With Non-planar Semiconductor Surface (e.g., Groove, Mesa, Bevel, Etc.) Patents (Class 257/586)
  • Patent number: 6593604
    Abstract: An emitter of a heterojunction bipolar transistor has a double-layer protrusion formed of a first emitter layer and a second emitter layer and protruded outside an external base region. The protrusion of 50 nm in total thickness is enough to prevent damage during formation of the protrusion by etching or during later fabricating processes. Penetration of moisture through damaged places is eliminated. A base ohmic electrode is continuously formed on the first and second emitter layers on the external base region up to the protrusion. Thus, the protrusion is reinforced so as to be further hard to damage. By ensuring a large area for the base ohmic electrode, an alignment margin can be taken during formation of a base lead electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiteru Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 6586782
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a novel transistor layout having improved electrical and heat dissipation characteristics are disclosed. Several embodiments include various intrinsic components contoured to the shape of the emitter. The various intrinsic components may include a collector layer center portion, a collector contact, a base pedestal, and/or a base contact. Additional embodiments include improved heat dissipation within single transistors. Still further embodiments include improved heat dissipation across a plurality of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh J. Finlay
  • Patent number: 6573539
    Abstract: A silicon-germanium base capable of use in heterojunction bipolar transistor includes a silicon substrate having a mesa surrounded by a trench. The mesa has a top surface and a silicon-germanium layer is disposed only on the top surface of the mesa. In addition, a heterojunction bipolar transistor includes the silicon-germanium base as described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Feng-Yi Huang
  • Publication number: 20030045066
    Abstract: A method for forming a self-aligned bipolar transistor includes the steps of combination etching a silicon substrate in an opening to form a concave surface on the silicon substrate, and forming an intrinsic base and an associated emitter on the concave surface. The combination etching includes an isotropic etching and subsequent wet etching. The concave surface increases the distance between the external base for the intrinsic base and the emitter to thereby increase the emitter-base breakdown voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: NEC COMPOUND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6528861
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a bipolar transistor structure is provided in which a blanket silicon-germanium (SiGe) film is used in a self-aligned manner to form the active base region of the bipolar device, thereby eliminating the need for a complicated selective SiGe process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Abdalla Naem
  • Patent number: 6528828
    Abstract: A differential negative resistance element includes a heavily doped GaAs layer interposed between a collector layer of lightly doped GaAs and an emitter layer of heavily doped AlGaAs, is shared between a base region between the collector layer and the emitter layer, a base contact region and a channel region between the base region and the base contact region, and a depletion layer is developed into the channel region together with the collector voltage so as to exhibit a differential negative resistance characteristics, wherein the channel region is formed through an epitaxial growth and etching so that the manufacturer easily imparts target differential negative resistance characteristics to the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Uemura
  • Patent number: 6509242
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor includes an emitter or collector region of doped silicon, a base region including silicon-germanium, and a spacer. The emitter or collector region form a heterojunction with the base region. The spacer is positioned to electrically insulate the emitter or collector region from an external region. The spacer includes a silicon dioxide layer physically interposed between the emitter or collector region and the remainder of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Ranjit Frei, Clifford Alan King, Yi Ma, Marco Mastrapasqua, Kwok K Ng
  • Publication number: 20030011045
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an electrode disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, and a transistor element disposed on the upper surface of the substrate. The transistor element continuously surrounds the electrode and includes a plurality of contacts that are electrically connected to the electrode. Additionally, the transistor element compactly surrounds the electrode with a threshold distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Tavanza, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Kleel, Mehdi F. Soltan, Ali Rajaei, Hamid R. Rategh
  • Patent number: 6507090
    Abstract: A method and a structure of for an Electro Static Discharge (ESD) device that is silicided. There are three preferred embodiments of the invention. The first embodiment has a N/P/N structure. The emitter, the collector and the substrate form a parasitic transistor and the substrate is connected to the p+ diffusion region. The emitter and the substrate act as a first diode D1 and the collector and the substrate act as a second diode D2. The second embodiment has a first N+ well between a second n+ (collector) region and a P+ base region. The Vt1 is controlled by the dopant profiles of the P+ base and the n− first well where they intersect. The third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, but the n− well covers all of drain. A parasitic NPN bipolar transistor comprises: an emitter, a parasitic base and a drain. The emitter is formed by the first n+ region. The parasitic base is formed by the p-substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nano Silicon Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: David Hu, Jun Cai
