Abstract: Remote contacts to the polysilicon regions of a trench metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) barrier Schottky (TMBS) device, as well as to the polysilicon regions of a MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET) section and of a TMBS section in a monolithically integrated TMBS and MOSFET (SKYFET) device, are employed. The polysilicon is recessed relative to adjacent mesas. Contact of the source metal to the polysilicon regions of the TMBS section is made through an extension of the polysilicon to outside the active region of the TMBS section. This change in the device architecture relieves the need to remove all of the oxides from both the polysilicon and silicon mesa regions of the TMBS section prior to the contact step. As a consequence, encroachment of contact metal into the sidewalls of the trenches in a TMBS device, or in a SKYFET device, is avoided.

Abstract: In a trench MOSFET, the lower portion of the trench contains a buried source electrode, which is insulated from the epitaxial layer and semiconductor substrate but in electrical contact with the source region. When the MOSFET is in an “off” condition, the bias of the buried source electrode causes the “drift” region of the mesa to become depleted, enhancing the ability of the MOSFET to block current. The doping concentration of the drift region can therefore be increased, reducing the on-resistance of the MOSFET. The buried source electrode also reduces the gate-to-drain capacitance of the MOSFET, improving the ability of the MOSFET to operate at high frequencies. The substrate may advantageously include a plurality of annular trenches separated by annular mesas and a gate metal layer that extends outward from a central region in a plurality of gate metal legs separated by source metal regions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a striped or closed cell trench metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (TMOSFET). The striped or closed cell TMOSFET comprises a source region, a body region disposed above the source region, a drift region disposed above the body region, a drain region disposed above the drift region. A gate region is disposed above the source region and adjacent the body region. A gate insulator region electrically isolates the gate region from the source region, body region, drift region and drain region. The body region is electrically coupled to the source region.

Abstract: In a trench MOSFET, the lower portion of the trench contains a buried source electrode, which is insulated from the epitaxial layer and semiconductor substrate but in electrical contact with the source region. When the MOSFET is in an “off” condition, the bias of the buried source electrode causes the “drift” region of the mesa to become depleted, enhancing the ability of the MOSFET to block current. The doping concentration of the drift region can therefore be increased, reducing the on-resistance of the MOSFET. The buried source electrode also reduces the gate-to-drain capacitance of the MOSFET, improving the ability of the MOSFET to operate at high frequencies. The substrate may advantageously include a plurality of annular trenches separated by annular mesas and a gate metal layer that extends outward from a central region in a plurality of gate metal legs separated by source metal regions.

Abstract: A complete power management system implemented in a single surface mount package. The system may be drawn to a DC to DC converter system and includes, in a leadless surface mount package, a driver/controller, a MOSFET transistor, passive components (e.g., inductor, capacitor, resistor), and optionally a diode. The MOSFET transistor may be replaced with an insulated gate bipolar transistor, IGBT in various embodiments. The system may also be a power management system, a smart power module or a motion control system. The passive components may be connected between the leadframe connections. The active components may be coupled to the leadframe using metal clip bonding techniques. In one embodiment, an exposed metal bottom may act as an effective heat sink.

Abstract: A complete power management system implemented in a single surface mount package. The system may be drawn to a DC to DC converter system and includes, in a leadless surface mount package, a driver/controller, a MOSFET transistor, passive components (e.g., inductor, capacitor, resistor), and optionally a diode. The MOSFET transistor may be replaced with an insulated gate bipolar transistor, IGBT in various embodiments. The system may also be a power management system, a smart power module or a motion control system. The passive components may be connected between the leadframe connections. The active components may be coupled to the leadframe using metal clip bonding techniques. In one embodiment, an exposed metal bottom may act as an effective heat sink.

Abstract: In a trench MOSFET, the lower portion of the trench contains a buried source electrode, which is insulated from the epitaxial layer and semiconductor substrate but in electrical contact with the source region. When the MOSFET is in an “off” condition, the bias of the buried source electrode causes the “drift” region of the mesa to become depleted, enhancing the ability of the MOSFET to block current. The doping concentration of the drift region can therefore be increased, reducing the on-resistance of the MOSFET. The buried source electrode also reduces the gate-to-drain capacitance of the MOSFET, improving the ability of the MOSFET to operate at high frequencies. The substrate may advantageously include a plurality of annular trenches separated by annular mesas and a gate metal layer that extends outward from a central region in a plurality of gate metal legs separated by source metal regions.

Abstract: In a trench MOSFET, the lower portion of the trench contains a buried source electrode, which is insulated from the epitaxial layer and semiconductor substrate but in electrical contact with the source region. When the MOSFET is in an “off” condition, the bias of the buried source electrode causes the “drift” region of the mesa to become depleted, enhancing the ability of the MOSFET to block current. The doping concentration of the drift region can therefore be increased, reducing the on-resistance of the MOSFET. The buried source electrode also reduces the gate-to-drain capacitance of the MOSFET, improving the ability of the MOSFET to operate at high frequencies. The substrate may advantageously include a plurality of annular trenches separated by annular mesas and a gate metal layer that extends outward from a central region in a plurality of gate metal legs separated by source metal regions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a striped or closed cell trench metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (TMOSFET). The striped or closed cell TMOSFET comprises a source region, a body region disposed above the source region, a drift region disposed above the body region, a drain region disposed above the drift region. A gate region is disposed above the source region and adjacent the body region. A gate insulator region electrically isolates the gate region from the source region, body region, drift region and drain region. The body region is electrically coupled to the source region.

Abstract: A buck regulator having a voltage sensor for sensing a voltage reversal caused by freewheeling current from an output inductor in the regulator. Upon sensing a reversed voltage, the voltage sensor triggers a gate controller to turn on a switch in the regulator, and thereby terminate a dead time. The voltage sensor and gate controller are high speed circuits, and therefore can reduce the duration of the dead time. Reducing the dead time duration improves efficiency by reducing the duration of body diode conduction. The dead time can be reduced to less than a turn-on time of the body diode, thereby preventing charge buildup in the body diode, and, consequently, preventing reverse recovery loss in the body diode. The present invention improves electrical conversion efficiency, and allows for increased operating frequency in buck regulators.

Abstract: A buck regulator having a voltage sensor for sensing a voltage reversal caused by freewheeling current from an output inductor in the regulator. Upon sensing a reversed voltage, the voltage sensor triggers a gate controller to turn on a switch in the regulator, and thereby terminate a dead time. The voltage sensor and gate controller are high speed circuits, and therefore can reduce the duration of the dead time. Reducing the dead time duration improves efficiency by reducing the duration of body diode conduction. The dead time can be reduced to less than a turn-on time of the body diode, thereby preventing charge buildup in the body diode, and, consequently, preventing reverse recovery loss in the body diode. The present invention improves electrical conversion efficiency, and allows for increased operating frequency in buck regulators.

Abstract: The invention provides inoculants for increasing plant growth, comprising plant growth promoting bacteria selected from the group consisting of plant growth promoting bacteria of the species Bacillus subtilis and plant growth promoting bacteria of the species Bacillus thuringiensis, or a combination thereof, and methods for using the inoculants for increasing plant growth. Preferably the plant growth promoting bacteria are selected from the group consisting of B. subtilis having the identifying characteristics of B. subtilis strain NEB4, B. subtilis having the identifying characteristics of B. subtilis strain NEB5, and B. thuringiensis having the identifying characteristics of B. thuringiensis strain NEB17.