Patents by Inventor NICHOLAS STEPHEN DELLAS

NICHOLAS STEPHEN DELLAS 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: 20230068191
    Abstract: In a described example, an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that includes a transistor. The transistor includes a substrate, and a buffer structure overlying the substrate. The buffer structure has a first buffer layer, a second buffer layer overlying the first buffer layer, and a third buffer layer overlying the second buffer layer. The first buffer layer has a first carbon concentration, the second buffer layer has a second carbon concentration lower than the first carbon concentration, and the third buffer layer has a third carbon concentration higher than the second carbon concentration. An active structure overlies the buffer structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Stephen Dellas, Dong Seup Lee, Andinet Tefera Desalegn
  • Patent number: 11508830
    Abstract: In a described example, an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that includes a transistor. The transistor includes a substrate, and a buffer structure overlying the substrate. The buffer structure has a first buffer layer, a second buffer layer overlying the first buffer layer, and a third buffer layer overlying the second buffer layer. The first buffer layer has a first carbon concentration, the second buffer layer has a second carbon concentration lower than the first carbon concentration, and the third buffer layer has a third carbon concentration higher than the second carbon concentration. An active structure overlies the buffer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas Stephen Dellas, Dong Seup Lee, Andinet Tefera Desalegn
  • Patent number: 11424355
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate stack for a power transistor device includes thermally oxidizing a surface of a Group IIIA-N layer on a substrate to form a first dielectric layer of an oxide material that is >5 A thick. A second dielectric layer being silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride is deposited on the first dielectric layer. A metal gate electrode is formed on the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Patent number: 11394361
    Abstract: A micromechanical system (MEMS) acoustic wave resonator is formed on a base substrate. A piezoelectric member is mounted on the base substrate. The piezoelectric member has a first electrode covering a first surface of the piezoelectric member and a second electrode covering a second surface of the piezoelectric member opposite the first electrode, the second electrode being bounded by a perimeter edge. A first guard ring is positioned on the second electrode spaced apart from the perimeter edge of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ting-Ta Yen, Brian Goodlin, Ricky Alan Jackson, Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Publication number: 20220190148
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a GaN FET on a silicon substrate and a buffer layer of III-N semiconductor material, with a columnar region, a transition region surrounding the columnar region, and an inter-columnar region around the transition region. The columnar region is higher than the inter-columnar region. The GaN FET includes a gate of III-N semiconductor material with a thickness greater than twice the vertical range of the top surface of the buffer layer in the columnar region. A difference between the gate thickness over the columnar region and over the transition region is less than half of the vertical range of the top surface of the buffer layer in the columnar surface. The semiconductor device may be formed by forming a gate layer of III-N semiconductor material over the barrier layer by a gate MOVPE process using a carrier gas that includes zero to 40 percent hydrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Tatsuya Tominari, Nicholas Stephen Dellas, Qhalid Fareed
  • Publication number: 20220181466
    Abstract: In a described example, an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that includes a transistor. The transistor includes a substrate, and a buffer structure overlying the substrate. The buffer structure has a first buffer layer, a second buffer layer overlying the first buffer layer, and a third buffer layer overlying the second buffer layer. The first buffer layer has a first carbon concentration, the second buffer layer has a second carbon concentration lower than the first carbon concentration, and the third buffer layer has a third carbon concentration higher than the second carbon concentration. An active structure overlies the buffer structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas Stephen Dellas, Dong Seup Lee, Andinet Tefera Desalegn
  • Publication number: 20200274514
    Abstract: A micromechanical system (MEMS) acoustic wave resonator is formed on a base substrate. A piezoelectric member is mounted on the base substrate. The piezoelectric member has a first electrode covering a first surface of the piezoelectric member and a second electrode covering a second surface of the piezoelectric member opposite the first electrode, the second electrode being bounded by a perimeter edge. A first guard ring is positioned on the second electrode spaced apart from the perimeter edge of the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Ting-Ta Yen, Brian Goodlin, Ricky Alan Jackson, Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Patent number: 10651817
    Abstract: In described examples of a micromechanical system (MEMS), a rigid cantilevered platform is formed on a base substrate. The cantilevered platform is anchored to the base substrate by only a single anchor point. A MEMS resonator is formed on the cantilevered platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ting-Ta Yen, Brian Goodlin, Ricky Alan Jackson, Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Publication number: 20190207581