  • Publication number: 20020197808
    Abstract: According to a disclosed embodiment, a base region is grown on a transistor region. A dielectric layer is next deposited over the base region. The dielectric layer can comprise, for example, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, or a suitable low-k dielectric. Subsequently, an opening is fabricated in the dielectric layer, and an emitter layer is formed on top of the dielectric layer and in the opening. Thereafter, an anisotropic polymerizing etch chemistry is utilized to etch the emitter layer down to a first depth, forming an emitter region in the opening. Next, a non-polymerizing etch chemistry having isotropic components is used to create a notch in the dielectric layer below the emitter region. The formation of the notch reduces the overlap area of a capacitor that forms between the emitter region and the base region, which translates to a lower level of emitter to base capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus F. Schuegraf
  • Patent number: 6495869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a double heterojunction bipolar transistor (1) comprising successively at least one sub-collector layer, a collector layer, a base layer and a metallic layer (10) deposited on the said base layer; the said metallic layer (10) being extended towards a contact pad (110) of the base by an underetched metallic “air bridge” (100), characterized in that producing the said “air bridge” (100) includes the following steps: effecting a first localized etching under the said bridge, this first etching being selective so as to etch the sub-collector layer laterally; and effecting a second localized etching under the said bridge, this second etching being selective so as to vertically etch at least the collector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Sylvain Blayac, Muriel Riet, Philippe Berdaguer
  • Patent number: 6495905
    Abstract: A highly miniaturized nanomechanical transistor switch is fabricated using a mechanical cantilever which creates a conductive path between two electrodes in its deflected state. In one embodiment, the cantilever is deflected by an electrostatic attraction arising from a voltage potential between the cantilever and a control electrode. In another embodiment, the cantilever is formed of a material with high magnetic permeability, and is deflected in response to complementary magnetic fields induced in the cantilever and in an adjacent electrode. The nanomechanical switch can be fabricated using well known semiconductor fabrication techniques, although semiconductor materials are not necessary for fabrication. The switch can rely upon physical contact between the cantilever and the adjacent electrode for current flow, or can rely upon sufficient proximity between the cantilever and the adjacent electrode to allow for tunneling current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Alan C. Seabaugh
  • Patent number: 6486533
    Abstract: A metallized structure for use in a microelectronic circuit is set forth. The metallized structure comprises a dielectric layer, an ultra-thin film bonding layer disposed exterior to the dielectric layer, and a low-Me concentration, copper-Me alloy layer disposed exterior to the ultra-thin film bonding layer. The Me is a metal other than copper and, preferably, is zinc. The concentration of the Me is less than about 5 atomic percent, preferably less than about 2 atomic percent, and even more preferably, less than about 1 atomic percent. In a preferred embodiment of the metallized structure, the dielectric layer, ultra-thin film bonding layer and the copper-Me alloy layer are all disposed immediately adjacent one another. If desired, a primary conductor, such as a film of copper, may be formed exterior to the foregoing layer sequence. The present invention also contemplates methods for forming the foregoing structure as well as electroplating baths that may be used to deposit the copper-Me alloy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahila Krishnamoorthy, David J. Duquette, Shyam P. Murarka
  • Publication number: 20020137264
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabricating thin wafer insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), in which a portion on the back side of the device region is removed to form a hollow region with a depth that results in a device region thickness equivalent to the thickness of a thin wafer while the rest of the wafer remains its standard thickness. In other words, the method according to the present invention is suitable for the currently used wafer transfer stations under thin wafer conditions. The non-punch-through type insulated gate bipolar transistor (NPT-IGBT) fabricated with this method gets rid of an epi-layer and the “lifetime killer” process. The punch-through type insulated gate bipolar transistor (PT-IGBT) fabricated with this method has higher switching efficiency due to reduced injection efficiency of the p+-type minority carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Ming-Jer Kao, Chien-Chung Hung, Jeng-Hua Wei, Jih-Shin Ho
  • Patent number: 6441444
    Abstract: Providing a method of producing a semiconductor device and a structure of the semiconductor device employing a trench isolation structure for isolating semiconductor elements wherein volumetric expansion of a trench-filling material due to oxidation process after forming the trench isolation structure is controlled thereby making it possible to prevent deterioration of the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device. A nitriding treatment is applied to the trench surface of the silicon substrate after forming the trench by etching, thereby to form a thin nitride layer having a better effect of preventing oxidation in the interface of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Tsuji, Kiyoteru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6437421
