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: 10825901
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a hyper-abrupt junction region carried by the substrate. The hyper-abrupt junction region may include a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, a superlattice layer on the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer on the superlattice layer and having a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type. The first, second, and the superlattice layers may be U-shaped. The semiconductor device may further include a gate dielectric layer on the second semiconductor 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 3, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Burton, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 10825902
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a hyper-abrupt junction region carried by the substrate. The hyper-abrupt junction 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 first contact coupled to the hyper-abrupt junction regions 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 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Burton, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 10818755
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming spaced apart source and drain regions in a semiconductor layer with a channel region extending therebetween. At least one of the source and drain regions may be divided into a lower region and an upper region by a dopant diffusion blocking superlattice with the upper region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the lower region. The dopant diffusion blocking 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 method may further include forming a gate on the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Daniel Connelly, Marek Hytha, Richard Burton, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 10811498
    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: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 10777451
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having a trench therein, and a superlattice liner at least partially covering bottom and sidewall portions of the trench. The superlattice liner 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 semiconductor device may further include a semiconductor cap layer on the superlattice liner and having a dopant constrained therein by the superlattice liner, and a conductive body within the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Richard Burton, Dmitri Choutov, Nyles Wynn Cody, Daniel Connelly, Robert J Mears, Erwin Trautmann
  • Patent number: 10741436
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming first and second spaced apart shallow trench isolation (STI) regions in a semiconductor substrate, and forming a superlattice on the semiconductor substrate and extending between the first and second STI regions. The superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, 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 method may also include forming a first semiconductor stringer comprising a non-monocrystalline body at an interface between a first end of the superlattice and the first STI region, and forming a gate above the superlattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Scott A. Kreps, Robert J. Mears, Kalipatnam Vivek Rao
  • Patent number: 10727049
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a recess in a substrate including a first Group IV semiconductor, forming an active layer comprising a Group III-V semiconductor within the recess, and forming a buffer layer between the substrate and active layer and comprising a second Group IV semiconductor. The method may further include forming an impurity and point defect blocking superlattice layer adjacent the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20200161429
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming spaced apart source and drain regions in a semiconductor layer with a channel region extending therebetween. At least one of the source and drain regions may be divided into a lower region and an upper region by a dopant diffusion blocking superlattice with the upper region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the lower region. The dopant diffusion blocking 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 method may further include forming a gate on the channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: HIDEKI TAKEUCHI, DANIEL CONNELLY, MAREK HYTHA, RICHARD BURTON, ROBERT J. MEARS
  • Publication number: 20200161425
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming spaced apart source and drain regions in a semiconductor layer with a channel region extending therebetween, and forming a gate on the channel region. The method may further include forming a body contact in the semiconductor layer and including a body contact dopant diffusion blocking superlattice extending through the body contact to divide the body contact into a first body contact region and an second body contact region with the second body contact region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the first body contact region. The body contact dopant diffusion blocking superlattice may include a respective 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: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: HIDEKI TAKEUCHI, Daniel Connelly, Marek Hytha, Richard Burton, Robert J. Mears
  • Publication number: 20200161428
    Abstract: A method for making a FINFET may include forming spaced apart source and drain regions in a semiconductor fin with a channel region extending therebetween. At least one of the source and drain regions may be divided into a lower region and an upper region by a dopant diffusion blocking superlattice, with the upper region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the lower region. The dopant diffusion blocking 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 method may further include forming a gate on the channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: HIDEKI TAKEUCHI, Daniel Connelly, Marek Hytha, Richard Burton, Robert J. Mears
  • Publication number: 20200161426
