Thyristor (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.388)
  • Patent number: 10915480
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) driving device for driving a plurality of LEDs has a switching matrix utilizing a plurality of one of a turn off thyristors or turn off triacs coupled to the plurality of LEDs. A controller is coupled to the switching matrix responsive to a voltage of a rectified AC halfwave, wherein combinations of the plurality of LEDs are altered to ensure a maximum operating voltage of the plurality of LEDs is not exceeded. A current limiting device is coupled to the combinations of the plurality of LED to regulate current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: David Schie, Mike Ward
  • Patent number: 10510745
    Abstract: An array substrate and a display device are provided. The array substrate includes a display region and a peripheral region surrounding the display region. Gate lines and data lines crossing the gate lines are arranged at the display region. A static charge shielding unit is arranged at the peripheral region. The array substrate further includes a static charge releasing line connected to the static charge shielding unit, and the static charge shielding unit is configured to release static charges at the peripheral region through the static charge releasing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hongfei Cheng
  • Patent number: 8980699
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a plurality of thyristor-based memory cells, each having a cell size of 4F2, and methods for forming the same are provided. The thyristor-based memory cells each include a thyristor having vertically superposed regions of alternating dopant types, and a control gate. The control gate may be electrically coupled with one or more of the thyristors and may be operably coupled to a voltage source. The thyristor-based memory cells may be formed in an array on a conductive strap, which may function as a cathode or a data line. A system may be formed by integrating the semiconductor devices with one or more memory access devices or conventional logic devices, such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanh D. Tang
  • Patent number: 8940588
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a dual electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device in fin field effect transistor (FinFET) process technology and methods of forming the same. In one embodiment, the dual ESD protection device includes: a bulk silicon substrate; a shallow trench isolation (STI) region formed over the bulk silicon substrate; a first ESD device positioned above the STI region; and a second ESD device positioned below the STI region, wherein the first ESD device conducts current above the STI region and the second ESD device conducts current below the STI region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Tom C. Lee, Junjun Li, Souvick Mitra, Christopher Stephen Putnam
  • Patent number: 8928030
    Abstract: An A-NPC circuit is configured so that the intermediate potential of two connected IGBTs is clamped by a bidirectional switch including two RB-IGBTs. Control is applied to the turn-on di/dt of the IGBTs during the reverse recovery of the RB-IGBTs. The carrier life time of an n? drift region in each RB-IGBT constituting the bidirectional switch is comparatively longer than that in a typical NPT structure device. A low life time region is also provided in the interface between the n? drift region and a p collector region, and extends between the n? drift region and the p collector region. Thus, it is possible to provide a low-loss semiconductor device, a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device and a method for controlling the semiconductor device, in which the reverse recovery loss is reduced while the reverse recovery current peak and the jump voltage peak during reverse recovery are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong-fei Lu
  • Patent number: 8907372
    Abstract: A thyristor includes a base region, a pair of first doping regions, at least one second doping region, at least one third doping region, and a pair of metal layers. The first doping regions are formed in two opposite sides of the base region and touch the base region. The second doping region is formed between the base region and one of the first doping regions. The second doping region touches the base region and the first doping region. The third doping region is formed in one of the first doping regions and touches the first doping region. The type of the first doping region is different from the types of the second doping region, the third doping region, and the base region. The metal layers touch the first doping regions respectively. The first doping regions and the third doping region are located between the metal layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Lite-On Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Pen-Te Chang, Wen-Chung Liu
  • Patent number: 8796731
    Abstract: A low leakage, low capacitance diode based triggered electrostatic discharge (ESD) silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR), methods of manufacture and design structure are provided. The method includes providing a silicon film on an insulator layer. The method further includes forming isolation regions which extend from an upper side of the silicon layer to the insulator layer. The method further includes forming one or more diodes in the silicon layer, including a p+ region and an n+ region formed in a well bordered by the isolation regions. The isolation regions isolate the one or more diodes in a vertical direction and the insulator layer isolates the one or more diodes from an underlying P or N type substrate, in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Shunhua T. Chang, Kiran V. Chatty, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Junjun Li, Mujahid Muhammad
  • Patent number: 8779464
    Abstract: A structure for starting a semiconductor component including a porous silicon layer in the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. This porous silicon layer is contacted, on its upper surface side, by a metallization and, on its lower surface side, by a heavily-doped semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Samuel Menard
  • Publication number: 20140110751
    Abstract: A thyristor includes a base region, a pair of first doping regions, at least one second doping region, at least one third doping region, and a pair of metal layers. The first doping regions are formed in two opposite sides of the base region and touch the base region. The second doping region is formed between the base region and one of the first doping regions. The second doping region touches the base region and the first doping region. The third doping region is formed in one of the first doping regions and touches the first doping region. The type of the first doping region is different from the types of the second doping region, the third doping region, and the base region. The metal layers touch the first doping regions respectively. The first doping regions and the third doping region are located between the metal layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: LITE-ON SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: PAN-TE CHANG, WEN-CHUNG LIU
  • Patent number: 8703547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for electrostatic discharge and the method of manufacturing thereof. P-well is formed on the substrate, and a first N+ doped region, a second N+ doped region and a P+ doped region are formed in the P-well; both ends of each doped region adopt shallow trench isolation for isolation. A lightly doped source-drain region portion is formed between the first N+ doped region and the shallow trench isolation connected thereto. Under the source-drain region, a halo injection with an inverse type is formed. The reverse conduction voltage of the collector of the bipolar transistor is lowered through the introduction of special doped region and the adoption of lightly doped source-drain technology for manufacturing the source-drain region as well as the manufacturing of halo injection with inverse type under the source-drain region, thus reducing the trigger voltage of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Shan, Jun He
  • Patent number: 8680621
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuitry arranged to provide ESD protection to an external terminal of the integrated circuit. The ESD protection circuitry comprises: a thyristor circuit comprising a first bipolar switching device operably coupled to the external terminal and a second bipolar switching device operably coupled to another external terminal, a collector of the first bipolar switching device being coupled to a base of the second bipolar switching device and a base of the first bipolar switching device being coupled to a collector of the second bipolar switching device. A third bipolar switching device is also provided and operably coupled to the thyristor circuit and has a threshold voltage for triggering the thyristor circuit, the threshold voltage being independently configurable of the thyristor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrice Besse, Jean Philippe Laine
  • Publication number: 20140070231
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an avalanche photodiode unit and a thyristor unit. The avalanche photodiode unit is configured to receive incident light to generate a trigger current and comprises a wide band-gap semiconductor. The thyristor unit is configured to be activated by the trigger current to an electrically conductive state. A semiconductor device and a method for making a semiconductor device are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stanislav Ivanovich Soloviev, Ahmed Elasser, Alexander Viktorovich Bolotnikov, Alexey Vert, Peter Almern Losee
  • Patent number: 8652919
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for forming a tunable semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the method comprises: forming a semiconductor substrate; patterning a first mask over the semiconductor substrate; doping regions of the semiconductor substrate not protected by the first mask to form a first discontinuous subcollector; removing the first mask; patterning a second mask over the semiconductor substrate; doping regions of the semiconductor substrate not protected by the second mask and on top of the first discontinuous subcollector to form a second discontinuous subcollector; removing the second mask; and forming a single continuous collector above the second discontinuous subcollector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Harame, Alvin J. Joseph, Qizhi Liu, Ramana M. Malladi
  • Patent number: 8524543
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a plurality of thyristor-based memory cells, each having a cell size of 4F2, and methods for forming the same are provided. The thyristor-based memory cells each include a thyristor having vertically superposed regions of alternating dopant types, and a control gate. The control gate may be electrically coupled with one or more of the thyristors and may be operably coupled to a voltage source. The thyristor-based memory cells may be formed in an array on a conductive strap, which may function as a cathode or a data line. A system may be formed by integrating the semiconductor devices with one or more memory access devices or conventional logic devices, such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanh D. Tang
  • Patent number: 8441070
    Abstract: A sinker layer is in contact with a first conductivity-type well, and is separated from a first conductivity-type collector layer and a second conductivity-type drift layer. A second conductivity-type diffusion layer (second second-conductivity-type high-concentration diffusion layer) is formed in the surface layer of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer has a higher impurity concentration than that of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer and the first conductivity-type collector layer are isolated from each other with an element isolation insulating film interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Fujii
  • Patent number: 8420454
    Abstract: An embodiment of a power device having a first current-conduction terminal, a second current-conduction terminal, a control terminal receiving, in use, a control voltage of the power device, and a thyristor device and a first insulated-gate switch device coupled in series between the first and the second conduction terminals; the first insulated-gate switch device has a gate terminal coupled to the control terminal, and the thyristor device has a base terminal. The power device is further provided with: a second insulated-gate switch device, coupled between the first current-conduction terminal and the base terminal of the thyristor device, and having a respective gate terminal coupled to the control terminal; and a Zener diode, coupled between the base terminal of the thyristor device and the second current-conduction terminal so as to enable extraction of current from the base terminal in a given operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Cesare Ronsisvalle, Vincenzo Enea
  • Patent number: 8384126
    Abstract: A low voltage protection device that includes a silicon substrate comprises an inner layer of a first dopant type. The device also includes a first outer layer of a second dopant type disposed adjacent a first surface of the inner layer and a second outer layer of the second dopant type disposed adjacent a second surface of the inner layer opposite the first surface. The device further includes a first mesa region disposed in a peripheral region of a first side of the low voltage protection device. The first mesa region includes a first area that includes a peripheral portion of a cathode of the low voltage protection device, the cathode formed by diffusing a high concentration of dopant species of the first type on a first surface of the silicon substrate, and a second area comprising a high concentration of diffused dopant species of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Rodrigues, Johnny Chen, Ethan Kuo
  • Publication number: 20130016446
    Abstract: This invention discloses a transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit that includes a triggering Zener diode connected between an emitter and a collector of a bipolar-junction transistor (BJT) wherein the Zener diode having a reverse breakdown voltage BV less than or equal to a BVceo of the BJT where BVceo stands for a collector to emitter breakdown voltage with base left open. The TVS circuit further includes a rectifier connected in parallel to the BJT for triggering a rectified current through the rectifier for further limiting an increase of a reverse blocking voltage. The triggering Zener diode, the BJT and the rectifier are formed in a semiconductor substrate by implanting and configuring dopant regions of a first and a second conductivity types in an N-well and a P-well whereby the TVS can be formed in parallel as part of the manufacturing processes of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Shekar Mallikarjunaswamy
  • Publication number: 20130011974
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a plurality of thyristor-based memory cells, each having a cell size of 4F2, and methods for forming the same are provided. The thyristor-based memory cells each include a thyristor having vertically superposed regions of alternating dopant types, and a control gate. The control gate may be electrically coupled with one or more of the thyristors and may be operably coupled to a voltage source. The thyristor-based memory cells may be formed in an array on a conductive strap, which may function as a cathode or a data line. A system may be formed by integrating the semiconductor devices with one or more memory access devices or conventional logic devices, such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Sanh D. Tang
  • Publication number: 20120256231
    Abstract: A low voltage protection device that includes a silicon substrate comprises an inner layer of a first dopant type. The device also includes a first outer layer of a second dopant type disposed adjacent a first surface of the inner layer and a second outer layer of the second dopant type disposed adjacent a second surface of the inner layer opposite the first surface. The device further includes a first mesa region disposed in a peripheral region of a first side of the low voltage protection device. The first mesa region includes a first area that includes a peripheral portion of a cathode of the low voltage protection device, the cathode formed by diffusing a high concentration of dopant species of the first type on a first surface of the silicon substrate, and a second area comprising a high concentration of diffused dopant species of the second type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: LITTELFUSE, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Rodrigues, Johnny Chen, Ethan Kuo
  • Publication number: 20120248573
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for forming a tunable semiconductor device and the resulting structure. The invention comprises forming a semiconductor substrate. Next, pattern a first mask over the semiconductor substrate. Dope regions of the semiconductor substrate not protected by the first mask to form a first discontinuous subcollector. Remove the first mask. Pattern a second mask over the semiconductor substrate. Dope regions of the semiconductor substrate not protected by the second mask and on top of the first discontinuous subcollector to form a second discontinuous subcollector. Remove the second mask and form a collector above the second discontinuous subcollector. Breakdown voltage of the device may be tuned by varying the gaps separating doped regions within the first and second discontinuous subcollectors. Doped regions of the first and second discontinuous subcollectors may be formed in a mesh pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Louis Harame, Alvin Jose Joseph, Qizhi Liu, Ramana Murty Malladi
