Patents by Inventor Richard A. Phelps

Richard A. Phelps 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).

  • Patent number: 8598660
    Abstract: A lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (LDMOS transistor) employs a stress layer that enhances carrier mobility (i.e., on-current) while also maintaining a high breakdown voltage for the device. High breakdown voltage is maintained, because an increase in doping concentration of the drift region is minimized. A well region and a drift region are formed in the substrate adjacent to one another. A first shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed on and adjacent to the well region, and a second STI region is formed on and adjacent to the drift region. A stress layer is deposited over the LDMOS transistor and in the second STI region, which propagates compressive or tensile stress into the drift region, depending on the polarity of the stress layer. A portion of the stress layer can be removed over the gate to change the polarity of stress in the inversion region below the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renata Camillo-Castillo, Erik Mattias Dahlstrom, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Ephrem G. Gebreselasie, Richard A. Phelps, Jed Hickory Rankin, Yun Shi
  • Publication number: 20130313607
    Abstract: Device structures, fabrication methods, operating methods, and design structures for a silicon controlled rectifier. The method includes applying a mechanical stress to a region of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) at a level sufficient to modulate a trigger current of the SCR. The device and design structures include a SCR with an anode, a cathode, a first region, and a second region of opposite conductivity type to the first region. The first and second regions of the SCR are disposed in a current-carrying path between the anode and cathode of the SCR. A layer is positioned on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate relative to the first region and configured to cause a mechanical stress in the first region of the SCR at a level sufficient to modulate a trigger current of the SCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renata Camillo-Castillo, Erik M. Dahlstrom, Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Ephrem G. Gebreselasie, Richard A. Phelps, Yun Shi, Andreas D. Stricker
  • Patent number: 8586423
    Abstract: Device structures, fabrication methods, operating methods, and design structures for a silicon controlled rectifier. The method includes applying a mechanical stress to a region of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) at a level sufficient to modulate a trigger current of the SCR. The device and design structures include a SCR with an anode, a cathode, a first region, and a second region of opposite conductivity type to the first region. The first and second regions of the SCR are disposed in a current-carrying path between the anode and cathode of the SCR. A layer is positioned on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate relative to the first region and configured to cause a mechanical stress in the first region of the SCR at a level sufficient to modulate a trigger current of the SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renata Camillo-Castillo, Erik M. Dahlstrom, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Ephrem G. Gebreselasie, Richard A. Phelps, Yun Shi, Andreas Stricker
  • Publication number: 20130299938
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Zener diode having a scalable reverse-bias breakdown voltage (Vb) as a function of the position of a cathode contact region relative to the interface between adjacent cathode and anode well regions. Specifically, cathode and anode contact regions are positioned adjacent to corresponding cathode and anode well regions and are further separated by an isolation region. However, while the anode contact region is contained entirely within the anode well region, one end of the cathode contact region extends laterally into the anode well region. The length of this end can be predetermined in order to selectively adjust the Vb of the diode (e.g., increasing the length reduces Vb of the diode and vice versa). Also disclosed are an integrated circuit, incorporating multiple instances of the diode with different reverse-bias breakdown voltages, a method of forming the diode and a design structure for the diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Frederick G. Anderson, Natalie B. Feilchenfeld, David L. Harmon, Richard A. Phelps, Yun Shi, Michael J. Zierak
  • Patent number: 8564067
    Abstract: Disclosed is semiconductor structure with an insulator layer on a semiconductor substrate and a device layer is on the insulator layer. The substrate is doped with a relatively low dose of a dopant having a given conductivity type such that it has a relatively high resistivity. Additionally, a portion of the semiconductor substrate immediately adjacent to the insulator layer can be doped with a slightly higher dose of the same dopant, a different dopant having the same conductivity type or a combination thereof. Optionally, micro-cavities are created within this same portion so as to balance out any increase in conductivity due to increased doping with a corresponding increase in resistivity. Increasing the dopant concentration at the semiconductor substrate-insulator layer interface raises the threshold voltage (Vt) of any resulting parasitic capacitors and, thereby reduces harmonic behavior. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for forming such a semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Alvin J. Joseph, Max G. Levy, Richard A. Phelps, James A. Slinkman, Randy L. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8536035
    Abstract: Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structures and related methods of forming such structures. In one case, a method includes providing a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) handle substrate having: a substantially uniform resistivity profile along a depth of the handle substrate; and an interstitial oxygen (Oi) concentration of less than approximately 10 parts per million atoms (ppma). The method further includes counter-doping a surface region of the handle, causing the surface region to have a resistivity greater than approximately 3 kOhm-cm, and joining the surface region of the handle substrate with a donor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, Mark D. Jaffe, Alvin J. Joseph, Kenneth F. McAvey, Gerd Pfeiffer, Richard A. Phelps
  • Publication number: 20130196493
