Patents by Inventor Yasushi Niimura

Yasushi Niimura 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: 20240186407
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate of a first semiconductor type; a drift layer of the first semiconductor type; a base layer of a second conductivity type; an active region through which a main current flows and having source regions of the first semiconductor type, trenches, gate insulating films, and gate electrodes; and a termination region surrounding a periphery of the active region. The termination region has a conductive film electrically connected to the gate electrode, a field oxide film that insulates the conductive film from the drift layer, and a contact hole that penetrates through the conductive film and reaches the field oxide film. The contact hole is embedded in the field oxide film such that a thickness of the field oxide film below the contact hole has is 54 nm to 85 nm thinner than a thickness of the field oxide film outside the contact hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi NIIMURA, Kazuya YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10553505
    Abstract: To easily assess a feedback capacitance of a semiconductor element. An assessment method of assessing a feedback capacitance of a semiconductor element is provided, the assessment method including: acquiring a first characteristic correlated with the feedback capacitance and a second characteristic correlated with the feedback capacitance; and assessing the feedback capacitance based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic. The first characteristic may be a characteristic that corresponds to a withstanding voltage of the semiconductor element, and the second characteristic may be an on-resistance of the semiconductor element. In the assessing, the feedback capacitance may be assessed based on a ratio between the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Niimura, Hideki Shishido, Takayuki Shimatou, Toshihiro Arai
  • Publication number: 20190363027
    Abstract: To easily assess a feedback capacitance of a semiconductor element. An assessment method of assessing a feedback capacitance of a semiconductor element is provided, the assessment method including: acquiring a first characteristic correlated with the feedback capacitance and a second characteristic correlated with the feedback capacitance; and assessing the feedback capacitance based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic. The first characteristic may be a characteristic that corresponds to a withstanding voltage of the semiconductor element, and the second characteristic may be an on-resistance of the semiconductor element. In the assessing, the feedback capacitance may be assessed based on a ratio between the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Yasushi NIIMURA, Hideki SHISHIDO, Takayuki SHIMATOU, Toshihiro ARAI
  • Patent number: 10381274
    Abstract: To easily assess a feedback capacitance of a semiconductor element. An assessment method of assessing a feedback capacitance of a semiconductor element is provided, the assessment method including: acquiring a first characteristic correlated with the feedback capacitance and a second characteristic correlated with the feedback capacitance; and assessing the feedback capacitance based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic. The first characteristic may be a characteristic that corresponds to a withstanding voltage of the semiconductor element, and the second characteristic may be an on-resistance of the semiconductor element. In the assessing, the feedback capacitance may be assessed based on a ratio between the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Niimura, Hideki Shishido, Takayuki Shimatou, Toshihiro Arai
  • Patent number: 10211286
    Abstract: A first parallel pn layer having a first n-type region and a first p-type region junctioned alternately and repeatedly is disposed in an element active portion. The first parallel pn layer has a striped planar layout. A second parallel pn layer having a second n-type region and a second p-type region junctioned alternately and repeatedly is disposed in a high voltage structure. The second parallel pn layer has a striped planar layout in a direction identical to that of the first parallel pn layer. An intermediate region having a third parallel pn layer and a fourth parallel pn layer of a lower impurity quantity than the first parallel pn layer is disposed between the first and second parallel pn layers, and formed by diffusing impurity implanting regions becoming the first and the second parallel pn layers formed separated from each other to a region in which no impurity is ion-implanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sakata, Yasushi Niimura, Shunji Takenoiri
  • Patent number: 10008562
    Abstract: A first parallel pn layer in which first n-type regions and first p-type regions are disposed in a plan view layout of stripes in an element active portion. A second parallel pn layer has a plan view layout of stripes oriented in the same direction as that of the stripes of the first parallel pn layer in a breakdown voltage structure portion. Corner portions of the first parallel pn layer has a plan view shape where stepped regions formed by shortening the length of the first n-type and p-type regions in steps are disposed in a stepwise arrangement. The stepped regions continue with a second parallel pn layer via an intermediate region lower in average impurity concentration than the first parallel pn layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Niimura, Toshiaki Sakata, Shunji Takenoiri
  • Publication number: 20180158899
    Abstract: A first parallel pn layer in which first n-type regions and first p-type regions are disposed in a plan view layout of stripes in an element active portion. A second parallel pn layer has a plan view layout of stripes oriented in the same direction as that of the stripes of the first parallel pn layer in a breakdown voltage structure portion. Corner portions of the first parallel pn layer has a plan view shape where stepped regions formed by shortening the length of the first n-type and p-type regions in steps are disposed in a stepwise arrangement. The stepped regions continue with a second parallel pn layer via an intermediate region lower in average impurity concentration than the first parallel pn layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Niimura, Toshiaki Sakata, Shunji Takenoiri
