Having Heterojunction (e.g., Hemt, Modfet, Etc.) Patents (Class 438/172)
  • Patent number: 8933446
    Abstract: A HEMT according to example embodiments may include a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer configured to induce a 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the second semiconductor layer, an insulating mask layer on the second semiconductor layer, a depletion forming layer on one of a portion of the first semiconductor layer and a portion of the second semiconductor layer that is exposed by an opening defined by the insulating mask layer, a gate on the depletion forming layer, and a source and a drain on at least one of the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The source and drain may be spaced apart from the gate. The depleting forming layer may be configured to form a depletion region in the 2DEG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-chul Jeon
  • Publication number: 20150011057
    Abstract: A method for forming an enhancement mode GaN HFET device with an isolation area that is self-aligned to a contact opening or metal mask window. Advantageously, the method does not require a dedicated isolation mask and the associated process steps, thus reducing manufacturing costs. The method includes providing an EPI structure including a substrate, a buffer layer a GaN layer and a barrier layer. A dielectric layer is formed over the barrier layer and openings are formed in the dielectric layer for device contact openings and an isolation contact opening. A metal layer is then formed over the dielectric layer and a photoresist film is deposited above each of the device contact openings. The metal layer is then etched to form a metal mask window above the isolation contact opening and the barrier and GaN layer are etched at the portion that is exposed by the isolation contact opening in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Chunhua Zhou, Jianjun Cao, Alexander Lidow, Robert Beach, Alana Nakata, Robert Strittmatter, Guang Yuan Zhao, Seshadri Kolluri, Yanping Ma, Fang Chang Liu, Ming-Kun Chiang, Jiali Cao
  • Publication number: 20150008485
    Abstract: A High electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a source electrode, a gate electrode, a drain electrode, a channel forming layer in which a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel is induced, and a channel supplying layer for inducing the 2DEG channel in the channel forming layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode are located on the channel supplying layer. A channel increase layer is between the channel supplying layer and the source and drain electrodes. A thickness of the channel supplying layer is less than about 15 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: In-jun HWANG, Jai-kwang SHIN, Jae-joon OH, Jong-seob KIM, Hyuk-soon CHOI, Ki-ha HONG
  • Publication number: 20150011058
    Abstract: An embodiment of a transistor device includes a compound semiconductor material on a semiconductor carrier and a source region and a drain region spaced apart from each other in the compound semiconductor material with a channel region interposed between the source and drain regions. A Schottky diode is integrated with the semiconductor carrier, and contacts extend from the source and drain regions through the compound semiconductor material. The contacts are in electrical contact with the Schottky diode so that the Schottky diode is connected in parallel between the source and drain regions. In another embodiment, the integrated Schottky diode is formed by a region of doped amorphous silicon or doped polycrystalline silicon disposed in a trench structure on the drain side of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Gerhard Prechtl, Clemens Ostermaier, Oliver Haeberlen
  • Publication number: 20150008444
    Abstract: A device comprising a III-N layer stack featuring a two-dimensional electron gas is disclosed, comprising: a III-N layer; a AI-III-N layer on top of the III-N layer; a passivation layer on top of said AI-III-N layer, the passivation layer comprising Silicon Nitride (SiN); wherein said passivation layer comprises a fully crystalline sub layer at the AI-III-N interface and at least part of the fully crystalline sub layer comprises Al and/or B; and associated methods for manufacturing the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: EPIGAN NV
    Inventors: Joff Derluyn, Stefan Degroote, Marianne Germain
  • Patent number: 8927354
    Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises an antimonide-based compound semiconductor (ABCS) stack, an upper barrier layer formed on the ABCS stack, and a gate stack formed on the upper barrier layer. The upper barrier layer comprises indium, aluminum, and arsenic. The gate stack comprises a base layer of titanium and tungsten formed on the upper barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of The Navy
    Inventors: Yeong-Chang Chou, Jay Crawford, Jane Lee, Jeffrey Ming-Jer Yang, John Bradley Boos, Nicolas Alexandrou Papanicolaou
  • Patent number: 8928039