    Abstract: Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structures and related methods of forming such structures. In one case, a method includes providing a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) handle substrate having: a substantially uniform resistivity profile along a depth of the handle substrate; and an interstitial oxygen (Oi) concentration of less than approximately 10 parts per million atoms (ppma). The method further includes counter-doping a surface region of the handle, causing the surface region to have a resistivity greater than approximately 3 kOhm-cm, and joining the surface region of the handle substrate with a donor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, Mark D. Jaffe, Alvin J. Joseph, Kenneth F. McAvey, Gerd Pfeiffer, Richard A. Phelps
  • Patent number: 8492866
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Zener diode having a scalable reverse-bias breakdown voltage (Vb) as a function of the position of a cathode contact region relative to the interface between adjacent cathode and anode well regions. Specifically, cathode and anode contact regions are positioned adjacent to corresponding cathode and anode well regions and are further separated by an isolation region. However, while the anode contact region is contained entirely within the anode well region, one end of the cathode contact region extends laterally into the anode well region. The length of this end can be predetermined in order to selectively adjust the Vb of the diode (e.g., increasing the length reduces Vb of the diode and vice versa). Also disclosed are an integrated circuit, incorporating multiple instances of the diode with different reverse-bias breakdown voltages, a method of forming the diode and a design structure for the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick G. Anderson, Natalie B. Feilchenfeld, David L. Harmon, Richard A. Phelps, Yun Shi, Michael J. Zierak
  • Patent number: 8492294
    Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and a related semiconductor structure, as well as a method for fabricating the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and the related semiconductor structure, provide for a multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region located and formed within a base semiconductor substrate at a location beneath an interface of a buried dielectric layer with the base semiconductor substrate within the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region may comprise an ion implanted atom, such as but not limited to a noble gas atom, to provide a suppressed multiple order radio frequency harmonic when powering a radio frequency device, such as but not limited to a radio frequency complementary metal oxide semiconductor device (or alternatively a passive device), located and formed within and upon a surface semiconductor layer within the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Greco, Kevin Munger, Richard A. Phelps, Jennifer C. Robbins, William Savaria, James A. Slinkman, Randy L. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20130175656
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Zener diode having a scalable reverse-bias breakdown voltage (Vb) as a function of the position of a cathode contact region relative to the interface between adjacent cathode and anode well regions. Specifically, cathode and anode contact regions are positioned adjacent to corresponding cathode and anode well regions and are further separated by an isolation region. However, while the anode contact region is contained entirely within the anode well region, one end of the cathode contact region extends laterally into the anode well region. The length of this end can be predetermined in order to selectively adjust the Vb of the diode (e.g., increasing the length reduces Vb of the diode and vice versa). Also disclosed are an integrated circuit, incorporating multiple instances of the diode with different reverse-bias breakdown voltages, a method of forming the diode and a design structure for the diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick G. Anderson, Natalie B. Feilchenfeld, David L. Harmon, Richard A. Phelps, Yun Shi, Michael J. Zierak
  • Patent number: 8481380
    Abstract: A junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) for an integrated circuit (IC) chip is provided comprising a source region, a drain region, a lower gate, and a channel, with an insulating shallow trench isolation (STI) region extending from an inner edge of an upper surface of the source region to an inner edge of an upper surface of the drain region, without an intentionally doped region, e.g., an upper gate, coplanar with an upper surface of the IC chip between the source/drain regions. In addition, an asymmetrical quasi-buried upper gate can be included, disposed under a portion of the STI region, but not extending under a portion of the STI region proximate to the drain region. Embodiments of this invention also include providing an implantation layer, under the source region, to reduce Ron. A related method and design structure are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xuefeng Liu, Richard A. Phelps, Robert M. Rassel, Xiaowei Tian
  • Patent number: 8471340
    Abstract: Disclosed is semiconductor structure with an insulator layer on a semiconductor substrate and a device layer is on the insulator layer. The substrate is doped with a relatively low dose of a dopant having a given conductivity type such that it has a relatively high resistivity. Additionally, a portion of the semiconductor substrate immediately adjacent to the insulator layer can be doped with a slightly higher dose of the same dopant, a different dopant having the same conductivity type or a combination thereof. Optionally, micro-cavities are created within this same portion so as to balance out any increase in conductivity due to increased doping with a corresponding increase in resistivity. Increasing the dopant concentration at the semiconductor substrate-insulator layer interface raises the threshold voltage (Vt) of any resulting parasitic capacitors and, thereby reduces harmonic behavior. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for forming such a semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Alvin J. Joseph, Max G. Levy, Richard A. Phelps, James A. Slinkman, Randy L. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8466501