    Abstract: A semiconductor process is disclosed which forms openings in a dielectric layer through which the base region of both high-voltage and high-gain bipolar transistors are formed. In one embodiment of the invention, the openings for the high-gain transistors are first protected by a photoresist layer that is patterned to expose the openings for the high-voltage transistors. A first base implant is performed through the exposed windows in the dielectric layer and into the exposed substrate or epitaxial layer therebelow, and then diffused to a suitable depth. The patterned photoresist is then removed to additionally expose the openings for the high-gain devices, and a second base implant is performed, this time into both base regions, and then diffused to a suitable depth. Emitter regions are then formed within the base regions of both transistor types by traditional implantation and contact techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Legerity, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank L. Thiel, William E. Moore, Philip S. Shiota
  • Publication number: 20020109207
    Abstract: A process for forming a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device by a deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) process during which a substrate overlying a cavity is etched to form trenches that breach the cavity to delineate suspended structures. A first general feature of the process is to define suspended structures with a DRIE process, such that the dimensions desired for the suspended structures are obtained. A second general feature is the proper location of specialized features, such as stiction bumps, vulnerable to erosion caused by the DRIE process. Yet another general feature is to control the environment surrounding suspended structures delineated by DRIE in order to obtain their desired dimensions. A significant problem identified and solved by the invention is the propensity for the DRIE process to etch certain suspended features at different rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: David Boyd Rich, John C. Christenson
  • Publication number: 20020109208
    Abstract: A method of forming an NPN semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a collector region within a substrate, forming a base region over the collector region, and forming an oxide-nitride-oxide stack over the base region. Once these three structures are formed, an opening is created through the oxide-nitride-oxide stack to expose the top surface of the base region. Then, a doped polysilicon material is used to fill the opening and make electrical contact to the base region. The use of the oxide-nitride-oxide stack with appropriate etching of the opening eliminates the exposure of the base region to reactive ion etch environment typical of prior art methods for forming NPN semiconductor devices. As an option, after the opening of the oxide-nitride-oxide stack is formed, a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) and etched can be preformed to create oxide spacers to line the opening wall above the base region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Sang Hoon Park, Robert F. Scheer
  • Publication number: 20020093031
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor includes an emitter or collector region of doped silicon, a base region including silicon-germanium, and a spacer. The emitter or collector region form a heterojunction with the base region. The spacer is positioned to electrically insulate the emitter or collector region from an external region. The spacer includes a silicon dioxide layer physically interposed between the emitter or collector region and the remainder of the spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Michel Ranjit Frei, Clifford Alan King, Yi Ma, Marco Mastrapasqua, Kwok K Ng
  • Patent number: 6404038
    Abstract: A method for fabricating complementary vertical bipolar junction transistors of silicon-on-sapphire in fewer steps than required for true complimentary vertical bipolar junction transistors is disclosed. Initially a thin layer of silicon is grown on a sapphire substrate. The silicon is improved using double solid phase epitaxy. The silicon is then patterned and implanted with P+-type and N+-type dopants. Subsequently a micrometer scale N-type layer is grown that acts as the intrinsic base for both an PNP transistor and as the collector for an NPN transistor. The extrinsic base for the NPN is then formed and the emitter, collector and ohmic contact regions are next selectively masked and implanted. Conductive metal is then formed between protecting oxide to complete the complementary vertical bipolar junction transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Eric N. Cartagena
  • Patent number: 6399998
    Abstract: An insulated-gate bipolar switch contains a number of trench-IGBT structures interdigitated with a number of floating mesas and trench gates to reduce inversion channel density. The IGBT mesa widths and the floating mesa widths are made different, which enables the switch to provide desired VFD, SCSOA and RBSOA values. The mesa widths and the number of floating mesas per unit cell are adjusted as needed to provide a switch having desired characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Hsueh-Rong Chang
  • Publication number: 20020050628