    Abstract: In described examples of a micromechanical system (MEMS), a rigid cantilevered platform is formed on a base substrate. The cantilevered platform is anchored to the base substrate by only a single anchor point. A MEMS resonator is formed on the cantilevered platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Ting-Ta Yen, Brian Goodlin, Ricky Alan Jackson, Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Patent number: 10135415
    Abstract: A method of tuning the resonant frequency of embedded bulk acoustic resonators during manufacturing of an integrated circuit. The rate of change in the resonant frequency of BAWs vs rate of change in top electrode thickness is determined and used to tune the resonant frequency of embedded bulk acoustic resonators during integrated circuit manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joel Soman, Iouri Mirgorodski, Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Patent number: 10026817
    Abstract: A microelectronic device contains a high performance silicon nitride layer which is stoichiometric within 2 atomic percent, has a low stress of 600 MPa to 1000 MPa, and has a low hydrogen content, less than 5 atomic percent, formed by an LPCVD process. The LPCVD process uses ammonia and dichlorosilane gases in a ratio of 4 to 6, at a pressure of 150 millitorr to 250 millitorr, and at a temperature of 800° C. to 820° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Patent number: 9741557
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a substrate with a semiconductor material. The semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor in and on the semiconductor material. The field effect transistor has a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor material of the semiconductor device, and a gate over the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer includes a layer of nitrogen-rich silicon nitride immediately over the region for the channel, and under the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nicholas Stephen Dellas, Naveen Tipirneni, Dong Seup Lee
  • Publication number: 20170194472
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate stack for a power transistor device includes thermally oxidizing a surface of a Group IIIA-N layer on a substrate to form a first dielectric layer of an oxide material that is >5A thick. A second dielectric layer being silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride is deposited on the first dielectric layer. A metal gate electrode is formed on the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: NICHOLAS STEPHEN DELLAS
  • Publication number: 20170179914
    Abstract: A method of tuning the resonant frequency of embedded bulk acoustic resonators during manufacturing of an integrated circuit. The rate of change in the resonant frequency of BAWs vs rate of change in top electrode thickness is determined and used to tune the resonant frequency of embedded bulk acoustic resonators during integrated circuit manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Joel Soman, Iouri Mirgorodski, Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Publication number: 20170133472
    Abstract: A microelectronic device contains a high performance silicon nitride layer which is stoichiometric within 2 atomic percent, has a low stress of 600 MPa to 1000 MPa, and has a low hydrogen content, less than 5 atomic percent, formed by an LPCVD process. The LPCVD process uses ammonia and dichlorosilane gases in a ratio of 4 to 6, at a pressure of 150 millitorr to 250 millitorr, and at a temperature of 800° C. to 820° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventor: Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Patent number: 9640620
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate stack for a power transistor device includes thermally oxidizing a surface of a Group IIIA-N layer on a substrate to form a first dielectric layer of an oxide material that is >5A thick. A second dielectric layer being silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride is deposited on the first dielectric layer. A metal gate electrode is formed on the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Patent number: 9580304
    Abstract: A microelectronic device contains a high performance silicon nitride layer which is stoichiometric within 2 atomic percent, has a low stress of 600 MPa to 1000 MPa, and has a low hydrogen content, less than 5 atomic percent, formed by an LPCVD process. The LPCVD process uses ammonia and dichlorosilane gases in a ratio of 4 to 6, at a pressure of 150 millitorr to 250 millitorr, and at a temperature of 800° C. to 820° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Publication number: 20160325987
    Abstract: A microelectronic device contains a high performance silicon nitride layer which is stoichiometric within 2 atomic percent, has a low stress of 600 MPa to 1000 MPa, and has a low hydrogen content, less than 5 atomic percent, formed by an LPCVD process. The LPCVD process uses ammonia and dichlorosilane gases in a ratio of 4 to 6, at a pressure of 150 millitorr to 250 millitorr, and at a temperature of 800° C. to 820° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Publication number: 20160126330
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate stack for a power transistor device includes thermally oxidizing a surface of a Group IIIA-N layer on a substrate to form a first dielectric layer of an oxide material that is >5 A thick. A second dielectric layer being silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride is deposited on the first dielectric layer. A metal gate electrode is formed on the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: NICHOLAS STEPHEN DELLAS