Patents by Inventor Steve Stoffels

Steve Stoffels 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: 20250138186
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electronic system comprising: an electronic array of a plurality of sensing and/or actuating elements; a control unit, which is coupled to the electronic, for controlling the electronic array; and a data processing unit for receiving data from the electronic array and processing the received data; wherein the electronic system further comprises a beam former module, wherein the beam former module is configured for addressing the plurality of sensing and/or actuating elements for forming a beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventor: Steve STOFFELS
  • Patent number: 11664223
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an III-nitride semiconductor structure is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Imec vzw
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Hu Liang
  • Patent number: 11380789
    Abstract: A vertical power device is disclosed, the device having a top side and a bottom side, and the device comprising (i) a substrate; (ii) a layered group III-Nitride based device stack formed atop the substrate; (iii) a first vertical group III-Nitride based device and a second vertical group III-Nitride based device formed in the group III-Nitride based device stack, wherein the first vertical group III-Nitride based device and the second vertical group III-Nitride based device are electrically connected; and (iv) a first vertical device isolation structure that isolates the first vertical group III-Nitride based device from the second vertical group III-Nitride based device. Also disclosed are a vertical power system integrating vertical power devices and a process for fabricating a vertical power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Stefaan Decoutere
  • Patent number: 11114537
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to enhancement-mode high electron mobility transistors. One embodiment includes a method for manufacturing an enhancement-mode high electron mobility transistor. The method includes providing a stack of layers. The stack of layers includes a substrate, a III-V channel layer over the substrate, a III-V barrier layer on the channel layer, a p-doped III-V layer on the III-V barrier layer, and a Schottky contact interlayer on the p-doped III-V layer. The p-doped III-V layer has a first surface area. The Schottky contact interlayer has a second surface area. The second surface area is less than the first surface area. The second surface area leaves a peripheral part of a top surface of the p-doped III-V layer uncovered. The method also includes depositing a metal gate on the Schottky contact interlayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Niels Posthuma, Brice De Jaeger
  • Patent number: 11094629
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) power device having a plurality of layers that are stacked on top of each other and insulated from each other by interlayers, the plurality of layers comprising a lower layer comprising electrical and thermal conductors; a group III-Nitride based device layer formed above the lower layer, the group III-Nitride based device layer comprising at least one group III-Nitride based power device; a control layer formed above the group III-Nitride based device layer, the control layer comprising at least one control device; and a redistribution layer in between the group III-Nitride based device layer and the control layer, the current redistribution layer comprising a metal pattern being provided for laterally redistributing electrical currents and/or heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Steve Stoffels
  • Publication number: 20210118680
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an III-nitride semiconductor structure is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Hu Liang
  • Publication number: 20200243678
    Abstract: A vertical power device is disclosed, the device having a top side and a bottom side, and the device comprising (i) a substrate; (ii) a layered group III-Nitride based device stack formed atop the substrate; (iii) a first vertical group III-Nitride based device and a second vertical group III-Nitride based device formed in the group III-Nitride based device stack, wherein the first vertical group III-Nitride based device and the second vertical group III-Nitride based device are electrically connected; and (iv) a first vertical device isolation structure that isolates the first vertical group III-Nitride based device from the second vertical group III-Nitride based device. Also disclosed are a vertical power system integrating vertical power devices and a process for fabricating a vertical power device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Stefaan Decoutere
  • Publication number: 20200235218
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to enhancement-mode high electron mobility transistors. One embodiment includes a method for manufacturing an enhancement-mode high electron mobility transistor. The method includes providing a stack of layers. The stack of layers includes a substrate, a III-V channel layer over the substrate, a III-V barrier layer on the channel layer, a p-doped III-V layer on the III-V barrier layer, and a Schottky contact interlayer on the p-doped III-V layer. The p-doped III-V layer has a first surface area. The Schottky contact interlayer has a second surface area. The second surface area is less than the first surface area. The second surface area leaves a peripheral part of a top surface of the p-doped III-V layer uncovered. The method also includes depositing a metal gate on the Schottky contact interlayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Niels Posthuma, Brice De Jaeger
  • Publication number: 20200203274
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) power device having a plurality of layers that are stacked on top of each other and insulated from each other by interlayers, the plurality of layers comprising a lower layer comprising electrical and thermal conductors; a group III-Nitride based device layer formed above the lower layer, the group III-Nitride based device layer comprising at least one group III-Nitride based power device; a control layer formed above the group III-Nitride based device layer, the control layer comprising at least one control device; and a redistribution layer in between the group III-Nitride based device layer and the control layer, the current redistribution layer comprising a metal pattern being provided for laterally redistributing electrical currents and/or heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Stefaan Decoutere, Steve Stoffels
  • Patent number: 10686052
