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US5278431A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Diamond rectifying contact with undoped diamond layer

Assignee: Kobe Steel USA Inc
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Filing: 1993-02-23
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Granted: 1994-01-11
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Expires: 2013-02-23
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Abstract

Abstract A rectifying contact includes a first semiconducting diamond layer, a second undoped diamond layer on the first layer, and a third relatively highly doped diamond layer on the second layer. The first semiconducting diamond layer may be formed on a supporting substrate. A bonding contact is preferably formed on the third relatively highly doped diamond layer for facilitating electrical connection thereto. The bonding contact is preferably a titanium carbide/gold bilayer. In one embodiment, an ohmic contact may be formed on the first semiconducting diamond layer by an electrically conductive substrate and an associated metal layer on an opposite side of the substrate from the semiconducting diamond layer. In another embodiment, an ohmic contact may be formed on the first semiconducting diamond layer by a fourth relatively highly doped diamond layer and an associated bonding contact on the fourth diamond layer. The relatively highly doped diamond layers may be formed by ion implantation, annealing, and an etch of a graphitized surface portion of the implanted diamond layers.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kalyankumar Das

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 18:04
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D30/00; H10D30/80; H10D30/87; H10D30/871; H10D30/01; H10D30/60; H10D30/63; H10D62/00; H10D62/80; H10D62/83; H10D62/8303; H10D62/40; H10D64/00; H10D64/20; H10D64/23; H10D64/251; H10D64/252

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim 34 words
A rectifying contact comprising: a first semiconducting diamond layer; a second undoped diamond layer on said first semiconducting diamond layer; and a third relatively highly doped diamond layer on said second undoped diamond layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 34 words
A rectifying contact comprising: a first semiconducting diamond layer; a second undoped diamond layer on said first semiconducting diamond layer; and a third relatively highly doped diamond layer on said second undoped diamond layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 further comprising a bonding contact on said third relatively highly doped diamond layer for facilitating electrical connection thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 45 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 2 wherein said bonding contact comprises a refractory metal carbide layer on said third relatively highly doped diamond layer, and an electrically conductive passivating layer on said refractory metal carbide layer opposite said third relatively highly doped diamond layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 wherein said first semiconducting diamond layer has a dopant level in the range of about 10 16 -10 19 cm -3 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 wherein said second undoped diamond layer has a thickness in a range of about 20-5000 Å.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 wherein said third relatively highly doped diamond layer has a dopant level greater than about 10 19 cm -3 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 wherein said third relatively highly doped diamond layer has a dopant level in the range of about 10 20 -10 21 cm -3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 wherein each of said first, second and third diamond layers comprises polycrystalline diamond.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 wherein each of said first, second and third diamond layers comprises single crystal diamond.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 wherein each of said first, second and third diamond layers is optically transmissive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 1 further comprising a substrate on said first semiconducting diamond layer opposite said second undoped diamond layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 12 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 11 wherein said substrate comprises silicon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 49 words
A rectifying contact comprising: a first semiconducting diamond layer; a second undoped diamond layer on said first semiconducting diamond layer; a third relatively highly doped diamond layer on said second undoped diamond layer opposite said first semiconducting diamond layer; and an ohmic contact on said first semiconducting diamond layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 49 words
A rectifying contact comprising: a first semiconducting diamond layer; a second undoped diamond layer on said first semiconducting diamond layer; a third relatively highly doped diamond layer on said second undoped diamond layer opposite said first semiconducting diamond layer; and an ohmic contact on said first semiconducting diamond layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 wherein said ohmic contact comprises an electrically conductive substrate on said first semiconducting diamond layer opposite said second undoped diamond layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 30 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 14 wherein said ohmic contact further comprises a metal layer on said substrate opposite said first semiconducting diamond layer for facilitating electrical connection thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 12 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 14 wherein said substrate comprises silicon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 25 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 wherein said ohmic contact comprises a fourth relatively highly doped diamond layer on said first semiconducting diamond layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 28 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 17 wherein said ohmic contact further comprises a bonding contact on said fourth relatively highly doped diamond layer for facilitating connection thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 45 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 18 wherein said bonding contact comprises a refractory metal carbide layer on said fourth relatively highly doped diamond layer, and an electrically conductive passivating layer on said refractory metal carbide layer opposite said fourth relatively highly doped diamond layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 31 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 17 wherein each of said third and fourth relatively highly doped diamond layers has a dopant level greater than about 10 19 cm -3 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 35 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 17 wherein each of said third and fourth relatively highly doped diamond layers has a dopant level in the range of about 10 20 -10 21 cm -3 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 29 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 wherein said first semiconducting diamond layer has a dopant level in the range of about 10 16 -10 19 cm -3 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 23 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 wherein said second undoped diamond layer has a thickness in a range of about 20-5000 Å.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 25 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 further comprising a bonding contact on said third relatively highly doped diamond layer for facilitating electrical connection thereto.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 45 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 24 wherein said bonding contact comprises a refractory metal carbide layer on said third relatively highly doped diamond layer, and an electrically conductive passivating layer on said refractory metal carbide layer opposite said third relatively highly doped diamond layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 20 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 wherein each of said first, second and third diamond layers comprises polycrystalline diamond.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 21 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 wherein each of said first, second and third diamond layers comprises single crystal diamond.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 20 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 wherein each of said first, second and third diamond layers is optically transmissive.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 23 words
A rectifying contact according to claim 13 further comprising a substrate on said first semiconducting diamond layer opposite said second undoped diamond layer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4982243A Cited
EP0417645A1 Cited
US5132749A Cited
US5173761A Cited
US5155559A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-01-10 1997-07-12 1998-01-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-01-10 2001-07-12 2002-01-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-01-10 2005-07-12 2006-01-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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