Abstract: A termination structure with multiple embedded potential spreading capacitive structures (TSMEC) and method are disclosed for terminating an adjacent trench MOSFET atop a bulk semiconductor layer (BSL) with bottom drain electrode. The BSL has a proximal bulk semiconductor wall (PBSW) supporting drain-source voltage (DSV) and separating TSMEC from trench MOSFET. The TSMEC has oxide-filled large deep trench (OFLDT) bounded by PBSW and a distal bulk semiconductor wall (DBSW). The OFLDT includes a large deep oxide trench into the BSL and embedded capacitive structures (EBCS) located inside the large deep oxide trench and between PBSW and DBSW for spatially spreading the DSV across them. In one embodiment, the EBCS contains interleaved conductive embedded polycrystalline semiconductor regions (EPSR) and oxide columns (OXC) of the OFLDT, a proximal EPSR next to PBSW is connected to an active upper source region and a distal EPSR next to DBSW is connected to the DBSW.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and fabrication methods are disclosed. The device includes a plurality of gate electrodes formed in trenches located in an active region of a semiconductor substrate. A first gate runner is formed in the substrate and electrically connected to the gate electrodes, wherein the first gate runner surrounds the active region. A second gate runner is connected to the first gate runner and located between the active region and a termination region. A termination structure surrounds the first and second gate runners and the active region. The termination structure includes a conductive material in an insulator-lined trench in the substrate, wherein the termination structure is electrically shorted to a source or body layer of the substrate thereby forming a channel stop for the device.

Abstract: A magnetic memory device includes a magnetic tunnel junction having a free magnetic layer having a magnetization orientation that is switchable between a high resistance state magnetization orientation and a low resistance state magnetization orientation and a memristor solid state element electrically coupled to the magnetic tunnel junction. The memristor has a device response that is an integrated voltage versus an integrated current.

Abstract: This invention discloses semiconductor power device disposed on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The semiconductor substrate supports an epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type thereon wherein the semiconductor power device is supported on a super-junction structure. The super-junction structure comprises a plurality of trenches opened from a top surface in the epitaxial layer; wherein each of the trenches having trench sidewalls covered with a first epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type to counter charge the epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type. A second epitaxial layer may be grown over the first epitaxial layer. Each of the trenches is filled with a non-doped dielectric material in a remaining trench gap space. Each of the trench sidewalls is opened with a tilted angle to form converging U-shaped trenches.

Abstract: A semiconductor device formed on a semiconductor substrate includes: an epitaxial layer overlaying the semiconductor substrate; a drain formed on back of the semiconductor substrate; a drain region that extends into the epitaxial layer; and an active region. The active region includes: a body disposed in the epitaxial layer, having a body top surface; a source embedded in the body, extending from the body top surface into the body; a gate trench extending into the epitaxial layer; a gate disposed in the gate trench; an active region contact trench extending through the source and the body into the drain region; an active region contact electrode disposed within the active region contact trench, wherein the active region contact electrode and the drain region form a Schottky diode; and a Schottky barrier controlling layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor power device supported on a semiconductor substrate includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit disposed on a first portion of patterned ESD polysilicon layer on top of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor power device further includes a second portion of the patterned ESD polysilicon layer constituting a body implant ion block layer for blocking implanting body ions to enter into the semiconductor substrate below the body implant ion block layer. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrostatic discharge (ESD) polysilicon layer on top of the semiconductor substrate further covering a scribe line on an edge of the semiconductor device whereby a passivation layer is no longer required manufacturing the semiconductor device for reducing a mask required for patterning the passivation layer.

Abstract: This invention discloses a semiconductor power device that includes an active cell area having a plurality of power transistor cells. Each of said power transistor cells has a planar Schottky diode that includes a Schottky junction barrier metal covering areas above gaps between separated body regions between two adjacent power transistor cells. The separated body regions further provide a function of adjusting a leakage current of said Schottky diode in each of said power transistor cells. Each of the planar Schottky diodes further includes a Shannon implant region disposed in a gap between the separated body regions of two adjacent power transistor cells for further adjusting a leakage current of said Schottky diode. Each of the power transistor cells further includes heavy body doped regions in the separated body regions next to source regions surrounding said Schottky diode forming a junction barrier Schottky (JBS) pocket region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The device includes: a drain; an epitaxial layer overlaying the drain, wherein a drain region extends into the epitaxial layer; and an active region. The active region includes: a body disposed in the epitaxial layer, having a body top surface; a source embedded in the body, extending from the body top surface into the body; a gate trench extending into the epitaxial layer; a gate disposed in the gate trench; an active region contact trench extending through the source and into the body; and an active region contact electrode disposed within the active region contact trench. A layer of body region separates the active region contact electrode from the epitaxial layer, and a low injection diode is formed below a body/drain junction.

Abstract: A semiconductor power device comprises a plurality of power transistor cells each having a trenched gate disposed in a gate trench wherein the trenched gate comprising a shielding bottom electrode disposed in a bottom portion of the gate trench electrically insulated from a top gate electrode disposed in a top portion of the gate trench by an inter-electrode insulation layer. At least one of the transistor cells includes the shielding bottom electrode functioning as a source-connecting shielding bottom electrode electrically connected to a source electrode of the semiconductor power device and at least one of the transistor cells having the shielding bottom electrode functioning as a gate-connecting shielding bottom electrode electrically connected to a gate metal of the semiconductor power device.

