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US4998158A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hypoeutectic ohmic contact to N-type gallium arsenide with diffusion barrier

Assignee: NXP USA Inc
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Filing: 1987-06-01
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Granted: 1991-03-05
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Expires: 2007-06-01
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Abstract

Abstract A hypoeutectic ohmic contact to gallium arsenide comprising a refractory metal layer is provided which reduces the outdiffusion of gallium and arsenic which would otherwise be seen as impurities at the outer surface of the ohmic contact.

Inventors

  • 👤 Karl J. Johnson
  • 👤 Charles E. Weitzel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 03:22
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D62/00; H10D62/80; H10D62/85; H10D64/00; H10D64/60; H10D64/62

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 144 words
An ohmic contact for a portion of a GaAs surface of a semiconductor device having at least one GaAs surface, said ohmic contact comprising: a layer of nickel provided over said portion of said GaAs surface; a layer of germanium provided over said nickel layer; a first gold layer provided over said germanium layer; a refractory metal layer provided over said first gold layer; and a second gold layer provided over said refractory metal layer, wherein said germanium layer and said first gold layer form a hypoeutectic ratio and a portion of said refractory metal layer is diffused into said first and second gold layers to form a stable refractory metal layer which acts as a barrier to reduce migration of gallium or arsenic from said gallium arsenide surface to said second gold layer; and wherein said hypoeutectic ratio is Au 0.973 Ge 0.027.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 144 words
An ohmic contact for a portion of a GaAs surface of a semiconductor device having at least one GaAs surface, said ohmic contact comprising: a layer of nickel provided over said portion of said GaAs surface; a layer of germanium provided over said nickel layer; a first gold layer provided over said germanium layer; a refractory metal layer provided over said first gold layer; and a second gold layer provided over said refractory metal layer, wherein said germanium layer and said first gold layer form a hypoeutectic ratio and a portion of said refractory metal layer is diffused into said first and second gold layers to form a stable refractory metal layer which acts as a barrier to reduce migration of gallium or arsenic from said gallium arsenide surface to said second gold layer; and wherein said hypoeutectic ratio is Au 0.973 Ge 0.027.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3028663A Cited
US3370207A Cited
US3273979A Cited
JPS5229183A Cited
US4188710A Cited
US4300149A Cited
JPS5966166A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-03-04 1994-09-03 1995-03-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-03-04 1998-09-03 1999-03-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-03-04 2002-09-03 2003-03-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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