  • Publication number: 20180114832
    Abstract: A first parallel pn layer having a first n-type region and a first p-type region junctioned alternately and repeatedly is disposed in an element active portion. The first parallel pn layer has a striped planar layout. A second parallel pn layer having a second n-type region and a second p-type region junctioned alternately and repeatedly is disposed in a high voltage structure. The second parallel pn layer has a striped planar layout in a direction identical to that of the first parallel pn layer. An intermediate region having a third parallel pn layer and a fourth parallel pn layer of a lower impurity quantity than the first parallel pn layer is disposed between the first and second parallel pn layers, and formed by diffusing impurity implanting regions becoming the first and the second parallel pn layers formed separated from each other to a region in which no impurity is ion-implanted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki SAKATA, Yasushi NIIMURA, Shunji TAKENOIRI
  • Patent number: 9887260
    Abstract: A first parallel pn layer in which first n-type regions and first p-type regions are disposed in a plan view layout of stripes in an element active portion. A second parallel pn layer has a plan view layout of stripes oriented in the same direction as that of the stripes of the first parallel pn layer in a breakdown voltage structure portion. Corner portions of the first parallel pn layer has a plan view shape where stepped regions formed by shortening the length of the first n-type and p-type regions in steps are disposed in a stepwise arrangement. The stepped regions continue with a second parallel pn layer via an intermediate region lower in average impurity concentration than the first parallel pn layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Niimura, Toshiaki Sakata, Shunji Takenoiri
  • Patent number: 9881997
    Abstract: A first parallel pn layer having a first n-type region and a first p-type region junctioned alternately and repeatedly is disposed in an element active portion. The first parallel pn layer has a striped planar layout. A second parallel pn layer having a second n-type region and a second p-type region junctioned alternately and repeatedly is disposed in a high voltage structure. The second parallel pn layer has a striped planar layout in a direction identical to that of the first parallel pn layer. An intermediate region having a third parallel pn layer and a fourth parallel pn layer of a lower impurity quantity than the first parallel pn layer is disposed between the first and second parallel pn layers, and formed by diffusing impurity implanting regions becoming the first and the second parallel pn layers formed separated from each other to a region in which no impurity is ion-implanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sakata, Yasushi Niimura, Shunji Takenoiri
  • Publication number: 20170229356
    Abstract: To easily assess a feedback capacitance of a semiconductor element. An assessment method of assessing a feedback capacitance of a semiconductor element is provided, the assessment method including: acquiring a first characteristic correlated with the feedback capacitance and a second characteristic correlated with the feedback capacitance; and assessing the feedback capacitance based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic. The first characteristic may be a characteristic that corresponds to a withstanding voltage of the semiconductor element, and the second characteristic may be an on-resistance of the semiconductor element. In the assessing, the feedback capacitance may be assessed based on a ratio between the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Yasushi NIIMURA, Hideki SHISHIDO, Takayuki SHIMATOU, Toshihiro ARAI
  • Patent number: 9653595
    Abstract: An n? drift layer is a parallel pn layer having an n-type region and a p-type region are alternately arranged in the direction parallel to the main surface so as to come into contact with each other, and have a width in a direction parallel to the main surface of the substrate which is less than a length in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the substrate. A second-main-surface-side lower end portion of the p-type region has a structure in which a high-concentration lower end portion and a low-concentration lower end portion of a p-type low-concentration region are repeated at a predetermined pitch in the direction parallel to the main surface of the substrate. It is possible to provide a super junction MOS semiconductor device which can improve a trade-off relationship between turn-off loss and turn-off dv/dt and improve avalanche resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Niimura, Toshiaki Sakata
  • Patent number: 9608057
    Abstract: A MOS semiconductor device has a MOS structure, including a p? region that surrounds an n+-type source region and has a net doping concentration lower than a concentration of a p-type impurity in a surface of a p-type well region, and a gate electrode that is provided on top of the surface of the p-type well region sandwiched between the n+-type source region and a surface layer of an n? layer, with a gate insulator disposed between the p-type well region and the gate electrode. This configuration can make the gate insulator thicker without increasing a gate threshold voltage, and help improve the reliability of the gate insulator and reduce the gate capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Tatemichi, Takeyoshi Nishimura, Yasushi Niimura, Masanori Inoue
  • Patent number: 9496370
