Patents by Inventor Oliver Blanke

Oliver Blanke 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: 20250029920
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a semiconductor die includes a base substrate having a first major surface, a second major surface opposing the first major surface, and a material other than a Group III nitride. A Group III nitride layer arranged on the first major surface of the base substrate includes a Group III nitride device. A first metallization structure is arranged on the Group III nitride layer and a second metallization structure is arranged on the second major surface of the base layer. The second metallization structure includes an electrically insulating inorganic layer arranged directly on the second major surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Oliver Blank, Elvir Kahrimanovic, Gerhard Prechtl, Gerhard Thomas Nöbauer, Edward Andrew Jones, Alessandro Ferrara
  • Patent number: 12166080
    Abstract: The application relates to a semiconductor transistor device, having a source region, a body region including a channel region extending in a vertical direction, a drain region, a gate region arranged aside the channel region in a lateral direction, and a body contact region made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the body contact region forms a body contact area, the body contact region being in an electrical contact with the body region via the body contact area, and wherein the body contact area is tilted with respect to the vertical direction and the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Li Juin Yip, Oliver Blank, Heimo Hofer, Michael Hutzler, Thomas Ralf Siemieniec
  • Publication number: 20240405120
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of transistor cells formed in a semiconductor body. The plurality of transistor cells includes: a plurality of stripe-shape gate trenches formed in a first main surface of the semiconductor body; and a plurality of field plate trenches separate from the stripe-shape gate trenches. At least one field plate trench is laterally interposed between each pair of neighboring stripe-shape gate trenches. Each stripe-shape gate trench includes a gate electrode, a gate dielectric between the gate electrode and a sidewall of the stripe-shape gate trench, and an oxide between the gate electrode and a bottom of the stripe-shape gate trench, the oxide having a vertical thickness that is greater than eight times a lateral thickness of the gate dielectric and/or greater than a vertical thickness of the gate electrode. A method of producing the semiconductor device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy Henson, Harsh Naik, Oliver Blank, Gerhard Thomas Nöbauer
  • Patent number: 12080789
    Abstract: A semiconductor die is described. The semiconductor die includes a semiconductor body having an active region, a metallization formed on the semiconductor body, and a passivation formed on the metallization. The metallization includes at least one of a titanium layer, a titanium nitride layer, and a tungsten layer. The passivation includes a silicon oxide layer. Corresponding methods of manufacturing and using the semiconductor die are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Oliver Blank, Heimo Hofer, Andreas Kleinbichler, Martin Poelzl
  • Publication number: 20240266392
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first major surface; a trench positioned in the semiconductor substrate and having a width, a base, and a side wall extending from the base to the first major surface; a first electrically insulating layer that lines the base and the side wall of the trench; and an electrically insulating plug that is positioned in the trench and that extends across the entire width of the trench. The plug has a lower surface that forms an interface with the first electrically insulating layer and an upper surface. The upper surface of the plug is coplanar with the first major surface of the semiconductor substrate or positioned within the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Christof Altstätter, Ingmar Neumann, Oliver Blank, Heimo Hofer
  • Patent number: 12046563
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a semiconductor wafer is provided that includes a plurality of component positions with scribe line regions located at least one of adjacent to and between the component positions. The component positions include an active device structure. An auxiliary structure is positioned in one or more of the scribe line regions. The auxiliary structure is electrically coupled to an auxiliary contact pad which includes tungsten. The auxiliary structure does not interact with or affect the active device structure in the component positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Oliver Blank
  • Publication number: 20240194580
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. A signal routing structure is disposed above the semiconductor substrate. The signal routing structure comprises a specific metal. A solderable power pad forms a power terminal of the power semiconductor device. The solderable power pad comprises the specific metal. An electrically insulating dielectric passivation layer is disposed between the solderable power pad and the signal routing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Susanne Schulte, Scott David Wallace, Oliver Blank
  • Patent number: 11973016
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die having a vertical transistor device with a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode, the semiconductor die having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. A first metallization structure is located on the first surface and includes at least one source pad coupled to the source electrode, at least one drain pad coupled to the drain electrode and at least one gate pad coupled to the gate electrode, A second metallization structure is electrically insulated from the semiconductor die by the electrically insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Elvir Kahrimanovic, Gerhard Noebauer, Oliver Blank, Alessandro Ferrara
  • Publication number: 20240105784
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a major surface, a trench extending from the major surface into the substrate and having a base and a side wall extending form the base to the major surface, and a field plate arranged in the trench and having a height f. The field plate is electrically insulated from the substrate by a dielectric structure arranged in the trench. The dielectric structure includes a first portion having a first dielectric constant and a second portion having a second dielectric constant higher than the first dielectric constant. The first portion is arranged in a lower portion of the trench. The second portion is arranged in an upper portion of the trench, a thickness x, and overlaps the height of the field plate by a distance v1, where f*0.1?v1?f*0.8 or f*0.3?v1?f*0.6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank
  • Publication number: 20240072785
    Abstract: An electronic circuit and a method are disclosed. The electronic circuit includes: a first transistor device having a load path between a first load path node and a second load path node; and a clamping circuit connected to the load path of the first transistor device. The clamping circuit includes: a second transistor device having a load path connected in parallel with the load path of the first transistor device, and a control node; and a drive circuit configured to drive the second transistor device. The drive circuit includes a clamping element and a resistor connected in series between the first and second load path nodes of the first transistor device. The drive circuit is configured to drive the second transistor device dependent on a voltage across the resistor. The first transistor device and the clamping circuit are integrated in a same semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Adrian Finney, Oliver Blank, Gerhard Prechtl, Dirk Ahlers, Gerhard Nöbauer, Marius Aurel Bodea, Joachim Schönle, Oliver Häberlen
  • Patent number: 11876041