    Abstract: A metallized structure for use in a microelectronic circuit is set forth. The metallized structure comprises a dielectric layer, an ultra-thin film bonding layer disposed exterior to the dielectric layer, and a low-Me concentration, copper-Me alloy layer disposed exterior to the ultra-thin film bonding layer. The Me is a metal other than copper and, preferably, is zinc. The concentration of the Me is less than about 5 atomic percent, preferably less than about 2 atomic percent, and even more preferably, less than about 1 atomic percent. In a preferred embodiment of the metallized structure, the dielectric layer, ultra-thin film bonding layer and the copper-Me alloy layer are all disposed immediately adjacent one another. If desired, a primary conductor, such as a film of copper, may be formed exterior to the foregoing layer sequence. The present invention also contemplates methods for forming the foregoing structure as well as electroplating baths that may be used to deposit the copper-Me alloy layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahila Krishnamoorthy, David J. Duquette, Shyam P. Murarka
  • Patent number: 6376897
    Abstract: In a bipolar transistor improved to exhibit an excellent high-frequency property by decreasing the width of the intrinsic base with without increasing the base resistance, an emitter region, intrinsic base region and collector region are closely aligned on an insulating layer, and the intrinsic base region and the collector region make a protrusion projecting upward from the substrate surface. The protrusion has a width wider than the width of the intrinsic base region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Yamada, Hideaki Nii, Makoto Yoshimi, Tomoaki Shino, Kazumi Inoh, Shigeru Kawanaka, Tsuneaki Fuse, Sadayuki Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 6355972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising a bipolar transistor having a collector (1), a base (2) and an emitter (3) at its active area (A). The semiconductor body (10) of the device is covered with an insulating layer (20). At least a part of a base connection conductor (5) and an emitter connection conductor (6) extend over the insulating layer (20) and lead to a base connection area (8) and an emitter connection area (9), respectively. The known transistor is characterized by poor gain, particularly at high frequencies and at high power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Freerk Van Rijs, Ronald Dekker, Dave Michel Henrique Hartskeerl
  • Patent number: 6329679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pinned photodiode used in a CMOS image sensor. The pinned photodiode according to the present invention has an uneven surface for increasing an area of a PN junction of the photodiode. So, the increased PN junction area improves a light sensitivity of the photodiode. That is, the epitaxial layer, in which the photodiode is formed, has a trench or a protrusion. Also, in the pinned photodiode, since the P0 diffusion layer is directly in contact with the P-epi layer, the two P-type layers have the same potential and then it may operate in a low voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 6326292
    Abstract: A semiconductor includes a buried conducting layer, such as a buried collector, comprises a trench, the walls of which are covered with a layer of a material in which dopant ions diffuse faster than in monocrystalline silicon. A contact area is doped in close proximity to the trench wall. The dopants will diffuse through the layer and form a low resistance connection to the buried layer. The layer may comprise polysilicon or porous silicon, or a silicide. If the material used in the layer is not in itself conducting, the size of the component may be significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Anders Söderbärg, Håkan Sjödin
  • Patent number: 6313488
    Abstract: A bipolar transistor having at least a low doped drift layer (14) of crystalline SiC comprises at least one first layer (13) of a semi-conductor material having a wider energy gap between the conduction band and the valence band than an adjacent layer (14) of SiC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Research Limited
    Inventors: Mietek Bakowski, Bo Breitholtz, Ulf Gustafsson, Lennart Zdansky
  • Patent number: 6310368
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layered structure including a predetermined mesa portion, formed on a semiconductor substrate; a support member formed so as to bury the mesa portion; and an interconnection layer formed on a top surface of the semiconductor layered structure so as to extend over a top surface of the support member. The interconnection layer is in contact with only a top surface of the mesa portion without being in contact with a bottom surface of the mesa portion. The top surface of the support member has a smoothed profile, and the top surface of the mesa portion and the smoothed top surface of the support member are in substantially the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motoji Yagura
  • Patent number: 6285044
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor based on the InP/InGaAs materials family and its method of making. An n-type collector layer, principally composed of InP is epitaxially grown on an insulating InP substrate by vapor phase epitaxy. The collector layer is then laterally defined into a stack, and semi-insulating InP is regrown around the sides of the stack to the extent that it planarizes with the stack top. The semi-insulating InP electrically isolates the collector stack. A thin base layer of p-type InGaAs, preferably lattice matched to InP, is grown over the collector stack, and n-type emitter layer is grown over the base layer. A series of photolithographic steps then defines a small emitter stack and a base that extends outside of the area of the emitter and collector stacks. The reduced size of the interface between the base and the collector produces a lower base-collector capacitance and hence higher speed of operation for the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Telcordia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajaram Bhat
  • Patent number: 6271575
    Abstract: A method for making self-aligned sub-micrometer bipolar transistors and FETs on a substrate for BiFET and BiCMOS circuits was achieved using a novel LOCOS structure as a self-aligned implant mask. This LOCOS structure uses a silicon nitride mask comprised of stripes with well defined widths and spacings to form a punchthrough oxide mask of varying thicknesses over the emitter, base, and collector of the bipolar transistor, while providing a thick field oxide elsewhere on the substrate. The oxide mask serves as a self-aligned implant mask for implanting the emitter, base, and collector of the bipolar transistor. The nitride mask can be patterned concurrently to form an implant mask for the FET. A series of ion implants is then used to form the emitter, base, and collector without requiring separate photoresist masks. An array of nitride stripes with well defined widths and spacings can be used to make larger transistors, such as bipolar power transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Igor V. Peidous
  • Publication number: 20010005025
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor and its fabrication method is disclosed. The heterojunction bipolar transistor includes a substrate; a collector layer formed to have a ledge or MESA on the substrate; a collector electrode formed on the collector layer surrounding the ledge; a base layer formed on the ledge of the collector layer; an ohmic cap layer on the emitter layer; an emitter layer formed in the center of the base layer; an emitter electrode formed on the ohmic cap layer; a base electrode formed on the base layer surrounding the emitter electrode; an insulating layer formed to cover the base electrode and to overlay on the insulating layer; a metal wire formed to cover the emitter electrode; and an air bridge brought in contact with the metal wire and electrically connected to an external pad lying on an ion-implanted isolation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Applicant: LG Electronics Ins.
    Inventors: Jin Ho Shin, Tae Yun Lim, Hyung Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 6238946
    Abstract: This invention describes fabrication procedures to construct MEMS devices, specifically band-pass filter resonators, in a manner compatible with current integrated circuit processing. The final devices are constructed of single-crystal silicon, eliminating the mechanical problems associated with using polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon. The final MEMS device lies below the silicon surface, allowing further processing of the integrated circuit, without any protruding structures. The MEMS device is about the size of a SRAM cell, and may be easily incorporated into existing integrated circuit chips. The natural frequency of the device may be altered with post-processing or electronically controlled using voltages and currents compatible with integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: James F. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 6236071
    Abstract: A transistor with a novel compact layout is provided. The transistor has an emitter layout having a track with a first feed point and a second feed point whereby current flows through both the first feed point and the second feed point. A base terminal, a collector terminal, and an emitter terminal are provided. When in operation, current flows from the collector terminal to the emitter terminal based on the amount of current provided to the base terminal. A sub-collector layer is formed on a substrate. A collector layer is formed on the sub-collector layer. A base pedestal is formed on the collector layer. A base contact for coupling to the base terminal and an emitter is formed on the base pedestal. An emitter contact for coupling to the emitter terminal is formed on the emitter. A collector terminal for coupling to the collector contact is deposited in a trench that is formed in the collector layer and the sub-collector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh J. Finlay
  • Patent number: 6133594
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor device having a mesa type heterojunction bipolar transistor comprises a collector layer of first conductivity type having a collector breakdown voltage of a predetermined magnitude, a base layer of second conductivity type formed on the collector layer, an emitter layer of first conductivity type formed on the base layer, and a subcollector layer of first conductivity formed in a region remote laterally from an edge of the base layer to be connected to the collector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Taisuke Iwai, Shuichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6130471
    Abstract: A ballasted transistor structure reduces thermal runaway. A heterojunction bipolar junction transistor array includes a plurality of transistors, each having an emitter, a base and a collector. Each of the bases is an alloy of silicon and germanium and each of the collectors and emitters is silicon. A ballast resistor, of doped silicon, that prevents thermal runaway, is electrically connected to each of the collectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Edward Boles
  • Patent number: 6127716
    Abstract: On an n-type semiconductor substrate 41 doped in high density, a p-type semiconductor layer 2, an n-type semiconductor layer 4 doped in high density, which is a collector, a p-type semiconductor layer 6 doped in high density, which is a base, and the n-type semiconductor layer 7, which is an emitter, are sequentially stacked. To the collector layer, a collector electrode 12 is electrically connected, and to the base layer, a base electrode 11 is electrically connected, and to the emitter layer, an emitter electrode 9 is electrically connected, and thus a bipolar transistor is structured. On the bipolar transistor, an insulated isolation area 55 is formed with an opening therein, whose depth reaches the surface of the substrate, and a substrate electrode 48 is formed thereon. On the bipolar transistor and the insulated isolation area 55, an inter-layer dielectric layer 54 is formed having contact holes formed to upper parts of the emitter electrode 49 and to the substrate electrode 48.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kouhei Morizuka, Masayuki Sugiura
  • Patent number: 6127720
    Abstract: A semiconductor device provided with a wide and shallow first groove and a second groove in the first groove area, having a narrower width than that of the first groove around a predetermined area in a one-conductive area provided in the upper region of a semiconductor substrate as a mesa groove, wherein at least the second groove is covered with an electrical insulator. The upper surface of the electrical insulator is located approximately as high as or lower than the upper surface of the electrical insulating film. Thus, especially in a mesa semiconductor device with a high-voltage resistance, an insulating protective layer having a sufficient thickness can be formed stably over the entire region of a mesa groove. As a result, the variation in high-voltage resistance characteristics can be decreased and the processing yield affected by breakage or cracking in the mesa groove region during subsequent processes caused by the formation of the mesa groove can be improved greatly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Nakura, Isamu Kawashima, Jutarou Kotani, Hidekazu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6118171
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (10) is formed in a pedestal structure (16) overlying a semiconductor substrate (11). The semiconductor device (10) includes a base region (44) that contacts the corners (13) of the pedestal structure (16). Electrical connection to the base region (44) is provided by a conductive layer (28) that contacts the sides (12) and corners (13) of the pedestal structure (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Davies, Peter J. Zdebel
  • Patent number: 6114743
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated circuit including a lateral well isolation bipolar transistor. A first portion of the upper internal periphery of the insulating well is hollowed and filled with polysilicon having the same conductivity type as the transistor base, to form a base contacting region. A second portion of the upper internal periphery of the insulating well is hollowed and filled with polysilicon having the same conductivity type as the transistor emitter, to form an emitter contacting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Yvon Gris
  • Patent number: 6114742
    Abstract: A photoresist pattern is formed on a field oxide film and an element forming region across the field oxide film and the element forming region such that a portion of a surface of the field oxide film and a portion of a surface of a silicon epitaxial layer are continuously exposed. The photoresist pattern is used as a mask to inject boron ions into the silicon epitaxial layer and heat treatment is performed thereon to form an external base containing the relatively significant crystal defect present in the silicon epitaxial layer in the vicinity of the field oxide film. Thus, a semiconductor device can be obtained including a bipolar transistor which provides improved breakdown voltage between the collector and the base and contemplates reduction of current leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidenori Fujii
  • Patent number: 6051871
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor has a mesa including collector 604, base 603, and emitter 602 layers. The mesa has first and second sidewalls 606. An improved heat dissipation structure comprises a layer of electrically insulative and thermally conductive material 607 disposed on one of the sidewalls. A thermal path metal 600 is electrically connected to the emitter 602 and is disposed on the layer of electrically insulative and thermally conductive material 607. The thermal path metal 600 extends from the emitter 602 to the substrate 608 providing for efficient dissipation of heat that is generated by the HBT device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Javier Andres DeLaCruz, Xiangdong Zhang, Matthew F. O'Keefe, Gregory Newell Henderson, Yong-Hoon Yun
  • Patent number: 6040618
    Abstract: A micromachined insulative carrier substrate preferably formed of silicon and a multi-chip module formed from the micromachined substrate. The micromachined substrate is fabricated by forming mesas across the surface of the substrate, forming an insulating layer on the substrate, and forming conductive traces on the insulating layer to route signals between semiconductor dice and/or to external circuitry. A variety of semiconductor dice and/or integrated circuitry-bearing wafer configurations (collectively, "semiconductor elements") may be attached to the semiconductor substrate. Electrical contact between the carrier substrate and semiconductor element is achieved with conductive connectors formed on either the semiconductor element or the carrier substrate. The conductive connectors each preferably make contact with both a portion of the conductive trace extending down the sidewall of the mesa and a portion of the conductive trace on the substrate between the mesas to form a more effective bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6037616
    Abstract: In a bipolar transistor including a semi-insulating substrate, a collector layer formed on the semi-insulating substrate and a base layer formed on the collector layer, a base contact layer is in contact; with a part of a lower surface of the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Amamiya
  • Patent number: 5994725
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a Schottky gate and a bipolar device. A semiconductor substrate has a surface layer in ohmic contact with the conductor and the deeper layer in Schottky contact with the conductor. The substrate has a recess which reaches into the deeper layer. A conductor field extends from the bottom of the recess in a direction perpendicular to the bottom. Insulating films are formed on both vertical surfaces of the conductor film. Another conductor film is formed across the top of the first conductor film and both insulating films. Conductor films are formed on the surface of the substrate on either side of the insulating films. In this device, the electrode length/width is reduced and the response to the element is improved. Further, because the second conductor film is formed on the first conductor film, it is possible to reduce the gate electrode and the base electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toyokazu Ohnishi, Akinori Seki
  • Patent number: 5981985
    Abstract: In an integrated heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) with minimized base-collector capacitance, a sub-collector region is formed as a mesa on a substrate, a collector contact is to the sub-collector mesa region, a lightly-doped collector region and a base region extend from the mesa onto the substrate, and a base contact and its via hole for interconnection are off the mesa, with minimal overlap with the sub-collector region. The latter may be termed a buried selective sub-collector (BSSC) region. Such transistors can be used as integrated switching devices and microwave devices, e.g., in wireless communications, satellite direct broadcast systems, automobile collision avoidance systems, global positioning systems, and other high-frequency applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Yue-Fei Yang, Edward S. Yang
  • Patent number: 5952694
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a semiconductor layer formed on a substrate having an insulating surface, comprises a first region formed by processing the semiconductor layer from one major surface thereof, and a second region formed by processing the semiconductor layer from the other major surface, the first and second regions cooperating to constitute a semiconductor function element, isolation region or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Miyawaki, Yasushi Kawasumi, Shunsuke Inoue, Yutaka Akino, Toru Koizumi, Tetsunobu Kohchi
  • Patent number: 5923057
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a bipolar device, including the steps of forming an epitaxial growth retarding layer on a substrate at a predetermined angle, forming a collector layer on the substrate so that the collector layer is adjacent the epitaxial growth retarding layer and has an inclined portion formed over an edge portion of the epitaxial growth retarding layer, forming a base layer having an inclined portion on the collector layer, and forming an emitter layer on the inclined portion of the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: LG Semicon Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-Hwan Son
  • Patent number: 5869881
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pillar bipolar transistor and the fabricating method thereof, the active region on which the emitter region, the base region and the collector region are formed, is defined at the first pillar by the trench formed in the semiconductor substrate, a party of the base region and the polysilicon base electrode is electrically connected by the base connection, thereby decreasing the contact area and protecting to increase the extrinsic region of the base, and protecting to mask a juction of base to emitter at high concentration. Also, the polysilicon emitter electrode having the wide surface area is formed by self-aligned contact using the CMP method on the upper of the emitter region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kyu-Hong Lee, Jin-Hyo Lee
  • Patent number: 5834800
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor in an integrated circuit has intrinsic and extrinsic base portions. The intrinsic base portion substantially comprises epitaxial silicon-germanium alloy. The extrinsic base portion substantially comprises polycrystalline material, and contains a distribution of ion-implanted impurities. An emitter overlies the intrinsic base portion, and a spacer at least partially overlies the emitter. The spacer overhangs the extrinsic base portion by at least a distance characteristic of lateral straggle of the ion-implanted impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bahram Jalali-Farahani, Clifford Alan King
  • Patent number: 5773874
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a monocrystalline silicon wafer having a major surface lying in the <100> crystal plane. Disposed on the surface is a mesa having a generally square cross-section with generally rounded corners. The mesa has four main side walls each having a slope of around 45 degrees with respect to the base plane of the mesa, and the horizontal edges of the main side walls are disposed at an angle of at least around 12 degrees to the <110> directions on the wafer surface. The corners of the mesa each comprises a number of surfaces also having slopes of around 45 degrees and one surface having a slope of around 54 degrees. A high-low (N.sup.+ N.sup.- or P.sup.+ P.sup.-) junction is disposed within the mesa and makes a continuous line intercept with the mesa side walls around the entire periphery of the mesa. Except for exceptionally small deviations of no great significance, the high low junction intercept is at a constant height location entirely around the mesa periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Willem Gerard Einthoven