Patents by Inventor Robert J. Mears

Robert J. Mears 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: 12267996
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device may include an array of DRAM cells, with each DRAM cell configured to store a high logic voltage and a low logic voltage. The DRAM device may further include a precharge circuit configured to selectively provide a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage to a first line and a second line, respectively, and a sense amplifier comprising a cross-coupled transistor sensing circuit coupled between the first line and second line. The sense amplifier may include at least one transistor including a superlattice channel. The DRAM device may further include a refresh circuit configured to selectively couple a third reference voltage to a corresponding DRAM cell via the first line and based upon a voltage difference between the first line and the second line, with the third reference voltage being greater than the high logic voltage of the DRAM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Atomera Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Stephen Roy, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 12191160
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming first and second superlattices adjacent a semiconductor layer. Each of the first and second superlattices may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The second superlattice may have a greater thermal stability with respect to non-semiconductor atoms therein than the first superlattice. The method may further include heating the first and second superlattices to cause non-semiconductor atoms from the first superlattice to migrate toward the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of the second superlattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 12142641
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include forming source and drain regions on a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and forming a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, the method may include forming at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 12119380
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice adjacent a semiconductor layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice may comprise oxygen and be devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice may comprise carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 12020926
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device may include a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, and an RF ground plane layer on the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate including a conductive superlattice. The conductive superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions. The RF semiconductor device may further include a body above the RF ground plane layer, spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body, and a gate overlying the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 12014923
    Abstract: A method for making a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device may include forming an RF ground plane layer on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and including a conductive superlattice. The conductive superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a body above the RF ground plane layer, forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body, and forming a gate overlying the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Robert J. Mears
  • Publication number: 20240194740
    Abstract: A semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions on the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: KEITH DORAN WEEKS, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11978771
    Abstract: A semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions on the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11848356
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice adjacent a semiconductor layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice may comprise oxygen and be devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice may comprise carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11837634
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer and a superlattice adjacent the semiconductor layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice may comprise oxygen and be devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice may comprise carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20230363150
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device may include an array of DRAM cells, with each DRAM cell configured to store a high logic voltage and a low logic voltage. The DRAM device may further include a precharge circuit configured to selectively provide a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage to a first line and a second line, respectively, and a sense amplifier comprising a cross-coupled transistor sensing circuit coupled between the first line and second line. The sense amplifier may include at least one transistor including a superlattice channel. The DRAM device may further include a refresh circuit configured to selectively couple a third reference voltage to a corresponding DRAM cell via the first line and based upon a voltage difference between the first line and the second line, with the third reference voltage being greater than the high logic voltage of the DRAM cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Stephen Roy, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 11742202
    Abstract: A method for making a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device may include forming an RF ground plane layer on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and including a conductive superlattice. The conductive superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a body above the RF ground plane layer, forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body, and forming a gate overlying the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 11664427
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having at least one trench therein, and a superlattice layer extending vertically adjacent the at least one trench. The superlattice layer may comprise stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer. Each at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of each group of layers may be constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The vertical semiconductor device may also include a doped semiconductor layer adjacent the superlattice layer, and a conductive body adjacent the doped semiconductor layer on a side thereof opposite the superlattice layer and defining a vertical semiconductor device contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Richard Burton, Dmitri Choutov, Nyles Wynn Cody, Daniel Connelly, Robert J. Mears, Erwin Trautmann
  • Publication number: 20220285153
    Abstract: A method for making a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device may include forming an RF ground plane layer on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and including a conductive superlattice. The conductive superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a body above the RF ground plane layer, forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body, and forming a gate overlying the channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 11430869
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice on a substrate comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. Moreover, forming at least one of the base semiconductor portions may include overgrowing the at least one base semiconductor portion and etching back the overgrown at least one base semiconductor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 11387325
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having at least one trench therein, and a superlattice liner at least partially covering sidewall portions of the at least one trench and defining a gap between opposing sidewall portions of the superlattice liner. The superlattice liner may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer, with each at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of each group being constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The device may also include a semiconductor layer on the superlattice liner and including a dopant constrained therein by the superlattice liner, and a conductive body within the at least one trench defining a source contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Richard Burton, Dmitri Choutov, Nyles Wynn Cody, Daniel Connelly, Robert J. Mears, Erwin Trautmann
  • Patent number: 11183565
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a hyper-abrupt junction region carried by the substrate. The hyper-abrupt region may include a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, a first superlattice layer on the first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer on the first superlattice layer and having a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type, and a second superlattice layer on the second semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device may further include a gate dielectric layer on the second superlattice layer of the hyper-abrupt junction region, a gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, and spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the hyper-abrupt junction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Burton, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 10937868
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a hyper-abrupt junction region above a substrate and including a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, a first superlattice layer on the first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer on the first superlattice layer and having a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type, and a second superlattice layer on the second semiconductor layer. The method may further include forming a gate dielectric layer on the second superlattice layer of the hyper-abrupt junction region, forming a gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, and forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the hyper-abrupt junction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Burton, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 10937888
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a hyper-abrupt junction region above a substrate and including a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, a first superlattice layer on the first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer on the first superlattice layer and having a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type, and a second superlattice layer on the second semiconductor layer. The method may further include forming a first contact coupled to the hyper-abrupt junction region and a second contact coupled to the substrate to define a varactor. The first and second superlattices may each include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Burton, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears
  • Publication number: 20210020749
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a hyper-abrupt junction region carried by the substrate. The hyper-abrupt region may include a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, a first superlattice layer on the first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer on the first superlattice layer and having a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type, and a second superlattice layer on the second semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device may further include a gate dielectric layer on the second superlattice layer of the hyper-abrupt junction region, a gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, and spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the hyper-abrupt junction region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Burton, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears