Diode (epo) Patents (Class 257/E29.327)
  • Publication number: 20100065884
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrostatic discharge diode. The electrostatic discharge diode according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an N-type well formed on a substrate; an n? region formed on the N-type well; a plurality of p? regions penetrated and formed in the n? region; a plurality of n+ regions penetrated and formed in a first layer in which the n? region and a plurality of the p? regions are formed; a plurality of n+ regions penetrated and formed in a first layer in which the n? region and a plurality of the p? regions are formed; and a plurality of p+ regions penetrated and formed in the first layer, wherein a first n+ region among a plurality of the n+ regions and a first p+ region corresponding to the first n+ region are penetrated and formed in each other region of the corresponding first p? region among a plurality of the p? regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Jun-Hyeong RYU, Taeg-Hyun KANG, Moon-Ho KIM
  • Patent number: 7674683
    Abstract: A technique for making a bulk isolated PN diode is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include providing a substrate having a doped region and disposing a dielectric material over the doped region. The method may also include forming first and second holes in the dielectric material exposing the doped region, and forming respective first and second polysilicon plugs within the first and second holes over the doped region. In one embodiment, the first and second polysilicon plugs are doped opposite one another such that a PN junction is formed between the first or second polysilicon plug and the doped region of the substrate, and has a cross-sectional area generally defined by the first or second hole adjacent the PN junction. Various devices, systems, and other methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt D. Beigel
  • Publication number: 20100038620
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory cells are disclosed which include forming a pillar above a substrate, the pillar including a steering element and a memory element, and performing one or more etches vertically through the pillar to form multiple memory cells. Memory cells formed from such methods, as well as numerous other aspects are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: SANDISK 3D LLC
    Inventors: Huiwen Xu, Er-Xuan Ping
  • Publication number: 20100038676
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor region having a pn junction and a field shaping region located adjacent the pn junction to increase the reverse breakdown voltage of the device. The field shaping region is coupled via capacitive voltage coupling regions to substantially the same voltages as are applied to the pn junction. When a reverse voltage is applied across the pn junction and the device is non-conducting, a capacitive electric field is present in a part of the field shaping region which extends beyond a limit of the pn junction depletion region which would exist in the absence of the field shaping region. The electric field in the field shaping region inducing a stretched electric field limited to a correspondingly stretched pn junction depletion region in the semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Anco Heringa, Raymond J.E. Hueting, Jan W. Slotboom
  • Publication number: 20100038678
    Abstract: A photodiode in which a pn junction is formed between the doped region (DG) formed in the surface of a crystalline semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer (HS) deposited above said doped region. An additional doping (GD) is provided in the edge region of the doped zone, by means of which additional doping the pn junction is shifted deeper into the substrate (SU). With the greater distance of the pn junction from defects at phase boundaries that is achieved in this way, the dark current within the photodiode is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Jochen Kraft, Bernhard Löffler, Gerald Meinhardt
  • Publication number: 20100032716
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a buffer layer; and a compound semiconductor layer laminated on the substrate with the buffer layer in between. The buffer layer has a dislocation density in a plane in parallel to an in-plane direction thereof, so that a volume resistivity of the buffer layer becomes a substantially maximum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Sadahiro Kato, Seikoh Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100032008
    Abstract: Devices and methods of fabrication of ZnO based single and multi-junction photovoltaic cells are disclosed. ZnO based single and multijunction photovoltaic cells, and other optoelectronic devices include p-type, n-type, and undoped materials of ZnxA1-xOyB1-y, wherein the alloy composition A and B, expressed by x and y, respectively, varies between 0 and 1. Alloy element A is selected from related elements including Mg, Be, Ca, Sr, Cd, and In and alloy element B is selected from a related elements including Te and Se. The selection of A, B, x and y, allows tuning of the material's band gap. The band gap of the material may be selected to range between approximately 1.4 eV and approximately 6.0 eV. ZnxA1-xOyB1-y based tunnel diodes may be formed and employed in ZnxA1-xOyB1-y based multi-junction photovoltaic devices. ZnxA1-xOyB1-y based single and multi-junction photovoltaic devices may also include transparent, conductive heterostructures and highly doped contacts to ZnO based substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: LUMENZ LLC
    Inventor: Bunmi T. ADEKORE
  • Publication number: 20100032794
    Abstract: A high voltage diode in which the n-type cathode is surrounded by an uncontacted heavily doped n-type ring to reflect injected holes back into the cathode region for recombination or collection is disclosed. The dopant density in the heavily doped n-type ring is preferably 100 to 10,000 times the dopant density in the cathode. The heavily doped n-type region will typically connect to an n-type buried layer under the cathode. The heavily doped n-type ring is optimally positioned at least one hole diffusion length from cathode contacts. The disclosed high voltage diode may be integrated into an integrated circuit without adding process steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sameer P. PENDHARKAR, Binghua HU
  • Patent number: 7656011
    Abstract: A diode is disclosed. One embodiment provides a semiconductor body having a front and a back, opposite the front in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body contains, successively in the vertical direction from the back to the front, a heavily n-doped zone, a weakly n-doped zone, a weakly p-doped zone and a heavily p-doped zone. In the vertical direction, the weakly p-doped zone has a thickness of at least 25% and at most 50% of the thickness of the semiconductor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Reiner Barthelmess
  • Publication number: 20100019342
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a pn-junction diode structure that includes anode diffusion region including edge area, anode electrode on anode diffusion region, and insulator film on edge area of anode diffusion region, the area of anode electrode above anode diffusion region with insulator film interposed between anode electrode and anode diffusion region is narrower than the area of insulator film on edge area of anode diffusion region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryouichi KAWANO, Tomoyuki YAMAZAKI, Michio NEMOTO, Mituhiro KAKEFU
  • Publication number: 20090315155
    Abstract: A structure to diminish high voltage instability in a high voltage device when under stress includes an amorphous silicon layer over a field oxide on the high voltage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Jifa Hao
  • Publication number: 20090302347
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of circuit cells each including a pad on a semiconductor chip. Each of the circuit cells includes a high-side transistor, a level shift circuit, a low-side transistor, a pre-driver, and a pad. The high-side transistor and the low-side transistor are arranged to face each other with the pad interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsunaga, Masahiko Sasada, Akihiro Maejima, Jinsaku Kaneda, Hiroshi Ando
  • Patent number: 7629614
    Abstract: A diode disposed on a substrate is provided. The diode includes a semiconductor pattern, a first conductor pattern, a second conductor pattern, an insulating layer, and a top conductor pattern. The first conductor pattern and the second conductor pattern are respectively disposed on a portion of the semiconductor pattern. The insulating layer is disposed on the first conductor layer, the second conductor layer, and the semiconductor pattern. Moreover, the top conductor pattern is disposed on the insulating layer above the semiconductor pattern and electrically connected to the first conductor pattern. In the diode mentioned above, no circuit belonging to the diode is disposed under the semiconductor pattern. Therefore, when the aforementioned diode and other devices are integrated, layout of the devices can adopt the space under the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Ta-Wen Liao
  • Publication number: 20090294803
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for fabricating printable semiconductor elements and assembling printable semiconductor elements onto substrate surfaces. Methods, devices and device components of the present invention are capable of generating a wide range of flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices and arrays of devices on substrates comprising polymeric materials. The present invention also provides stretchable semiconductor structures and stretchable electronic devices capable of good performance in stretched configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Ralph G. Nuzzo, John A. Rogers, Etienne Menard, Keon Jae Lee, Dahl-Young Khang, Yugang Sun, Matthew Meitl, Zhengtao Zhu
  • Publication number: 20090294892
    Abstract: A high-voltage termination structure includes a peripheral voltage-spreading network. One or more trench structures are connected at least partly in series between first and second power supply voltages. The trench structures include first and second current-limiting structures connected in series with a semiconductor material, and also includes permanent charge in a trench-wall dielectric. The current-limiting structures in the trench structures are jointly connected in a series-parallel ladder configuration. The current-limiting structures, in combination with the semiconductor material, provide a voltage distribution between the core portion and the edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: MAXPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Amit Paul, Mohamed N. Darwish, Jun Zeng
  • Publication number: 20090256232
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes: memory cells each having a first multilayer electrode including a first lower electrode made of a first conductive film and a first upper electrode made of a second conductive film formed one on the other with a first interface film therebetween; and a diode having a diode electrode made of the second conductive film and a second interface film as a silicon oxide film formed at the interface between the diode electrode and a substrate. The first interface film has a thickness with which electrical connection between the lower electrode and the upper electrode is maintained, and the second interface film has a thickness with which epitaxial growth between the substrate and the diode electrode is inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 7602022
    Abstract: To prevent the destruction of a semiconductor element due to negative resistance, and to reduce the dynamic resistance of a static electricity prevention diode, the ratio of the maximum electric field intensity during an avalanche and the average electric field in a strong electric field region, as well as the impurity density gradient in the vicinity of the strong electric field region are optimized. During avalanche breakdown, a depletion layer is formed across the entire high resistivity region, and its average electric field is kept to ½ or more of the maximum electric field intensity. The density gradients (the depths and impurity densities) of a p+ region and of an n+ region that form a p-n junction of the diode are controlled so that the density gradient in the neighborhood of the high resistivity region does not have negative resistance with respect to increase of the avalanche current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kumagai, Hiroshi Kanemaru, Yuiichi Harada, Yoshihiro Ikura, Ryuu Saitou
  • Publication number: 20090218662
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor region of a first conductive type; a second semiconductor region of the first conductive type formed on an upper surface of the first semiconductor region and having a lower impurity concentration than that of the first semiconductor region; a third semiconductor region of the first conductive type formed on the upper surface of the first semiconductor region and having a higher impurity concentration than that of the second semiconductor region; and a fourth semiconductor region of a second conductive type different from the first conductive type formed on upper surfaces of the second semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region. A PN junction is formed between the second semiconductor region and third semiconductor region and the fourth semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region is formed to surround the third semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Shinji Kudoh, Ryu Hirata, Shinichi Miyazono
  • Publication number: 20090206439
    Abstract: In order to provide an ESD protection circuit having high immunity to ESD destruction without increasing a chip area of a semiconductor device, a diode-type ESD protection circuit formed of a junction between a first conductivity type diffusion layer and a second conductivity type diffusion layer is formed in an entire peripheral region or a part of the peripheral region outside of internal circuits and bonding pads of the chip, and a diffusion layer formed to fix a substrate potential of the chip and electrically connected to a power source or a ground provided in the peripheral region of the chip is used for any one of the first conductivity type diffusion layer and the second conductivity type diffusion layer, permitting enlargement of the size of the ESD protection circuit without increasing a chip area, and enhancement of immunity to ESD destruction of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20090200576
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer including AlXGa1-XN (0?X?1); a second semiconductor layer provided on the first semiconductor layer, including AlYGa1-YN (0?Y?1, X<Y), and having a larger bandgap than the first semiconductor layer; a source electrode provided on the second semiconductor layer; a drain electrode provided on the second semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode provided on the second semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode. A region of the second semiconductor layer below the gate electrode at a depth short of the first semiconductor layer is doped with atoms to be negatively charged in the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasunobu Saito, Wataru Saito, Yorito Kakiuchi, Tomohiro Nitta, Akira Yoshioka, Tetsuya Ohno, Hidetoshi Fujimoto, Takao Noda
  • Publication number: 20090195948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a starting substrate wafer for semiconductor engineering having electrical wafer through connections (140; 192). It comprises providing a wafer (110; 150) having a front side and a back side and having a base of low resistivity silicon and a layer of high resistivity material on the front side. On the wafer there are islands of low resistivity material in the layer of high resistivity material. The islands are in contact with the silicon base material. Trenches are etched from the back side of the wafer but not all the way through the wafer to provide insulating enclosures defining the wafer through connections (140; 192). The trenches are filled with insulating material. Then the front side of the wafer is grinded to expose the insulating material to create the wafer through connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Edvard Kalvesten, Tomas Bauer, Thorbjorn Ebefors
  • Patent number: 7564080
    Abstract: A method for producing a laser diode component having an electrically insulating housing basic body and electrical connecting conductors, which are led out from the housing basic body and are accessible from outside the housing basic body. The housing basic body is produced from a material which is transmissive to a laser radiation emitted by the laser diode component. The housing basic body includes a chip mounting region. A beam axis of the laser diode component runs through the housing basic body. A housing that can be produced in this way and laser diode component having a housing of this type are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Ferstl, Stefan Grötsch, Markus Zeiler
  • Patent number: 7563666
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of making a vertical diode structure are provided. The vertical diode structure may have associated therewith a diode opening extending through an insulation layer and contacting an active region on a silicon wafer. A titanium silicide layer may be formed over the interior surface of the diode opening and contacting the active region. The diode opening may initially be filled with an amorphous silicon plug that is doped during deposition and subsequently recrystallized to form large grain polysilicon. The silicon plug has a top portion that may be heavily doped with a first type dopant and a bottom portion that may be lightly doped with a second type dopant. The top portion may be bounded by the bottom portion so as not to contact the titanium silicide layer. In one embodiment of the vertical diode structure, a programmable resistor contacts the top portion of the silicon plug and a metal line contacts the programmable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Gonzalez, Tyler A. Lowrey, Trung Tri Doan, Raymond A. Turi, Graham R. Wolstenholme
  • Publication number: 20090179309
    Abstract: A power semiconductor component and method for producing it. The component has a semiconductor base body with a first doping and a pn junction formed by a contact region having a second doping with a doping profile in the base body. The second contact region is arranged at a second surface of the base body and extends into the base body. The base body has a trench-type cutout with an edge area and a base area, wherein the base area is formed as a second partial area of the second surface, and wherein the second contact region extends from the base area via the edge area as far as a first partial area. Furthermore, the pn junction has a curvature adjacent to the edge area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Bernhard KONIG
  • Publication number: 20090159885
    Abstract: A thin film transistor which includes a microcrystalline semiconductor film over a gate electrode with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween to be in an inner region in which end portions of microcrystalline semiconductor film are in an inside of end portions of the gate electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film which covers top and side surfaces of the microcrystalline semiconductor film, and an impurity semiconductor film to which an impurity element imparting one conductivity is added, and which forms a source region and a drain region, wherein the microcrystalline semiconductor film includes an impurity element serving as a donor is provided to reduce off current of a thin film transistor, to reduce reverse bias current of a diode, and to improve an image quality of a display device using a thin film transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Kunio HOSOYA, Yasutaka SUZUKI, Saishi FUJIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20090152681
    Abstract: An avalanche photodiode with a nano-scale reach-through structure comprising n-doped and p-doped regions, formed on a silicon island on an insulator, so that the avalanche photodiode may be electrically isolated from other circuitry on other silicon islands on the same silicon chip as the avalanche photodiode. For some embodiments, multiplied holes generated by an avalanche reduces the electric field in the depletion region of the n-doped and p-doped regions to bring about self-quenching of the avalanche photodiode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Xinyu Zheng, Bedabrata Pain, Thomas J. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7521774
    Abstract: In a semiconductor system 20 made up of multiple sublayers, a sublayer over the largest part of a cross-sectional area BC in the interior of the semiconductor system borders immediately on the first sublayer, while bordering on a second sublayer only in a comparatively narrow edge region of the cross-sectional area. The semiconductor system is characterized by a low bulk resistance and a high breakdown voltage in the edge region. In addition, a method for manufacturing this semiconductor system is specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Spitz, Alfred Goerlach, Dana Keppeler
  • Patent number: 7511297
    Abstract: A phase change memory device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The phase change memory device includes a first conductor pattern having a first conductivity type and a sidewall. A second conductor pattern is connected to the sidewall of the first conductor pattern to form a diode. A phase change layer is electrically connected to the second conductor pattern and a top electrode is connected to the phase change layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hoon Jang, Ki-Nam Kim, Soon-Moon Jung
  • Publication number: 20090065803
    Abstract: A semiconductor having a an n-type material and a p-type material, wherein the n-type material and p-type material are joined to form a space-charge-free p-n junction. The energy of the Fermi-level of the n-type material is equal to the energy of the Fermi-level of the p-type material. This allows for the pre-alignment of the Fermi-levels of the n-type and the p-type materials. The semiconductor has minimal or no g-r noise. The semiconductor can be operated at TBLIP in the range of about 220° to about 240° K.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: University of Rochester
    Inventor: Gary Wicks
  • Publication number: 20090057836
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having first main face having rectangular shape, a first electrode provided at the center on first main face of substrate, first electrode is made of conducting material harder than substrate, and a second electrode provided along at least a part of the periphery on first main face so as to surround first electrode, second electrode is integrated with first electrode by the same conducting material as that of the first electrode, and second electrode has a thinner film thickness than that of the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadahiro Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20090026532
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body. The semiconductor body includes a body region of a first conductivity type for forming therein a conductive channel of a second conductivity type; a gate electrode arranged next to the body region; and a floating electrode arranged between the gate electrode and the body region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Oliver Schilling, Frank Pfirsch
  • Publication number: 20090020846
    Abstract: A diode comprises a P-type well formed in a semiconductor substrate, at least one N-type impurity doping area formed in the P-type well, an isolation area formed to surround the N-type impurity doping area, a P-type impurity doping area formed to surround the isolation area, first contacts formed in the N-type impurity doping area in a single row or a plurality of rows, and second contacts formed in the P-type impurity doping area in a single row or a plurality of rows, wherein pin resistance can be adjusted through changing any one of a distance between the N-type impurity doping area and the P-type impurity doping area, a contact pitch between the first contacts, and a contact pitch between the second contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Kook Whee Kwak
  • Publication number: 20080315315
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a gated diode, wherein the gated diode includes a junction diode structure including a junction. A first conductive member spaced apart from and adjacent to the junction can be connected to a first signal line. A second conductive member, spaced apart from and adjacent to the junction, can be both electrically connected to a second signal line and electrically insulated from the first conductive member. The junction diode structure can include a p-n or a p-i-n junction. A process for forming the electronic device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Leo Mathew, Michael G. Khazhinsky
  • Publication number: 20080290366
    Abstract: An SOI device comprises an isolation trench defining a vertical drift zone, a buried insulating layer to which the isolation trench extends, and an electrode region for emitting charge carriers that is formed adjacent to the insulating layer and that is in contact with the drift zone. The electrode region comprises first strip-shaped portions having a first type of doping and second strip-shaped portions having a second type of doping that is inverse to the first type of doping. A first sidewall doping of the first type of doping is provided at a first sidewall of the isolation trench and a second sidewall doping of the second type of doping is provided at a second sidewall of the isolation trench. The first strip-shaped portions are in contact with the first sidewall doping and the second strip-shaped portions are in contact with the second sidewall doping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Ralf Lerner
  • Publication number: 20080290350
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a LED lamp includes a heat sink including rows of exposed fins on one surface and a conductive member opposite the fins and including two electrically connected side positive electrodes, one or more negative electrode spaced from and between the positive electrodes, and one or more conductive positioning strips each between the negative electrode and either positive electrode; a light array mounted on the conductive member and including rows of LEDs divided into electrically parallel connected groups with the LEDs of each group being electrically series connected together, each LED including positive and negative pins secured to one conductive positioning strip and electrically connected to either positive electrode and the negative electrode respectively, a positive conductor electrically connected to either positive electrode; and a negative conductor electrically connected to the negative electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Hsiang-Chou Lin
  • Patent number: 7449730
    Abstract: A nitride-based semiconductor device includes a diode provided on a semiconductor substrate. The diode contains a first nitride-based semiconductor layer made of non-doped AlXGa1-XN (0?X<1); a second nitride-based semiconductor layer made of non-doped or n-type AlYGa1-YN (0<Y?1, X<Y) having a lattice constant smaller than that of the first nitride-based semiconductor layer; a first electrode formed on the second nitride-based semiconductor layer; a second electrode formed on the second nitride-based semiconductor layer; and an insulating film that covers the second nitride-based semiconductor layer below a peripheral portion of the first electrode. In the diode, a recess structure portion is formed at a position near the peripheral portion of the first electrode on the second nitride-based semiconductor layer, and the first electrode covers the second nitride-based semiconductor layer and at least a part of the insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masahiko Kuraguchi