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device has a first nitride semiconductor layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer provided on the first nitride semiconductor layer and formed of a non-doped or n-type nitride semiconductor having a band gap wider than that of the first nitride semiconductor layer, a heterojunction field effect transistor having a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode, a Schottky barrier diode having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, and first and second element isolation insulating layers. The first element isolation insulating layer has a first end contacting with the drain electrode and the anode electrode, and a second end located in the first nitride semiconductor layer. The second element isolation insulating layer has a third end contacting with the cathode electrode, and a fourth end located in the first nitride semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wataru Saito, Yasunobu Saito, Hidetoshi Fujimoto, Akira Yoshioka, Tetsuya Ohno, Toshiyuki Naka
  • Publication number: 20150001551
    Abstract: A monolithically integrated semiconductor assembly is presented. The semiconductor assembly includes a substrate including silicon carbide (SiC), and gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor device is fabricated on the substrate. The semiconductor assembly further includes at least one transient voltage suppressor (TVS) structure fabricated in or on the substrate, wherein the TVS structure is in electrical contact with the GaN semiconductor device. The TVS structure is configured to operate in a punch-through mode, an avalanche mode, or combinations thereof, when an applied voltage across the GaN semiconductor device is greater than a threshold voltage. Methods of making a monolithically integrated semiconductor assembly are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Avinash Srikrishnan Kashyap, Peter Micah Sandvik, Rui Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150001582
    Abstract: An iron-doped high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) structure includes a substrate, a nucleation layer over the substrate, and a buffer layer over the nucleation layer. The gallium-nitride buffer layer includes a iron-doping-stop layer having a concentration of iron that drops from a juncture with an iron-doped component of the buffer layer over a thickness that is relatively small compared to that of the iron-doped component. The iron-doping-stop layer is formed at lower temperature compared to the temperature at which the iron-doped component is formed. The iron-doped HEMT structure also includes a channel layer over the buffer layer. A carrier-supplying barrier layer is formed over the channel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: IQE KC, LLC
    Inventors: Oleg Laboutin, Yu Cao, Wayne Johnson
  • Patent number: 8921893
    Abstract: A circuit structure includes a substrate, an unintentionally doped gallium nitride (UID GaN) layer over the substrate, a donor-supply layer over the UID GaN layer, a gate structure, a drain, and a source over the donor-supply layer. A number of islands are over the donor-supply layer between the gate structure and the drain. The gate structure disposed between the drain and the source. The gate structure is adjoins at least a portion of one of the islands and/or partially disposed over at least a portion of at least one of the islands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Ju Yu, Chih-Wen Hsiung, Fu-Wei Yao, Chun-Wei Hsu, Jiun-Lei Jerry Yu, Fu-Chih Yang
  • Publication number: 20140374765
    Abstract: A normally-off compound semiconductor transistor includes a heterostructure body and a gate stack on the heterostructure body. The heterostructure body includes a source, a drain spaced apart from the source, and a channel for connecting the source and the drain. The channel includes a first two-dimensional charge carrier gas of a first polarity arising in the heterostructure body due to piezoelectric effects. The gate stack controls the channel in a region of the heterostructure body under the gate stack. The gate stack includes at least one III-nitride material which gives rise to a second two-dimensional charge carrier gas of a second polarity opposite the first polarity in the gate stack or in the heterostructure body under the gate stack due to piezoelectric effects. The second two-dimensional charge carrier gas counter-balances polarization charges in the first two-dimensional charge carrier gas so that the channel is disrupted under the gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Gilberto Curatola
  • Patent number: 8916427
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may be formed by forming a silicon-containing gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor layer. A gate metal layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer; the gate metal layer includes 2 atomic percent to 10 atomic percent silicon during formation. The gate metal layer is patterned to form a metal gate. Source and drain contact holes are subsequently formed, and contact metal is formed and patterned in the contact holes. A subsequent contact anneal heats the contact metal and gate for at least 30 seconds at a temperature of at least 750° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Asad Mahmood Haider, Jungwoo Joh
  • Publication number: 20140367694
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer configured to be formed of a nitride semiconductor on a substrate; a second semiconductor layer configured to be formed of a nitride semiconductor on the first semiconductor layer; an insulation film configured to include an opening, and to be formed on the second semiconductor layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode configured to be formed on the second semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode configured to be formed at the opening on the second semiconductor layer. Both the insulation film and the second semiconductor layer include carbon in a neighborhood of an interface between the insulation film and the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Youichi KAMADA, Shirou OZAKI, Toshihiro Ohki, Kozo Makiyama, NAOYA OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140367700
    Abstract: An embodiment of a cascaded diode having a breakdown voltage exceeding 300V includes an HEMT and a Si Schottky diode. The HEMT includes a gate, a drain, a source, and a two-dimensional electron gas channel region connecting the source and the drain and controlled by the gate. The HEMT has a breakdown voltage exceeding 300V. The Si Schottky diode is monolithically integrated with the HEMT. The Si Schottky diode includes a cathode connected to the source of the HEMT and an anode connected to the gate of the HEMT. The Si Schottky diode has a breakdown voltage less than 300V and a forward voltage less than or equal to 0.4V. The anode of the Si Schottky diode forms the anode of the cascaded diode and the drain of the HEMT forms the cathode of the cascaded diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gerhard Prechtl, Clemens Ostermaier, Oliver Häberlen
  • Publication number: 20140369080
    Abstract: An AlGaN/GaN HEMT includes: a compound semiconductor layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on an upper side of the compound semiconductor layer; and an Al—Si—N layer being a high-resistance layer disposed in a lower portion of at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode and higher in an electric resistance value than the source electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Youichi Kamada, Kenji Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 8912571
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor device includes: a compound semiconductor layer; a first film formed over the compound semiconductor layer, the first film being in a negatively charged state or a non-charged state at an interface with the compound semiconductor layer; a second film formed over the first film, the second film being in a positively charged state at an interface with the first film; and a gate electrode to be embedded in an opening formed in the second film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masahito Kanamura, Toshihide Kikkawa, Kenji Imanishi
  • Patent number: 8912577
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a distributed heating transistor includes: a plurality of active regions where transistor action occurs including a heat source; and at least one inactive region where transistor action does not occur and no heat source is present, wherein adjacent active regions are separated by the at least one inactive region. The distributed heating transistor may be configured as field effect transistors (FETs), and bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). Methods for forming the distributed heating transistors are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Ali Darwish, Hingloi Alfred Hung
  • Patent number: 8912573
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with a MISFET and a HEMT region includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is disposed on the first III-V compound layer and is different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A third III-V compound layer is disposed on the second III-V compound layer is different from the second III-V compound layer in composition. A source feature and a drain feature are disposed in each of the MISFET and HEMT regions on the third III-V compound layer. A gate electrode is disposed over the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature. A gate dielectric layer is disposed under the gate electrode in the MISFET region but above the top surface of the third III-V compound layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Yen Chou, Sheng-De Liu, Fu-Chih Yang, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140361310
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is over the first III-V compound layer and is different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A carrier channel is located at an interface of the first III-V compound layer and the second III-V compound layer. A dielectric cap layer is over the second III-V compound layer and a protection layer is over the dielectric cap layer. Slanted field plates are in a combined opening in the dielectric cap layer and protection layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Chen-Ju YU, Fu-Wei YAO, Chun-Wei HSU, Jiun-Lei Jerry YU, Fu-Chih YANG, Chih-Wen HSIUNG
  • Publication number: 20140361337
