Patents Issued in May 2, 2017
  • Patent number: 9640616
    Abstract: A superlattice cell that includes Group IV elements is repeated multiple times so as to form the superlattice. Each superlattice cell has multiple ordered atomic planes that are parallel to one another. At least two of the atomic planes in the superlattice cell have different chemical compositions. One or more of the atomic planes in the superlattice cell one or more components selected from the group consisting of carbon, tin, and lead. These superlattices make a variety of applications including, but not limited to, transistors, light sensors, and light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Quantum Semiconductors LLC
    Inventor: Carlos Jorge R. P. Augusto
  • Patent number: 9640617
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power module that has a housing with an interior chamber and a plurality of switch modules interconnected to facilitate switching power to a load. Each of the plurality of switch modules comprises at least one transistor and at least one diode mounted within the interior chamber and both the at least one transistor and the at least one diode are majority carrier devices, are formed of a wide bandgap material system, or both. The switching modules may be arranged in virtually any fashion depending on the application. For example, the switching modules may be arranged in a six-pack, full H-bridge, half H-bridge, single switch or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Mrinal K. Das, Robert J. Callanan, Henry Lin, John Williams Palmour
  • Patent number: 9640618
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide layer 32 of a first conductivity type, a silicon carbide layer 36 of a second conductivity type, a gate trench 20, a gate electrode 79 provided in the gate trench 20, and a protection trench 10 formed to a greater depth than the gate trench 20. A region in the horizontal direction that includes both the gate trench 20 and a protection trench 10 that surrounds only a part of the gate trench 20 in the horizontal direction is a cell region, and a region in the horizontal direction that includes a protection trench 10 and in which a gate pad 89 or a lead electrode connected to the gate pad 89 is disposed is a gate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuto Inoue, Akihiko Sugai, Shunichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9640619
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wide band gap semiconductor device includes the steps of preparing a wide band gap semiconductor substrate, separating the wide band gap semiconductor substrate into a plurality of first semiconductor chips, fixing the plurality of first semiconductor chips on a fixation member, measuring a breakdown voltage of each of the first semiconductor chips while immersing at least the first semiconductor chips in inert liquid, and after the step of measuring a breakdown voltage of each of the first semiconductor chips, providing a plurality of second semiconductor chips each having each of the first semiconductor chips fixed on the fixation member, by cutting the fixation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiko Sakai
  • Patent number: 9640620
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate stack for a power transistor device includes thermally oxidizing a surface of a Group IIIA-N layer on a substrate to form a first dielectric layer of an oxide material that is >5A thick. A second dielectric layer being silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride is deposited on the first dielectric layer. A metal gate electrode is formed on the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Nicholas Stephen Dellas
  • Patent number: 9640621
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to glass-ceramic substrates with a III-V semiconductor layer, for example, a GaN layer that can be used in LED lighting devices. The glass-ceramics material is in the anorthite-rutile (CaAl2Si2O8+TiO2) family or in the cordierite-enstatite (SiO2—Al2O3—MgO—TiO2) family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: George Halsey Beall, James Gregory Couillard, Sasha Marjanovic, Gregory Albert Merkel
  • Patent number: 9640622
    Abstract: A first III-V material based buffer layer is deposited on a silicon substrate. A second III-V material based buffer layer is deposited onto the first III-V material based buffer layer. A III-V material based device channel layer is deposited on the second III-V material based buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Niti Goel, Gilbert Dewey, Niloy Mukherjee, Matthew V. Metz, Marko Radosavljevic, Benjamin Chu-Kung, Jack T. Kavalieros, Robert S. Chau
  • Patent number: 9640623
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a semiconductor body, a spacer layer, and a field plate. The spacer layer is over at least a portion of a surface of the semiconductor body. The field plate is over at least a portion of the spacer layer, and includes a semiconductor layer between a first refractory metal interposer layer and a second refractory metal interposer layer. By including the semiconductor layer between the first refractory metal interposer layer and the second refractory metal interposer layer, the electromigration of metals in the field plate is significantly reduced. Since electromigration of metals in the field plate is a common cause of transistor device failures, reducing the electromigration of metals in the field plate improves the reliability and lifetime of the transistor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Helmut Hagleitner
  • Patent number: 9640624
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor device active region; an electrode shape controlling layer disposed on the semiconductor device active region, the electrode shape controlling layer containing aluminum, the content of aluminum being changed in a direction from bottom to up from the semiconductor device active region, an electrode region being disposed on the electrode shape controlling layer, a groove extended toward the semiconductor device active region and penetrating through the electrode shape controlling layer longitudinally being disposed in the electrode region, all or part of a side surface of the groove having a shape corresponding to the content of aluminum in the electrode shape controlling layer; and an electrode disposed in the groove in the electrode region entirely or partially, the electrode having a shape matching with the shape of the groove, a bottom portion of the electrode being contacted with the semiconductor device active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ENKRIS SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Kai Cheng
  • Patent number: 9640625
    Abstract: Provided are approaches for forming gate and source/drain (S/D) contacts. Specifically, a gate contact opening is formed over at least one of a set of gate structures, a set of S/D contact openings is formed over fins of the semiconductor device, and a metal material is deposited over the semiconductor device to form a gate contact within the gate contact opening and a set of S/D contacts within the set of S/D contact openings. In one approach, nitride remains between the gate contact and at least one of the S/D contacts. In another approach, the device includes merged gate and S/D contacts. This approach provides selective etching to partition areas where oxide will be further removed selectively to nitride to create cavities to metallize and create contact to the S/D, while isolation areas between contact areas are enclosed in nitride and do not get removed during the oxide etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Guillaume Bouche, Andy Chih-Hung Wei, Gabriel Padron Wells, Andre P. Labonte, Jing Wan
  • Patent number: 9640626
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a cell region and a peripheral region, a buried gate formed over the substrate of the cell region, a peripheral gate formed over the substrate of the peripheral region and comprising a conductive layer, an inter-layer dielectric layer that covers the substrate, and a peripheral bit line formed inside the inter-layer dielectric layer and contacting the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Sk Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jong-Han Shin
  • Patent number: 9640627
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Schottky contact for a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has a body formed from one or more epitaxial layers, which reside over a substrate. The Schottky contact may include a Schottky layer, a first diffusion barrier layer, and a third layer. The Schottky layer is formed of a first metal and is provided over at least a portion of a first surface of the body. The first diffusion barrier layer is formed of a silicide of the first metal and is provided over the Schottky layer. The third layer is formed of a second metal and is provided over the first diffusion barrier layer. In one embodiment, the first metal is nickel, and as such, the silicide is nickel silicide. Various other layers may be provided between or above the Schottky layer, the first diffusion barrier layer, and the third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmut Hagleitner, Saptharishi Sriram
  • Patent number: 9640628
    Abstract: An SGT production method includes a first step of forming a fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate and forming a first insulating film; a second step of forming a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a first dummy gate, and a first hard mask formed from a third insulating film; a third step of forming a second hard mask on a side wall of the first hard mask, and forming a second dummy gate; a fourth step of forming a sidewall and forming a second diffusion layer; a fifth step of depositing an interlayer insulating film, exposing upper portions of the second dummy gate and the first dummy gate, removing the second dummy gate and the first dummy gate, forming a first gate insulating film, and forming a gate electrode and a gate line; and a sixth step of forming a first contact and a second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9640629
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate electrode. The gate electrode includes a first electrode formed on the substrate, the first electrode having a first conductive property, with a first insulating film between the first electrode and the substrate, and a second electrode formed on the substrate, the second electrode having a second conductive property different from the first conductive property, with a second insulating film between the second electrode and the substrate. The first electrode is formed in a rectangular shape having a hollow portion. A slit is formed in a side surface of the first electrode extending in a width direction of the gate electrode. The second electrode is formed in the slit and along the side surface of the first electrode that has the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Toshitaka Miyata
  • Patent number: 9640630
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a first interlayer insulating layer made of an inorganic material and formed on inverse stagger type TFTs, a second interlayer insulating layer made of an organic material and formed on the first interlayer insulating layer, and a pixel electrode formed in contact with the second interlayer insulating layer are disposed on a substrate, and an input terminal portion that is electrically connected to a wiring of another substrate is provided on an end portion of the substrate. The input terminal portion includes a first layer made of the same material as that of the gate electrode and a second layer made of the same material as that of the pixel electrode. With this structure, the number of photomasks used in the photolithography method can be reduced to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Setsuo Nakajima, Yasuyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 9640631
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bipolar transistor, including the steps of: forming a first surface-doped region of a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor layer extending thereon with an interposed first insulating layer; forming, at the surface of the device, a stack of a silicon layer and of a second insulating layer; defining a trench crossing the stack and the semiconductor layer opposite to the first doped region, and then an opening in the exposed region of the first insulating layer; forming a single-crystal silicon region in the opening; forming a silicon-germanium region at the surface of single-crystal silicon region, in contact with the remaining regions of the semiconductor layer and of the silicon layer; and forming a second doped region at least in the remaining space of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Alain Chantre, Pascal Chevalier, Gregory Avenier
  • Patent number: 9640632
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having improved heat dissipation is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semi-insulating substrate and epitaxial layers disposed on the semi-insulating substrate wherein the epitaxial layers include a plurality of heat conductive vias that are disposed through the epitaxial layers with the plurality of heat conductive vias being spaced along a plurality of finger axes that are aligned generally parallel across a surface of the epitaxial layers. The semiconductor device further includes an electrode having a plurality of electrically conductive fingers that are disposed along the plurality of finger axes such that the electrically conductive fingers are in contact with the first plurality of heat conductive vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9640633
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that includes a first fin structure in a first portion of a substrate, and a second fin structure in a second portion of the substrate, wherein the first portion of the substrate is separated from the second portion of the substrate by at least one isolation region. A gate structure present extending from the first fin structure across the isolation region to the second fin structure. The gate structure including a first portion on the first fin structure including a first work function metal having at least one void, an isolation portion that is voidless present overlying the isolation region, and a second portion on the second fin structure including a second work function metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC., STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Greene, Qing Liu, Ruilong Xie, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9640634
    Abstract: Microelectronic structures embodying the present invention include a field effect transistor (FET) having highly conductive source/drain extensions. Formation of such highly conductive source/drain extensions includes forming a passivated recess which is back filled by epitaxial deposition of doped material to form the source/drain junctions. The recesses include a laterally extending region that underlies a portion of the gate structure. Such a lateral extension may underlie a sidewall spacer adjacent to the vertical sidewalls of the gate electrode, or may extend further into the channel portion of a FET such that the lateral recess underlies the gate electrode portion of the gate structure. In one embodiment the recess is back filled by an in-situ epitaxial deposition of a bilayer of oppositely doped material. In this way, a very abrupt junction is achieved that provides a relatively low resistance source/drain extension and further provides good off-state subthreshold leakage characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anand S. Murthy, Robert S. Chau, Patrick Morrow, Chia-Hong Jan, Paul Packan
  • Patent number: 9640635
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a transistor device having a channel of a first conductivity type formed during operation in a body region having a second conductivity type includes forming a first well region of the body region in a semiconductor substrate, performing a first implantation procedure to counter-dope the first well region with dopant of the first conductivity type to define a second well region of the body region, and performing a second implantation procedure to form a source region in the first well region and a drain region in the second well region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Zhihong Zhang, Daniel J. Blomberg, Hongning Yang, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 9640636
    Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming an initial vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure having a first height above a substrate, forming a sacrificial spacer structure adjacent the initial vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure and, with the sacrificial spacer in position, performing at least one process operation to define a self-aligned bottom source/drain region for the device that is self-aligned with respect to the sacrificial spacer structure, forming an isolation region in the trench and forming a bottom source/drain electrode above the isolation region. The method also includes removing the sacrificial spacer structure and forming a bottom spacer material around the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure above the bottom source/drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Bentley, John H. Zhang, Kwan-Yong Lim, Hiroaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 9640637
    Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor device includes a first step of forming a first insulating film around a fin-shaped semiconductor layer; a second step of forming a first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a first dummy gate, a second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and a second dummy gate; a third step of forming a third dummy gate and a fourth dummy gate; a fourth step of forming a third diffusion layer in an upper portion of the fin-shaped semiconductor layer, in a lower portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and in a lower portion of the second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer; a fifth step of forming a gate electrode and a gate line around the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and forming a contact electrode and a contact line around the second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer; and a sixth step of forming first to fifth contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SIGNAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9640638
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a substrate and gate structure over the substrate. A source region is formed in the substrate adjacent to the gate structure. A drain region in the substrate adjacent to the gate structure opposite the source region. An interconnect structure is formed over the substrate by forming a conductive plane electrically connected to the source region, and forming a conductive layer within openings of the conductive plane and electrically connected to the drain region. The interconnect structure can be formed as stacked conductive layers laid out in alternating strips. The conductive plane extends under a gate terminal of the semiconductor device. An insulating layer is formed over the substrate and a field plate is formed in the insulating layer. The field plate is electrically connected the source terminal. A stress relief layer is formed over a surface of the substrate opposite the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: GREAT WALL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Samuel J. Anderson, David N. Okada, Patrick M. Shea
  • Patent number: 9640639
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used for a channel formation region and which has a positive threshold voltage to serve as a normally-off switching element, and the like are provided. Stable electrical characteristics are given to the semiconductor device including the transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is used for the channel formation region, and thus the semiconductor device has high reliability. In a semiconductor device including a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film including a channel formation region, source and drain electrode layers, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode layer are stacked in this order over an oxide insulating film, a conductive layer overlapping with the gate electrode layer with the channel formation region provided therebetween and controlling the electrical characteristics of the transistor is provided in the oxide insulating film including an oxygen excess region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9640640
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, the method comprises forming a fin on a substrate, forming a dummy gate stack on the fin and the substrate, removing a portion of an exposed portion of the fin, forming a source/drain region on an exposed portion of the fin, forming a conductive contact on the source/drain region, removing the dummy gate stack to expose a channel region of the fin, implanting ions in the channel region of the fin, performing an annealing process, and forming a gate stack on the channel region of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Hong He, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie
  • Patent number: 9640641
    Abstract: A method for channel formation in a fin transistor includes removing a dummy gate and dielectric from a dummy gate structure to expose a region of an underlying fin and depositing an amorphous layer including Ge over the region of the underlying fin. The amorphous layer is oxidized to condense out Ge and diffuse the Ge into the region of the underlying fin to form a channel region with Ge in the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Hong He, Nicolas Loubet, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9640642
    Abstract: When a transistor having bottom gate bottom contact structure is manufactured, for example, a conductive layer constituting a source and a drain has a three-layer structure and two-step etching is performed. In the first etching process, an etching method in which the etching rates for at least the second film and the third film are high is employed, and the first etching process is performed until at least the first film is exposed. In the second etching process, an etching method in which the etching rate for the first film is higher than that in the first etching process and the etching rate for a “layer provided below and in contact with the first film” is lower than that in the first etching process is employed. The side wall of the second film is slightly etched when a resist mask is removed after the second etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Sasagawa, Hitoshi Nakayama, Masashi Tsubuku, Daigo Shimada
  • Patent number: 9640643
    Abstract: An insulated gate bipolar transistor having a gate electrode (7) and an emitter electrode (9) is provided in a transistor region. A termination region is arranged around the transistor region. A first N type buffer layer (18) is provided below an N type drift layer (1) in the transistor region. A P type collector layer (19) is provided below the first N type buffer layer (18). A second N type buffer layer (20) is provided below the N type drift layer (1) in the termination region. A collector electrode (21) is directly connected to the P type collector layer (19) and the second N type buffer layer (20). An impurity concentration of the second N type buffer layer (20) decreases as a distance from the collector electrode (21) decreases. The second N type buffer layer (20) does not form any ohmic contact with the collector electrode (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ze Chen, Katsumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9640644
    Abstract: A planar MOSFET is provided on the upper surface of the N?-type semiconductor substrate in a mesa portion between the trenches. A P+-type emitter layer is provided between the trench and the planar MOSFET in the mesa portion. A P-type collector layer is provided on a lower surface of the N?-type semiconductor substrate. The planar MOSFET includes an N+-type emitter layer, an upper portion of the N?-type semiconductor substrate, a P-type base layer, and a planar gate on the foregoing with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The planar gate is connected to the gate trench. The P+-type emitter layer has a higher impurity concentration than the P-type base layer and has an electric potential equal to an emitter potential of the N+-type emitter layer. The N+-type emitter layer is not in contact with the trench. A trench MOSFET is not formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ze Chen
  • Patent number: 9640645
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first type region including a first conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a second type region including a second conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a channel region extending between the first type region and the second type region. The semiconductor device includes a first silicide region on a first type surface region of the first type region. The first silicide region is separated at least one of a first distance from a first type diffusion region of the first type region or a second distance from the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Colinge, Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ta-Pen Guo, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Patent number: 9640646
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having group III-V material active regions and graded gate dielectrics and methods of fabricating such devices are described. In an example, a semiconductor device includes a group III-V material channel region disposed above a substrate. A gate stack is disposed on the group III-V material channel region. The gate stack includes a graded high-k gate dielectric layer disposed directly between the III-V material channel region and a gate electrode. The graded high-k gate dielectric layer has a lower dielectric constant proximate the III-V material channel region and has a higher dielectric constant proximate the gate electrode. Source/drain regions are disposed on either side of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Gilbert Dewey, Marko Radosavljevic, Ravi Pillarisetty, Matthew V. Metz
  • Patent number: 9640647
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a nitride semiconductor film on the substrate; a schottky electrode on the nitride semiconductor film; a first insulating film on the nitride semiconductor film, contacting at least part of a side surface of the schottky electrode, forming an interface with the nitride semiconductor film and formed of SiN; and a second insulating film covering the schottky electrode and the first insulating film and formed of AlO whose atomic layers are alternately disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okazaki, Kenichiro Kurahashi, Hidetoshi Koyama, Toshiaki Kitano, Yoshitaka Kamo
  • Patent number: 9640648
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer formed on a substrate; a second semiconductor layer and a third semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a fourth semiconductor layer formed on the third semiconductor layer; a gate electrode formed on the fourth semiconductor layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed in contact with the second semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer are formed in an area immediately below the gate electrode, the fourth semiconductor layer is formed with a p-type semiconductor material, and the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer are formed with AlGaN, and the third semiconductor layer has a lower composition ratio of Al than that of the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Transphorm Japan, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihide Kikkawa
  • Patent number: 9640649
    Abstract: A III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes a field relaxation feature to relax the electric fields around the gate thereof to improve the breakdown voltage of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventor: Robert Beach
  • Patent number: 9640650
    Abstract: Embodiments include high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) comprising a substrate and a barrier layer including a doped component. The doped component may be a germanium doped layer or a germanium doped pulse. Other embodiments may include methods for fabricating such a HEMT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Beam, III, Jinqiao Xie
  • Patent number: 9640651
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a termination trench surrounding a region in which a plurality of gate trenches is provided; a p-type lower end region being in contact with a lower end of the termination trench; a p-type outer circumference region being in contact with the termination trench from an outer circumferential side and exposed on a surface of the semiconductor device; a plurality of guard ring regions of a p-type provided on an outer circumferential side of the p-type outer circumference region and exposed on the surface; and an n-type outer circumference region separating the p-type outer circumference region from the guard ring regions and separating the guard ring regions from each another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidefumi Takaya, Jun Saito, Akitaka Soeno, Kimimori Hamada, Shoji Mizuno, Sachiko Aoi, Yukihiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9640652
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, a well region of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor layer wherein the first and second conductivity types are different, and a terminal region of the first conductivity type in the well region. An epitaxial semiconductor layer may be on the surface of the semiconductor layer including the well region and the terminal region with the epitaxial semiconductor layer having the first conductivity type across the well and terminal regions. A gate electrode may be on the epitaxial semiconductor layer so that the epitaxial semiconductor layer is between the gate electrode and portions of the well region surrounding the terminal region at the surface of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Adam Hull, Qingchun Zhang
  • Patent number: 9640653
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, comprising a first semiconductor portion having a first end, a second end, and a slit portion, wherein the width of the slit portion is less than the width of at least one of the first end and the second end; a second portion that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, a third portion that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, wherein the second and third portions are on opposite sides of the slit portion, and at least three terminals selected from a group consisting of a first terminal connected to the first end, a second terminal connected to the second end, a third terminal connected to the second portion, and a fourth terminal connected to the third portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventor: Wojciech P. Maly
  • Patent number: 9640654
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with improved characteristics is provided. The semiconductor device includes a LDMOS, a source plug electrically coupled to a source region of the LDMOS, a source wiring disposed over the source plug, a drain plug electrically coupled to a drain region of the LDMOS, and a drain wiring disposed over the drain plug. The structure of the source plug of the semiconductor device is devised. The semiconductor device is structured such that the drain plug is linearly disposed to extend in a direction Y, and the source plug includes a plurality of separated source plugs arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction Y. In this way, the separation of the source plug decreases an opposed area between the source plug and the drain plug, and can thus decrease the parasitic capacitance therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoya Nitta
  • Patent number: 9640655
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with: a first conductivity type contact region; a second conductivity type body region; a first conductivity type drift region of; a trench formed through the contact region and body region from a front surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein a bottom of the trench is positioned in the drift region; an insulating film covering an inner surface of the trench; a gate electrode accommodated in the trench in a state covered with the insulating film; and a second conductivity type floating region formed at a position deeper than the bottom of the trench, and adjacent to the bottom of the trench. The floating region includes a first layer adjacent to the bottom of the trench and a second layer formed at a position deeper than the first layer, wherein a width of the first layer is broader than a width of the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Nishimura, Narumasa Soejima, Kensaku Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9640656
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a construction having a second semiconductor material over a first semiconductor material. A region of the second semiconductor material proximate the first semiconductor material has strain due to different lattice characteristics of the first and second semiconductor materials. A transistor gate extends downwardly into the second semiconductor material. Gate dielectric material is along sidewalls and a bottom of the transistor gate. Source/drain regions are along the sidewalls of the transistor gate, and the gate dielectric material is between the source/drain regions and the transistor gate. A channel region extends between the source/drain regions and is under the bottom of the transistor gate. At least some of the channel region is within the strained region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoru Mayuzumi, Mark Fischer
  • Patent number: 9640657
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor layer including a first opening can be provided. The first opening can be filled with a stress material. The stress material can then be etched to form a second opening having a width less than a width of the first opening to leave a stress material layer in the semiconductor layer and on each sidewall of the second opening. The semiconductor layer can be etched to form a fin structure on a sidewall surface of the stress material layer. A main gate structure can be formed on the sidewall surface of the fin structure. A back gate structure can be formed on the sidewall surface of the stress material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventor: Qiuhua Han
  • Patent number: 9640658
    Abstract: A method of fabricating one or more semiconductor devices includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, performing a cycling process to remove contaminants from the trench, and forming an epitaxial layer on the trench. The cycling process includes sequentially supplying a first reaction gas containing germane, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen and a second reaction gas containing hydrogen chloride and hydrogen onto the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Hyuk Kim, Dongsuk Shin, Myungsun Kim, Hoi Sung Chung
  • Patent number: 9640659
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices may include forming an isolation region that defines a plurality of fin active regions on a semiconductor substrate, forming a sacrificial gate layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a first hard mask line that crosses first and second fin active regions and an edge bard mask line that crosses an edge fin active region, and forming a gate cut mask having a plurality of gate cut openings. The plurality of gate cut openings may include first and second gate cut openings that have a first width and are adjacent to the first and second fin active regions, respectively, and an edge gate cut opening that is adjacent to the edge fin active region and has a second width that is greater than the first width but smaller than twice a size of the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junggun You, Jeongmin Choi, Ingyum Kim
  • Patent number: 9640660
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an asymmetric FinFET is provided in the invention, comprising: a. providing a substrate (101); b. forming a fin (102) on the substrate (101), wherein the width of the fin (102) is defined as a second channel thickness; c. forming a shallow trench isolation; d. forming a sacrificial gate stack on the top surface and sidewalls of the channel which is in the middle of the fin, and forming source/drain regions in both ends of the fin; e. depositing an interlayer dielectric layer to cover the sacrificial gate stack and the source/drain regions, planarizing the interlayer dielectric layer to expose sacrificial gate stack; f. removing the sacrificial gate stack to expose the channel; g. forming an etch-stop layer (106) on top of the channel; h. covering a photoresist film (400) on a portion of the semiconductor structure near the source region; i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF MICROELECTRONICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Haizhou Yin, Keke Zhang
  • Patent number: 9640661
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. First, a substrate is provided, and a fin-shaped structure is formed on the substrate. Next, a gate structure is formed on the fin-shaped structure, and an epitaxial layer is formed adjacent to the gate structure. Preferably, the epitaxial layer includes a V-shaped profile viewing from the top. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the V-shaped profile of the epitaxial layer allows more stress to be applied to the region having concentrated currents or edges of the fin-shaped structures during an on-state, and at the same time prevent exerting too much stress to the region having high currents or central region of the fin-shaped structure during an off-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Kai-Lin Lee, Zhi-Cheng Lee, Yu-Hao Huang
  • Patent number: 9640662
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having at least one fin-shaped structure thereon, wherein the fin-shaped structure comprises a top portion and a bottom portion; removing part of the bottom portion of the fin-shaped structure; forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate to surround the bottom portion of the fin-shaped structure; transforming the bottom portion of the fin-shaped structure into the epitaxial layer; and removing part of the epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Hao-Ming Lee
  • Patent number: 9640663
    Abstract: A high-voltage FinFET device having LDMOS structure and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The high-voltage FinFET device includes: at least one fin structure, a working gate, a shallow trench isolation structure, and a first dummy gate. The fin structure includes a first-type well region and a second-type well region adjacent to the first-type well region, and further includes a first part and a second part. A trench is disposed between the first part and the second part and disposed in the first-type well region. A drain doped layer is disposed on the first part which is disposed in the first-type well region, and a source doped layer is disposed on the second part which is disposed in the second-type well region. The working gate is disposed on the fin structure which is disposed in the first-type well region and in the second-type well region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tai-Ju Chen, Yi-Han Ye, Te-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 9640664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for polarizing at least a first finfet transistor and a second finfet transistor, wherein the first finfet transistor has a fin width bigger than the fin width of the second finfet transistor, and both the first finfet transistor and the second finfet transistor have a back gate, and the method comprising applying the same first voltage on the back gate of the first finfet transistor and on the back gate of the second finfet transistor so as to reduce the spread between the off-current value of the first finfet transistor and the off-current value of the second finfet transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventor: Franz Hofmann
  • Patent number: 9640665
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (fin FET) is formed using a bulk silicon substrate and sufficiently guarantees a top channel length formed under a gate, by forming a recess having a predetermined depth in a fin active region and then by forming the gate in an upper part of the recess. A device isolation film is formed to define a non-active region and a fin active region in a predetermined region of the substrate. In a portion of the device isolation film a first recess is formed, and in a portion of the fin active region a second recess having a depth shallower than the first recess is formed. A gate insulation layer is formed within the second recess, and a gate is formed in an upper part of the second recess. A source/drain region is formed in the fin active region of both sides of a gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keun-Nam Kim, Hung-Mo Yang, Choong-Ho Lee