Semiconductor structure for use with high-frequency signals
First Claim
1. A monolithically integrated communications circuit structure comprising:
- a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
a first monocrystalline oxide layer comprising a first material formed overlying a first portion of the substrate;
a first amorphous layer underlying the first monocrystalline oxide layer;
a first layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of first type formed overlying the first oxide layer;
a second monocrystalline oxide layer comprising a second material different than the first material formed overlying a second portion of the substrate;
a second amorphous layer underlying the second monocrystalline oxide layer; and
a second layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of second type different than the first type formed overlying the second oxide layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
High quality epitaxial layers of compound semiconductor materials can be grown overlying large silicon wafers by first growing an accommodating buffer layer on a silicon wafer. The accommodating buffer layer is a layer of monocrystalline oxide spaced apart from the silicon wafer by an amorphous interface layer of silicon oxide. The amorphous interface layer dissipates strain and permits the growth of a high quality monocrystalline oxide accommodating buffer layer. Any lattice mismatch between the accommodating buffer layer and the underlying silicon substrate is taken care of by the amorphous interface layer. These semiconductor materials have applications involving communications with high frequency signals including intelligent transportation systems such as automobile radar systems, smart cruise control systems, collision avoidance systems, and automotive navigation systems; and electronic payment systems that use microwave or RF signals such as electronic toll payment for various transportation systems including train fares, and toll roads, parking structures, and toll bridges for automobiles.
175 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A monolithically integrated communications circuit structure comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
a first monocrystalline oxide layer comprising a first material formed overlying a first portion of the substrate;
a first amorphous layer underlying the first monocrystalline oxide layer;
a first layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of first type formed overlying the first oxide layer;
a second monocrystalline oxide layer comprising a second material different than the first material formed overlying a second portion of the substrate;
a second amorphous layer underlying the second monocrystalline oxide layer; and
a second layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of second type different than the first type formed overlying the second oxide layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
a digital circuit formed in at least partially in the silicon substrate;
an oscillator circuit formed at least partially in the first layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material;
a transceiver circuit formed at least partially in the second layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material; and
an interconnection coupling together the digital circuit, the oscillator circuit, and the transceiver circuit.
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15. A monolithically integrated communications circuit structure comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
a first amorphous oxide layer comprising a first material formed overlying a first portion of the substrate;
a first layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of first type formed overlying the first amorphous oxide layer;
a second amorphous oxide layer comprising a second material different than the first material formed overlying a second portion of the substrate; and
a second layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of second type different than the first type formed overlying the second amorphous oxide layer.
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16. A monolithically integrated circuit comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
a monocrystalline oxide layer epitaxially grown overlying the silicon substrate;
an amorphous layer underlying the monocrystalline oxide layer;
a monocrystalline compound semiconductor layer epitaxially grown overlying the monocrystalline oxide layer;
a CMOS digital circuit formed at least partially in the silicon substrate; and
a communication circuit configured to operate at a frequency greater than 2 GHz formed at least partially in the compound semiconductor layer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A monolithically integrated circuit comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
a monocrystalline oxide layer epitaxially grown overlying the silicon substrate;
an amorphous silicon oxide layer underlying the monocrystalline oxide layer;
a monocrystalline compound semiconductor layer comprising GaAs epitaxially grown overlying the monocrystalline oxide layer;
a transponder circuit configured to operate at a frequency greater than 5 GHz formed at least partially in the monocrystalline compound semiconductor layer; and
a CMOS digital control circuit formed at least partially in the silicon substrate and coupled to the transponder circuit. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A monolithically integrated communications circuit structure comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
a first oxide layer comprising a first material of (Sr,Ba)TiO3 formed overlying a first portion of the substrate;
a first layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of first type formed overlying the first oxide layer;
a second oxide layer comprising a second material different than the first material formed overlying a second portion of the substrate; and
a second layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of second type different than the first type formed overlying the second oxide layer.
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33. A monolithically integrated communications circuit structure comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
a first oxide layer comprising a first material formed overlying a first portion of the substrate;
a first template layer formed on the first portion;
a first layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of first type formed overlying the first oxide layer;
a second oxide layer comprising a second material different than the first material formed overlying a second portion of the substrate; and
a second layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material of second type different than the first type formed overlying the second oxide layer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
a digital circuit formed in at least partially in the silicon substrate;
an oscillator circuit formed at least partially in the first layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material;
a transceiver circuit formed at least partially in the second layer of monocrystalline compound semiconductor material; and
an interconnection coupling together the digital circuit, the oscillator circuit, and the transceiver circuit.
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43. The structure of claim 33 wherein the first oxide layer comprises a first monocrystalline oxide layer and the second oxide layer comprises a second monocrystalline oxide layer.
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44. The structure of claim 43 further comprising a first amorphous layer underlying the first oxide layer and a second amorphous layer underlying the second oxide layer.
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45. The structure of claim 33 wherein the first oxide layer comprises a first amorphous oxide layer and the second oxide layer comprises a second amorphous oxide layer.
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46. A monolithically integrated circuit comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
an oxide layer epitaxially grown overlying the silicon substrate;
a monocrystalline compound semiconductor layer epitaxially grown overlying the oxide layer;
a CMOS digital circuit formed at least partially in the silicon substrate;
a communication circuit configured to operate at a frequency greater than 2 GHz formed at least partially in the compound semiconductor layer; and
the communications circuit comprising a signal modulator, an oscillator, and a transceiver, the oscillator being configured to operate at a frequency of 38 GHz. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A monolithically integrated circuit comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
an oxide layer epitaxially grown overlying the silicon substrate;
a monocrystalline compound semiconductor layer epitaxially grown overlying the oxide layer;
a CMOS digital circuit formed at least partially in the silicon substrate;
a communication circuit configured to operate at a frequency greater than 2 GHz formed at least partially in the compound semiconductor layer; and
the communications circuit comprising a signal modulator, an oscillator, and a transceiver, the transceiver being configured to operate at a frequency of 76-77 GHz. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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52. A monolithically integrated circuit comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
an oxide layer epitaxially grown overlying the silicon substrate;
a monocrystalline compound semiconductor layer epitaxially grown overlying the oxide layer;
a CMOS digital circuit formed at least partially in the silicon substrate;
a communication circuit configured to operate at a frequency greater than 2 GHz formed at least partially in the compound semiconductor layer; and
the communications circuit comprising a HEMT structure. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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54. A monolithically integrated circuit comprising:
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a monocrystalline silicon substrate;
an oxide layer epitaxially grown overlying the silicon substrate;
a monocrystalline compound semiconductor layer of InP epitaxially grown overlying the oxide layer;
a CMOS digital circuit formed at least partially in the silicon substrate; and
a communication circuit configured to operate at a frequency greater than 2 GHz formed at least partially in the compound semiconductor layer. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification