Patents by Inventor Toru Hiyoshi

Toru Hiyoshi 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: 20160218176
    Abstract: An SiC semiconductor device includes an SiC layer including a drift region forming a surface and a body region forming a part of a surface and being in contact with the drift region, a drain electrode electrically connected to a region on a side of the surface in the drift region, and a source electrode electrically connected to the body region. Main carriers which pass through the drift region and migrate between the drain electrode and the source electrode are only electrons. Z1/2 center is introduced into the drift region at a concentration not lower than 1×1013 cm?3 and not higher than 1×1015 cm?3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Toru Hiyoshi, Keiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20160211332
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device capable of achieving a high current gain with a simplified construction is provided. A silicon carbide layer includes a collector region, a base region, and an emitter region. The silicon carbide layer is provided with a trench having a sidewall surface reaching the base region from a first main surface through the emitter region. The sidewall surface includes a region macroscopically having an angle not smaller than 50° and not greater than 70° with respect to a {000-1} plane. A manufacturing method includes the step of forming a trench. The step of forming a trench includes the step of chemically treating the first main surface of the silicon carbide layer for forming the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Toru Hiyoshi, Takeyoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 9397155
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide layer, an element region including a semiconductor element portion formed in the silicon carbide layer, a JTE region (first electric field relaxing region), an insulating film disposed on a first main surface and covering the JTE region, and a pad electrode electrically connected to the JTE region. The pad electrode includes an extension portion extending from an end of the JTE region close to the element region in a peripheral direction from the element region toward the JTE region, the extension portion being disposed on the insulating film. The extension portion overlies at least a portion of the JTE region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Wada, Toru Hiyoshi, Masaki Furumai, Mitsuhiko Sakai, Kosuke Uchida
  • Publication number: 20160197155
    Abstract: A silicon carbide substrate has a silicon carbide epitaxial layer. The silicon carbide epitaxial layer has a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface. The silicon carbide epitaxial layer has a thickness of not less than 50 ?m in a direction perpendicular to the second main surface. Z1/2 centers are in the silicon carbide epitaxial layer at a density of not more than 1×1012 cm?3. A pit has a maximum depth of not more than 5 nm, the pit originating from a threading dislocation or a basal plane dislocation and having an opening at the second main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventor: Toru Hiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20160181374
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide substrate and a gate electrode. The silicon carbide substrate includes a first source region and a second source region, a first body region, a second body region, a first drift region, a second drift region, a third drift region, and a first connection region. The first connection region is provided to include a first intersection and a second intersection, the first intersection being an intersection of a straight line along a first straight-line portion and a straight line along a second straight-line portion, the second intersection being an intersection of a straight line along a third straight-line portion and a straight line along a fourth straight-line portion, and the first connection region has a second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru HIYOSHI, Keiji WADA
  • Publication number: 20160181372
    Abstract: A silicon carbide layer includes a drift region, a body region and a source region. The drift region constitutes a first main surface and has a first conductivity type. The body region is provided on the drift region, and has a second conductivity type. It is provided on the body region to be separated from the drift region, constitutes a second main surface, and has the first conductivity type. The silicon carbide layer is provided with a trench including a first side wall portion and a first bottom portion. The silicon carbide layer is embedded in the drift region to face the first bottom portion, and includes a second conductivity type region having the second conductivity type. The second conductivity type region is electrically connected to the source region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Keiji Wada, Takeyoshi Masuda, Hideto Tamaso, Yu Saitoh, Toru Hiyoshi, Mitsuhiko Sakai
  • Publication number: 20160163853
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide layer having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface. In the second main surface of the silicon carbide layer, a trench having a depth in a direction from the second main surface toward the first main surface is provided, and the trench has a sidewall portion where a second layer and a third layer are exposed and a bottom portion, where a first layer is exposed. A position of the bottom portion of the trench in a direction of depth of the trench is located on a side of the second main surface relative to a site located closest to the first main surface in a region where the second layer and the first layer are in contact with each other, or located as deep as the site in the direction of depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hiyoshi, Takeyoshi Masuda, Keiji Wada
