Abstract: A lateral III-N device has a vertical gate module with III-N material orientated in an N-polar or a group-III polar orientation. A III-N material structure has a III-N buffer layer, a III-N barrier layer, and a III-N channel layer. A compositional difference between the III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer causes a 2DEG channel to be induced in the III-N channel layer. A p-type III-N body layer is disposed over the III-N channel layer in a source side access region but not over a drain side access region. A n-type III-N capping layer over the p-type III-N body layer. A source electrode that contacts the n-type III-N capping layer is electrically connected to the p-type III-N body layer and is electrically isolated from the 2DEG channel when the gate electrode is biased relative to the source electrode at a voltage that is below a threshold voltage.

Abstract: Described herein are lateral III-N (e.g., GaN) devices having a III-N depleting layer. A circuit includes a depletion-mode transistor with a source connected to a drain of an enhancement-mode transistor. The gate of the depletion-mode transistor and the gate of the enhancement-mode transistor are biased at zero volts, and the drain of the depletion-mode transistor is biased at positive voltage to block a current in a forward direction. Then, the bias of the gate of the enhancement-mode transistor is changed to a first voltage greater than the threshold voltage of the enhancement-mode transistor and a first current is allowed to flow through the channel in a forward direction. Then, the bias of the gate of the depletion-mode transistor is changed to a second voltage and a second current is allowed to flow through the channel in a forward direction where the second current is greater than the first current.

Abstract: Described herein are lateral III-N (e.g., GaN) devices having a III-N depleting layer. A circuit includes a depletion-mode transistor with a source connected to a drain of an enhancement-mode transistor. The gate of the depletion-mode transistor and the gate of the enhancement-mode transistor are biased at zero volts, and the drain of the depletion-mode transistor is biased at positive voltage to block a current in a forward direction. Then, the bias of the gate of the enhancement-mode transistor is changed to a first voltage greater than the threshold voltage of the enhancement-mode transistor and a first current is allowed to flow through the channel in a forward direction. Then, the bias of the gate of the depletion-mode transistor is changed to a second voltage and a second current is allowed to flow through the channel in a forward direction where the second current is greater than the first current.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a III-N device including an insulating substrate. The insulating substrate includes a first side and a second side. The device further includes a III-N material structure on a first side of the insulating substrate, and a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode on a side of the III-N material structure opposite the substrate. A backmetal layer on the second side of the insulating substrate, and a via hole is formed through the III-N material structure and the insulating substrate. A metal formed in the via-hole is electrically connected to the drain electrode on the first side of the substrate and electrically connected to the backmetal layer on the second side of the substrate.

Abstract: Described herein are lateral III-N (e.g. GaN) devices having a III-N depleting layer, for which the III-N material is formed in an N-polar orientation. The III-N device includes a III-N layer structure comprising a III-N channel layer between a III-N barrier layer and a p-type III-N depleting layer. The III-N channel layer includes a 2DEG channel formed therein. The III-N device includes a source electrode and a drain electrode, each of which being electrically connected to the 2DEG channel, and a gate electrode between the source and the drain electrodes, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. The p-type III-N depleting layer includes a first portion that is between the gate and the drain electrode and the p-type III-N depleting layer is electrically connected to the gate electrode and electrically isolated from the source and drain electrodes.

Abstract: Described herein are lateral III-N (e.g., GaN) devices having a III-N depleting layer. A circuit includes a depletion-mode transistor with a source connected to a drain of an enhancement-mode transistor. The gate of the depletion-mode transistor and the gate of the enhancement-mode transistor are biased at zero volts, and the drain of the depletion-mode transistor is biased at positive voltage to block a current in a forward direction. Then, the bias of the gate of the enhancement-mode transistor is changed to a first voltage greater than the threshold voltage of the enhancement-mode transistor and a first current is allowed to flow through the channel in a forward direction. Then, the bias of the gate of the depletion-mode transistor is changed to a second voltage and a second current is allowed to flow through the channel in a forward direction where the second current is greater than the first current.

