Patents by Inventor Ralf Siemieniec

Ralf Siemieniec 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: 20170040312
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body including first and second lateral surfaces. A first device region includes a drift region of a first conductivity type, and a drift current control region of a second conductivity type being spaced apart from the second lateral surface by the drift region. A second device region includes a barrier layer, and a buffer layer having a different band gap than the barrier layer so that a two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel arises along an interface between the buffer layer and the barrier layer. An electrically conductive substrate contact forms a low ohmic connection between the two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel and the drift region. A gate structure is configured to control a conduction state of the two-dimensional charge carrier gas. The drift current control region is configured to block a vertical current in the drift region via a space-charge region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Publication number: 20170033212
    Abstract: A transistor cell includes a drift region, a source region, and a body region arranged between the source region and the drift region in a semiconductor body. A drain region is below the drift region. An insulated gate trench extends into the drift region. A diode region extends deeper into the drift region than the insulated gate trench and partly under the insulated gate trench so as to form a pn junction with the drift region below a bottom of the insulated gate trench. The body region adjoins a first sidewall of the insulated gate trench and the diode region adjoins a second sidewall of the insulated gate trench opposite the first sidewall so that the body region of the transistor cell and a channel region including a region of the body region extending along the first sidewall are separated from the diode region by the insulated gate trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Wolfgang Bergner, Romain Esteve, Dethard Peters
  • Patent number: 9543414
    Abstract: A silicon-carbide semiconductor substrate having a plurality of first doped regions being laterally spaced apart from one another and beneath a main surface, and a second doped region extending from the main surface to a third doped region that is above the first doped regions is formed. Fourth doped regions extending from the main surface to the first doped regions are formed. A gate trench having a bottom that is arranged over a portion of one of the first doped regions is formed. A high-temperature step is applied to the substrate so as to realign silicon-carbide atoms along sidewalls of the trench and form rounded corners in the gate trench. A surface layer that forms along the sidewalls of the gate trench during the high-temperature step from the substrate is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Romain Esteve, Dethard Peters, Wolfgang Bergner, Ralf Siemieniec, Thomas Aichinger, Daniel Kueck
  • Patent number: 9543386
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes field electrode structures extending in a direction vertical to a first surface in a semiconductor body. Cell mesas are formed from portions of the semiconductor body between the field electrode structures and include body zones that form first pn junctions with a drift zone. Gate structures between the field electrode structures control a current flow through the body zones. Auxiliary diode structures with a forward voltage lower than the first pn junctions are electrically connected in parallel with the first pn junctions, wherein semiconducting portions of the auxiliary diode structures are formed in the cell mesas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Martin Henning Vielemeyer
  • Patent number: 9536960
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode adjacent to a body region in a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a field electrode in a field plate trench in the main surface, the field plate trench having an extension length in a first direction parallel to a main surface. The extension length is less than the double of an extension length in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction parallel to the main surface. The extension length in the first direction is more than half of the extension length in the second direction. The field electrode is insulated from an adjacent drift zone by means of a field dielectric layer. A field plate material of the field electrode has a resistivity in a range from 105 to 10?1 Ohm·cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: David Laforet, Franz Hirler, Oliver Blank, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Publication number: 20160365441
    Abstract: A transistor cell includes, in a semiconductor body, a drift region of a first doping type, a source region of the first doping type, a body region of a second doping type, and a drain region of the first doping type. The body region is arranged between the source and drift regions. The drift region is arranged between the body and drain regions. A gate electrode is adjacent the body region and dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric, and a field electrode is dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a field electrode dielectric. The drift region includes an avalanche region having a higher doping concentration than sections of the drift region adjacent the avalanche region and which is spaced apart from the field electrode dielectric in a direction perpendicular to the current flow direction. The field electrode is arranged in a needle-shaped trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Markus Zundel, Karl-Heinz Bach, Franz Hirler, Christian Kampen, Werner Schustereder
  • Publication number: 20160322489
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes compensation structures that extend from a first surface into a semiconductor portion. Sections of the semiconductor portion between neighboring ones of the compensation structures form semiconductor mesas. A field dielectric separating a field electrode in the compensation structures from the semiconductor portion includes a thermally grown portion, which directly adjoins the semiconductor portion. A not fully densified deposited portion of the field dielectric has a lower density than the thermally grown portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: RALF SIEMIENIEC, OLIVER BLANK, MARIO KLEINDIENST, STEFAN KRAMP
  • Patent number: 9478655
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body and at least one device cell integrated in the semiconductor body. Each device cell includes: a drift region, a source region, and a body region arranged between the source and drift regions; a diode region and a pn junction between the diode and drift regions; a trench having a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a bottom, the body region adjoining the first sidewall, the diode region adjoining the second sidewall, and the pn junction adjoining the bottom; a gate electrode in the trench and dielectrically insulated from the body, diode and drift regions by a gate dielectric. The diode region has a lower diode region arranged below the trench bottom, and the lower diode region has a maximum of a doping concentration distant to the trench bottom. A corresponding method of manufacturing the device also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Wolfgang Bergner, Romain Esteve, Dethard Peters
  • Publication number: 20160300914
    Abstract: A method for producing a field-effect semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor body with a first surface defining a vertical direction, defining an active area, forming a vertical trench from the first surface into the semiconductor body, forming a field dielectric layer at least on a side wall and a bottom wall of the vertical trench, depositing a conductive layer on the field dielectric layer, forming a closed cavity on the conductive layer in the vertical trench, and forming an insulated gate electrode on the closed cavity in the vertical trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Stefan Sedlmaier, Markus Zundel, Franz Hirler, Johannes Baumgartl, Anton Mauder, Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Michael Hutzler
  • Publication number: 20160300913
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second load contacts and a semiconductor region extending along an extension direction. A surface region is arranged above and coupled to the semiconductor region. At least one control electrode is arranged within the surface region. At least one connector trench extends into the semiconductor region along the extension direction and includes a connector electrode. A contact pad is arranged within the surface region. A contact runner is arranged within the surface region and placed separately from both the contact pad and the at least one control electrode, the contact pad, the contact runner and the at least one control electrode being electrically coupled to each other. Either both the contact pad and the contact runner or both the contact runner and the at least one control electrode are electrically connected to the connector electrode of the at least one connector trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Franz Hirler
  • Publication number: 20160293714
    Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a transistor cell array having transistor cells in a semiconductor body. A planar gate structure is on the semiconductor body at a first side. Field electrode trenches extend into the semiconductor body from the first side. Each of the field electrode trenches includes a field electrode structure. A depth d of the field electrode trenches is greater than a maximum lateral dimension wmax of the field electrode trenches at the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Hutzler, Franz Hirler, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Publication number: 20160293751
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes gate fins extending from a first surface into a semiconductor portion. The gate fins include gate electrodes and are arranged along element lines, wherein longitudinal axes of the gate fins are parallel to the element lines. Column sections of the semiconductor portion separate the gate fins from each other along the element lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, David Laforet
  • Patent number: 9450062
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor structure having source zones of a first conductivity type and body zones of a second conductivity type which is the opposite of the first conductivity type, the source zones adjoining a first surface of a semiconductor die comprising the source and the body zones. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric layer adjoining the first surface and polysilicon plugs extending through openings in the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the source and the body zones. The polysilicon plugs have silicide crystallites in portions distant to the semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Michael Hutzler, Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank
  • Publication number: 20160260829
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes trench structures that extend from a first surface into a semiconductor body. The trench structures include a gate structure and a contact structure that extends through the gate structure, respectively. Transistor mesas are between the trench structures. Each transistor mesa includes a body zone forming a first pn junction with a drift structure and a second pn junction with a source zone. Diode regions directly adjoin one of the contact structures form a third pn junction with the drift structure, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Aichinger, Romain Esteve, Dethard Peters, Roland Rupp, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Patent number: 9431499
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a heterostructure body with a first doped region, a second doped region spaced apart from the first doped region and a two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel between the first and second doped regions, and forming a gate structure on the heterostructure body for controlling the channel, the gate structure comprising a piezoelectric material and an electrical conductor in contact with the piezoelectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Gilberto Curatola
  • Publication number: 20160248422
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a switching circuit includes a high voltage depletion mode transistor having a first leakage current and operatively connected in a cascode arrangement to a low voltage enhancement mode transistor having a second leakage current. The second leakage current is larger than the first leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Oliver Haeberlen, Ralf Siemieniec
  • Publication number: 20160225884
    Abstract: A semiconductor component is disclosed. One embodiment includes a semiconductor body including a first semiconductor layer having at least one active component zone, a cell array with a plurality of trenches, and at least one cell array edge zone. The cell array edge zone is only arranged in an edge region of the cell array, adjoining at least one trench of the cell array, and being at least partially arranged below the at least one trench in the cell array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Ralf Siemieniec, Christian Geissler, Oliver Blank, Maximilian Roesch
  • Patent number: 9406763
    Abstract: A field-effect semiconductor device is provided. The field-effect semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body with a first surface defining a vertical direction. In a vertical cross-section the field-effect semiconductor device further includes a vertical trench extending from the first surface into the semiconductor body and comprising a field electrode, a cavity at least partly surrounded by the field electrode, and an insulation structure substantially surrounding at least the field electrode. An interface between the insulation structure and the surrounding semiconductor body is under tensile stress and the cavity is filled or unfilled so as to counteract the tensile stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Stefan Sedlmaier, Markus Zundel, Franz Hirler, Johannes Baumgartl, Anton Mauder, Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Michael Hutzler
  • Patent number: 9384983
    Abstract: A method for producing a vertical semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and comprising an n-doped first semiconductor layer, forming a hard mask on the first surface, the hard mask comprising openings defining first zones in the n-doped first semiconductor layer, implanting acceptor ions of a first maximum energy through the hard mask into the first zones, replacing the hard mask by an inverted mask comprising openings that are substantially complementary to the openings of the hard mask; implanting acceptor ions of a second maximum energy different to the first maximum energy through the inverted mask into second zones of the n-doped first semiconductor layer, and carrying out at least one temperature step to activate the acceptor ions in the first zones and the second zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Jens Peter Konrath
  • Publication number: 20160190121
    Abstract: A semiconductor body has a drift region layer, a body region layer adjoining the drift region layer, and a source region layer adjoining the body region layer and forming a first surface of the semiconductor body. At least two diode regions extend from the first surface through the source and body region layers into the drift region layer. Each diode region and the drift region layer form one pn-junction. At least two trenches have first and second opposing sidewalls and a bottom such that each trench adjoins the body region layer on one sidewall, one diode region on the second sidewall and one pn-junction on the bottom. In each trench, a gate dielectric dielectrically insulates a gate electrode from the semiconductor body. Sections of the source and body region layers remaining after forming the diode regions form source regions and body regions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Dethard Peters, Romain Esteve