Patents by Inventor Robert Bruce Davies

Robert Bruce Davies 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: 8216925
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having a trench adjacent to a current carrying region of the device. The trench is formed having a depth greater than the depth of a tub region of the device. Increasing the trench depth moves a region of higher field strength from the tub region to a region along the trench. The region along the trench does not have a junction and may withstand the higher field strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20120048100
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a flash suppressor comprising at least one gas channel where a portion of the gases exhausted from a barrel when a projectile is emitted is directed into the at least one gas channel, where the at least one gas channel has a channel axis that is at a non-zero angle with respect to a bore axis, and where the at least one gas channel directs a gas portion to an ambient environment surrounding the flash suppressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: 8076724
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having lower gate-to-drain capacitance. The semiconductor device having an active region (1300) and a dielectric platform region (1310). A trench (80) is formed adjacent to a drain (20) of the semiconductor device to a first depth. The etch process for forming trench (80) etches the dielectric platform region (1310) to a first depth. A second trench (210) is etched in trench (80) to further isolate areas in the active region (1300). The etch process for forming the second trench (210) etches the dielectric platform region (1310) to form a support structure for the dielectric platform in the substrate. The dielectric platform, the trench (80), and the second trench (210) is capped and sealed. The dielectric platform is made approximately planar to the major surface of the substrate by forming the support structure from the first depth to the second depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: 8022485
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having reduced input capacitance is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a pedestal region having a gate overlying a sidewall of the pedestal region and gate interconnect overlying a major surface of the pedestal region. The pedestal region includes a conductive shield layer (260). The conductive shield layer (260) is isolated from the gate of the transistor by more than one dielectric layer (330, 340, and 350) to reduce input capacitance. The pedestal region includes an air gap region (1525) to further lower the dielectric constant of the pedestal region between the gate/gate interconnect and the conductive shield layer (260).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: 8008719
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having lower gate to drain capacitance. A trench (80) is formed adjacent to a drain (20) of the semiconductor device. Trench (80) has a sidewall surface (100) and a surface (90). A doped region (110) is implanted through the sidewall surface (100) of trench (80). A dielectric layer (150) overlies the sidewall surface (100) of trench (80). A shield layer (170) overlies the dielectric layer (150). The shield layer (170) is between a portion of drain (20) and a portion of the gate and gate interconnect of the semiconductor device thereby reducing gate to drain capacitance. The shield layer (170) overlies a minority portion of the surface (90) of trench (80). A second shield layer (270) further reduces gate to drain capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: 8008720
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having a pedestal. The pedestal includes at least two dielectric layers. The pedestal has a sidewall and a major surface. A conductive layer is formed overlying the pedestal. A vertical portion of the conductive layer adjacent to the sidewall of the pedestal is a gate of the transistor. The portion of the conductive layer overlying the major surface can be used as interconnect. The gate and gate interconnect are contiguous and formed in a single process. A conductive shield layer may be integrated into the pedestal. The conductive shield layer functions as a faraday shield that reduces gate to drain capacitance of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: 7999250
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first semiconductor material over the semiconductor substrate, and a second semiconductor material over a portion the first semiconductor material, wherein the second semiconductor material comprises silicon-germanium-carbon (SiGeC) and wherein the first semiconductor material is a silicon epitaxial layer. The semiconductor structure further includes an active device, wherein a portion of the active device is formed in the second semiconductor material and a dielectric structure extending from the first surface of the first semiconductor material into the semiconductor substrate through the first semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventors: Bishnu Prasanna Gogoi, Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: 7898057
    Abstract: A power transistor includes a plurality of transistor cells. Each transistor cell has a first electrode coupled to a first electrode interconnection region overlying a first major surface, a control electrode coupled to a control electrode interconnection region overlying the first major surface, and a second electrode coupled to a second electrode interconnection region overlying a second major surface. Each transistor cell has an approximately constant doping concentration in the channel region. A dielectric platform is used as an edge termination of an epitaxial layer to maintain substantially planar equipotential lines therein. The power transistor finds particular utility in radio frequency applications operating at a frequency greater than 500 megahertz and dissipating more than 5 watts of power. The semiconductor die and package are designed so that the power transistor can efficiently operate under such severe conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Davies, Warren Leroy Seely, Jeanne S Pavio
  • Publication number: 20110045664
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having a trench adjacent to a current carrying region of the device. The trench is formed having a depth greater than the depth of a tub region of the device. Increasing the trench depth moves a region of higher field strength from the tub region to a region along the trench. The region along the trench does not have a junction and may withstand the higher field strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: HVVI SEMICONDUCTORS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20110016762
    Abstract: A handguard system for use on a rifle having a barrel and a receiver, the hand guard system includes a barrel nut having an inner surface with a threaded portion adapted to threadably engage the receiver for securing the barrel to the receiver and an outer surface, and a tubular handguard having an end. The tubular handguard is receivable about the barrel and is received about the barrel nut, engaging the outer surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: 7847350
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having a trench adjacent to a current carrying region of the device. The trench is formed having a depth greater than the depth of a tub region of the device. Increasing the trench depth moves a region of higher field strength from the tub region to a region along the trench. The region along the trench does not have a junction and may withstand the higher field strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: 7847369