Abstract: A transistor includes a III-N channel layer; a III-N barrier layer on the III-N channel layer; a source contact and a drain contact, the source and drain contacts electrically coupled to the III-N channel layer; an insulator layer on the III-N barrier layer; a gate insulator partially on the insulator layer and partially on the III-N channel layer, the gate insulator including an amorphous Al1-xSixO layer with 0.2<x<0.8; and a gate electrode over the gate insulator, the gate electrode being positioned between the source and drain contacts.

Abstract: A III-N device includes a III-N layer structure including a III-N channel layer, a III-N barrier layer over the III-N channel layer, and a graded III-N layer over the III-N barrier layer having a first side adjacent to the III-N barrier layer and a second side opposite the first side; a first power electrode and a second power electrode; and a gate between the first and second power electrodes, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. A composition of the graded III-N layer is graded so the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the first side is greater than the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the second side. A region of the graded III-N layer is (i) between the gate and the second power electrode, and (ii) electrically connected to the first power electrode and electrically isolated from the second power electrode.

Abstract: A transistor includes a III-N channel layer; a III-N barrier layer on the III-N channel layer; a source contact and a drain contact, the source and drain contacts electrically coupled to the III-N channel layer; an insulator layer on the III-N barrier layer; a gate insulator partially on the insulator layer and partially on the III-N channel layer, the gate insulator including an amorphous Al1-xSixO layer with 0.2<x<0.8; and a gate electrode over the gate insulator, the gate electrode being positioned between the source and drain contacts.

Abstract: A lateral III-N device has a vertical gate module with III-N material orientated in an N-polar or a group-III polar orientation. A III-N material structure has a III-N buffer layer, a III-N barrier layer, and a III-N channel layer. A compositional difference between the III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer causes a 2DEG channel to be induced in the III-N channel layer. A p-type III-N body layer is disposed over the III-N channel layer in a source side access region but not over a drain side access region. A n-type III-N capping layer over the p-type III-N body layer. A source electrode that contacts the n-type III-N capping layer is electrically connected to the p-type III-N body layer and is electrically isolated from the 2DEG channel when the gate electrode is biased relative to the source electrode at a voltage that is below a threshold voltage.

Abstract: A lateral III-N device has a vertical gate module with III-N material orientated in an N-polar or a group-III polar orientation. A III-N material structure has a III-N buffer layer, a III-N barrier layer, and a III-N channel layer. A compositional difference between the III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer causes a 2DEG channel to be induced in the III-N channel layer. A p-type III-N body layer is disposed over the III-N channel layer in a source side access region but not over a drain side access region. A n-type III-N capping layer over the p-type III-N body layer. A source electrode that contacts the n-type III-N capping layer is electrically connected to the p-type III-N body layer and is electrically isolated from the 2DEG channel when the gate electrode is biased relative to the source electrode at a voltage that is below a threshold voltage.

Abstract: A III-N device includes a III-N layer structure including a III-N channel layer, a III-N barrier layer over the III-N channel layer, and a graded III-N layer over the III-N barrier layer having a first side adjacent to the III-N barrier layer and a second side opposite the first side; a first power electrode and a second power electrode; and a gate between the first and second power electrodes, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. A composition of the graded III-N layer is graded so the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the first side is greater than the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the second side. A region of the graded III-N layer is (i) between the gate and the second power electrode, and (ii) electrically connected to the first power electrode and electrically isolated from the second power electrode.

Abstract: A III-N device includes a III-N layer structure including a III-N channel layer, a III-N barrier layer over the III-N channel layer, and a graded III-N layer over the III-N barrier layer having a first side adjacent to the III-N barrier layer and a second side opposite the first side; a first power electrode and a second power electrode; and a gate between the first and second power electrodes, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. A composition of the graded III-N layer is graded so the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the first side is greater than the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the second side. A region of the graded III-N layer is (i) between the gate and the second power electrode, and (ii) electrically connected to the first power electrode and electrically isolated from the second power electrode.