  • Patent number: 7443008
    Abstract: A programmable element includes a diode and a programmable structure formed in a polysilicon layer isolated from a semiconductor substrate by a dielectric layer. The diode includes a first region and a second region of opposite conductivity types. The programmable structure includes a third region and a fourth region of opposite conductivity types. The first region of the diode and the third region of the programmable structure are electrically connected. In operation, the programmable structure is programmed to a low impedance state when a voltage exceeding a first breakdown voltage of the programmable structure is applied to reverse bias the programmable structure. The programmable element can be used to form a programmable array having very low parasitic capacitance, enabling the realization of a large and ultra fast programmable logic array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Lutz, Thomas S. Wong
  • Patent number: 7439560
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, comprising a semiconductor nanowire having a first region with one of a PN junction and a PIN junction and a second region with a field effect transistor structure, a pair of electrodes connected to both ends of the semiconductor nanowire, and a gate electrode provided in at least a part of the second region via an insulating layer. The semiconductor nanowire has a P-type semiconductor portion and an N-type semiconductor portion, and one of the P-type semiconductor portion and the N-type semiconductor portion is a common structural element of both the first and second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Shioya, Sotomitsu Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20080237782
    Abstract: An isolated diode comprises a floor isolation region, a dielectric-filled trench and a sidewall region extending from a bottom of the trench at least to the floor isolation region. The floor isolation region, dielectric-filled trench and a sidewall region are comprised in one terminal (anode or cathode) of the diode and together form an isolated pocket in which the other terminal of the diode is formed. In one embodiment the terminals of the diode are separated by a second dielectric-filled trench and sidewall region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicants: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc., Advanced Analogic Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Richard K. Williams, Donald Ray Disney, Wai Tien Chan
  • Publication number: 20080237775
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device comprising a diode and a method of making an integrated circuit device comprising a diode are provided. The diode can comprise an island of a first conductivity type, a first region of a second conductivity type formed in the island, and a cathode diffusion contact region doped to the second conductivity type disposed in the first region. The diode can also comprise a cathode contact electrically contacting the cathode diffusion contact region, an anode disposed in the island, an anode contact electrically contacting the anode, and a first extension region doped to the first conductivity type disposed at a surface junction between the first region and the island.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: James Douglas BEASOM
  • Publication number: 20080230798
    Abstract: An active matrix organic electroluminescent substrate includes a substrate having a controlling element region and a luminescent region, a thin film transistor, a first passivation layer, a conductive layer electrically connected to the thin film transistor, and a second passivation layer disposed on the first passivation layer and the conductive layer. The second passivation layer has an opening partially exposing the conductive layer, and a step-shaped structure located between the controlling element region and the luminescent region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Shu-Hui Huang, Hsiao-Wei Yeh, Min-Ling Hung, Hsia-Tsai Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7425733
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes an electrostatic protective device having PN junction with N-type Si and P-type SiGe. The electrostatic protective device is directly connected with a terminal to receive static electricity and with a terminal to discharge static electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Kuramoto
  • Publication number: 20080198299
    Abstract: A light source unit which can minimize current differences between a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”) which includes an active region that emits light and an inactive region that accounts for a remainder of the PCB, an LED array which includes a plurality of LEDs that are arranged at regular intervals, and a current balancing circuit which is disposed in the inactive region, generates a plurality of current balancing voltages by uniformly adjusting current differences between the LEDs, and outputs the current balancing voltages. A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) including the light source unit, and a method of minimizing current differences between a plurality of LEDs are further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Min-soo CHOI, Jae-eun UM, Song-yi HAN
  • Publication number: 20080191305