    Abstract: An enhancement-mode transistor and method for forming a gate of an enhancement-mode transistor are provided. The method includes: (a) providing a p-doped AlxGayInzN gate layer, consisting of a first part and a second part on top of the first part, above a p-doped Alx?Gay?Inz?N channel layer of an enhancement-mode transistor under construction; and (b) providing a metal gate layer on the top surface of the second part, the metal gate layer being formed of a material such as to form a Schottky barrier with the second part, wherein providing the p-doped AlxGayInzN gate layer comprises the steps of: (a1) growing the first part above the p-doped Alx?Gay?Inz?N channel layer of the enhancement-mode transistor under construction, the first part having an average Mg concentration of at most 3×1019 atoms/cm3, and (a2) growing the second part on the first part, the second part having an average Mg concentration higher than 3×1019 atoms/cm3 and having a top surface having a Mg concentration higher than 6×1019 atoms/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventor: Steve Stoffels
  • Patent number: 10263069
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a III-Nitride semiconductor device comprising a base substrate, a buffer layer, a channel layer, a barrier layer so that a 2-dimensional charge carrier gas is formed or can be formed near the interface between the channel layer and the barrier layer, and at least one set of a first and second electrode in electrical contact with the 2-dimensional charge carrier gas, wherein the device further comprises a mobile charge layer (MCL) within the buffer layer or near the interface between the buffer layer and the channel layer, when the device is in the on-state. The device further comprises an electrically conductive path between one of the electrodes and the mobile charge layer. The present disclosure is also related to a method for producing a device according to the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Yoganand Saripalli
  • Publication number: 20190051732
    Abstract: An enhancement-mode transistor and method for forming a gate of an enhancement-mode transistor are provided. The method includes: (a) providing a p-doped AlxGayInzN gate layer, consisting of a first part and a second part on top of the first part, above a p-doped Alx?Gay?Inz?N channel layer of an enhancement-mode transistor under construction; and (b) providing a metal gate layer on the top surface of the second part, the metal gate layer being formed of a material such as to form a Schottky barrier with the second part, wherein providing the p-doped AlxGayInzN gate layer comprises the steps of: (a1) growing the first part above the p-doped Alx?Gay?Inz?N channel layer of the enhancement-mode transistor under construction, the first part having an average Mg concentration of at most 3×1019 atoms/cm3, and (a2) growing the second part on the first part, the second part having an average Mg concentration higher than 3×1019 atoms/cm3 and having a top surface having a Mg concentration higher than 6×1019 atoms/cm3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventor: Steve Stoffels
  • Publication number: 20170263700
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a III-Nitride semiconductor device comprising a base substrate, a buffer layer, a channel layer, a barrier layer so that a 2-dimensional charge carrier gas is formed or can be formed near the interface between the channel layer and the barrier layer, and at least one set of a first and second electrode in electrical contact with the 2-dimensional charge carrier gas, wherein the device further comprises a mobile charge layer (MCL) within the buffer layer or near the interface between the buffer layer and the channel layer, when the device is in the on-state. The device further comprises an electrically conductive path between one of the electrodes and the mobile charge layer. The present disclosure is also related to a method for producing a device according to the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Yoganand Saripalli
  • Patent number: 9634107
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an Au-free ohmic contact for an III-nitride (III-N) device on a semiconductor substrate and to a III-N device obtainable therefrom. The III-N device includes a buffer layer, a channel layer, a barrier layer, and a passivation layer. A 2DEG layer is formed at an interface between the channel layer and the barrier layer. The method includes forming a recess in the passivation layer and in the barrier layer up to the 2DEG layer, and forming an Au-free metal stack in the recess. The metal stack comprises a Ti/Al bi-layer, with a Ti layer overlying and in contact with a bottom of the recess, and a Al layer overlying and in contact with the Ti layer. A thickness ratio of the Ti layer to the Al layer is between 0.01 to 0.1. After forming the metal stack, a rapid thermal anneal is performed. Optionally, prior to forming the Ti/Al bi-layer, a silicon layer may be formed in contact with the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Brice De Jaeger, Marleen Van Hove, Stefaan Decoutere, Steve Stoffels
  • Publication number: 20120188023
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) resonator is disclosed that comprises a substrate and a resonator body suspended above the substrate by means of clamped-clamped beams, where each beam comprises two support legs with a common connection to the resonator body, and the resonator body is configured to resonate at an operating frequency. The MEMS resonator further comprises an excitation component configured to excite the resonator body to resonate at the operating frequency, where each beam is further configured to oscillate in a flexural mode at a flexural wavelength as a result of resonating at the operating frequency, and each leg is acoustically long with respect to the flexural wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: IMEC
    Inventors: Xavier Rottenberg, Roelof Jansen, Steve Stoffels, Hendrikus Tilmans
  • Publication number: 20110175492
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device including a MEMS resonating element, provided for resonating at a predetermined resonance frequency, the MEMS resonating element having at least one temperature dependent characteristic, a heating circuit arranged for heating the MEMS resonating element to an offset temperature (Toffset), a sensing circuit associated with the MEMS resonating element and provided for sensing its temperature dependent characteristic, and a control circuit connected to the sensing circuit for receiving measurement signals indicative of the sensed temperature dependent characteristic and connected to the heating circuit for supplying a control signal thereto to maintain the temperature of the MEMS resonating element at the offset temperature. The heating circuit includes a tunable thermal radiation source and the MEMS resonating element is provided so as to absorb at least a portion of the thermal radiation generated by the tunable thermal radiation source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: IMEC
    Inventors: Steve Stoffels, Hendrikus Tilmans