  • Patent number: 9362121
    Abstract: A silicon carbide substrate including a first impurity region, a well region, and a second impurity region separated from the first impurity region by the well region is prepared. A silicon dioxide layer is formed in contact with the first impurity region and the well region. A gate electrode is formed on the silicon dioxide layer. A silicon-containing material is formed on the first impurity region. The silicon-containing material is oxidized. The silicon dioxide layer includes a first silicon dioxide region on the first impurity region and a second silicon dioxide region on the well region. The thickness of the first silicon dioxide region is greater than the thickness of the second silicon dioxide region. Consequently, a silicon carbide semiconductor device capable of achieving improved switching characteristics while suppressing a decrease in drain current, and a method of manufacturing the same can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hiyoshi, Yu Saitoh
  • Patent number: 9306006
    Abstract: There is provided a silicon carbide semiconductor device allowing for suppression of breakage of an element upon short circuit of load. A MOSFET includes a silicon carbide layer, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The silicon carbide layer includes a drift region, a body region, and a source region. The MOSFET is configured such that a relational expression of n<?0.02RonA+0.7 is established in a case where a contact width of the source region and the source electrode is represented by n (?m) in a cross section in a thickness direction of the silicon carbide layer and a migration direction of carriers in the body region and where on resistance of the MOSFET in a state in which an inversion layer is formed in a channel region is represented by RonA (m?cm2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosuke Uchida, Toru Hiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20160087065
    Abstract: A gate insulating film is provided on a trench. The gate insulating film has a trench insulating film and a bottom insulating film. The trench insulating film covers each of a side wall and a bottom portion. The bottom insulating film is provided on the bottom portion with a trench insulating film being interposed therebetween. The bottom insulating film has a carbon atom concentration lower than that of the trench insulating film. The gate electrode is in contact with a portion of the trench insulating film on the side wall. Accordingly, a low threshold voltage and a large breakdown voltage can be attained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Masuda, Yu Saitoh, Hideki Hayashi, Toru Hiyoshi, Keiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20160086799
    Abstract: A method of producing a silicon carbide epitaxial substrate includes steps of: preparing a silicon carbide substrate; and forming a silicon carbide layer on the silicon carbide substrate. In this production method, in the step of forming the silicon carbide layer, a step of growing an epitaxial layer and a step of polishing a surface of the epitaxial layer are repeated twice or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Toru HIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20160087032
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device includes the steps of preparing a silicon carbide substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface located on a side opposite to the first main surface, forming an epitaxial layer on the first main surface, the epitaxial layer having a first conductivity type and having a third main surface located on a side opposite to a side on which the silicon carbide substrate is located, forming a trench, which includes side walls intersecting with the third main surface and a bottom portion connected to the side walls, in the epitaxial layer, widening an opening of the trench, and forming an embedded region, which has a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, in the trench. The epitaxial layer adjacent to the embedded region and the embedded region constitute a superjunction structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Toru HIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20160079349
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide layer, an element region including a semiconductor element portion formed in the silicon carbide layer, a JTE region (first electric field relaxing region), an insulating film disposed on a first main surface and covering the JTE region, and a pad electrode electrically connected to the JTE region. The pad electrode includes an extension portion extending from an end of the JTE region close to the element region in a peripheral direction from the element region toward the JTE region, the extension portion being disposed on the insulating film. The extension portion overlies at least a portion of the JTE region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Keiji Wada, Toru Hiyoshi, Masaki Furumai, Mitsuhiko Sakai, Kosuke Uchida
  • Publication number: 20160071949
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device includes the following steps. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main surface, a silicon carbide substrate has a connection region provided to include an end portion of one side, an apex of a first body region nearest to the end portion, and an apex of a second body region nearest to the end portion, the connection region being electrically connected to both the first body region and the second body region, the connection region having the second conductivity type. When viewed in a direction parallel to the main surface, the first drift region and the second drift region are provided between a gate insulating film and the connection region. The connection region, the first body region, and the second body region are formed by ion implantation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Toru Hiyoshi
  • Patent number: 9276106
    Abstract: A silicon carbide film includes a first range having a first breakdown voltage holding layer, a charge compensation region, a first junction terminal region, and a first guard ring region. The silicon carbide film includes a second range having a second breakdown voltage holding layer, a channel forming region, and a source region. The first and second breakdown voltage holding layers constitutes a breakdown voltage holding region having a thickness in an element portion. When voltage is applied to attain a maximum electric field strength of 0.4 MV/cm or more in the breakdown voltage holding region during an OFF state, a maximum electric field strength in the second range within the element portion is configured to be less than ? of a maximum electric field strength in the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Wada, Takeyoshi Masuda, Toru Hiyoshi
  • Patent number: 9276105
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes an element region and a guard ring region. A semiconductor element is provided in the element region. The guard ring region surrounds the element region in a plan view and has a first conductivity type. The semiconductor element includes a drift region having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. The guard ring region includes a linear region and a curvature region continuously connected to the linear region. A value obtained by dividing a radius of curvature of an inner circumference portion of the curvature region by a thickness of the drift region is not less than 5 and not more than 10. Accordingly, there can be provided a silicon carbide semiconductor device capable of improving a breakdown voltage while suppressing decrease of on-state current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yamada, Toru Hiyoshi, Takeyoshi Masuda, Keiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20160027910
    Abstract: There is provided a silicon carbide semiconductor device having an improved switching characteristic. A MOSFET includes a silicon carbide layer, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, and a source electrode. The silicon carbide layer includes a drift region, a body region, and a contact region. The source electrode is in contact with the contact region in a main surface. The MOSFET is configured such that contact resistance of the source electrode with respect to the contact region is not less than 1×10 ?4 ?cm2 and not more than 1×10?1 ?cm2. Moreover, when viewed in a plan view of the main surface, an area of the contact region is not less than 10% of an area of the body region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Kosuke UCHIDA, Toru HIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20160027878
    Abstract: There is provided a silicon carbide semiconductor device allowing for suppression of breakage of an element upon short circuit of load. A MOSFET includes a silicon carbide layer, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The silicon carbide layer includes a drift region, a body region, and a source region. The MOSFET is configured such that a relational expression of n<?0.02RonA+0.7 is established in a case where a contact width of the source region and the source electrode is represented by n (?m) in a cross section in a thickness direction of the silicon carbide layer and a migration direction of carriers in the body region and where on resistance of the MOSFET in a state in which an inversion layer is formed in a channel region is represented by RonA (m?cm2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Kosuke Uchida, Toru Hiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20160013137
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of preparing a semiconductor layer including a wide bandgap semiconductor, the semiconductor layer having an element region and an outer peripheral region surrounding an outer periphery of the element region when viewed two-dimensionally, forming a step portion surrounding the outer periphery of the element region in the outer peripheral region, and forming a metal layer along the step portion. The step portion has a sidewall recessed downward from a main surface of the element region in a cross section parallel to a thickness direction of the semiconductor layer, and the metal layer extends to cover at least a portion of the sidewall. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device further includes the step of dividing the semiconductor layer into the element regions on an outside of the step portion when viewed from the element region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Toru HIYOSHI, Taku HORII
  • Patent number: 9224877
    Abstract: A first main surface of a silicon carbide substrate has a flat surface located in an element portion and a side wall surface located in a termination portion. The silicon carbide substrate has an impurity layer having a portion located at each of the flat surface of the first main surface and a second main surface. On the flat surface, a Schottky electrode is in contact with the impurity layer. On the second main surface, a counter electrode is in contact with the impurity layer. An insulating film covers the side wall surface. The side wall surface is inclined by not less than 50° and not more than 80° relative to a {000-1}plane. This suppresses the leakage current of a silicon carbide semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hiyoshi, Keiji Wada