Layer Is A Group Iii-v Semiconductor Compound Patents (Class 257/189)
  • Patent number: 8981338
    Abstract: A semiconductor photocathode includes an AlXGa1-XN layer (0?X<1) bonded to a glass substrate via an SiO2 layer and an alkali-metal-containing layer formed on the AlXGa1-XN layer. The AlXGa1-XN layer includes a first region, a second region, an intermediate region between the first and second regions. The second region has a semiconductor superlattice structure formed by laminating a barrier layer and a well layer alternately, the intermediate region has a semiconductor superlattice structure formed by laminating a barrier layer and a well layer alternately. When a pair of adjacent barrier and well layers is defined as a unit section, an average value of a composition ratio X of Al in a unit section decreases monotonously with distance from an interface position between the second region and the SiO2 layer at least in the intermediate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd., Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Shunro Fuke, Tetsuji Matsuo, Yoshihiro Ishigami, Tokuaki Nihashi
  • Patent number: 8980674
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate that includes an array region and a black level correction region. The array region contains a plurality of radiation-sensitive pixels. The black level correction region contains one or more reference pixels. The substrate has a front side and a back side. The image sensor device includes a first compressively-stressed layer formed on the back side of the substrate. The first compressively-stressed layer contains silicon nitride. The image sensor device includes a metal shield formed on the compressively-stressed layer. The metal shield is formed over at least a portion of the black level correction region. The image sensor device includes a second compressively-stressed layer formed on the metal shield and the first compressively-stressed layer. The second compressively-stressed layer contains silicon oxide. A sidewall of the metal shield is protected by the second compressively-stressed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Weng, Hsun-Ying Huang, Yung-Cheng Chang, Jin-Hong Cho
  • Patent number: 8969912
    Abstract: A vertical III-nitride field effect transistor includes a drain comprising a first III-nitride material, a drain contact electrically coupled to the drain, and a drift region comprising a second III-nitride material coupled to the drain. The field effect transistor also includes a channel region comprising a third III-nitride material coupled to the drain and disposed adjacent to the drain along a vertical direction, a gate region at least partially surrounding the channel region, having a first surface coupled to the drift region and a second surface on a side of the gate region opposing the first surface, and a gate contact electrically coupled to the gate region. The field effect transistor further includes a source coupled to the channel region and a source contact electrically coupled to the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Avogy, Inc.
    Inventors: Isik C. Kizilyalli, Hui Nie, Andrew P. Edwards, Linda Romano, David P. Bour, Richard J. Brown, Thomas R. Prunty
  • Patent number: 8963274
    Abstract: A low noise infrared photo detector with a vertically integrated field effect transistor (FET) structure is formed without thermal diffusion. The FET structure includes a high sensitivity photo detector layer, a charge well layer, a transfer well layer, a charge transfer gate, and a drain electrode. In an embodiment, the photo detector layer and charge well are InGaAs and the other layers are InP layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Dixon
  • Patent number: 8963162
    Abstract: A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is disposed on the first III-V compound layer and is different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A carrier channel is located between the first III-V compound layer and the second III-V compound layer. A source feature and a drain feature are disposed on the second III-V compound layer. Each of the source feature and the drain feature comprises a corresponding intermetallic compound at least partially embedded in the second III-V compound layer. Each intermetallic compound is free of Au and comprises Al, Ti or Cu. A p-type layer is disposed on a portion of the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature. A gate electrode is disposed on the p-type layer. A depletion region is disposed in the carrier channel and under the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Wei Hsu, Jiun-Lei Jerry Yu, Fu-Wei Yao, Chen-Ju Yu, Po-Chih Chen, King-Yuen Wong
  • Patent number: 8952419
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buffer layer on the substrate, and a plurality of nitride semiconductor layers on the buffer layer. The semiconductor device further includes at least one masking layer and at least one inter layer between the plurality of nitride semiconductor layers. The at least one inter layer is on the at least one masking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-jo Tak, Jae-won Lee, Young-soo Park, Jun-youn Kim
  • Patent number: 8946771
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an enhancement mode gallium nitride (GaN) transistor device. The GaN transistor device has an electron supply layer located on top of a GaN layer. An etch stop layer (e.g., AlN) is disposed above the electron supply layer. A gate structure is formed on top of the etch stop layer, such that the bottom surface of the gate structure is located vertically above the etch stop layer. The position of etch stop layer in the GaN transistor device stack allows it to both enhance gate definition during processing (e.g., selective etching of the gate structure located on top of the AlN layer) and to act as a gate insulator that reduces gate leakage of the GaN transistor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Wen Hsiung, Jiun-Lei Jerry Yu, Fu-Wei Yao, Chun-Wei Hsu, Chen-Ju Yu, Fu-Chih Yang
  • Patent number: 8941093
    Abstract: A first electrode, an intrinsic first compound semiconductor layer over the first electrode, a second compound semiconductor layer whose band gap is smaller than that of the first compound semiconductor layer on the first compound semiconductor layer, and a second electrode over the second compound semiconductor layer are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tadahiro Imada
  • Patent number: 8941145
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dry eteching a photodetector array based on InAsSb are provided. A method for fabricating an array of photodetectors includes receiving a pattern of an array of photodetectors formed from InAsSb, the pattern including at least one trench defined between adjacent photodetectors, and dry etching the at least one trench with a plasma including BrCl3 and Ar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Pierre-Yves Delaunay
  • Patent number: 8937336
    Abstract: Passivation of group III-nitride heterojunction devices is described herein. The passivation facilitates simultaneous realization of effective/high current collapse suppression and low leakage current without the use of a sophisticated multiple-field plate technique. The passivation can be achieved by growing a charge-polarized AlN thin film on the surface of a group III-nitride based heterojunction device by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition such that positive polarization charges are induced at the interface to compensate for a majority of negative charges at the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jing Chen, Sen Huang, Qimeng Jiang, Zhikai Tang
  • Patent number: 8937002
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nitride electronic device and a method for manufacturing the same, and particularly, to a nitride electronic device and a method for manufacturing the same that can implement various types of nitride integrated structures on the same substrate through a regrowth technology (epitaxially lateral over-growth: ELOG) of a semi-insulating gallium nitride (GaN) layer used in a III-nitride semiconductor electronic device including Group III elements such as gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al) and indium (In) and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung Bum Bae, Eun Soo Nam, Jae Kyoung Mun, Sung Bock Kim, Hae Cheon Kim, Chull Won Ju, Sang Choon Ko, Jong-Won Lim, Ho Kyun Ahn, Woo Jin Chang, Young Rak Park
  • Patent number: 8928036
    Abstract: A barrier infrared detector with absorber materials having selectable cutoff wavelengths and its method of manufacture is described. A GaInAsSb absorber layer may be grown on a GaSb substrate layer formed by mixing GaSb and InAsSb by an absorber mixing ratio. A GaAlAsSb barrier layer may then be grown on the barrier layer formed by mixing GaSb and AlSbAs by a barrier mixing ratio. The absorber mixing ratio may be selected to adjust a band gap of the absorber layer and thereby determine a cutoff wavelength for the barrier infrared detector. The absorber mixing ratio may vary along an absorber layer growth direction. Various contact layer architectures may be used. In addition, a top contact layer may be isolated into an array of elements electrically isolated as individual functional detectors that may be used in a detector array, imaging array, or focal plane array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David Z. Ting, Cory J. Hill, Alexander Seibel, Sumith Y. Bandara, Sarath D. Gunapala
  • Patent number: 8921890
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a substrate structure may include a GaN-based third material layer, a GaN-based second material layer, a GaN-based first material layer, and a buffer layer on a non-GaN-based substrate. The GaN-based first material layer may be doped with a first conductive type impurity. The GaN-based second material layer may be doped with a second conductive type impurity at a density that is less than a density of the first conductive type impurity in the first GaN-based material layer. The GaN-based third material layer may be doped with a first conductive type impurity at a density that is less than the density of the first conductive type impurity of the GaN-based first material layer. After a second substrate is attached onto the substrate structure, the non-GaN-based substrate may be removed and a GaN-based vertical type semiconductor device may be fabricated on the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyuk-soon Choi, Jong-seob Kim, Jai-kwang Shin, Chang-yong Um, Jae-joon Oh, Jong-bong Ha, In-jun Hwang, Ki-ha Hong
  • Patent number: 8916885
    Abstract: The present invention introduces the novel, improved design approach of the semiconductor devices that utilize the effect of carrier recombination, for example, to produce the electromagnetic radiation. The approach is based on the separate control over the injection of the electrons and holes into the active region of the device. As a result, better recombination efficiencies can be achieved, and the effect of the wavelength shift of the produced radiation can be eliminated. The devices according to the present invention outperform existing solid state light and electromagnetic radiation sources and can be used in any applications where solid state light sources are currently involved, as well as any applications future discovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventors: Alexei Koudymov, Christian Martin Wetzel
  • Patent number: 8916849
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor chip, the latter includes a carrier and a semiconductor layer sequence grown on the carrier. The semiconductor layer sequence is based on a nitride-compound semiconductor material and contains at least one active zone for generating electromagnetic radiation and at least one waveguide layer, which indirectly or directly adjoins the active zone. A waveguide being formed. In addition, the semiconductor layer sequence includes a p-cladding layer adjoining the waveguide layer on a p-doped side and/or an n-cladding layer on an n-doped side of the active zone. The waveguide layer indirectly or directly adjoins the cladding layer. An effective refractive index of a mode guided in the waveguide is in this case greater than a refractive index of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Eichler, Teresa Lermer, Adrian Stefan Avramescu
  • Patent number: 8901533
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a substrate (e.g., silicon substrate), a multi-layer structure disposed on a portion of the substrate, and at least one electrode disposed on the multi-layer structure and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The multi-layer structure may include an active layer containing a Group III-V material and a current blocking layer disposed between the substrate and the active layer. The semiconductor device may further include a buffer layer disposed between the substrate and the active layer. In a case that the substrate is a p-type, the buffer layer may be an n-type material layer and the current blocking layer may be a p-type material layer. The current blocking layer may contain a Group III-V material. A mask layer having an opening may be disposed on the substrate so that the multi-layer structure may be disposed on the portion of the substrate exposed by the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-moon Lee, Young-jin Cho
  • Publication number: 20140332848
    Abstract: Low bandgap, monolithic, multi-bandgap, optoelectronic devices (10), including PV converters, photodetectors, and LED's, have lattice-matched (LM), double-heterostructure (DH), low-bandgap GaInAs(P) subcells (22, 24) including those that are lattice-mismatched (LMM) to InP, grown on an InP substrate (26) by use of at least one graded lattice constant transition layer (20) of InAsP positioned somewhere between the InP substrate (26) and the LMM subcell(s) (22, 24). These devices are monofacial (10) or bifacial (80) and include monolithic, integrated, modules (MIMs) (190) with a plurality of voltage-matched subcell circuits (262, 264, 266, 270, 272) as well as other variations and embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. WANLASS, Jeffrey J. CARAPELLA
  • Patent number: 8884268
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit and its formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit includes a diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer can be arranged to prevent diffusion of the Si and O2 from a Si substrate into a Group III nitride layer. The diffusion barrier layer can comprise Al2O3. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit further comprises a lattice-matching structure disposed between the silicon substrate and a Group III nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Chen, Han-Chin Chiu, Chung-Yi Yu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 8884332
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a normal region, a carrier supplying region, and an interface current blocking region. The interface current blocking region surrounds the normal region and the carrier supplying region. The interface current blocking region and the carrier supplying region include impurities. The carrier supplying region has a conductivity type allowing the carrier supplying region to serve as a source of carriers supplied to or a destination of carriers supplied from a carrier layer generated at an interface between the nitride semiconductor layer and the semiconductor substrate. The interface current blocking region has a conductivity type allowing the interface current blocking region to serve as a potential barrier to the carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Umeda, Tetsuzo Ueda, Daisuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 8872308
    Abstract: III-N material grown on a silicon substrate includes a single crystal rare earth oxide layer positioned on a silicon substrate. The rare earth oxide is substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the silicon substrate. A first layer of III-N material is positioned on the surface of the rare earth oxide layer. An inter-layer of aluminum nitride (AlN) is positioned on the surface of the first layer of III-N material and an additional layer of III-N material is positioned on the surface of the inter-layer of aluminum nitride. The inter-layer of aluminum nitride and the additional layer of III-N material are repeated n-times to reduce or engineer strain in a final III-N layer. A cap layer of AlN is grown on the final III-N layer and a III-N layer of material with one of an LED structure and an HEMT structure is grown on the AlN cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Translucent, Inc.
    Inventors: Erdem Arkun, Michael Lebby, Andrew Clark, Rytis Dargis
  • Patent number: 8835979
    Abstract: Using a multiple layer, varied composition barrier layer in place of the typical single layer barrier layer of an infrared photodetector results in a device with increased sensitivity and reduced dark current. A first barrier is adjacent the semiconductor contact; a second barrier layer is between the first barrier layer and the absorber layer. The barrier layers may be doped N type or P type with Beryllium, Carbon, Silicon or Tellurium. The energy bandgap is designed to facilitate minority carrier current flow in the contact region and block minority current flow outside the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Terence J De Lyon, Rajesh D Rajavel, Hasan Sharifi
  • Patent number: 8836081
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices or structures include forming structures of a semiconductor material overlying a layer of a compliant material, subsequently changing the viscosity of the compliant material to relax the semiconductor material structures, and utilizing the relaxed semiconductor material structures as a seed layer in forming a continuous layer of relaxed semiconductor material. In some embodiments, the layer of semiconductor material may comprise a III-V type semiconductor material, such as, for example, indium gallium nitride. Novel intermediate structures are formed during such methods. Engineered substrates include a continuous layer of semiconductor material having a relaxed lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventor: Chantal Arena
  • Patent number: 8835938
    Abstract: There is provided a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element including a transparent conductor, a first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer, the first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer, the light-emitting layer, and the second conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer being successively stacked on the transparent conductor. There is also provided a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element including a first transparent conductor, a metal layer, a second transparent conductor, a first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer, the metal layer, the second transparent conductor, the first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer, the light-emitting layer, and the second conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer being successively stacked on the first transparent conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Hata
  • Patent number: 8823055
    Abstract: A method of forming a template on a silicon substrate includes providing a single crystal silicon substrate. The method further includes epitaxially depositing a layer of rare earth oxide on the surface of the silicon substrate. The rare earth oxide being substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the silicon substrate. The method further includes forming an aluminum oxide layer on the rare earth oxide, the aluminum oxide being substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the rare earth oxide and epitaxially depositing a layer of aluminum nitride (AlN) on the aluminum oxide layer substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the aluminum oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Translucent, Inc.
    Inventors: Erdem Arkun, Michael Lebby, Andrew Clark, Rytis Dargis
  • Patent number: 8772826
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a photoelectric conversion device with high photoelectric conversion efficiency. The photoelectric conversion device includes an electrode layer, and a light absorbing layer located on the electrode layer. The light absorbing layer is comprised of a plurality of stacked semiconductor layers containing a chalcopyrite-based compound semiconductor. The semiconductor layers contain oxygen. A molar concentration of the oxygen in surfaces and their vicinities of the semiconductor layers where the semiconductor layers are stacked on each other is higher than average molar concentrations of the oxygen in the semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Asao, Rui Kamada, Shuichi Kasai, Seiji Oguri, Isamu Tanaka, Nobuyuki Horiuchi, Kazumasa Umesato
  • Patent number: 8772829
    Abstract: Methods of forming planar zinc-oxide based epitaxial layers, associated heterostructures, and devices are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Key Trans Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Bunmi T. Adekore, Jonathan Pierce
  • Patent number: 8748939
    Abstract: The transistor includes an underlying layer 301 formed on a substrate 300, and a first layer (including an operation layer 302) made of a nitride semiconductor formed on the underlying layer 301. The underlying layer 301 is a multilayered structure including a plurality of stacked nitride semiconductor layers. The underlying layer 301 includes a transition-metal-containing layer containing at least one of cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, or iridium which is a transition metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Takizawa, Tetsuzo Ueda
  • Patent number: 8723219
    Abstract: Technology of making freestanding gallium nitride (GaN) wafers has been matured at length. Gallium nitride is rigid but fragile. Chamfering of a periphery of a GaN wafer is difficult. At present edges are chamfered by a rotary whetstone of gross granules with weak pressure. Minimum roughness of the chamfered edges is still about Ra 10 ?m to Ra 6 ?m. The large edge roughness causes scratches, cracks, splits or breaks in transferring process or wafer process. A wafer of the present invention is bevelled by fixing the wafer to a chuck of a rotor, bringing an edge of the wafer into contact with an elastic whetting material having a soft matrix and granules implanted on the soft matrix, rotating the wafer and feeding the whetting material. Favorably, several times of chamfering edges by changing the whetting materials of smaller granules are given to the wafer. The chamfering can realize small roughness of Ra10 nm and Ra5 ?m at edges of wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakayama, Masato Irikura
  • Patent number: 8723222
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nitride electronic device and a method for manufacturing the same, and particularly, to a nitride electronic device and a method for manufacturing the same that can implement various types of nitride integrated structures on the same substrate through a regrowth technology (epitaxially lateral over-growth: ELOG) of a semi-insulating gallium nitride (GaN) layer used in a III-nitride semiconductor electronic device including Group III elements such as gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al) and indium (In) and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung Bum Bae, Eun Soo Nam, Jae Kyoung Mun, Sung Bock Kim, Hae Cheon Kim, Chull Won Ju, Sang Choon Ko, Jong-Won Lim, Ho Kyun Ahn, Woo Jin Chang, Young Rak Park
  • Patent number: 8697472
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate that includes an array region and a black level correction region. The array region contains a plurality of radiation-sensitive pixels. The black level correction region contains one or more reference pixels. The substrate has a front side and a back side. The image sensor device includes a first compressively-stressed layer formed on the back side of the substrate. The first compressively-stressed layer contains silicon nitride. The image sensor device includes a metal shield formed on the compressively-stressed layer. The metal shield is formed over at least a portion of the black level correction region. The image sensor device includes a second compressively-stressed layer formed on the metal shield and the first compressively-stressed layer. The second compressively-stressed layer contains silicon oxide. A sidewall of the metal shield is protected by the second compressively-stressed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Weng, Hsun-Ying Huang, Yung-Cheng Chang, Jin-Hong Cho
  • Patent number: 8691618