    Abstract: An asymmetric silicon-on-insulator (SOI) junction field effect transistor (JFET) and a method. The JFET includes a bottom gate on an insulator layer, a channel region on the bottom gate and, on the channel region, source/drain regions and a top gate between the source/drain regions. STIs isolate the source/drain regions from the top gate and a DTI laterally surrounds the JFET to isolate it from other devices. Non-annular well(s) are positioned adjacent to the channel region and bottom gate (e.g., a well having the same conductivity type as the top and bottom gates can be connected to the top gate and can extend down to the insulator layer, forming a gate contact on only a portion of the channel region, and/or another well having the same conductivity type as the channel and source/drain regions can extend from the source region to the insulator layer, forming a source-to-channel strap).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas B. Hershberger, Richard A. Phelps, Robert M. Rassel, Stephen A. St. Onge, Michael J. Zierak
  • Publication number: 20130134518
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate comprising a handle wafer, a buried oxide (BOX) layer on top of the handle wafer, and a top silicon layer on top of the BOX layer; and an implantation region located in the top silicon layer, the implantation region comprising a noble gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan B. Botula, William F. Clark, JR., Richard A. Phelps, BethAnn Rainey, Yun Shi, James A. Slinkman
  • Publication number: 20130005157
    Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and a related semiconductor structure, as well as a method for fabricating the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and the related semiconductor structure, provide for a multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region located and formed within a base semiconductor substrate at a location beneath an interface of a buried dielectric layer with the base semiconductor substrate within the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region may comprise an ion implanted atom, such as but not limited to a noble gas atom, to provide a suppressed multiple order radio frequency harmonic when powering a radio frequency device, such as but not limited to a radio frequency complementary metal oxide semiconductor device (or alternatively a passive device), located and formed within and upon a surface semiconductor layer within the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Greco, Kevin Munger, Richard A. Phelps, Jennifer C. Robbins, William Savaria, James A. Slinkman, Randy L. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120326766
    Abstract: Device structures, fabrication methods, operating methods, and design structures for a silicon controlled rectifier. The method includes applying a mechanical stress to a region of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) at a level sufficient to modulate a trigger current of the SCR. The device and design structures include a SCR with an anode, a cathode, a first region, and a second region of opposite conductivity type to the first region. The first and second regions of the SCR are disposed in a current-carrying path between the anode and cathode of the SCR. A layer is positioned on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate relative to the first region and configured to cause a mechanical stress in the first region of the SCR at a level sufficient to modulate a trigger current of the SCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Renata Camillo-Castillo, Erik M. Dahlstrom, Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Ephrem G. Gebreselasie, Richard A. Phelps, Yun Shi, Andreas D. Stricker
  • Publication number: 20120306014
    Abstract: A lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (LDMOS transistor) employs a stress layer that enhances carrier mobility (i.e., on-current) while also maintaining a high breakdown voltage for the device. High breakdown voltage is maintained, because an increase in doping concentration of the drift region is minimized. A well region and a drift region are formed in the substrate adjacent to one another. A first shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed on and adjacent to the well region, and a second STI region is formed on and adjacent to the drift region. A stress layer is deposited over the LDMOS transistor and in the second STI region, which propagates compressive or tensile stress into the drift region, depending on the polarity of the stress layer. A portion of the stress layer can be removed over the gate to change the polarity of stress in the inversion region below the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Renata Camillo-Castillo, Erik Mattias Dahlstrom, Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Ephrem G. Gebreselasie, Richard A. Phelps, Jed Hickory Rankin, Yun Shi
  • Publication number: 20120292669
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to junction gate field effect transistor (JFET) structures and methods of forming the same. The JFET structure includes a p-type substrate having a p-region therein; an n-channel thereunder; and n-doped enhancement regions within the n-channel, each n-doped enhancement region separated from the p-region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Panglijen Candra, Richard A. Phelps, Robert M. Rassel, Yun Shi
  • Patent number: 8299537
    Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and a related semiconductor structure, as well as a method for fabricating the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and the related semiconductor structure, provide for a multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region located and formed within a base semiconductor substrate at a location beneath an interface of a buried dielectric layer with the base semiconductor substrate within the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region may comprise an ion implanted atom, such as but not limited to a noble gas atom, to provide a suppressed multiple order radio frequency harmonic when powering a radio frequency device, such as but not limited to a radio frequency complementary metal oxide semiconductor device (or alternatively a passive device), located and formed within and upon a surface semiconductor layer within the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Greco, Kevin Munger, Richard A. Phelps, Jennifer C. Robbins, William Savaria, James A. Slinkman, Randy L. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8242584
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip is provided comprising at least one trench including a stress-inducing material which imparts a stress on a channel region of a device, such as a junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) or a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renata A. Camillo-Castillo, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Richard A. Phelps, Robert M. Rassel, Andreas D. Stricker