IP Library Granted Patent US 12,563,760
Granted Patent B2
US 12,563,760 · App. 18/179,070 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Field reducing structures for nitrogen-polar group III-nitride semiconductor devices

Inventors: Kyle Bothe (Cary, NC); Chris Hardiman (Cary, NC); Scott Sheppard (Chapel Hill, NC)
Assignee: WOLFSPEED, INC.
H10D30/015H10D30/475H10D62/8503H10D64/111H10D64/251H10D64/511
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,563,760
App. No.
18/179,070
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Field reducing structures for transistor devices having Group III-nitride semiconductor structures are provided. In one example, a transistor device includes a nitrogen-polar (N-polar) Group III-nitride semiconductor structure. The transistor device includes a source contact, a drain contact, and a gate contact. The transistor device includes a field reducing structure operable to reduce an electric field in a region in the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure between the gate contact and the drain contact.

Claims (30)

1 . A transistor device, comprising:

a nitrogen-polar (N-polar) Group III-nitride semiconductor structure;

a source contact, a drain contact, and a gate contact; and

a field reducing structure operable to reduce an electric field in a region in the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure between the gate contact and the drain contact;

wherein the gate contact has a gate length of about 100 nm or greater.

2 . The transistor device of claim 1 , wherein the field reducing structure comprises a field plate overlapping the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure.

3 . The transistor device of claim 2 , wherein the field plate is electrically coupled to the source contact.

4 . The transistor device of claim 2 , wherein the field plate has a laterally extending portion that overlaps at least a portion of the gate contact.

5 . The transistor device of claim 2 , wherein the field plate does not overlap the gate contact.

6 . The transistor device of claim 2 , further comprising a dielectric layer between the field plate and the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure.

7 . The transistor device of claim 6 , wherein the field plate is at least partially recessed into the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure.

8 . The transistor device of claim 2 , wherein the field plate is directly on the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure to form a Schottky contact with the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure.

9 . The transistor device of claim 2 , wherein the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure comprises a barrier layer and a channel layer on the barrier layer, and one or more cap layers, wherein the field plate is at least partially recessed into the one or more cap layers.

10 . The transistor device of claim 1 , wherein the field reducing structure comprises an implanted region in the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure.

11 . The transistor device of claim 10 , wherein the implanted region is electrically coupled to the source contact.

12 . The transistor device of claim 10 , wherein the implanted region is electrically coupled to the drain contact.

13 . The transistor device of claim 10 , wherein the implanted region comprises a plurality of implanted dopants, the implanted dopants comprising silicon (Si), magnesium (Mg), fluorine (F), iron (Fe), carbon (C), tin (Sn), or oxygen (O).

14 . The transistor device of claim 1 , wherein the transistor device comprises a second field plate overlapping the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure.

15 . The transistor device of claim 1 , wherein the transistor device is associated with an operating frequency of less than about 40 GHz.

16 . The transistor device of claim 1 , wherein the transistor device further comprises a silicon carbide substrate.

17 . The transistor device of claim 1 , wherein the transistor device is a high electron mobility transistor device.

18 . A transistor device, comprising:

a nitrogen-polar (N-polar) Group III-nitride semiconductor structure;

a field plate overlapping the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure;

a second field plate overlapping the field plate; and

a third field plate overlapping the second field plate.

19 . A method of forming a transistor device, comprising:

forming a nitrogen-polar (N-polar) Group III-nitride semiconductor structure;

forming a gate contact having a gate length of about 100 nm or greater; and

forming a field plate overlapping at least a portion of the N-polar Group III-nitride semiconductor structure.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 064185/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2023
From: BOTHE, KYLE; HARDIMAN, CHRIS; SHEPPARD, SCOTT
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 063679/0197 →