IP Library Granted Patent US 9,431,525
Granted Patent B2
US 9,431,525 · App. 14/303,105 · Granted Aug 30, 2016

IGBT with bidirectional conduction

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,431,525
App. No.
14/303,105
Granted
Aug 30, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An IGBT device includes a drift region, a collector contact, an injector region, a pair of junction implants, a gate contact, and an emitter contact. The injector region includes a first surface in contact with the collector contact, a second surface opposite the first surface and in contact with the drift region, and at least one bypass region running between the first surface and the second surface. Notably, the at least one bypass region has a charge carrier that is different from that of the injector region. The pair of junction implants is in the drift region along a surface of the drift region opposite the injector region. The gate contact and the emitter contact are on the surface of the drift region opposite the injector region.

Claims (32)

1. A method comprising:

depositing an injector region on a substrate;

separately depositing at least one bypass region through the injector region, wherein a charge carrier of the bypass region is different than that of the injector region;

providing a drift region on the injector region opposite the substrate, the drift region comprising silicon carbide;

providing a pair of junction barrier implants in the drift region opposite the injector region;

providing a gate contact and an emitter contact on the drift region opposite the injector region.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein depositing the injector region and the at least one bypass region comprises:

providing a blanket injector region having a first charge carrier;

etching at least one trench through the blanket injector region; and

providing the at least one bypass region in the at least one trench, wherein the charge carrier of the at least one bypass region is different from that of the blanket injector region.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the at least one bypass region to the cross-sectional area of the injector region is less than about 1:5.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each one of the pair of junction barrier implants are laterally separated from one another along the drift region opposite the substrate.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the injector region is a highly doped P region;

the at least one bypass region is a highly doped N region; and

the drift region is a lightly doped N region.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the injector region has a doping concentration in the range of about 1E16 cm −3 to about 1E21 cm −3 ;

the at least one bypass region has a doping concentration in the range of about 1E18 cm —3 to about 1E21 cm −3 ; and

the drift region has a doping concentration in the range of about 1E13 cm −3 to about 1E15 cm −3 .

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a charge storage region in the middle of the drift region between each lateral edge of the drift region, such that the charge storage region separates the drift region into an upper drift region and a lower drift region.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the injector region is a highly doped P-type region;

the at least one bypass region is a highly doped N-type region;

the drift region is a lightly doped N-type region; and

the charge storage region is a highly doped N-type region.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the injector region has a doping concentration in the range of about 1E16 cm −3 to about 1E21 cm −3 ;

the at least one bypass region has a doping concentration in the range of about 1E18 cm —3 to about 1E21 cm −3 ;

the drift region has a doping concentration in the range of about 1E13 cm −3 to about 1E15 cm −3 ; and

the charge storage region has a doping concentration from about 1E13 cm −3 to about 1E15 cm −3 .

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing the substrate and providing a collector contact on the injector region opposite the drift region.

Assignments (9)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Mar 26, 2026
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075280/0919 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0113 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0381 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0467 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0588 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 64185/0755 Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 072989/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 064185/0755 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 22, 2021
From: CREE, INC.
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 057891/0880 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: RYU, SEI-HYUNG; ZHANG, QINGCHUN
To: CREE, INC.
Reel/Frame 033091/0698 →