    Abstract: Provided is a lattice-matched HEMT device, which is a HEMT device having high reverse breakdown voltage while securing two-dimensional electron gas concentration in a practical range. In producing a semiconductor device by forming a channel layer made of GaN on a base substrate such as an AlN template substrate or a substrate that includes a Si single crystal base material as a base, forming a barrier layer made of a group-III nitride having a composition of InxAlyGazN (x+y+z=1, 0?z?0.3) on the channel layer, and forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode on the barrier layer, an In mole fraction x, a Ga mole fraction z, and a thickness d of the barrier layer satisfy a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Sugiyama, Shigeaki Sumiya, Sota Maehara, Mitsuhiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8906758
    Abstract: The present invention may provide an integrated device, which may include a substrate having first and second regions, the first region spaced apart from the second region, a first heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) device formed on the first region of the substrate, the first HBT device having a first collector layer formed above the first region of the substrate, the first collector layer having a first collector thickness and a first collector doping level, and a second HBT device formed on the second region of the substrate, the second HBT device having a second collector layer formed above the second region of the substrate, the second collector layer having a second collector thickness and a second collector doping level, the second collector thickness substantially greater than the first collector thickness, the second collector doping level lower than the first collector doping level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC
    Inventor: Miguel E. Urteaga
  • Patent number: 8907359
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor component comprising a semiconductor layer sequence (3) based on a nitride compound semiconductor and containing an n-doped region (4), a p-doped region (8) and an active zone (5) arranged between the n-doped region (4) and the p-doped region (8) is specified. The p-doped region (8) comprises a p-type contact layer (7) composed of InxAlyGa1-x-yN where 0?x?1, 0?y?1 and x+y?1. The p-type contact layer (7) adjoins a connection layer (9) composed of a metal, a metal alloy or a transparent conductive oxide, wherein the p-type contact layer (7) has first domains (1) having a Ga-face orientation and second domains (2) having an N-face orientation at an interface with the connection layer (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Strassburg, Lutz Höppel, Matthias Peter, Ulrich Zehnder, Tetsuya Taki, Andreas Leber, Rainer Butendeich, Thomas Bauer
  • Publication number: 20140353673
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a substrate; a first semiconductor layer formed on the substrate and formed of a nitride semiconductor; a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer and formed of a nitride semiconductor; first and second gate electrodes, a source electrode, and a drain electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer; an interlayer insulation film formed on the second semiconductor layer; and a field plate formed on the interlayer insulation film. Further, the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are formed between a region where the source electrode is formed and a region where the field plate is formed, an element isolation region is formed in the first and the second semiconductor layers which are between the first and the second gate electrodes, and the second gate electrode is electrically connected to the source electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yuji ITO, Yuko MATSUI, Yoshiyuki KOTANI
  • Publication number: 20140353722
    Abstract: A graphene capped HEMT device and a method of fabricating same are disclosed. The graphene capped HEMT device includes one or more graphene caps that enhance device performance and/or reliability of an exemplary AlGaN/GaN heterostructure transistor used in high-frequency, high-energy applications, e.g., wireless telecommunications. The HEMT device disclosed makes use of the extraordinary material properties of graphene. One of the graphene caps acts as a heat sink underneath the transistor, while the other graphene cap stabilizes the source, drain, and gate regions of the transistor to prevent cracking during high-power operation. A process flow is disclosed for replacing a three-layer film stack, previously used to prevent cracking, with a one-atom thick layer of graphene, without otherwise degrading device performance. In addition, the HEMT device disclosed includes a hexagonal boron nitride adhesion layer to facilitate deposition of the compound nitride semiconductors onto the graphene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: John H. Zhang, Cindy Goldberg, Walter Kleemeier
  • Publication number: 20140353667
    Abstract: A field-effect semiconductor device having a semiconductor body with a main surface is provided. The semiconductor body includes, in a vertical cross-section substantially orthogonal to the main surface, a drift layer of a first conductivity type, a semiconductor mesa of the first conductivity type adjoining the drift layer, substantially extending to the main surface and having two side walls, and two second semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type arranged next to the semiconductor mesa. Each of the two second semiconductor regions forms a pn-junction at least with the drift layer. A rectifying junction is formed at least at one of the two side walls of the mesa. Further, a method for producing a heterojunction semiconductor device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Jens Konrath, Hans-Joachim Schulze, Roland Rupp, Wolfgang Werner, Frank Pfirsch