  • Publication number: 20120252172
    Abstract: In a method for producing a thyristor, first and second connection regions are formed on or above a substrate; the first connection region is doped with dopant atoms of a first conductivity type and the second connection region is doped with dopant atoms of a second conductivity type; first and second body regions are formed between the connection regions, wherein the first body region is formed between the first connection region and second body region, and the second body region is formed between the first body region and second connection region; the first body region is doped with dopant atoms of the second conductivity type and the second body region is doped with dopant atoms of the first conductivity type, wherein the dopant atoms are in each case introduced into the respective body region using a Vt implantation method; a gate region is formed on or above the body regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Harald Gossner, Thomas Schulz, Christian Russ, Gerhard Knoblinger
  • Patent number: 8264037
    Abstract: A sinker layer is in contact with a first conductivity-type well, and is separated from a first conductivity-type collector layer and a second conductivity-type drift layer. A second conductivity-type diffusion layer (second second-conductivity-type high-concentration diffusion layer) is formed in the surface layer of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer has a higher impurity concentration than that of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer and the first conductivity-type collector layer are isolated from each other with an element isolation insulating film interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Fujii
  • Publication number: 20120126285
    Abstract: A vertical NPNP structure fabricated using a triple well CMOS process, as well as methods of making the vertical NPNP structure, methods of providing electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, and design structures for a BiCMOS integrated circuit. The vertical NPNP structure may be used to provide on-chip protection to an input/output (I/O) pad from negative-voltage ESD events. A vertical PNPN structure may be also used to protect the same I/O pad from positive-voltage ESD events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John B. Campi, JR., Shunhua T. Chang, Kiran V. Chatty, Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Junjun Li, Rahul Mishra, Mujahid Muhammad
  • Publication number: 20120088339
    Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device (e.g. a vertical power device, an IGBT device, a vertical bipolar transistor, a UMOS device or a GTO thyristor) is formed with an active semiconductor region, within which a plurality of semiconductor structures have been fabricated to form an active device, and below which at least a portion of a substrate material has been removed to isolate the active device, to expose at least one of the semiconductor structures for bottom side electrical connection and to enhance thermal dissipation. At least one of the semiconductor structures is preferably contacted by an electrode at the bottom side of the active semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: IO SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart B. Molin, Michael A. Stuber
  • Publication number: 20120043583
    Abstract: A low leakage, low capacitance diode based triggered electrostatic discharge (ESD) silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR), methods of manufacture and design structure are provided. The method includes providing a silicon film on an insulator layer. The method further includes forming isolation regions which extend from an upper side of the silicon layer to the insulator layer. The method further includes forming one or more diodes in the silicon layer, including a p+ region and an n+ region formed in a well bordered by the isolation regions. The isolation regions isolate the one or more diodes in a vertical direction and the insulator layer isolates the one or more diodes from an underlying P or N type substrate, in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michel J. ABOU-KHALIL, Shunhua T. CHANG, Kiran V. CHATTY, Robert J. GAUTHIER, JR., Junjun LI, Mujahid MUHAMMAD
  • Patent number: 8120104
    Abstract: A sinker layer is in contact with a first conductivity-type well, and is separated from a first conductivity-type collector layer and a second conductivity-type drift layer. A second conductivity-type diffusion layer (second second-conductivity-type high-concentration diffusion layer) is formed in the surface layer of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer has a higher impurity concentration than that of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer and the first conductivity-type collector layer are isolated from each other with an element isolation insulating film interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Fujii
  • Publication number: 20120025261
    Abstract: This invention discloses an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) formed in a semiconductor substrate. The IGBT comprises a buffer layer of a first conductivity type formed below an epitaxial layer of the first conductivity having body and source regions therein. The IGBT further includes a lowly doped substrate layer below the buffer layer and a dopant layer of a second conductivity type disposed below the lowly doped substrate layer and above a drain electrode of said IGBT attached to a bottom surface of said semiconductor substrate wherein the dopant layer of the second conductivity type has a higher dopant concentration than the lowly doped substrate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Madhur Bobde, Anup Bhalla, Lingpeng Guan
  • Publication number: 20120018737
    Abstract: Electronic device structures that compensate for non-uniform etching on a semiconductor wafer and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electronic device includes a number of layers including a semiconductor base layer of a first doping type formed of a desired semiconductor material, a semiconductor buffer layer on the base layer that is also formed of the desired semiconductor material, and one or more contact layers of a second doping type on the buffer layer. The one or more contact layers are etched to form a second contact region of the electronic device. The buffer layer reduces damage to the semiconductor base layer during fabrication of the electronic device. Preferably, a thickness of the semiconductor buffer layer is selected to compensate for over-etching due to non-uniform etching on a semiconductor wafer on which the electronic device is fabricated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Anant Agarwal
  • Publication number: 20120018738
    Abstract: Electronic device structures including semiconductor ledge layers for surface passivation and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electronic device includes a number of semiconductor layers of a desired semiconductor material having alternating doping types. The semiconductor layers include a base layer of a first doping type that includes a highly doped well forming a first contact region of the electronic device and one or more contact layers of a second doping type on the base layer that have been etched to form a second contact region of the electronic device. The etching of the one or more contact layers causes substantial crystalline damage, and thus interface charge, on the surface of the base layer. In order to passivate the surface of the base layer, a semiconductor ledge layer of the semiconductor material is epitaxially grown on at least the surface of the base layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Qingchun Zhang, Anant Agarwal
  • Publication number: 20120012892
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of making memory devices are shown. Methods and configurations as shown provide folded and vertical memory devices for increased memory density. Methods provided allow trace wiring in a memory array to be formed on or near a surface of a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Suraj J. Mathew, Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 8093107
    Abstract: A thyristor based semiconductor device includes a thyristor having cathode, P-base, N-base and anode regions disposed in electrical series relationship. The N-base region for the thyristor has a cross-section that defines an inverted “T” shape, wherein a buried well in semiconductor material forms is operable as a part of the N-base. The stem to the inverted “T” shape extends from the upper surface of the semiconductor material to the buried well. The P-base region for the thyristor extends laterally outward from a side of the stem that is opposite the anode region of the thyristor, and is further bounded between the buried well and a surface of the semiconductor material. A thinned portion for the N-base is defined between the cathode region of the thyristor and the buried well, and may include supplemental dopant of concentration greater than that for some other portion of the N-base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: T-RAM Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Farid Nemati, Scott Robins, Kevin J. Yang
  • Publication number: 20110316042
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of making memory devices are shown. Methods and configurations as shown provide folded and vertical memory devices for increased memory density. Methods provided reduce a need for manufacturing methods such as deep dopant implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, John K. Zahurak, Michael P. Violette
  • Patent number: 8049248
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a thyristor in which a first-conductivity-type first region, a second-conductivity-type second region having a conductivity type reverse to the first conductivity type, a first-conductivity-type third region, and a second-conductivity-type fourth region are sequentially arranged to form junctions. The third region is formed on a semiconductor substrate separated by an element isolation region. A gate electrode formed via a gate insulating film and side wall formed at wall side of both side of the gate electrode are provided on the third region, and the fourth region is formed so that one end thereof covers the joint portion between the other end of the third region and the element isolation regions, and so that the other end of the fourth region is joined with the sidewall on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ikuta
  • Publication number: 20110254050
    Abstract: An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate having the following regions in sequence: (i) a first region of a first conductive type having opposing surfaces, a column region of a second conductive type within the first region extending from a first of said opposing surfaces; (ii) a drift region of the second conductive type; (iii) a second region of the first conductive type, and (iv) a third region of the second conductive type. There is provided a gate electrode disposed to form a channel between the third region and the drift region, a first electrode operatively connected to the second region and the third region, a second electrode operatively connected to the first region and the column region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Florin Udrea, Chih-Wei Hsu, Wei-Chieh Lin
  • Publication number: 20110241068
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which can make the generation of gate parasitic oscillations more difficult than a semiconductor device of the related art is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuji WATANABE, Masanori FUKUI, Michiaki MARUOKA
  • Publication number: 20110244638
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method is a method of forming a semiconductor device that includes a cell part that includes plural transistor cells in each of which a gate of a trench type is formed in a semiconductor layer, and diffused layers are formed on both sides of the gate, and a guard ring part that surrounds the cell part. The semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming an interlayer dielectric film on a surface of the semiconductor layer in which the gate and the diffused layers are formed; reducing a thickness of the interlayer dielectric film formed in the cell part through etch back; forming a contact part having a shape of a hole or a groove in the interlayer dielectric film at a position above the diffused layer; and forming a metal film on the interlayer dialectic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki KIKUCHI, Katsunori KONDO, Shigeru SHINOHARA, Osamu TAKAHASHI, Tomoaki YAMABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20110215371
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a plurality of thyristor-based memory cells, each having a cell size of 4F2, and methods for forming the same are provided. The thyristor-based memory cells each include a thyristor having vertically superposed regions of alternating dopant types, and a control gate. The control gate may be electrically coupled with one or more of the thyristors and may be operably coupled to a voltage source. The thyristor-based memory cells may be formed in an array on a conductive strap, which may function as a cathode or a data line. A system may be formed by integrating the semiconductor devices with one or more memory access devices or conventional logic devices, such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Sanh D. Tang
  • Patent number: 8013384
    Abstract: A process for the realization of a high integration density power MOS device includes the following steps of: providing a doped semiconductor substrate with a first type of conductivity; forming, on the substrate, a semiconductor layer with lower conductivity; forming, on the semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer of thickness comprised between 3000 and 13000 A (Angstroms); depositing, on the dielectric layer, a hard mask layer; masking the hard mask layer by means of a masking layer; etching the hard mask layers and the underlying dielectric layer for defining a plurality of hard mask portions to protect said dielectric layer; removing the masking layer; isotropically and laterally etching said dielectric layer forming lateral cavities in said dielectric layer below said hard mask portions; forming a gate oxide of thickness comprised between 150 and 1500 A (Angstroms) depositing a conductor material in said cavities and above the same to form a recess spacer, which is totally aligned with a gate structure c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Arena, Giuseppe Ferla, Marco Camalleri
  • Publication number: 20110204413
    Abstract: In order to improve characteristics of an IGBT, particularly, to reduce steady loss, turn-off time and turn-off loss, a thickness of a surface semiconductor layer is set to about 20 nm to 100 nm in an IGBT including: a base layer; a buried insulating film provided with an opening part; the surface semiconductor layer connected to the base layer below the opening part; a p type channel forming layer formed in the surface semiconductor layer; an n+ type source layer; a p+ type emitter layer; a gate electrode formed over the surface semiconductor layer via a gate insulating film; an n+ type buffer layer; and a p type collector layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Daisuke Arai, Yoshito Nakazawa, Norio Hosoya
  • Publication number: 20110186907
    Abstract: A sinker layer is in contact with a first conductivity-type well and a second conductivity-type drift layer, respectively, and is separated from a first conductivity-type collector layer. A second conductivity-type diffusion layer (second second-conductivity-type high-concentration diffusion layer) is formed in the surface layer of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer has a higher impurity concentration than that of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer and the first conductivity-type collector layer are isolated from each other with an element isolation insulating film interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki FUJII
  • Publication number: 20110151629
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved recessed thyristor-based memory cell. The disclosed cell comprises in one embodiment a conductive plug recessed into the bulk of the substrate, which is coupled to or comprises the enable gate of the cell. Vertically disposed around this recessed gate is a thyristor, whose anode (source; p-type region) is connected to the bit line and cathode (drain; n-type region) is connected to the word line. Aside from the recessed enable gate, the disclosed cell comprises no other gate, such as an access transistor, and hence is essentially a one-transistor device. As a result, and as facilitated by the vertical disposition of the thyristor, the disclosed cell takes up a small amount of area on an integrated circuit when compared to a traditional DRAM cell. Moreover, the disclosed cell is simple to manufacture in its various embodiments, and is easy to configure into an array of cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Publication number: 20110127576
    Abstract: A bipolar power semiconductor component configured as an IGBT includes a semiconductor body, in which a p-doped emitter, an n-doped base, a p-doped base and an n-doped main emitter are arranged successively in a vertical direction. The p-doped emitter has a number of heavily p-doped zones having a locally increased p-type doping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Uwe Kellner-Werdehausen, Reiner Barthelmess
