An object is to provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is not complicated and by which cost can be suppressed, by forming a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film typified by zinc oxide, and a manufacturing method thereof. For the semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a substrate; a gate insulating film is formed covering the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the gate insulating film; and a first conductive film and a second conductive film are formed over the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region.

Semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof

Silicon offers multiple advantages to power circuit designers, but at the same time suffers from limitations that are inherent to silicon material properties, such as low bandgap energy, low thermal conductivity, and switching frequency limitations. Wide bandgap semiconductors, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), provide larger bandgaps, higher breakdown electric field, and higher thermal conductivity. Power semiconductor devices made with SiC and GaN are capable of higher blocking voltages, higher switching frequencies, and higher junction temperatures than silicon devices. SiC is by far the most advanced material and, hence, is the subject of attention from power electronics and systems designers. This paper looks at the benefits of using SiC in power electronics applications, reviews the current state of the art, and shows how SiC can be a strong and viable candidate for future power electronics and systems applications.

Silicon carbide benefits and advantages for power electronics circuits and systems

In recent years, silicon carbide has received increased attention because of its potential for high-power devices. The unique material properties of SiC, high electric breakdown field, high saturated electron drift velocity, and high thermal conductivity are what give this material its tremendous potential in the power device arena. 4H-SiC Schottky barrier diodes (1400 V) with forward current densities over 700 A/cm/sup 2/ at 2 V have been demonstrated. Packaged SITs have produced 57 W of output power at 500 MHz, SiC UMOSFETs (1200 V) are projected to have 15 times the current density of Si IGBTs (1200 V). Submicron gate length 4H-SiC MESFETs have achieved f/sub max/=32 GHz, f/sub T/=14.0 GHz, and power density=2.8 W/mm @ 1.8 GHz. The performances of a wide variety of SiC devices are compared to that of similar Si and GaAs devices and to theoretically expected results.

Silicon carbide high-power devices

AlGaN/GaN HEMTs are disclosed having a thin AlGaN layer to reduce trapping and also having additional layers to reduce gate leakage and increase the maximum drive current. One HEMT according to the present invention comprises a high resistivity semiconductor layer with a barrier semiconductor layer on it. The barrier layer has a wider bandgap than the high resistivity layer and a 2DEG forms between the layers. Source and drain contacts contact the barrier layer, with part of the surface of the barrier layer uncovered by the contacts. An insulating layer is included on the uncovered surface of the barrier layer and a gate contact is included on the insulating layer. The insulating layer forms a barrier to gate leakage current and also helps to increase the HEMT's maximum current drive. The invention also includes methods for fabricating HEMTs according to the present invention. In one method, the HEMT and its insulating layer are fabricated using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). In another method the insulating layer is sputtered onto the top surface of the HEMT in a sputtering chamber.

Insulating gate AlGaN/GaN HEMT

A power system having a power converter with an adaptive controller. The power system is coupled to a load and includes a power system controller that receives a signal indicating a system operational state of the load and selects a power converter operational state as a function thereof. The power system also includes a power converter with a power switch that conducts for a duty cycle to provide a regulated output characteristic at an output thereof. The power converter also includes a controller that receives a command from the power system controller to enter the power converter operational state and provides a signal to control the duty cycle of the power switch as a function of the output characteristic and in accordance with the command, thereby regulating an internal operating characteristic of the power converter to improve an operating efficiency thereof as a function of the system operational state.

Power system with power converters having an adaptive controller

A method of fabricating an integrated VFET and Schottky diode including forming a source region on the upper surface of a substrate so as to define a channel. First and second spaced apart gates are formed on opposing sides of the source region so as to abut the channel, thereby forming a channel structure. Schottky metal is positioned on the upper surface of the substrate proximate the channel structure to define a Schottky diode region and form a Schottky diode. A source contact is formed in communication with the source region and the Schottky metal, and a drain contact is formed on the lower surface of the substrate.

Method of fabricating vertical FET with Schottky diode

A method of fabricating buried control elements in a semiconductor device by providing a substrate and forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate. A native oxide is formed on the surface, and a mask is then positioned adjacent the surface so as to define a growth area and an unmasked portion. A bright light is selectively directed to grow an oxide film on the unmasked portion of the surface. After forming the oxide film, the native oxide on the growth area is desorbed and a buried control element layer is grown on the epitaxial layer. Subsequently, the oxide film is desorbed and the epitaxial layer is regrown, thereby burying the buried control element layer.

Method of fabricating buried control elements in semiconductor devices

Fabricating a device including a Schottky diode by growing a dielectric film on a SiC substrate structure and forming an ohmic contact on the opposite surface of the substrate structure by depositing a layer of metal and annealing at a temperature above 900° C. Implanting doping material in the substrate structure through spaced apart openings to form high resistivity areas and depositing a dielectric layer on the dielectric film to define a contact opening positioned between the spaced apart high resistivity areas. Annealing the implant at a temperature less than approximately 400° C. to reduce reverse leakage current and depositing metal in the contact opening to form a Schottky contact.

Method of fabricating semiconductor devices and the devices

A lateral silicon carbide transistor (10) utilizes a modulated channel region (18) to form an accumulation region that facilitates a low on-resistance. A doped region of the channel layer forms a channel insert (14) that also lowers the on-resistance of the transistor (10). A damage termination layer (27) is utilized to facilitate providing a high breakdown voltage. Field plates (23,24) also assists in increasing the breakdown voltage and decreasing the on-resistance of the transistor (10).

Christine Thero

Papers

Silicon carbide high-power devices

Method of fabricating vertical FET with Schottky diode

Method of fabricating buried control elements in semiconductor devices

Method of fabricating semiconductor devices and the devices

High breakdown voltage silicon carbide transistor