Patents by Inventor Ralf Rudolf

Ralf Rudolf 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: 20250120117
    Abstract: A FET includes a transistor cell which includes: a source region at a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; a drain region spaced along a first lateral direction from the source region; a trench gate structure arranged, along the first lateral direction, between the source and drain regions; a body region adjoining the trench gate structure; and a body contact region. At least one of the following conditions is satisfied: a first vertical distance from the body contact region bottom side to a vertical reference level at the first surface is larger than a second vertical distance from the source region bottom side to the vertical reference level; and a first lateral distance from an edge of the body contact region to a lateral reference level at the drain region is smaller than a second lateral distance from an edge of the source region to the lateral reference level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Andreas Hoffmann, Ralf Rudolf, Christian Kampen, Jonas Mertens
  • Publication number: 20250113567
    Abstract: A lateral high voltage semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a frontside and a semiconductor element. The semiconductor element includes: a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type formed within the semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor region formed within the semiconductor substrate and spaced apart from the first semiconductor region in a first lateral direction parallel to the frontside; and an extension region adjoining the second semiconductor region. The semiconductor device is configured to control a load current between the first and second semiconductor regions. The extension region extends along the frontside of the semiconductor substrate and includes at least one mesa protruding at the frontside of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Lars Müller-Meskamp, Ralf Rudolf, Franz Hirler, Fabian Geisenhof, Tom Peterhänsel, Annett Winzer, Dirk Priefert, Thomas Künzig, Felix Simon Winterer, Dirk Manger
  • Publication number: 20240363700
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a silicon layer having an electrically insulated backside and a thickness in a range of 10 ?m to 200 ?m between a frontside of the silicon layer and the electrically insulated backside; a high voltage region and a low voltage region formed in the silicon layer and laterally spaced apart from one another; and a first field plate structure extending from the frontside into the silicon layer. The first field plate structure includes a field plate laterally separated from the silicon layer by a dielectric material and/or a pn junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Lars Mueller-Meskamp, Ralf Rudolf, Anton Mauder, Annett Winzer, Dirk Priefert, Christian Schippel, Thomas Kuenzig
  • Publication number: 20240304627
    Abstract: A gate driver circuit includes a low side part and a high side part. The low side part outputs a first gate drive signal between a first gate output and a first reference potential. The high side part generates a high side data signal and outputs a second gate drive signal between a second gate output and a second reference potential. A p-channel junction field effect transistor structure passes the high side data signal to the low side part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Ralf RUDOLF, Dirk PRIEFERT, Remigiusz Viktor BOGUSZEWICZ
  • Publication number: 20240290882
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a silicon layer having a frontside and an electrically insulated backside; a first trench extending through the silicon layer from the frontside to the electrically insulated backside and laterally isolating a first region of the silicon layer; an electrically conductive material in the first trench; a dielectric material separating the electrically conductive material from silicon material of the silicon layer; and a plurality of silicon plugs laterally surrounded by the dielectric material and dividing the electrically conductive material into a plurality of separate segments in the first trench. Additional embodiments of semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing the semiconductor devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Annett Winzer, Lars Mueller-Meskamp, Ralf Rudolf, Tom Peterhaensel, Birgit von Ehrenwall, Frido Erler, Dirk Manger
  • Publication number: 20230238459
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, an electronic element and laterally separated trench isolation structures. The semiconductor layer includes an element region having an inner region, an outer region on opposite sides of the inner region, and a transition region that laterally separates the inner region and the outer region. The electronic element includes a first doped region formed in the inner region and a second doped region formed in the outer region. The trench isolation structures are formed at least in the transition region. Each trench isolation structure extends from a first surface of the semiconductor layer into the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Lars Müller-Meskamp, Ralf Rudolf, Annett Winzer, Christian Schippel, Thomas Künzig, Dirk Priefert
  • Publication number: 20230140348