  • Publication number: 20110129967
    Abstract: An embodiment of a power device having a first current-conduction terminal, a second current-conduction terminal, a control terminal receiving, in use, a control voltage of the power device, and a thyristor device and a first insulated-gate switch device connected in series between the first and the second conduction terminals; the first insulated-gate switch device has a gate terminal connected to the control terminal, and the thyristor device has a base terminal. The power device is further provided with: a second insulated-gate switch device, connected between the first current-conduction terminal and the base terminal of the thyristor device, and having a respective gate terminal connected to the control terminal; and a Zener diode, connected between the base terminal of the thyristor device and the second current-conduction terminal so as to enable extraction of current from the base terminal in a given operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Cesare RONSISVALLE, Vincenzo ENEA
  • Patent number: 7910949
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a conductive board and a switching element mounted on the conductive board and electrically connected thereto. The power semiconductor device also includes an integrated circuit mounted on the conductive board at a distance from the switching element and electrically connected thereto. The switching element turns ON/OFF a connection between first and second main electrodes in response to a control signal inputted to a control electrode. The integrated circuit includes a control circuit which controls ON/OFF the switching element and a back side voltage detection element which detects a voltage of the back side of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Yasuda, Atsunobu Kawamoto, Shinsuke Goudo
  • Publication number: 20110003441
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optically triggered switch and a method of forming the optically triggered switch. The optically triggered switch includes a silicon layer having at least one trench formed therein and at least one silicon diode formed in the silicon layer. The switch also includes a first thyristor formed in the silicon layer. The first thyristor is physically and electrically isolated from the silicon diode by the trench and the first thyristor is configured to turn on in response to electromagnetic radiation generated by the silicon diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS J. KRUTSICK
  • Patent number: 7851274
    Abstract: A structure and method for a silicon carbide (SiC) gate turn-off (GTO) thyristor device operable to provide an increased turn-off gain comprises a cathode region, a drift region having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the drift region overlies the cathode region, a gate region overlying the drift region, an anode region overlying the gate, and at least one ohmic contact positioned on each of the gate region, anode region, and cathode region, wherein the upper portion of the drift region, the gate region, and the anode region have a free carrier lifetime and mobility lower than a comparable SiC GTO thyristor for providing the device with an increased turn-off gain, wherein the free carrier lifetime is approximately 10 nanoseconds. The reduced free carrier lifetime and mobility are affected by altering the growth conditions, such as temperature under which epitaxy occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Pankaj B. Shah
  • Patent number: 7846814
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate and providing a detach region which is carried by the substrate. A device structure which includes a stack of crystalline semiconductor layers is provided, wherein the detach region is positioned between the device structure and substrate. The stack is processed to form a vertically oriented semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Sang-Yun Lee
  • Publication number: 20100289057
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes at least one transistor over a substrate. A first guard ring is disposed around the at least one transistor. The first guard ring has a first type dopant. A second guard ring is disposed around the first guard ring. The second guard ring has a second type dopant. A first doped region is disposed adjacent to the first guard ring. The first doped region has the second type dopant. A second doped region is disposed adjacent to the second guard ring. The second doped region has the first type dopant. The first guard ring, the second guard ring, the first doped region, and the second doped region are capable of being operable as a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) to substantially release an electrostatic discharge (ESD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Song SHEU, Jian-Hsing LEE, Yu-Chang JONG, Chun-Chien TSAI
  • Patent number: 7816706
    Abstract: The power semiconductor device with a four-layer npnp structure can be turned-off via a gate electrode. The first base layer comprises a cathode base region adjacent to the cathode region and a gate base region adjacent to the gate electrode, but disposed at a distance from the cathode region. The gate base region has the same nominal doping density as the cathode base region in at least one first depth, the first depth being given as a perpendicular distance from the side of the cathode region, which is opposite the cathode metallization. The gate base region has a higher doping density than the cathode base region and/or the gate base region has a greater depth than the cathode base region in order to modulate the field in blocking state and to defocus generated holes from the cathode when driven into dynamic avalanche.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Munaf Rahimo, Peter Streit