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer and at least one contact in the semiconductor layer. The contact may include at least one oxygen monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent semiconductor portions of the semiconductor layer and spaced apart from a surface of the semiconductor layer by between one and four monolayers, and a metal layer on the surface of the semiconductor layer above the at least one oxygen monolayer. The semiconductor portion between the oxygen monolayer and the metal layer may have a dopant concentration of 1×1021 atoms/cm3 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: DANIEL CONNELLY, Marek Hytha, Hideki Takeuchi, Richard Burton, Robert J. Mears
  • Publication number: 20200161427
    Abstract: A method for making a FINFET may include forming spaced apart source and drain regions in a semiconductor fin with a channel region extending therebetween. At least one of the source and drain regions may be divided into a lower region and an upper region by a dopant diffusion blocking superlattice with the upper region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the lower region. The method may further include forming a gate on the channel region, depositing at least one metal layer on the upper region, and applying heat to move upward non-semiconductor atoms from the non-semiconductor monolayers to react with the at least one metal layer to form a contact insulating interface between the upper region and adjacent portions of the at least one metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: HIDEKI TAKEUCHI, DANIEL CONNELLY, MAREK HYTHA, RICHARD BURTON, ROBERT J. MEARS
  • Publication number: 20200161430
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer, spaced apart source and drain regions in the semiconductor layer with a channel region extending therebetween, and a gate on the channel region. The semiconductor device may further include a body contact in the semiconductor layer and comprising a body contact dopant diffusion blocking superlattice extending through the body contact to divide the body contact into a first body contact region and an second body contact region with the second body contact region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the first body contact region. The body contact dopant diffusion blocking superlattice may include a respective 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: HIDEKI TAKEUCHI, Daniel Connelly, Marek Hytha, Richard Burton, Robert J. Mears
  • Publication number: 20200135489
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice layer and an adjacent semiconductor layer. The superlattice layer 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 method may further include diffusing nitrogen into the superlattice layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: KEITH DORAN WEEKS, NYLES WYNN CODY, MAREK HYTHA, ROBERT J. MEARS, ROBERT JOHN STEPHENSON, LOUIS NICHOLAS HUTTER, III
  • Patent number: 10593761
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming spaced apart source and drain regions in a semiconductor layer with a channel region extending therebetween. At least one of the source and drain regions may be divided into a lower region and an upper region by a dopant diffusion blocking superlattice with the upper region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the lower region. The method may further include forming a gate on the channel region, depositing at least one metal layer on the upper region, and applying heat to move upward non-semiconductor atoms from the non-semiconductor monolayers to react with the at least one metal layer to form a contact insulating interface between the upper region and adjacent portions of the at least one metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Daniel Connelly, Marek Hytha, Richard Burton, Robert J. Mears
  • Publication number: 20200075731
    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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: KEITH DORAN WEEKS, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20200075327
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a superlattice on the substrate including a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers may include 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. Furthermore, an upper portion of at least one of the base semiconductor portions adjacent the respective at least one non-semiconductor monolayer may have a defect density less than or equal to 1×105/cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Keith Doran WEEKS, Nyles Wynn CODY, Marek HYTHA, Robert J. MEARS, Robert John STEPHENSON
  • Patent number: 10580867
    Abstract: A FINFET may include a semiconductor fin, spaced apart source and drain regions in the semiconductor fin with a channel region extending therebetween, and at least one dopant diffusion blocking superlattice dividing at least one of the source and drain regions into a lower region and an upper region with the upper region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the lower region. The dopant diffusion blocking 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 semiconductor device may further include a gate on the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Daniel Connelly, Marek Hytha, Richard Burton, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 10580866
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer, spaced apart source and drain regions in the semiconductor layer with a channel region extending therebetween, and at least one dopant diffusion blocking superlattice dividing at least one of the source and drain regions into a lower region and an upper region with the upper region having a same conductivity and higher dopant concentration than the lower region. The at least one dopant diffusion blocking superlattice comprising 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 semiconductor device may further include a gate on the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi, Daniel Connelly, Marek Hytha, Richard Burton, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 10566191
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a superlattice on the substrate including a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers may include 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. Furthermore, an upper portion of at least one of the base semiconductor portions adjacent the respective at least one non-semiconductor monolayer may have a defect density less than or equal to 1×105/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson