Abstract: Structures for suppressing parasitic acoustic waves in semiconductor structures and integrated circuit devices are described. Such integrated circuit devices can, typically, produce undesirable acoustic wave resonances, and the acoustic waves can degrade the performance of the devices. In that context, some embodiments described herein relate to spoiling a conductive path that participates in the generation of acoustic waves. Some embodiments relate to spoiling acoustic characteristics of an acoustic resonant structure that may be present in the vicinity of the device. Combined embodiments that spoil the conductive path and acoustic characteristics are also possible.

Abstract: Various methods of forming integrated circuits formed using gallium nitride and other materials are described. An example method includes forming a first integrated device over a first semiconductor structure in a first region of the integrated circuit, forming a second integrated device over a second semiconductor structure in a second region of the integrated circuit, etching a cavity in a third region of the of the integrated circuit located between the first region and the second region, filling the cavity with an insulating material, and forming a passive component over the insulating material in the third region of the integrated circuit. In other aspects, the method can include grinding a back side of a semiconductor substrate of the integrated circuit to electrically isolate the first semiconductor structure from the second semiconductor structure and, after the grinding, forming a ground plane over the back side of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The reduction of feedback capacitance in active semiconductor devices, such as the reduction in collector to base capacitance in transistors, is described. In one example, a transistor includes a substrate, an active region of the transistor in the substrate, a dielectric layer over a top surface of the substrate, and an interconnect region. The active region includes a base contact over the active region. The interconnect region includes a conductive interconnect that extends over the dielectric layer and is electrically coupled with the base contact. The interconnect region also includes a semiconductor junction region extending under the conductive interconnect in an area of the substrate outside of the active region. The addition of the semiconductor junction region under the conductive interconnect reduces the total collector to base capacitance in the transistor.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures with reduced parasitic capacitance between interconnects and ground, for example, are described. An example method for making a semiconductor structure includes forming a trench in an interconnect area of a substrate between first and second device areas in the semiconductor structure, forming a low dielectric constant material region in the trench, forming a III-nitride material layer over the substrate and over the low dielectric constant material region in the trench, forming a first device in the III-nitride material layer in the first device area, forming a second device in the III-nitride material layer in the second device area, and forming an interconnect over the low dielectric constant material region, the interconnect comprising a continuous conductive metal interconnect from the first device area, over the low dielectric constant material region, and to the second device area.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a device, such as a GaN or AlGaN device is described. An example electrode structure includes a substrate with a gallium nitride material layer, an insulating layer formed on the substrate, the insulating layer including an opening that exposes a surface region of the gallium nitride material layer through the opening, a barrier metal layer on the surface region of the gallium nitride material layer and on a region of the insulating layer, and a conducting metal layer on the barrier metal layer. In other aspects, the electrode structure can also include a cap metal layer on the conducting metal layer, and a cap etch photoresist layer over the cap metal layer. The cap metal layer, the conducting metal layer, and the barrier metal layer can be etched down to the insulating layer over an area outside a width of the cap etch photoresist layer.

Abstract: The reduction of feedback capacitance in active semiconductor devices, such as the reduction in collector to base capacitance in transistors, is described. In one example, a transistor includes a substrate, an active region of the transistor in the substrate, a dielectric layer over a top surface of the substrate, and an interconnect region. The active region includes a base contact over the active region. The interconnect region includes a conductive interconnect that extends over the dielectric layer and is electrically coupled with the base contact. The interconnect region also includes a semiconductor junction region extending under the conductive interconnect in an area of the substrate outside of the active region. The addition of the semiconductor junction region under the conductive interconnect reduces the total collector to base capacitance in the transistor.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a device, such as a GaN or AlGaN device is described. In one example, a method to form the structure includes providing a substrate including gallium nitride material, forming an insulating layer over a surface of the substrate, forming an opening in the insulating layer to expose a surface region of the substrate, depositing a barrier metal layer over the insulating layer and onto the surface region of the substrate through the opening, and depositing a conducting metal layer over the barrier metal layer. In one case, the barrier metal layer includes a layer of tungsten nitride. The layer of tungsten nitride is deposited over the insulating layer and onto the surface region of the substrate using atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures including III-nitride materials are described herein, including semiconductor structures comprising III-nitride material regions (e.g., gallium nitride material regions). An example semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a III-nitride material region located over the substrate, a first-type electrode over the III-nitride material region, and a second-type electrode over the III-nitride material region. The first-type electrode defines a first electrode interfacial area with the III-nitride material region. The second-type electrode defines a second electrode interfacial area with the III-nitride material region. The first electrode interfacial area is less than 20 times the second electrode interfacial area in at least one example.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a substrate and a first semiconductor layer with a high resistivity, such as an epitaxial layer with a resistivity in the range of 3000-5000 ohms/cm2, formed over the substrate. A second semiconductor layer is formed at least partially in the first semiconductor layer. A capacitor is formed at least partially over the first semiconductor layer. The capacitor has a plurality of trenches extending through the first semiconductor layer and into the substrate, and a first insulating layer formed in the trench. The trenches can be parallel, serpentine, or other geometric shape. The capacitor also has a second insulating layer formed over the first insulating layer, and a polysilicon layer formed over the second insulating layer. A conductive layer is formed over the capacitor. The first semiconductor layer with high resistivity provides a vertical path to discharge high voltage events incident on the capacitor.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures with reduced parasitic capacitance between interconnects and ground, for example, are described. An example method for making a semiconductor structure includes forming a trench in an interconnect area of a substrate between first and second device areas in the semiconductor structure, forming a low dielectric constant material region in the trench, forming a III-nitride material layer over the substrate and over the low dielectric constant material region in the trench, forming a first device in the III-nitride material layer in the first device area, forming a second device in the III-nitride material layer in the second device area, and forming an interconnect over the low dielectric constant material region, the interconnect comprising a continuous conductive metal interconnect from the first device area, over the low dielectric constant material region, and to the second device area.

Abstract: High-voltage Schottky diodes are described. The diodes are capable of withstanding reverse-bias voltages of up to and in excess of 2000 V with reverse current leakage as low as 0.4 microamp/millimeter. In one example, a Schottky diode includes a conduction layer, a first layer over the conduction layer, a second layer over the first layer, a first cathode and a second cathode spaced apart and in electrical contact with the conduction layer, and an anode over the second layer between the first cathode and the second cathode. The first cathode and the second cathode can be electrically connected to each other as a cathode of the Schottky diode.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and devices in III-nitride materials are described herein, including material structures comprising III-nitride material regions (e.g., gallium nitride material regions). In certain cases, the material structures comprise substrates having relatively high electrical conductivities. In other cases, the material structures comprise substrates having relatively high resistivities. Certain embodiments include one or more features that reduce the degree to which thermal runaway occurs, which can enhance device performance including at elevated flange temperatures. Some embodiments include one or more features that reduce the degree of capacitive coupling exhibited during operation. For example, in some embodiments, relatively thick III-nitride material regions and/or relatively small ohmic contacts are employed.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures with reduced parasitic capacitance between interconnects and ground, for example, are described. In one case, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a low dielectric constant material region in the substrate. The low dielectric constant material region is positioned between a first device area in the semiconductor structure and a second device area in the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a III-nitride material layer over the substrate. The III-nitride material layer extends over the substrate in the first device area, over the low dielectric constant material region, and over the substrate in the second device area. The semiconductor structure can also include a first device formed in the III-nitride material layer in the first device area, a second device in the III-nitride material layer in the second device area, and an interconnect formed over the low dielectric constant material region.

Abstract: Various aspects of Schottky diodes are described. The diodes are capable of withstanding reverse-bias voltages of up to and in excess of 2000 V with reverse current leakage as low as 0.4 microamp/millimeter in some cases among other aspects. In one example, a Schottky diode includes a conduction layer, a first layer over the conduction layer, a second layer over the first layer, a first cathode and a second cathode spaced apart and in electrical contact with the conduction layer, and an anode over the second layer between the first cathode and the second cathode. The first cathode and the second cathode can be electrically connected to each other as a cathode of the Schottky diode.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to heterolithic microwave integrated circuits HMICs are described. An HMIC can include different semiconductor devices formed from different semiconductor systems in different regions of a same substrate. An HMIC can also include bulk regions of low-loss electrically-insulating material extending through the substrate and located between the different semiconductor regions. Passive RF circuit elements can be formed on the low-loss electrically-insulating material.

Abstract: Structures for suppressing parasitic acoustic waves in semiconductor structures and integrated circuit devices are described. Such integrated circuit devices can, typically, produce undesirable acoustic wave resonances, and the acoustic waves can degrade the performance of the devices. In that context, some embodiments described herein relate to spoiling a conductive path that participates in the generation of acoustic waves. Some embodiments relate to spoiling acoustic characteristics of an acoustic resonant structure that may be present in the vicinity of the device. Combined embodiments that spoil the conductive path and acoustic characteristics are also possible.

Abstract: Various methods of forming integrated circuits formed using gallium nitride and other materials are described. An example method includes forming a first integrated device over a first semiconductor structure in a first region of the integrated circuit, forming a second integrated device over a second semiconductor structure in a second region of the integrated circuit, etching a cavity in a third region of the of the integrated circuit located between the first region and the second region, filling the cavity with an insulating material, and forming a passive component over the insulating material in the third region of the integrated circuit. In other aspects, the method can include grinding a back side of a semiconductor substrate of the integrated circuit to electrically isolate the first semiconductor structure from the second semiconductor structure and, after the grinding, forming a ground plane over the back side of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Various integrated circuits formed using gallium nitride and other materials are described. In one example, an integrated circuit includes a first integrated device formed over a first semiconductor structure in a first region of the integrated circuit, a second integrated device formed over a second semiconductor structure in a second region of the integrated circuit, and a passive component formed over a third region of the integrated circuit, between the first region and the second region. The third region comprises an insulating material, which can be glass in some cases. The insulating material extends through the semiconductor substrate and separates the semiconductor substrate between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A method involving a barrier for preventing eutectic break-through in through-substrate vias is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (D). Step (A) may form one or more vias through a substrate. The substrate generally comprises a semiconductor. Step (B) may form a first metal layer. Step (C) may form a barrier layer. The barrier layer generally resides between the vias and the first metal layer. Step (D) may form a second metal layer. The second metal layer may be in electrical contact with the first metal layer through the vias and the barrier layer.

Abstract: A number of integrated circuits and methods of manufacturing the integrated circuits are described. An integrated circuit can include different semiconductor devices formed from different semiconductor systems in different regions over the same substrate. The integrated circuit can also include bulk regions of low-loss electrically-insulating material extending through the substrate and located between the different semiconductor regions. Passive RF circuit elements can be formed on the low-loss electrically-insulating material.