    Abstract: A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a transparent substrate including a surface region. A first electrode layer is formed overlying the surface region. A copper layer is formed overlying the first electrode layer and an indium layer overlying the copper layer to form a multi-layered structure. The method subjects at least the multi-layered structure to a thermal treatment process in an environment containing a sulfur bearing species and form a copper indium disulfide material. The copper indium disulfide material includes a thickness of substantially copper sulfide material. The thickness of the copper sulfide material is removed to expose a surface region having a copper poor surface characterized by a copper to indium atomic ratio of less than about 0.95:1. The method subjects the copper poor surface to a metal cation species to convert the copper poor surface from an n-type semiconductor characteristic to a p-type semiconductor characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Stion Corporation
    Inventor: Howard W. H. Lee
  • Patent number: 8674382
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device (10) comprises a semiconductor structure (12) comprising a first body (14) of a first semiconductor material (in this case Ge) comprising a first region of a first doping kind (in this case n) and a second body (18) of a second semiconductor material (in this case Si) comprising a first region of a second doping kind (in this case p). The structure comprises a junction region (15) comprising a first heterojunction (16) formed between the first body (14) and the second body (18) and a pn junction (17) formed between regions of the structure of the first and second doping kinds respectively. A biasing arrangement (20) is connected to the structure for, in use, reverse biasing the pn junction, thereby to cause emission of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Insiava (Pty) Limited
    Inventors: Lukas Willem Snyman, Monuko Du Plessis
  • Patent number: 8674337
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) and a method for fabricating the same, capable of improving brightness by forming a InGaN layer having a low concentration of indium, and whose lattice constant is similar to that of an active layer of the LED, is provided. The LED includes: a buffer layer disposed on a sapphire substrate; a GaN layer disposed on the buffer layer; a doped GaN layer disposed on the GaN layer; a GaN layer having indium disposed on the GaN layer; an active layer disposed on the GaN layer having indium; and a P-type GaN disposed on the active layer. Here, an empirical formula of the GaN layer having indium is given by In(x)Ga(1?x)N and a range of x is given by 0<x<2, and a thickness of the GaN layer having indium is 50-200 ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 8674406
    Abstract: A strain-balanced photodetector is provided for detecting infrared light at an extended cutoff wavelength in the range of 4.5 ?m or more. An InAsSb absorber layer has an Sb content is grown in a lattice-mismatched condition to a GaSb substrate, and a plurality of GaAs strain-compensating layers are interspersed within the absorber layer to balance the strain of the absorber layer due to the lattice mismatch. The strain-compensation layers allow the absorber to achieve a thickness exhibiting sufficient absorption efficiency while extending the cutoff wavelength beyond that possible in a lattice-matched state. Additionally, the strain-compensation layers are sufficiently thin to be substantially quantum-mechanically transparent such that they do not substantially affect the transmission efficiency of the absorber. The photodetector is preferably formed as a majority carrier filter photodetector exhibiting minimal dark current, and may be provided individually or in a focal plane array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Scott, George Paloczi
  • Patent number: 8664683
    Abstract: A method for providing, on a carrier (40), an insulative spacer layer (26) which is patterned such that a cavity (27) is formed which enables connection of an optical semiconductor element (41) to the intended conductor structure (22) when placed inside the cavity (27). The cavity (27) is formed such that it, through its shape, extension and/or depth, accurately defines a location of an optical element (45; 61) in relation to the optical semiconductor element (41). Through the provision of such a patterned insulative spacer layer, compact and cost-efficient optical semiconductor devices can be mass-produced based on such a carrier without the need for prolonged development or acquisition of new and expensive manufacturing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Gerardus Henricus Franciscus Willebrordus Steenbruggen
  • Patent number: 8659053
    Abstract: A semiconductor light detecting element includes: an InP substrate; and a semiconductor stacked structure on the InP substrate and including at least a light absorbing layer, wherein the light absorbing layer includes an InGaAsBi layer lattice-matched to the InP substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Sasahata, Eitaro Ishimura
  • Patent number: 8648387
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor template and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The nitride semiconductor template includes a carrier substrate with a first thermal expansion coefficient, a nitride semiconductor layer with a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient, and a bonding layer. The nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the carrier substrate is at least 10 ?m in thickness. A ratio of a dislocation density of the nitride semiconductor layer at a first surface to that at a second surface is from 0.1 to 10. The bonding layer is disposed between the carrier substrate and the nitride semiconductor layer to adhere the nitride semiconductor layer onto the carrier substrate. The second surface is near an interface between the nitride semiconductor layer and the bonding layer, and the first surface is 10 ?m from the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jenq-Dar Tsay, Po-Chun Liu