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die including a vertical transistor device having a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode, the semiconductor die having a first surface and a metallization structure. The metallization structure includes a first conductive layer above the first surface, a first insulating layer above the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer above the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer above the second conductive layer and a third conductive layer above the second insulting layer. The third conductive layer includes at least one source pad electrically coupled to the source electrode, at least one drain pad electrically coupled to the drain electrode and at least one gate pad electrically coupled to the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Oliver Blank, Gerhard Noebauer
  • Patent number: 11862692
    Abstract: A transistor device includes field plate contacts that electrically connect a final metallization layer to field electrodes in underlying trenches, and mesa contacts that electrically connect the final metallization layer to semiconductor mesas confined by the trenches. Each field plate contact is divided into field plate contact segments that are separated from one another. Each mesa contact is divided into mesa contact segments that are separated from one another. In a first area adjacent to an end of the trenches, a first line that runs perpendicular to the trenches intersects a first field plate contact segment of the field plate contacts and a first mesa contact segment of the mesa contacts. In a second area spaced inward from the first area, a second line that runs perpendicular to the trenches intersects a second field plate contact segment of the field plate contacts and a second mesa contact segment of the mesa contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Oliver Blank
  • Publication number: 20230343871
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a trench formed in a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; a field plate electrode in the trench and reaching a same level as the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; an insulating material that separates the field plate electrode from the semiconductor substrate; and a material embedded in the field plate electrode. The field plate electrode is made of a different material than the material embedded in the field plate electrode. The trench adjoins a region of the semiconductor substrate through which current flows in a first direction during operation of the semiconductor device. Additional device embodiments and methods of producing the semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Karner, Oliver Blank, Günter Denifl, Germano Galasso, Saurabh Roy, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Michael Stadtmueller
  • Publication number: 20230307512
    Abstract: The application relates to a semiconductor die having a semiconductor body including an active region, an insulation layer on the semiconductor body, and a sodium stopper formed in the insulation layer. The sodium stopper is arranged in an insulation layer groove which intersects the insulation layer vertically and extends around the active region. The sodium stopper is formed of a tungsten material that at least partly fills the insulation layer groove. Both the insulation layer groove and the tungsten material extend into the semiconductor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Oliver Blank, Christof Altstätter, Ingmar Neumann
  • Patent number: 11728427
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; an electrode structure on or in the semiconductor substrate, the electrode structure including an electrode and an insulating material that separates the electrode from the semiconductor substrate; and a strain-inducing material embedded in the electrode. The electrode structure adjoins a region of the semiconductor substrate through which current flows in a first direction during operation of the semiconductor device. The electrode is under either tensile or compressive stress in the first direction. The strain-inducing material either enhances or at least partly counteracts the stress of the electrode in the first direction. Methods of producing the semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Stefan Karner, Oliver Blank, Günter Denifl, Germano Galasso, Saurabh Roy, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Michael Stadtmueller
  • Patent number: 11721638
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a semiconductor body, an insulation layer on the semiconductor body, a scribeline region designated to be subjected to a wafer separation processing stage, and an optically detectable reference feature laterally spaced inward from the scribeline region and configured to serve as a reference position during the wafer separation processing stage. A corresponding method of processing the semiconductor wafer, a power semiconductor die and a semiconductor wafer separation apparatus are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Oliver Blank
  • Publication number: 20230246071
    Abstract: The application relates to a semiconductor transistor device, having a source region, a body region including a channel region extending in a vertical direction, a drain region, a gate region arranged aside the channel region in a lateral direction, and a body contact region made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the body contact region forms a body contact area, the body contact region being in an electrical contact with the body region via the body contact area, and wherein the body contact area is tilted with respect to the vertical direction and the lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Li Juin Yip, Oliver Blank, Heimo Hofer, Michael Hutzler, Thomas Ralf Siemieniec
  • Publication number: 20230230903
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip is provided. The semiconductor chip may include a front side including a control chip contact and a first controlled chip contact, a back side including a second controlled chip contact, a backside metallization formed over the back side in contact with the second controlled chip contact, and a stop region extending at least partially along an outer edge of the back side between a contact portion of the backside metallization and the outer edge of the back side. The contact portion is configured to be attached to an electrically conductive structure by a die attach material, a surface of the stop region is recessed with respect to a surface of the contact portion, and/or the surface of the stop region has a lower wettability with respect to the die attach material than the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hooi Boon TEOH, Hao ZHUANG, Oliver BLANK, Paul Armand CALO, Markus DINKEL, Josef Höglauer, Daniel Hölzl, Wee Aun JASON LIM, Gerhard Thomas Nöbauer, Ralf OTREMBA, Martin Pölzl, Ying Pok SAM, Xaver Schlögel, Chee Voon TAN
  • Patent number: 11699725
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure extending from a first surface of a semiconductor portion into a mesa section between neighboring field electrode structures and an alignment layer formed on the first surface. The alignment layer includes mask pits formed in the alignment layer in a vertical projection of the field electrode structures. Sidewalls of the mask pits have a smaller tilt angle with respect to the first surface than sidewalls of the field electrode structures. The gate structure is in the vertical projection of a gap between neighboring mask pits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Martin Poelzl, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Maximilian Roesch, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 11699726
    Abstract: The application relates to a semiconductor die having a semiconductor body including an active region, an insulation layer on the semiconductor body, and a sodium stopper formed in the insulation layer. The sodium stopper is arranged in an insulation layer groove which intersects the insulation layer vertically and extends around the active region. The sodium stopper is formed of a tungsten material filling the insulation layer groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Oliver Blank, Christof Altstaetter, Ingmar Neumann