    Abstract: A power transistor includes a plurality of transistor cells. Each transistor cell has a first electrode coupled to a first electrode interconnection region overlying a first major surface, a control electrode coupled to a control electrode interconnection region overlying the first major surface, and a second electrode coupled to a second electrode interconnection region overlying a second major surface. Each transistor cell has an approximately constant doping concentration in the channel region. A dielectric platform is used as an edge termination of an epitaxial layer to maintain substantially planar equipotential lines therein. The power transistor finds particular utility in radio frequency applications operating at a frequency greater than 500 megahertz and dissipating more than 5 watts of power. The semiconductor die and package are designed so that the power transistor can efficiently operate under such severe conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20100103578
    Abstract: In various embodiments, circuits and semiconductor devices and structures and methods to manufacture these structures and devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bidirectional polarity, voltage transient protection device is disclosed. The voltage transient protection device may include a bipolar PNP transistor having a turn-on voltage of VBE1, a bipolar NPN transistor having a turn-on voltage of VBE2, and a field effect transistor (FET) having a threshold voltage of VTH, wherein a turn-on voltage VTO of the voltage transient protection device is approximately equal to the sum of VBE1, VBE2, and VTH, that is, VTO?VBE1+VBE2+VTH. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: HVVI SEMICONDUCTORS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20100090269
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having a trench adjacent to a current carrying region of the device. The trench is formed having a depth greater than the depth of a tub region of the device. Increasing the trench depth moves a region of higher field strength from the tub region to a region along the trench. The region along the trench does not have a junction and may withstand the higher field strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20100090275
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having lower gate-to-drain capacitance. The semiconductor device having an active region (1300) and a dielectric platform region (1310). A trench (80) is formed adjacent to a drain (20) of the semiconductor device to a first depth. The etch process for forming trench (80) etches the dielectric platform region (1310) to a first depth. A second trench (210) is etched in trench (80) to further isolate areas in the active region (1300). The etch process for forming the second trench (210) etches the dielectric platform region (1310) to form a support structure for the dielectric platform in the substrate. The dielectric platform, the trench (80), and the second trench (210) is capped and sealed. The dielectric platform is made approximately planar to the major surface of the substrate by forming the support structure from the first depth to the second depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20100090291
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having reduced input capacitance is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a pedestal region having a gate overlying a sidewall of the pedestal region and gate interconnect overlying a major surface of the pedestal region. The pedestal region includes a conductive shield layer (260). The conductive shield layer (260) is isolated from the gate of the transistor by more than one dielectric layer (330, 340, and 350) to reduce input capacitance. The pedestal region includes an air gap region (1525) to further lower the dielectric constant of the pedestal region between the gate/gate interconnect and the conductive shield layer (260).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20100090273
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having lower gate to drain capacitance. A trench (80) is formed adjacent to a drain (20) of the semiconductor device. Trench (80) has a sidewall surface (100) and a surface (90). A doped region (110) is implanted through the sidewall surface (100) of trench (80). A dielectric layer (150) overlies the sidewall surface (100) of trench (80). A shield layer (170) overlies the dielectric layer (150). The shield layer (170) is between a portion of drain (20) and a portion of the gate and gate interconnect of the semiconductor device thereby reducing gate to drain capacitance. The shield layer (170) overlies a minority portion of the surface (90) of trench (80). A second shield layer (270) further reduces gate to drain capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20100090272
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed having a pedestal. The pedestal includes at least two dielectric layers. The pedestal has a sidewall and a major surface. A conductive layer is formed overlying the pedestal. A vertical portion of the conductive layer adjacent to the sidewall of the pedestal is a gate of the transistor. The portion of the conductive layer overlying the major surface can be used as interconnect. The gate and gate interconnect are contiguous and formed in a single process. A conductive shield layer may be integrated into the pedestal. The conductive shield layer functions as a faraday shield that reduces gate to drain capacitance of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Publication number: 20100032750
    Abstract: A power transistor includes a plurality of transistor cells. Each transistor cell has a first electrode coupled to a first electrode interconnection region overlying a first major surface, a control electrode coupled to a control electrode interconnection region overlying the first major surface, and a second electrode coupled to a second electrode interconnection region overlying a second major surface. Each transistor cell has an approximately constant doping concentration in the channel region. A dielectric platform is used as an edge termination of an epitaxial layer to maintain substantially planar equipotential lines therein. The power transistor finds particular utility in radio frequency applications operating at a frequency greater than 500 megahertz and dissipating more than 5 watts of power. The semiconductor die and package are designed so that the power transistor can efficiently operate under such severe conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: HVVI SEMICONDUCTORS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies
  • Patent number: RE41581
    Abstract: A method for forming a low dielectric constant insulator in a monolithic substrate and the dielectric formed by the method. The method includes formation and patterning of a mask on a silicon substrate followed by anisotropic etching of the silicon to provide a dense array of deep holes. Isotropic etching may be used to form a cavity beneath the dense array of holes and coupling to bottoms of the holes. Sides of the holes are then thermally oxidized. A conventional dielectric is then formed, sealing tops of the holes. The conventional dielectric is optionally densified. Conventional chemical-mechanical polishing then planarizes the dielectric and further conventional processing may be carried out on the wafer to form active circuitry together with passive components such as high Q inductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Davies