  • Patent number: 8900985
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor device is manufactured by forming an III-nitride compound semiconductor device structure on a silicon-containing semiconductor substrate, the III-nitride compound semiconductor device structure including a GaN alloy on GaN and a channel region arising near an interface between the GaN alloy and the GaN. One or more silicon-containing insulating layers are formed on a surface of the III-nitride compound semiconductor device structure adjacent the GaN alloy, and a contact opening is formed which extends through the one or more silicon-containing insulating layers to at least the GaN alloy. A region of GaN is regrown in the contact opening, and the regrown region of GaN is doped exclusively with Si out-diffused from the one or more silicon-containing insulating layers to form an ohmic contact which is doped only with the Si out-diffused from the one or more silicon-containing insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Gianmauro Pozzovivo, Simone Lavanga
  • Patent number: 8900939
    Abstract: High electron mobility transistors and fabrication processes are presented in which a barrier material layer of uniform thickness is provided for threshold voltage control under an enhanced channel charge inducing material layer (ECCIML) in source and drain regions with the ECCIML layer removed in the gate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Travis Anderson, Karl D. Hobart, Michael A. Mastro, Charles R. Eddy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8901609
    Abstract: A transistor includes a substrate, wherein a top portion of the substrate is doped with p-type dopants to a dopant concentration ranging from about 1×1018 ions/cm3 to about 1×1023 ions/cm3. The transistor further includes a graded layer on the substrate and a channel layer on the graded layer. The transistor further includes an active layer on the channel layer, wherein the active layer has a band gap discontinuity with the channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Chen, Chih-Wen Hsiung, Ming-Chang Ching, Chen-Hao Chiang, Po-Chun Liu, Chung-Yi Yu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Xiaomeng Chen
  • Publication number: 20140346567
    Abstract: Portions of a top compound semiconductor layer are recessed employing a gate electrode as an etch mask to form a source trench and a drain trench. A low temperature epitaxy process is employed to deposit a semiconductor material including at least one elemental semiconductor material in the source trench and the drain trench. Metallization is performed on physically exposed surfaces of the elemental semiconductor material portions in the source trench and the drain trench by depositing a metal and inducing interaction with the metal and the at least one elemental semiconductor material. A metal semiconductor alloy of the metal and the at least one elemental semiconductor material can be performed at a temperature lower than 600° C. to provide a high electron mobility transistor with a well-defined device profile and reliable metallization contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anirban Basu, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Publication number: 20140349449
    Abstract: Portions of a top compound semiconductor layer are recessed employing a gate electrode as an etch mask to form a source trench and a drain trench. A low temperature epitaxy process is employed to deposit a semiconductor material including at least one elemental semiconductor material in the source trench and the drain trench. Metallization is performed on physically exposed surfaces of the elemental semiconductor material portions in the source trench and the drain trench by depositing a metal and inducing interaction with the metal and the at least one elemental semiconductor material. A metal semiconductor alloy of the metal and the at least one elemental semiconductor material can be performed at a temperature lower than 600° C. to provide a high electron mobility transistor with a well-defined device profile and reliable metallization contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anirban Basu, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Publication number: 20140346566
    Abstract: A metallization scheme employing a first refractory metal barrier layer, a Group IIIA element layer, a second refractory metal barrier layer, and an oxidation-resistant metallic layer is employed to form a source region and a drain region that provide electrical contacts to a compound semiconductor material layer. The first and second refractory metal barrier layer are free of nitrogen, and thus, do not introduce additional nitrogen into the compound semiconductor layer, while allowing diffusion of the Group IIIA element to form locally doped regions underneath the source region and the drain region. Ohmic contacts may be formed at a temperature as low as about 500° C. This enables fabrication of FET whose source and drain are self-aligned to the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Anirban Basu