Abstract: Magnetic tunnel junctions having a specular insulative spacer are disclosed. The magnetic tunnel junction includes a free magnetic layer, a reference magnetic layer, an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the reference magnetic layer, and an electrically insulating and electronically reflective layer positioned to reflect at least a portion of electrons back into the free magnetic layer.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a magnetic structure including a reference layer; and a free layer; an exchange coupling spacer layer; and a stabilizing layer, wherein the exchange coupling spacer layer is between the magnetic structure and the stabilizing layer and exchange couples the free layer of the magnetic structure to the stabilizing layer.

Abstract: Fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a gate trench in an epitaxial layer overlaying a semiconductor substrate; disposing gate material in the gate trench; forming a body in the epitaxial layer; forming a source in the body; forming an active region contact trench that has a varying trench depth; and disposing a contact electrode within the active region contact trench. Forming the active region contact trench includes performing a first etch to form a first contact trench depth associated with a first region, and performing a second etch to form a second contact trench depth associated with a second region. The first contact trench depth is substantially different from the second contact trench depth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for asymmetric write current in a non-volatile unit cell. The unit cell comprises a switching device and an asymmetric resistive sense element (RSE), such as an asymmetric resistive random access memory (RRAM) element or an asymmetric spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM) element. The RSE is physically oriented within the unit cell relative to the switching device such that a hard direction for programming the RSE is aligned with an easy direction of programming the unit cell, and an easy direction for programming the RSE is aligned with a hard direction for programming the unit cell.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a distributed Brillouin optical fiber sensing system employs a sensing optical fiber that supports two or more (i.e., few) guided modes. Pump light supported by one of the guided modes is used to form a dynamic Brillouin grating (DBG). Probe light supported by at least one of the other guided modes interacts with the DBG to form reflected probe light that is received and analyzed to determine a Brillouin frequency shift, a phase matching wavelength between probe and pump light, a reflection location, which in turn allows for making a measurement of at least one condition along the sensing optical fiber. Supporting the pump and probe light in different guided modes results in the optical fiber sensing system being able to simultaneously measure temperature and strain and having a higher spatial resolution than sensing systems where the pump light and probe light share a common guided mode.

Abstract: A distributed Brillouin optical fiber sensing system employs a sensing optical fiber that supports two or more (i.e., few) guided modes. Pump light supported by one of the guided modes is used to form a dynamic Brillouin grating (DBG). Probe light supported by at least one of the other guided modes interacts with the DBG to form reflected probe light that is received and analyzed to determine a Brillouin frequency shift and a reflection location, which in turn allows for making a measurement of at least one condition along the sensing optical fiber. Supporting the pump and probe light in different guided modes results in the optical fiber sensing system having a higher spatial resolution than sensing systems where the pump light and probe light share a common guided mode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer of opposite conductivity type, a first epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type formed on sidewalls of the trenches, and a second epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type formed on the first epitaxial layer where the second epitaxial layer is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer. The first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer form parallel doped regions along the sidewalls of the trenches, each having uniform doping concentration. The second epitaxial layer has a first thickness and a first doping concentration and the first epitaxial layer and a mesa of the first semiconductor layer together having a second thickness and a second average doping concentration where the first and second thicknesses and the first doping concentration and second average doping concentrations are selected to achieve charge balance in operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure with an oxide-filled large deep trench (OFLDT) portion having trench size TCS and trench depth TCD is disclosed. A bulk semiconductor layer (BSL) is provided with a thickness BSLT>TCD. A large trench top area (LTTA) is mapped out atop BSL with its geometry equal to OFLDT. The LTTA is partitioned into interspersed, complementary interim areas ITA-A and ITA-B. Numerous interim vertical trenches of depth TCD are created into the top BSL surface by removing bulk semiconductor materials corresponding to ITA-B. The remaining bulk semiconductor materials corresponding to ITA-A are converted into oxide. If any residual space is still left between the so-converted ITA-A, the residual space is filled up with oxide deposition. Importantly, the geometry of all ITA-A and ITA-B should be configured simple and small enough to facilitate fast and efficient processes of oxide conversion and oxide filling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for writing data to a non-volatile memory cell, such as a spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM) memory cell. In some embodiments, a selected resistive state is written to a magnetic tunneling structure by applying a succession of indeterminate write pulses thereto until the selected resistive state is verified.

Abstract: Magnetic tunnel junctions having a specular insulative spacer are disclosed. The magnetic tunnel junction includes a free magnetic layer, a reference magnetic layer, an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the reference magnetic layer, and an electrically insulating and electronically reflective layer positioned to reflect at least a portion of electrons back into the free magnetic layer.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a magnetic structure including a reference layer; and a free layer; an exchange coupling spacer layer; and a stabilizing layer, wherein the exchange coupling spacer layer is between the magnetic structure and the stabilizing layer and exchange couples the free layer of the magnetic structure to the stabilizing layer.