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer with an inner portion, an outer portion laterally surrounding the inner portion, and a transition portion laterally surrounding the inner portion and separating the inner portion and the outer portion. A first electric element includes a first doped region formed in the inner portion and a second doped region formed in the outer portion. The first electric element is configured to at least temporarily block a voltage applied between the first doped region and the second doped region. A trench isolation structure extends from a first surface into the semiconductor layer and segments at least one of the inner portion, the transition portion, and the outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Lars Müller-Meskamp, Ralf Rudolf, Dirk Priefert, Annett Winzer, Thomas Künzig, Christian Schippel
  • Publication number: 20230075374
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an insulator layer and a semiconductor layer formed on the insulator layer. The semiconductor layer includes a first region of a first conductivity type, a second region of a second conductivity type, and a lightly doped extension region of the first conductivity type separating the first region and the second region along a lateral x-axis. A dielectric structure laterally surrounds the semiconductor layer. At least one of the first region and the lightly doped extension region is formed at a distance to the dielectric structure along a lateral y-axis orthogonal to the x-axis. Along the x-axis and between the second region and the first region, a lateral extension of the semiconductor layer along the y-axis increases with increasing distance to the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventor: Ralf Rudolf
  • Patent number: 10581429
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes: a drive circuit having an output coupled to a control node of a first electronic switch; a switch circuit with second electronic switches, load paths of the second electronic switches being connected in series, and the switch circuit being connected between a first load node of the first electronic switch and a reference node; and a level shifter coupled between a first signal input and an input of the drive circuit and including cascaded level shifter cells. Each level shifter cell includes a signal input and output, and first and second supply nodes. Each level shifter cell is associated with a respective second electronic switch. The first supply node of each level shifter cell is coupled to a first load node of the associated second electronic switch, and the second supply node is coupled to a second load node of the associated second electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Dresden GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Weis, Ralf Rudolf, Herwig Wappis
  • Patent number: 10546920
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. A first semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type is on the semiconductor substrate. A buried semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type is on the first semiconductor layer. A second semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type is on the buried semiconductor layer. A trench extends through each of the second semiconductor layer, the buried semiconductor layer, and the first semiconductor layer, and into the semiconductor substrate. An insulating structure lines walls of the trench. A conductive filling in the trench is electrically coupled to the semiconductor substrate at a bottom of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Ralf Rudolf
  • Patent number: 10468248
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method is provided. The method may include forming a buried electrically charged region at a predefined position in a first layer in such a way that the buried electrically charged region generates an electric field having a lateral inhomogeneous field distribution above the first layer, and forming a second layer above the first layer using the field distribution in such a way that a structure of the second layer correlates with the position of the buried electrically charged region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Heiko Aßmann, Felix Braun, Marcus Dankelmann, Stefan Doering, Karsten Friedrich, Udo Goetschkes, Andreas Greiner, Ralf Rudolf, Jens Schneider
  • Publication number: 20190312114
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type on the semiconductor substrate, such that a first section of a pn junction is formed between the semiconductor layer and the semiconductor substrate. A trench structure extends through the semiconductor layer into the semiconductor substrate. The trench structure includes an insulation structure and a contact structure. The insulation structure is formed between the semiconductor layer and the contact structure. The contact structure is electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate at a bottom of the trench. A first semiconductor region of the second conductivity type adjoins the insulation structure and extends along the trench structure into a depth range between the first section of the pn junction and the bottom, such that a second section of the pn junction is formed between the first semiconductor region and the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Ralf Rudolf
  • Publication number: 20180351549
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes: a drive circuit having an output coupled to a control node of a first electronic switch; a switch circuit with second electronic switches, load paths of the second electronic switches being connected in series, and the switch circuit being connected between a first load node of the first electronic switch and a reference node; and a level shifter coupled between a first signal input and an input of the drive circuit and including cascaded level shifter cells. Each level shifter cell includes a signal input and output, and first and second supply nodes. Each level shifter cell is associated with a respective second electronic switch. The first supply node of each level shifter cell is coupled to a first load node of the associated second electronic switch, and the second supply node is coupled to a second load node of the associated second electronic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Rolf Weis, Ralf Rudolf, Herwig Wappis