  • Publication number: 20140346523
    Abstract: An enhanced GaN transistor is provided. The structure comprises a substrate, a heterostructure, a p-element epitaxy growth layer, a drain ohmic contact and a source ohmic contact disposed on the heterostructure and on two sides of the p-element epitaxy growth layer, a gate structure disposed on the p-element epitaxy growth layer, and is separated from the drain ohmic contact and the source ohmic contact, a surface passivation layer covered the drain ohmic contact, source ohmic contact, and p-element epitaxy growth layer, and covered portion of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Yi CHANG, Yueh-Chin LIN, Huan-Chung WANG
  • Patent number: 8895421
    Abstract: A III-N device is described with a III-N layer, an electrode thereon, a passivation layer adjacent the III-N layer and electrode, a thick insulating layer adjacent the passivation layer and electrode, a high thermal conductivity carrier capable of transferring substantial heat away from the III-N device, and a bonding layer between the thick insulating layer and the carrier. The bonding layer attaches the thick insulating layer to the carrier. The thick insulating layer can have a precisely controlled thickness and be thermally conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Transphorm Inc.
    Inventors: Primit Parikh, Yuvaraj Dora, Yifeng Wu, Umesh Mishra, Nicholas Fichtenbaum, Rakesh K. Lal
  • Patent number: 8895378
    Abstract: Two layers of protection films are formed such that a sheet resistance at a portion directly below the protection film is higher than that at a portion directly below the protection film. The protection films are formed, for example, of SiN film, as insulating films. The protection film is formed to be higher, for instance, in hydrogen concentration than the protection film so that the protection film is higher in refractive index the protection film. The protection film is formed to cover a gate electrode and extend to the vicinity of the gate electrode on an electron supplying layer. The protection film is formed on the entire surface to cover the protection film. According to this configuration, the gate leakage is significantly reduced by a relatively simple configuration to realize a highly-reliable compound semiconductor device achieving high voltage operation, high withstand voltage, and high output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masahito Kanamura, Kozo Makiyama
  • Patent number: 8896028
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an epitaxial substrate formed by stacking a plurality of kinds of semiconductors over one semiconductor substrate by epitaxial growth; a field effect transistor of a first conductivity type formed in a first region; a field effect transistor of a second conductivity type formed in a second region; and a protective element formed in a third region. The protective element includes: a first stacking structure formed by etching the epitaxial substrate by vertical etching that proceeds in a stacking thickness direction; and a second stacking structure formed by etching the epitaxial substrate by vertical etching that proceeds in a stacking thickness direction. The protective element has two PN junctions on a current path formed between an upper end of the first stacking structure and an upper end of the second stacking structure via a base part of the first stacking structure and the second stacking structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Mitsunaga, Shinichi Tamari, Yuji Ibusuki
  • Publication number: 20140342513
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a first semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, a gate recess formed by removing at least a portion of the second semiconductor layer, an insulation film formed on the gate recess and the second semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the gate recess via the insulation film, source and drain electrodes formed on one of the first and the second semiconductor layers, and a fluorine containing region formed in at least one of a part of the first semiconductor layer corresponding to a region in which the gate recess is formed and a part of the second semiconductor layer corresponding to the region in which the gate recess is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshihiro OHKI, Hiroshi ENDO
  • Publication number: 20140342512
    Abstract: A III-N device is described has a buffer layer, a first III-N material layer on the buffer layer, a second III-N material layer on the first III-N material layer on an opposite side from the buffer layer and a dispersion blocking layer between the buffer layer and the channel layer. The first III-N material layer is a channel layer and a compositional difference between the first III-N material layer and the second III-N material layer induces a 2DEG channel in the first III-N material layer. A sheet or a distribution of negative charge at an interface of the channel layer and the dispersion blocking layer confines electrons away from the buffer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Transphorm Inc.
    Inventors: Umesh Mishra, Lee McCarthy, Nicholas Fichtenbaum
  • Patent number: 8890212
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a normally-off high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes: a channel layer having a first nitride semiconductor, a channel supply layer on the channel layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode at sides of the channel supply layer, a depletion-forming layer on the channel supply layer, a gate insulating layer on the depletion-forming layer, and a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer. The channel supply layer includes a second nitride semiconductor and is configured to induce a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the channel layer. The depletion-forming layer is configured has at least two thicknesses and is configured to form a depletion region in at least a partial region of the 2DEG. The gate electrode contacts the depletion-forming layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-chul Jeon, Young-hwan Park, Jae-joon Oh, Kyoung-yeon Kim, Joon-yong Kim, Ki-yeol Park, Jai-kwang Shin, Sun-kyu Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140335666
    Abstract: Methods for forming a high-quality III-nitride passivation layer on an AlGaN/GaN HEMT. A III-nitride passivation layer is formed on the surface of an AlGaN/GaN HEMT by means of atomic layer epitaxy (ALE), either before or after deposition of a gate metal electrode on the AlGaN barrier layer. Depending on the gate metal and/or the passivation material used, the III-nitride passivation layer can be formed by ALE at temperatures between about 300° C. and about 850° C. In a specific embodiment, the III-nitride passivation layer can be an AlN layer formed by ALE at about 550° C. after deposition of a Schottky metal gate electrode. The III-nitride passivation layer can be grown so as to conformally cover the entire device, providing a hermetic seal that protects the against environmental conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Andrew D. Koehler, Travis J. Anderson, Karl D. Hobart, Francis J. Kub
  • Patent number: 8884332
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a normal region, a carrier supplying region, and an interface current blocking region. The interface current blocking region surrounds the normal region and the carrier supplying region. The interface current blocking region and the carrier supplying region include impurities. The carrier supplying region has a conductivity type allowing the carrier supplying region to serve as a source of carriers supplied to or a destination of carriers supplied from a carrier layer generated at an interface between the nitride semiconductor layer and the semiconductor substrate. The interface current blocking region has a conductivity type allowing the interface current blocking region to serve as a potential barrier to the carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Umeda, Tetsuzo Ueda, Daisuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 8884334
    Abstract: A transistor includes a first layer of a first type disposed over a buffer layer and having a first concentration of a first material. A first layer of a second type is disposed over the first layer of the first type, and a second layer of the first type is disposed over the first layer of the second type. The second layer of the first type having a second concentration of a first material that is greater than the first concentration of the first material. A source and a drain are spaced laterally from one another and are disposed over the buffer layer. A gate disposed over at least a portion of the second layer of the first type and disposed within a recessed area defined by the first and second layers of the first type and the first layer of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Wen Hsiung, Chen-Ju Yu, Fu-Wei Yao
  • Patent number: 8884308
    Abstract: A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a silicon substrate, an unintentionally doped gallium nitride (UID GaN) layer over the silicon substrate. The HEMT further includes a donor-supply layer over the UID GaN layer, a gate structure, a drain, and a source over the donor-supply layer. The HEMT further includes a dielectric layer having one or more dielectric plug portions in the donor-supply layer and top portions between the gate structure and the drain over the donor-supply layer. A method for making the HEMT is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Ju Yu, Chih-Wen Hsiung, Fu-Wei Yao, Chun-Wei Hsu, King-Yuen Wong, Jiun-Lei Jerry Yu, Fu-Chih Yang
  • Patent number: 8883581
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor device includes a compound semiconductor composite structure in which two-dimensional electron gas is generated; and an electrode that is formed on the compound semiconductor composite structure, wherein the compound semiconductor composite structure includes a p-type semiconductor layer below a portion where the two-dimensional electron gas is generated, and the p-type semiconductor layer includes a portion containing a larger amount of an ionized acceptor than other portions of the p-type semiconductor layer, the portion being located below the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Transphorm Japan, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Ohki