    Abstract: A low leakage bipolar Schottky diode (20, 40, 87) is formed by parallel lightly doped N (32, 52, 103) and P (22, 42, 100) regions adapted to form superjunction regions. First ends of the P regions (22, 42, 100) are terminated by P+ layers (21, 41, 121) and second, opposed ends of the N regions (32, 52, 103) are terminated by N+ layers (31, 51, 131). Silicide layers (24, 34, 44, 54, 134, 124) are provided in contact with both ends of the parallel N and P regions (22, 32, 42, 52, 100, 103), thereby forming at the first end ohmic contacts (28, 48) with the P+ regions (21, 41, 121) and Schottky contacts (37, 57) with the N regions 32, 52, 103) and at the second, opposite end, ohmic contacts (38, 58) with the N+ regions (31, 51, 131) and Schottky contacts (27, 47) with the P regions (22, 42, 100). When forward biased current flows in both N (32, 52) and P (22, 42) regions thereby reducing the forward drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Vishnu K. Khemka, Amitava Bose, Todd C. Roggenbauer, Ronghua Zhu
  • Publication number: 20080191307
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a number of semiconductor regions, a pair of dielectric regions and a pair of terminals. The first and second regions of the structure are respectively coupled to the first and second terminals. The third region of the structure is disposed between the first and second regions. The dielectric regions extend into the third region. A concentration of doping impurities present in the third region and a distance between the dielectric regions define an electrical characteristic of the structure. The electrical characteristic of the structure is independent of the width of the dielectric regions width. The first and second regions are of opposite conductivity types. The structure optionally includes a fourth region that extends into the third region, and surrounds a portion of the pair of dielectric regions. The interface region between the dielectric regions and the fourth region includes intentionally introduced charges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: MaxPower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohamed N. Darwish
  • Publication number: 20080173968
    Abstract: A diode is disclosed. One embodiment provides a semiconductor body having a front and a back, opposite the front in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body contains, successively in the vertical direction from the back to the front, a heavily n-doped zone, a weakly n-doped zone, a weakly p-doped zone and a heavily p-doped zone. In the vertical direction, the weakly p-doped zone has a thickness of at least 25% and at most 50% of the thickness of the semiconductor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Franz-Josef Niedernostheide, Reiner Barthelmess
  • Patent number: 7394142
    Abstract: A technique for making a bulk isolated PN diode. Specifically, a technique is provided for making a voltage clamp with a pair of bulk isolated PN diode. Another embodiment provides for a voltage clamp with a pair of bulk isolated PN diodes in parallel with a pair of MOSFET diode-connected transistors. In addition, a method for manufacturing the bulk isolated PN diodes is recited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt D. Beigel
  • Publication number: 20080087903
    Abstract: A method for producing a light emitting diode arrangement. A plurality of LED modules (110, 120, 130) are provided, which in each case comprise at least one radiation emitting semiconductor component (1000) on a carrier body (1300). At least one separately fabricated connection carrier (200) is provided. The LED modules are arranged in such a way that they are adjacent to one another in pairs. A mechanically stable and electrically conductive connection between the carrier bodies of two LED modules is produced by means of the connection carrier. Furthermore, a light emitting diode arrangement is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventor: Harald Stoyan
  • Publication number: 20080061286
    Abstract: The use of liquid metal contacts for devices based on thermotunneling has been investigated. Electric and thermal characteristics of low wetting contact Hg/Si, and high wetting contacts Hg/Cu were determined and compared. Tunneling I-V characteristics for Hg/Si were obtained, whilst for Hg/Cu, I-V characteristics were ohmic. The tunneling I-V characteristic is explained by the presence of a nanogap between the contact materials. Heat conductance of high wetting and low wetting contacts were compared, using calorimeter measurements. Heat conductance of high wetting contact was 3-4 times more than of low wetting contact. Both electric and thermal characteristics of liquid metal contact indicated that it could be used for thermotunneling devices. To reduce the work function and make liquid metal more suitable for room temperature cooling, Cs was dissolved in liquid Hg. Work function as low as 2.6 eV was obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Avto Tavkhelidze, Leri Tsakadze, Zaza Taliashvili, Larissa Jangidze, Rodney Cox
  • Publication number: 20080054373
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, a first conductive piece, a second conductive piece and an encapsulating resin. The semiconductor chip includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first conductive piece is in contact with the first electrode of the semiconductor chip. The second conductive piece is in contact with the second electrode of the semiconductor chip. The encapsulating resin covers the semiconductor chip, a portion of the first conductive piece and a portion of the second conductive piece, such that a conducting current is transmitted through the first conductive piece and the second conductive piece to form a power diode. In an embodiment, the power semiconductor device further includes a conductive pin and a third electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yin-Yuan Chen, Chen-Yu Yu