  • Publication number: 20180240868
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. A first semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type is on the semiconductor substrate. A buried semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type is on the first semiconductor layer. A second semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type is on the buried semiconductor layer. A trench extends through each of the second semiconductor layer, the buried semiconductor layer, and the first semiconductor layer, and into the semiconductor substrate. An insulating structure lines walls of the trench. A conductive filling in the trench is electrically coupled to the semiconductor substrate at a bottom of the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Ralf Rudolf
  • Patent number: 9899470
    Abstract: A method of forming a power semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type extending to a first side and having a first doping concentration of first dopants providing majority charge carriers of a first electric charge type in the layer, and forming a deep trench isolation including forming a trench which extends from the first side into the semiconductor layer and includes, in a vertical cross-section perpendicular to the first side, a wall, forming a compensation semiconductor region of the first conductivity type at the wall and having a second doping concentration of the first dopants higher than the first doping concentration, and filling the trench with a dielectric material. The amount of first dopants in the compensation semiconductor region is such that a field-effect of fixed charges of the first electric charge type which are trapped in the trench is at least partly compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Marko Lemke, Knut Stahrenberg, Ralf Rudolf, Rolf Weis
  • Publication number: 20170345892
    Abstract: A method of forming a power semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type extending to a first side and having a first doping concentration of first dopants providing majority charge carriers of a first electric charge type in the layer, and forming a deep trench isolation including forming a trench which extends from the first side into the semiconductor layer and includes, in a vertical cross-section perpendicular to the first side, a wall, forming a compensation semiconductor region of the first conductivity type at the wall and having a second doping concentration of the first dopants higher than the first doping concentration, and filling the trench with a dielectric material. The amount of first dopants in the compensation semiconductor region is such that a field-effect of fixed charges of the first electric charge type which are trapped in the trench is at least partly compensated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Marko Lemke, Knut Stahrenberg, Ralf Rudolf, Rolf Weis
  • Publication number: 20170294299
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method is provided. The method may include forming a buried electrically charged region at a predefined position in a first layer in such a way that the buried electrically charged region generates an electric field having a lateral inhomogeneous field distribution above the first layer, and forming a second layer above the first layer using the field distribution in such a way that a structure of the second layer correlates with the position of the buried electrically charged region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Heiko Assmann, Felix Braun, Marcus Dankelmann, Stefan Doering, Karsten Friedrich, Udo Goetschkes, Andreas Greiner, Ralf Rudolf, Jens Schneider
  • Publication number: 20170040317
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first side. At least a first doping region is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The first doping region has a laterally varying doping dosage and/or a laterally varying implantation depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Stefan Tegen, Martin Bartels, Marko Lemke, Ralf Rudolf, Rolf Weis
  • Publication number: 20160343848
    Abstract: A Transistor arrangement in a semiconductor body comprises a power transistor with at least two transistor cells, each transistor cell arranged in a semiconductor fin of the semiconductor body and with a voltage limiting device with at least two device cells. Each device cell is arranged adjacent a transistor cell in the semiconductor fin of the respective transistor cell and the voltage limiting device is separated from the power transistor by a dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Martin Bartels, Marko Lemke, Ralf Rudolf, Stefan Tegen, Rolf Weis
  • Patent number: 9406550
    Abstract: A method for forming an insulation structure in a semiconductor body includes forming a trench extending from a first surface into a semiconductor body, the trench having a first width in a horizontal direction of the semiconductor body, and forming a void spaced apart from the first surface in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body, the void having a second width in a horizontal direction that is greater than the first width, wherein the trench and the void are arranged adjacent to each other in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Marko Lemke, Rolf Weis, Ralf Rudolf