  • Patent number: 8647901
    Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a nitride semiconductor layer, including the steps of firstly providing a substrate on which a patterned epitaxy layer with a pier structure is formed. A protective layer is then formed on the patterned epitaxy layer, exposing a top surface of the pier structure. Next, a nitride semiconductor layer is formed over the patterned epitaxy layer connected to the nitride semiconductor layer through the pier structure, wherein the nitride semiconductor layer, the pier structure, and the patterned epitaxy layer together form a space exposing a bottom surface of the nitride semiconductor layer. Thereafter, a weakening process is performed to remove a portion of the bottom surface of the nitride semiconductor layer and to weaken a connection point between the top surface of the pier structure and the nitride semiconductor layer. Finally, the substrate is separated from the nitride semiconductor layer through the connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yih-Der Guo, Chih-Ming Lai, Jenq-Dar Tsay, Po-Chun Liu
  • Patent number: 8637901
    Abstract: A low-defect gallium nitride structure including a first gallium nitride layer comprising a plurality of gallium nitride columns etched into the first gallium nitride layer and a first dislocation density; and a second gallium nitride layer that extends over the gallium nitride columns and comprises a second dislocation density, wherein the second dislocation density may be lower than the first dislocation density. In addition, a method for fabricating a gallium nitride semiconductor layer that includes masking an underlying gallium nitride layer with a mask that comprises an array of columns and growing the underlying gallium nitride layer through the columns and onto said mask using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition pendeo-epitaxy to thereby form a pendeo-epitaxial gallium nitride layer coalesced on said mask to form a continuous pendeo-epitaxial monocrystalline gallium nitride semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Tsvetanka Zheleva, Shah Pankaj, Michael Derenge
  • Patent number: 8633569
    Abstract: III-N material grown on a silicon substrate includes a single crystal rare earth oxide layer positioned on a silicon substrate. The rare earth oxide is substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the silicon substrate. A first layer of III-N material is positioned on the surface of the rare earth oxide layer. An inter-layer of aluminum nitride (AlN) is positioned on the surface of the first layer of III-N material and an additional layer of III-N material is positioned on the surface of the inter-layer of aluminum nitride. The inter-layer of aluminum nitride and the additional layer of III-N material are repeated n-times to reduce or engineer strain in a final III-N layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Translucent, Inc.
    Inventors: Erdem Arkun, Michael Lebby, Andrew Clark, Rytis Dargis
  • Patent number: 8628989
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures include a trench formed proximate a substrate including a first semiconductor material. A crystalline material including a second semiconductor material lattice mismatched to the first semiconductor material is formed in the trench. Process embodiments include removing a portion of the dielectric layer to expose a side portion of the crystalline material and defining a gate thereover. Defects are reduced by using an aspect ratio trapping approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Lochtefeld
  • Patent number: 8609517
    Abstract: A device includes providing a silicon substrate; annealing the silicon substrate at a first temperature higher than about 900° C.; and lowering a temperature of the silicon substrate from the first temperature to a second temperature. A temperature lowering rate during the step of lowering the temperature is greater than about 1° C./second. A III-V compound semiconductor region is epitaxially grown on a surface of the silicon substrate using metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Clement Hsingjen Wann, Chih-Hsin Ko, Cheng-Hsien Wu
  • Patent number: 8610171
    Abstract: A semiconductor-based SWIR infrared detector sensitive to wavelengths shorter than about 2.5 microns comprises a stack of semiconductor layers based on III-V materials forming a PIN photodiode. The stack includes a naked electrical contact, called a lower electrical contact, serving as an optical window; and a detection layer sensitive to said wavelengths. The lower contact comprises at least one layer of indirect-bandgap III-V material(s) doped n-type, pseudomorphic or lattice matched with a substrate intended to serve as a temporary substrate possibly being made of a III-V material such as InP or GaAs or of silicon or germanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Philippe Bois, Olivier Parillaud, Xavier Marcadet, Michel Papuchon
  • Patent number: 8610170
    Abstract: An array structure solves issues that exist in conventional compound semiconductor photodiode arrays, such as large cross talk, large surface leaks, large stray capacitance, narrow detection wavelength bands, and bad manufacturing yield, simultaneously. A photodiode array has, laminated upon a semiconductor substrate, a buffer layer (8) with a broad forbidden band width, an I-type (low concentration photosensitive layer (2) with a narrow forbidden band width, and an n-type semiconductor window layer (3) with a broad forbidden band width, wherein photodiode elements are electrically separated from adjacent elements, by doping the periphery of the p-type impurity, and the detection wavelength band is expanded, by making the n-type window layer (3) on the photosensitive layer (2) a thinner layer with crystal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Irspec Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nishida, Mutsuo Ogura
  • Patent number: 8592677
    Abstract: A substrate includes a semiconductor layer, a plurality of dielectric layers disposed on one side of the semiconductor layer and separated from each other and a photoactive layer disposed between the dielectric layers and including a compound of a Group III element and a Group V element. Also disclosed are a solar cell including the same and a manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoung Gyun Suh, Dong Ho Kim, Ji Eun Chang
  • Patent number: 8564134
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a gallium nitride (GaN) substrate on a heterogeneous substrate at low cost while realizing performance improvement and long operational lifespan of semiconductor devices, such as LEDs or laser diodes, which are manufactured using the GaN substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a substrate, a first semiconductor layer arranged on the substrate, a mask arranged on a first region of the first semiconductor layer, a metallic material layer arranged on the first semiconductor layer and the mask, the metallic material layer being arranged in a direction intersecting the mask, a second semiconductor layer arranged on the first semiconductor layer and the metallic material layer, and a cavity in the first semiconductor layer and arranged under the metallic material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Seoul Opto Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 8525224
    Abstract: A III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes a first III-nitride power semiconductor device and a second III-nitride power semiconductor device formed in a common semiconductor die and operatively integrated to form a half-bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel M Kinzer
  • Patent number: 8524581
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for depositing thin films incorporating the use of a surfactant are described. Methods and apparatuses include a deposition process and system comprising multiple isolated processing regions which enables rapid repetition of sub-monolayer deposition of thin films. The use of surfactants allows the deposition of high quality epitaxial films at lower temperatures having low values of surface roughness. The deposition of Group III-V thin films such as GaN is used as an example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip A. Kraus, Boris Borisov, Thai Cheng Chua, Sandeep Nijhawan, Yoga Saripalli
  • Patent number: 8519414
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a conductive carrier-tunneling layer over and contacting the substrate. The conductive carrier-tunneling layer includes first group-III nitride (III-nitride) layers having a first bandgap, wherein the first III-nitride layers have a thickness less than about 5 nm; and second III-nitride layers having a second bandgap lower than the first bandgap, wherein the first III-nitride layers and the second III-nitride layers are stacked in an alternating pattern. The semiconductor structure is free from a III-nitride layer between the substrate and the conductive carrier-tunneling layer. The semiconductor structure further includes an active layer over the conductive carrier-tunneling layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Lin Yu, Ding-Yuan Chen, Chen-Hua Yu, Wen-Chih Chiou
  • Patent number: 8513643
    Abstract: An optical semiconductor device such as a light emitting diode is formed on a transparent substrate having formed thereon a template layer, such as AlN, which is transparent to the wavelength of emission of the optical device. A mixed alloy defect redirection region is provided over the template layer such that the composition of the defect redirection region approaches or matches the composition of the regions contiguous thereto. For example, the Al content of the defect redirection region may be tailored to provide a stepped or gradual Aluminum content from template to active layer. Strain-induced cracking and defect density are reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher L. Chua, Zhihong Yang, Noble M. Johnson