Abstract: A lateral III-N device has a vertical gate module with III-N material orientated in an N-polar or a group-III polar orientation. A III-N material structure has a III-N buffer layer, a III-N barrier layer, and a III-N channel layer. A compositional difference between the III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer causes a 2DEG channel to be induced in the III-N channel layer. A p-type III-N body layer is disposed over the III-N channel layer in a source side access region but not over a drain side access region. A n-type III-N capping layer over the p-type III-N body layer. A source electrode that contacts the n-type III-N capping layer is electrically connected to the p-type III-N body layer and is electrically isolated from the 2DEG channel when the gate electrode is biased relative to the source electrode at a voltage that is below a threshold voltage.

Abstract: A III-N enhancement-mode transistor includes a III-N structure including a conductive channel, source and drain contacts, and a gate electrode between the source and drain contacts. An insulator layer is over the III-N structure, with a recess formed through the insulator layer in a gate region of the transistor, with the gate electrode at least partially in the recess. The transistor further includes a field plate having a portion between the gate electrode and the drain contact, the field plate being electrically connected to the source contact. The gate electrode includes an extending portion that is outside the recess and extends towards the drain contact. The separation between the conductive channel and the extending portion of the gate electrode is greater than the separation between the conductive channel and the portion of the field plate that is between the gate electrode and the drain contact.

Abstract: A III-N device includes a III-N layer structure including a III-N channel layer, a III-N barrier layer over the III-N channel layer, and a graded III-N layer over the III-N barrier layer having a first side adjacent to the III-N barrier layer and a second side opposite the first side; a first power electrode and a second power electrode; and a gate between the first and second power electrodes, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. A composition of the graded III-N layer is graded so the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the first side is greater than the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the second side. A region of the graded III-N layer is (i) between the gate and the second power electrode, and (ii) electrically connected to the first power electrode and electrically isolated from the second power electrode.

Abstract: A III-N device includes a III-N layer structure including a III-N channel layer, a III-N barrier layer over the III-N channel layer, and a graded III-N layer over the III-N barrier layer having a first side adjacent to the III-N barrier layer and a second side opposite the first side; a first power electrode and a second power electrode; and a gate between the first and second power electrodes, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. A composition of the graded III-N layer is graded so the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the first side is greater than the bandgap of the graded III-N layer adjacent to the second side. A region of the graded III-N layer is (i) between the gate and the second power electrode, and (ii) electrically connected to the first power electrode and electrically isolated from the second power electrode.

Abstract: Group III-nitride devices are described that include a stack of III-nitride layers, passivation layers, and conductive contacts. The stack includes a channel layer with a 2DEG channel, a barrier layer and a spacer layer. One passivation layer directly contacts a surface of the spacer layer on a side opposite to the channel layer and is an electrical insulator. The stack of III-nitride layers and the first passivation layer form a structure with a reverse side proximate to the first passivation layer and an obverse side proximate to the barrier layer. Another passivation layer is on the obverse side of the structure. Defected nucleation and stress management layers that form a buffer layer during the formation process can be partially or entirely removed.

Abstract: A III-N enhancement-mode transistor includes a III-N structure including a conductive channel, source and drain contacts, and a gate electrode between the source and drain contacts. An insulator layer is over the III-N structure, with a recess formed through the insulator layer in a gate region of the transistor, with the gate electrode at least partially in the recess. The transistor further includes a field plate having a portion between the gate electrode and the drain contact, the field plate being electrically connected to the source contact. The gate electrode includes an extending portion that is outside the recess and extends towards the drain contact. The separation between the conductive channel and the extending portion of the gate electrode is greater than the separation between the conductive channel and the portion of the field plate that is between the gate electrode and the drain contact.

Abstract: A III-N enhancement-mode transistor includes a III-N structure including a conductive channel, source and drain contacts, and a gate electrode between the source and drain contacts. An insulator layer is over the III-N structure, with a recess formed through the insulator layer in a gate region of the transistor, with the gate electrode at least partially in the recess. The transistor further includes a field plate having a portion between the gate electrode and the drain contact, the field plate being electrically connected to the source contact. The gate electrode includes an extending portion that is outside the recess and extends towards the drain contact. The separation between the conductive channel and the extending portion of the gate electrode is greater than the separation between the conductive channel and the portion of the field plate that is between the gate electrode and the drain contact.