IP Library Granted Patent US 8,164,115
Granted Patent B2
US 8,164,115 · App. 13/010,238 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Nitride semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,164,115
App. No.
13/010,238
Granted
Apr 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nitride semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer formed over the substrate; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a larger band gap energy than the first nitride semiconductor layer; a third nitride semiconductor layer formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer and including a p-type nitride semiconductor with at least a single-layer structure; a gate electrode formed on the third nitride semiconductor layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed in regions located on both sides of the gate electrode, respectively. The third nitride semiconductor layer has a thickness greater in a portion below the gate electrode than in a portion below the side of the gate electrode.

Claims (29)

1. A nitride semiconductor device comprising:

a substrate;

a first nitride semiconductor layer formed over the substrate;

a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a larger band gap energy than the first nitride semiconductor layer;

a third nitride semiconductor layer formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer and including a p-type nitride semiconductor with at least a single-layer structure;

a gate electrode formed on the third nitride semiconductor layer; and

a source electrode and a drain electrode formed in regions located on both sides of the gate electrode, respectively,

wherein the third nitride semiconductor layer has a thickness greater in a portion below the gate electrode than in a portion below the side of the gate electrode,

wherein the third nitride semiconductor layer includes a first p-type layer and a second p-type layer sequentially formed in this order from the substrate side, and

the first p-type layer has a thickness greater in the portion below the gate electrode than in portions located between the source electrode and the gate electrode and between the drain electrode and the gate electrode.

2. The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first nitride semiconductor layer is made of GaN,

the second nitride semiconductor layer is made of Al x Ga 1-x N (0<x≦1),

the first p-type layer of the third nitride semiconductor layer is made of Al y Ga 1-y N (0≦y≦1), and

the second p-type layer of the third nitride semiconductor layer is made of Al z Ga 1-z N (0≦z≦1 and y≠z).

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first p-type layer of the third nitride semiconductor layer has a thickness of 15 nm or more.

4. A nitride semiconductor device comprising:

a substrate;

a first nitride semiconductor layer formed over the substrate;

a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a larger band gap energy than the first nitride semiconductor layer;

a third nitride semiconductor layer formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer and including a p-type nitride semiconductor with at least a single-layer structure;

a gate electrode formed on the third nitride semiconductor layer; and

a source electrode and a drain electrode formed in regions located on both sides of the gate electrode, respectively,

wherein the third nitride semiconductor layer has a thickness greater in a portion below the gate electrode than in a portion below the side of the gate electrode,

wherein the third nitride semiconductor layer is made of a single-layer p-type semiconductor layer.

5. The device of claim 4 ,

wherein the first nitride semiconductor layer is made of GaN,

the second nitride semiconductor layer is made of Al x Ga 1-x N (0<x≦1), and

the third nitride semiconductor layer is made of Al y Ga 1-y N (0≦y≦1).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2025
From: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
To: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072853/0508 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 13, 2024
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069631/0392 →