    Abstract: A screen oxide film is formed on an n? drift layer (2) that is disposed on an anterior side of an n-type low-resistance layer (1), and a nitride film is formed on the screen oxide film. The nitride film is photo-etched using a first mask and thereby, a nitride shielding film (61) is formed. N-type impurity ions at a concentration higher than that of the n? drift layer are implanted through the nitride shielding film (61) from an anterior side of a semiconductor substrate and are thermally diffused and thereby, an n counter layer (7) is formed. The screen oxide film is removed. A gate oxide film (3a) is formed. A gate electrode (9) is formed on the gate oxide film (3a). P-type impurity ions are implanted from the anterior side of the semiconductor substrate using the gate electrode (9) and the nitride shielding film (61) as a mask and thereby, p? well regions (10) are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Niimura, Sota Watanabe, Hidenori Takahashi, Takumi Fujimoto, Takeyoshi Nishimura, Takamasa Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20160293693
    Abstract: A first parallel pn layer in which first n-type regions and first p-type regions are disposed in a plan view layout of stripes in an element active portion. A second parallel pn layer has a plan view layout of stripes oriented in the same direction as that of the stripes of the first parallel pn layer in a breakdown voltage structure portion. Corner portions of the first parallel pn layer has a plan view shape where stepped regions formed by shortening the length of the first n-type and p-type regions in steps are disposed in a stepwise arrangement. The stepped regions continue with a second parallel pn layer via an intermediate region lower in average impurity concentration than the first parallel pn layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi NIIMURA, Toshiaki SAKATA, Shunji TAKENOIRI
  • Publication number: 20160293692
    Abstract: A first parallel pn layer having a first n-type region and a first p-type region junctioned alternately and repeatedly is disposed in an element active portion. The first parallel pn layer has a striped planar layout. A second parallel pn layer having a second n-type region and a second p-type region junctioned alternately and repeatedly is disposed in a high voltage structure. The second parallel pn layer has a striped planar layout in a direction identical to that of the first parallel pn layer. An intermediate region having a third parallel pn layer and a fourth parallel pn layer of a lower impurity quantity than the first parallel pn layer is disposed between the first and second parallel pn layers, and formed by diffusing impurity implanting regions becoming the first and the second parallel pn layers formed separated from each other to a region in which no impurity is ion-implanted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki SAKATA, Yasushi NIIMURA, Shunji TAKENOIRI
  • Patent number: 9431290
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method is disclosed by which electron beam irradiation is accomplished at a low cost while exhibiting uniform characteristics. A wafer stack consisting of multiple stacked wafers is irradiated with an electron beam from both the front surface and reverse surface. As such, a semiconductor device manufacturing method is provided whereby the electrical characteristics are extremely uniform between wafers, and costs are reduced by reducing the number of electron beam irradiations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Niimura
  • Publication number: 20160197140
    Abstract: A MOS semiconductor device has a MOS structure, including a p? region that surrounds an n+-type source region and has a net doping concentration lower than a concentration of a p-type impurity in a surface of a p-type well region, and a gate electrode that is provided on top of the surface of the p-type well region sandwiched between the n+-type source region and a surface layer of an n? layer, with a gate insulator disposed between the p-type well region and the gate electrode. This configuration can make the gate insulator thicker without increasing a gate threshold voltage, and help improve the reliability of the gate insulator and reduce the gate capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei TATEMICHI, Takeyoshi NISHIMURA, Yasushi NIIMURA, Masanori INOUE
  • Publication number: 20160197163
    Abstract: A screen oxide film is formed on an n? drift layer (2) that is disposed on an anterior side of an n-type low-resistance layer (1), and a nitride film is formed on the screen oxide film. The nitride film is photo-etched using a first mask and thereby, a nitride shielding film (61) is formed. N-type impurity ions at a concentration higher than that of the n? drift layer are implanted through the nitride shielding film (61) from an anterior side of a semiconductor substrate and are thermally diffused and thereby, an n counter layer (7) is formed. The screen oxide film is removed. A gate oxide film (3a) is formed. A gate electrode (9) is formed on the gate oxide film (3a). P-type impurity ions are implanted from the anterior side of the semiconductor substrate using the gate electrode (9) and the nitride shielding film (61) as a mask and thereby, p? well regions (10) are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi NIIMURA, Sota WATANABE, Hidenori TAKAHASHI, Takumi FUJIMOTO, Takeyoshi NISHIMURA, Takamasa WAKABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9362393
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a vertical semiconductor device including an element active portion and a voltage withstanding structure portion that has a first main electrode and a gate pad electrode on a first main surface of the element active portion, includes first parallel pn layers in a drift layer below the first main electrode, and includes second parallel pn layers below the gate pad electrode. The vertical semiconductor device includes a first conductivity type isolation region between the second parallel pn layers below the gate pad electrode and a p-type well region disposed in a surface layer of the drift layer, and by the repetition pitch of the second parallel pn layers being shorter than the repetition pitch of the first parallel pn layers, it is possible to obtain low on-state resistance, high avalanche withstand, high turn-off withstand, and high reverse recovery withstand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sakata, Yasushi Niimura