  • Publication number: 20140327043
    Abstract: Provided are a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) and a method of manufacturing the HEMT. The HEMT includes: a channel layer comprising a first semiconductor material; a channel supply layer comprising a second semiconductor material and generating two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the channel layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode separated from each other in the channel supply layer; at least one depletion forming unit that is formed on the channel supply layer and forms a depletion region in the 2DEG; at least one gate electrode that is formed on the at least one depletion forming unit; at least one bridge that connects the at least one depletion forming unit and the source electrode; and a contact portion that extends from the at least one bridge under the source electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-seob KIM, In-jun HWANG, Jai-kwang SHIN, Jae-joon OH, Woo-chul JEON, Hyuk-soon CHOI, Sun-kyu HWANG
  • Publication number: 20140329366
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including: forming a silicon layer on an upper face of a nitride semiconductor layer including a channel layer of a FET; thermally treating the nitride semiconductor layer in the process of forming the silicon layer or after the process of forming the silicon layer; and forming an insulating layer on an upper face of the silicon layer after the process of forming the silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Araya, Tsutomu Komatani
  • Patent number: 8878249
    Abstract: A method for growing high mobility, high charge Nitrogen polar (N-polar) or Nitrogen face (In,Al,Ga)N/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs). The method can provide a successful approach to increase the breakdown voltage and reduce the gate leakage of the N-polar HEMTs, which has great potential to improve the N-polar or N-face HEMTs' high frequency and high power performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jing Lu, Stacia Keller, Umesh K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 8877574
    Abstract: Portions of a top compound semiconductor layer are recessed employing a gate electrode as an etch mask to form a source trench and a drain trench. A low temperature epitaxy process is employed to deposit a semiconductor material including at least one elemental semiconductor material in the source trench and the drain trench. Metallization is performed on physically exposed surfaces of the elemental semiconductor material portions in the source trench and the drain trench by depositing a metal and inducing interaction with the metal and the at least one elemental semiconductor material. A metal semiconductor alloy of the metal and the at least one elemental semiconductor material can be performed at a temperature lower than 600° C. to provide a high electron mobility transistor with a well-defined device profile and reliable metallization contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anirban Basu, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Patent number: 8878246
    Abstract: A High electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a source electrode, a gate electrode, a drain electrode, a channel forming layer in which a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel is induced, and a channel supplying layer for inducing the 2DEG channel in the channel forming layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode are located on the channel supplying layer. A channel increase layer is between the channel supplying layer and the source and drain electrodes. A thickness of the channel supplying layer is less than about 15 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-jun Hwang, Jai-kwang Shin, Jae-joon Oh, Jong-seob Kim, Hyuk-soon Choi, Ki-ha Hong
  • Publication number: 20140319583
    Abstract: A High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) includes a first III-V compound layer having a first band gap, and a second III-V compound layer having a second band gap over the first III-V compound layer. The second band gap is greater than the first band gap. A crystalline interfacial layer is overlying and in contact with the second III-V compound layer. A gate dielectric is over the crystalline interfacial layer. A gate electrode is over the gate dielectric. A source region and a drain region are over the second III-V compound layer, and are on opposite sides of the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Han-Chin Chiu, Po-Chun Liu, Chi-Ming Chen, Chung-Yi Yu, King-Yuen Wong
  • Patent number: 8871581
    Abstract: A III-nitride switch includes a recessed gate contact to produce a nominally off, or an enhancement mode, device. By providing a recessed gate contact, a conduction channel formed at the interface of two III-nitride materials is interrupted when the gate electrode is inactive to prevent current flow in the device. The gate electrode can be a schottky contact or an insulated metal contact. Two gate electrodes can be provided to form a bi-directional switch with nominally off characteristics. The recesses formed with the gate electrode can have sloped sides. The gate electrodes can be formed in a number of geometries in conjunction with current carrying electrodes of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Beach