Patents by Inventor Steven Sapp

Steven Sapp 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: 7696571
    Abstract: A trenched field effect transistor is provided that includes (a) a semiconductor substrate, (b) a trench extending a predetermined depth into the semiconductor substrate, (c) a pair of doped source junctions, positioned on opposite sides of the trench, (d) a doped heavy body positioned adjacent each source junction on the opposite side of the source junction from the trench, the deepest portion of the heavy body extending less deeply into said semiconductor substrate than the predetermined depth of the trench, and (e) a doped well surrounding the heavy body beneath the heavy body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Sze-Ki Mo, Duc Chau, Steven Sapp, Izak Bencuya, Dean E. Probst
  • Publication number: 20100038708
    Abstract: A method of forming a charge balance MOSFET includes the following steps. A substrate with an overlying epitaxial layer both of a first conductivity type, are provided. A gate trench extending through the epitaxial layer and terminating within the substrate is formed. A shield dielectric lining sidewalls and bottom surface of the gate trench is formed. A shield electrode is formed in the gate trench. A gate dielectric layer is formed along upper sidewalls of the gate trench. A gate electrode is formed in the gate trench such that the gate electrode extends over but is insulated from the shield electrode. A deep dimple extending through the epitaxial layer and terminating within the substrate is formed such that the deep dimple is laterally spaced from the gate trench. The deep dimple is filled with silicon material of the second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Steven Sapp, Nathan Kraft, Ashok Challa
  • Patent number: 7625799
    Abstract: A semiconductor region with an epitaxial layer extending over the semiconductor region is provided. A first silicon etch is performed to form an upper trench portion extending into and terminating within the epitaxial layer. A protective material is formed extending along sidewalls of the upper trench portion and over mesa regions adjacent the upper trench portion but not along a bottom surface of the upper trench portion. A second silicon etch is performed to form a lower trench portion extending from the bottom surface of the upper trench portion through the epitaxial layer and terminating within the semiconductor region, such that the lower trench portion is narrower than the upper trench portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Steven Sapp, Nathan Kraft, Ashok Challa
  • Publication number: 20090273026
    Abstract: MOSFET devices for RF applications that use a trench-gate in place of the lateral gate conventionally used in lateral MOSFET devices. A trench-gate provides devices with a single, short channel for high frequency gain. Embodiments of the present invention provide devices with an asymmetric oxide in the trench gate, as well as LDD regions that lower the gate-drain capacitance for improved RF performance. Refinements to these TG-LDMOS devices include placing a source-shield conductor below the gate and placing two gates in a trench-gate region. These improve device high-frequency performance by decreasing gate-to-drain capacitance. Further refinements include adding a charge balance region to the LDD region and adding source-to-substrate or drain-to-substrate vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: PETER H. WILSON, STEVEN SAPP
  • Publication number: 20090261461
    Abstract: Semiconductor packages comprising a plurality of lead fingers containing a lead intrusion at the edge of the lead fingers are described. The semiconductor packages comprise an integrated circuit chip that is connected to a die pad and is electrically connected to multiple lead fingers. One or more of the lead fingers may have a lead intrusion disposed on the external exposed lower surface of the lead finger. The lead intrusion may have a height that is about ? to about ½ the height of a lead finger, a width that is about ? to about 1/2 the width of a lead finger, and a depth that is about ¼ to about ¾ the length of the externally exposed lower surface of a lead finger. The lead intrusion increases the area on the lead finger that contacts a bond material, such as solder, and therefore increase the strength of the joint between the semiconductor package and an external surface to which the lead finger is connected (i.e., a PCB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Sapp, Chung-Lin Wu, Maria Christina B. Estacio, Bigildis Dosdos, Hamza Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 7576388
    Abstract: MOSFET devices for RF applications that use a trench-gate in place of the lateral gate conventionally used in lateral MOSFET devices. A trench-gate provides devices with a single, short channel for high frequency gain. Embodiments of the present invention provide devices with an asymmetric oxide in the trench gate, as well as LDD regions that lower the gate-drain capacitance for improved RF performance. Refinements to these TG-LDMOS devices include placing a source-shield conductor below the gate and placing two gates in a trench-gate region. These improve device high-frequency performance by decreasing gate-to-drain capacitance. Further refinements include adding a charge balance region to the LDD region and adding source-to-substrate or drain-to-substrate vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Peter H. Wilson, Steven Sapp
  • Publication number: 20090191678
    Abstract: A semiconductor region with an epitaxial layer extending over the semiconductor region is provided. A first silicon etch is performed to form an upper trench portion extending into and terminating within the epitaxial layer. A protective material is formed extending along sidewalls of the upper trench portion and over mesa regions adjacent the upper trench portion but not along a bottom surface of the upper trench portion. A second silicon etch is performed to form a lower trench portion extending from the bottom surface of the upper trench portion through the epitaxial layer and terminating within the semiconductor region, such that the lower trench portion is narrower than the upper trench portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Steven Sapp, Nathan Kraft, Ashok Challa
  • Publication number: 20090134458
    Abstract: A trenched field effect transistor is provided that includes (a) a semiconductor substrate, (b) a trench extending a predetermined depth into the semiconductor substrate, (c) a pair of doped source junctions, positioned on opposite sides of the trench, (d) a doped heavy body positioned adjacent each source junction on the opposite side of the source junction from the trench, the deepest portion of the heavy body extending less deeply into said semiconductor substrate than the predetermined depth of the trench, and (e) a doped well surrounding the heavy body beneath the heavy body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Brian Sze-Ki Mo, Duc Chau, Steven Sapp, Izak Bencuya, Dean Edward Probst
  • Publication number: 20090111227
    Abstract: A method for forming a field effect transistor with an active area and a termination region surrounding the active area includes forming a well region in a first silicon region, where the well region and the first silicon region are of opposite conductivity type. Gate trenches extending through the well region and terminating within the first silicon region are formed. A recessed gate is formed in each gate trench. A dielectric cap is formed over each recessed gate. The well region is recessed between adjacent trenches to expose upper sidewalls of each dielectric cap. A blanket source implant is carried out to form a second silicon region in an upper portion of the recessed well region between every two adjacent trenches. A dielectric spacer is formed along each exposed upper sidewall of the dielectric cap, with every two adjacent dielectric spacers located between every two adjacent gate trenches forming an opening over the second silicon region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Boguslaw Kocon, Steven Sapp, Paul Thorup, Dean Probst, Robert Herrick, Becky Losee, Hamza Yilmaz, Christopher Lawrence Rexer, Daniel Calafut
  • Patent number: 7514322
    Abstract: A FET includes a trench in a semiconductor region. The trench has a lower portion with a shield electrode therein, and an upper portion with a gate electrode therein, where the upper portion is wider than the lower portion. The semiconductor region includes a substrate of a first conductivity type and a first silicon region of a second conductivity type over the substrate. The first silicon region has a first portion extending to a depth intermediate top and bottom surfaces of the gate electrode. The first silicon region has a second portion extending to a depth intermediate top and bottom surfaces of the shield electrode. The semiconductor region further includes a second silicon region of the first conductivity type between the lower trench portion and the second portion of the first silicon region that has a laterally-graded doping concentration decreasing in a direction away from the sidewalls of the lower trench portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Steven Sapp, Nathan Kraft, Ashok Challa
  • Patent number: 7511339
    Abstract: A trenched field effect transistor is provided that includes (a) a semiconductor substrate, (b) a trench extending a predetermined depth into the semiconductor substrate, (c) a pair of doped source junctions, positioned on opposite sides of the trench, (d) a doped heavy body positioned adjacent each source junction on the opposite side of the source junction from the trench, the deepest portion of the heavy body extending less deeply into said semiconductor substrate than the predetermined depth of the trench, and (e) a doped well surrounding the heavy body beneath the heavy body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. Mo, Duc Chau, Steven Sapp, Izak Bencuya, Dean E. Probst
  • Patent number: 7504306
    Abstract: A monolithically integrated field effect transistor and Schottky diode includes gate trenches extending into a semiconductor region. Source regions having a substantially triangular shape flank each side of the gate trenches. A contact opening extends into the semiconductor region between adjacent gate trenches. A conductor layer fills the contact opening to electrically contact: (a) the source regions along at least a portion of a slanted sidewall of each source region, and (b) the semiconductor region along a bottom portion of the contact opening, wherein the conductor layer forms a Schottky contact with the semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Sapp, Hamza Yilmaz, Christopher Lawrence Rexer, Daniel Calafut
  • Publication number: 20080258213
    Abstract: A FET includes a trench in a semiconductor region. The trench has a lower portion with a shield electrode therein, and an upper portion with a gate electrode therein, where the upper portion is wider than the lower portion. The semiconductor region includes a substrate of a first conductivity type and a first silicon region of a second conductivity type over the substrate. The first silicon region has a first portion extending to a depth intermediate top and bottom surfaces of the gate electrode. The first silicon region has a second portion extending to a depth intermediate top and bottom surfaces of the shield electrode. The semiconductor region further includes a second silicon region of the first conductivity type between the lower trench portion and the second portion of the first silicon region that has a laterally-graded doping concentration decreasing in a direction away from the sidewalls of the lower trench portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Steven Sapp, Nathan Kraft, Ashok Challa
  • Patent number: 7393749
    Abstract: A field effect transistor is formed as follows. A semiconductor region of a first conductivity type with an epitaxial layer of a second conductivity extending over the semiconductor region is provided. A trench extending through the epitaxial layer and terminating in the semiconductor region is formed. A two-pass angled implant of dopants of the first conductivity type is carried out to thereby form a region of first conductivity type along the trench sidewalls. A threshold voltage adjust implant of dopants of the second conductivity type is carried out to thereby convert a conductivity type of a portion of the region of first conductivity type extending along upper sidewalls of the trench to the second conductivity type. Source regions of the first conductivity type flanking each side of the trench are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Steven Sapp, Nathan Kraft, Ashok Challa
  • Publication number: 20080087963
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection network for power MOSFETs includes parallel branches, containing polysilicon zener diodes and resistors, used for protecting the gate from rupture caused by high voltages caused by ESD. The branches may have the same or independent paths for voltage to travel across from the gate region into the semiconductor substrate. Specifically, the secondary branch has a higher breakdown voltage than the primary branch so that the voltage is shared across the two branches of the protection network. The ESD protection network of the device provides a more effective design without increasing the space used on the die. The ESD protection network can also be used with other active and passive devices such as thyristors, insulated-gate bipolar transistors, and bipolar junction transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Daniel Calafut, Hamza Yilmaz, Steven Sapp
  • Publication number: 20080017920
    Abstract: A field effect transistor is disclosed. In one embodiment, the field effect transistor includes a trench extending into a drift region of the field effect transistor. A shield electrode in a lower portion of the trench is insulated from the drift region by a shield dielectric. A gate electrode in the trench over the shield electrode is insulated from the shield electrode by an inter-electrode dielectric. A source region is formed adjacent the trench. A resistive element is coupled to the shield electrode and to a source region in the field effective transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Sapp, Ashok Challa, Christopher Kocon
  • Publication number: 20080012071
    Abstract: A MOSFET comprises a first semiconductor region having a first surface, a first insulation-filled trench region extending from the first surface into the first semiconductor region, and strips of semi-insulating material along the sidewalls of the first insulation-filled trench region. The strips of semi-insulating material are insulated from the first semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Sapp, Peter Wilson
  • Patent number: 7291894
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a MOSFET includes at least two insulation-filled trench regions laterally spaced in a first semiconductor region to form a drift region therebetween, and at least one resistive element located along an outer periphery of each of the two insulation-filled trench regions. A ratio of a width of each of the insulation-filled trench regions to a width of the drift region is adjusted so that an output capacitance of the MOSFET is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Sapp, Peter H. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20070235886
    Abstract: A semiconductor die package is disclosed. The semiconductor die package comprises a metal substrate, and a semiconductor die comprising a first surface comprising a first electrical terminal, a second surface including a second electrical terminal, and at least one aperture. The metal substrate is attached to the second surface. A plurality of conductive structures is on the semiconductor die, and includes at least one conductive structure disposed in the at least one aperture. Other conductive structures may be disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Hamza Yilmaz, Steven Sapp, Qi Wang, Minhua Li, James Murphy, John Diroll
  • Publication number: 20070082441
    Abstract: A field effect transistor is formed as follows. Trenches are formed in a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type. Each trench is partially filled with one or more materials. A dual-pass angled implant is carried out to implant dopants of a second conductivity type into the semiconductor region through an upper surface of the semiconductor region and through upper trench sidewalls not covered by the one or more material. A high temperature process is carried out to drive the implanted dopants deeper into the mesa region thereby forming body regions of the second conductivity type between adjacent trenches. Source regions of the first conductivity type are then formed in each body region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Nathan Kraft, Ashok Challa, Steven Sapp, Hamza Yilmaz, Daniel Calafut, Dean Probst, Rodney Ridley, Thomas Grebs, Christopher Kocon, Joseph Yedinak, Gary Dolny