leendertz, Thomas Basler, Paul Ellinghaus, Rudolf Elpelt, Michael Hell, Jens Peter Konrath, Shiqin Niu, Dethard Peters, Konrad Schraml, Bernd Leonhard Zippelius
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Publication number: 20240096988Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor. The transistor includes gate trenches formed in a semiconductor substrate, extending in a first horizontal direction and patterning the semiconductor substrate into ridges. The ridges are arranged between two adjacent gate trenches, respectively. The transistor further includes a gate electrode arranged in at least one of the gate trenches, a source region of a first conductivity type, a channel region, and a drift region of the first conductivity type. The source region, channel region and a part of the drift region are arranged in the ridges. The gate electrode is insulated from the channel region and the drift region. The channel region includes a doped portion of a second conductivity type. A doping concentration of the doped portion decreases in a second horizontal direction intersecting the first horizontal direction from a region close to the gate electrode to a central portion of the ridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Michael Hell, Rudolf Elpelt
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Publication number: 20240072122Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor including transistor cells. Each transistor cells has a gate electrode arranged in gate trenches formed in a first portion of a silicon carbide substrate and extending in a first horizontal direction, a source region, a channel region, and a current-spreading region. The source region, channel region, and at least part of the current-spreading region are arranged in ridges patterned by the gate trenches. The transistor cells further include a body contact portion of the second conductivity type arranged in a second portion of the silicon carbide substrate and electrically connected to the channel region. The transistor cells further include a shielding region of the second conductivity type. A first portion of the shielding region is arranged below the gate trenches, respectively, and a second portion of the shielding region is arranged adjacent to a sidewall of the gate trenches, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Michael Hell, Rudolf Elpelt, Caspar Leendertz, Bernd Zippelius, Dethard Peters
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Patent number: 11908694Abstract: In an example, a substrate is oriented to a target axis, wherein a residual angular misalignment between the target axis and a preselected crystal channel direction in the substrate is within an angular tolerance interval. Dopant ions are implanted into the substrate using an ion beam that propagates along an ion beam axis. The dopant ions are implanted at implant angles between the ion beam axis and the target axis. The implant angles are within an implant angle range. A channel acceptance width is effective for the preselected crystal channel direction. The implant angle range is greater than 80% of a sum of the channel acceptance width and twofold the angular tolerance interval. The implant angle range is smaller than 500% of the sum of the channel acceptance width and twofold the angular tolerance interval.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Moriz Jelinek, Michael Hell, Caspar Leendertz, Kristijan Luka Mletschnig, Hans-Joachim Schulze
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Patent number: 11888032Abstract: A method of producing a silicon carbide (SiC) device includes: forming a stripe-shaped trench gate structure that extends from a first surface of a SiC body into the SiC body, the gate structure having a gate length along a lateral first direction, a bottom surface and a first gate sidewall of the gate structure being connected via a first bottom edge of the gate structure; forming at least one source region of a first conductivity type; and forming a shielding region of a second conductivity type in contact with the first bottom edge of the gate structure across at least 20% of the gate length. Forming the shielding region includes: forming a deep shielding portion; and forming a top shielding portion between the first surface and the deep shielding portion, the top shielding portion being in contact with the first bottom edge.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Caspar Leendertz, Thomas Basler, Paul Ellinghaus, Rudolf Elpelt, Michael Hell, Jens Peter Konrath, Shiqin Niu, Dethard Peters, Konrad Schraml, Bernd Leonhard Zippelius
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Patent number: 11757031Abstract: According to an embodiment of a semiconductor device, the device includes: a plurality of device cells formed in a semiconductor substrate, each device cell including a transistor structure and a Schottky diode structure; and a superjunction structure that includes alternating regions of a first conductivity type and of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor substrate. For each transistor structure, a channel region of the transistor structure and a Schottky metal region of an adjacent one of the Schottky diode structures are interconnected by semiconductor material of the first conductivity type without interruption by any of the regions of the second conductivity type of the superjunction structure, the semiconductor material of the first conductivity type including one or more of the regions of the first conductivity type of the superjunction structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Michael Hell, Rudolf Elpelt, Caspar Leendertz
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Patent number: 11626477Abstract: A semiconductor component includes: gate structures extending from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body; a drift zone of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC semiconductor body; first mesas and second mesas arranged between the gate structures in the SiC semiconductor body; body areas of a second conductivity type arranged in the first mesas and the second mesas, the body areas each adjoining a first side wall of one of the gate structures; first shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining a second side wall of one of the gate structures; second shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining the body areas in the second mesas; and diode areas of the conductivity type of the drift zone, the diode areas forming Schottky contacts with a load electrode between the first shielding areas and the second shielding areas.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Thomas Basler, Wolfgang Bergner, Rudolf Elpelt, Romain Esteve, Michael Hell, Daniel Kueck, Caspar Leendertz, Dethard Peters, Hans-Joachim Schulze