US4673957A
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Integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices Inc
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Filing: 1984-08-03
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Granted: 1987-06-16
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Expires: 2004-08-03
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistors which can be fabricated at low temperatures and operated at fast switching rates for use, for example, in video rate applications. The transistors include a silicon-germanium alloy body having a structure more ordered than amorphous material and less ordered than single crystalline material. The source and drain of the transistors are rectifying contacts formed on or in the body. Also disclosed are a method of making the transistors and an electronically addressable array system utilizing the transistors to advantage.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanford R. Ovshinsky
- 👤 Stephen J. Hudgens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:42
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D86/00; H10D86/40; H10D30/00; H10D30/01; H10D30/021; H10D30/031; H10D30/60; H10D30/67; H10D30/6704; H10D30/6713; H10D30/674; H10D30/6741; H10D62/00; H10D62/40; H10D62/80; H10D62/83; H10D62/832; H10D64/00; H10D64/60; H10D64/64; H10D64/647; H10D86/60; H10P; H10P95/00; H10P95/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
An integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor comprising: a silicon-germanium alloy body, said body having a structure more ordered than amorphous silicon-germanium semiconductor material and less ordered than single crystalline semiconductor material; source and drain electrodes of amorphous semiconductor material forming rectifying contacts with said body; and a gate electrode adjacent to and insulated from said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor comprising: a silicon-germanium alloy body, said body having a structure more ordered than amorphous silicon-germanium semiconductor material and less ordered than single crystalline semiconductor material; source and drain electrodes of amorphous semiconductor material forming rectifying contacts with said body; and a gate electrode adjacent to and insulated from said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 1 wherein said source and drain electrodes are formed on said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 2 wherein said source and drain electrodes are deposits of a doped semiconductor on said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 3 wherein said amorphous semiconductor alloy includes silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 4 wherein said amorphous silicon alloy includes hydrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 4 wherein said amorphous silicon alloy includes fluorine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 3 wherein said body is p-type and said doped semiconductor is n-type.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 7 wherein said doped semiconductor includes phosphorus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 3 wherein said body is n-type and said doped semiconductor is p-type.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 1 wherein said body further includes hydrogen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 1 wherein said body further includes fluorine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 1 further including an insulative layer disposed between said gate electrode and said body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 12 wherein said insulative layer is formed from silicon oxide or silicon nitride.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 1 wherein said gate electrode is formed from a metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thin film field effect transistor as defined in claim 14 wherein said metal is chromium or aluminum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
175 words
An improved system for selectively addressing each element of an array of elements, said system including: a first set of address lines; a second set of address lines spaced from and crossing at an angle to said first set of address lines to form a plurality of crossover points therewith; each said crossover point being associated with a given one of said elements to be addressed; an isolation device associated with each said element to be addressed; and addressing circuitry coupled to said first and second sets of address lines for selectively applying addressing potentials to respective pairs of said first and second sets of address lines, said addressing circuitry including at least one integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor, said transistor comprising a silicon-germanium alloy body, said body having a structure more ordered than amorphous silicon-germanium semiconductor material and less ordered than single crystalline semiconductor material, source and drain electrodes formed by amorphous semiconductor material providing rectifying contacts with said body, and a gate electrode adjacent to and insulated from said body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
175 words
An improved system for selectively addressing each element of an array of elements, said system including: a first set of address lines; a second set of address lines spaced from and crossing at an angle to said first set of address lines to form a plurality of crossover points therewith; each said crossover point being associated with a given one of said elements to be addressed; an isolation device associated with each said element to be addressed; and addressing circuitry coupled to said first and second sets of address lines for selectively applying addressing potentials to respective pairs of said first and second sets of address lines, said addressing circuitry including at least one integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor, said transistor comprising a silicon-germanium alloy body, said body having a structure more ordered than amorphous silicon-germanium semiconductor material and less ordered than single crystalline semiconductor material, source and drain electrodes formed by amorphous semiconductor material providing rectifying contacts with said body, and a gate electrode adjacent to and insulated from said body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said source and drain electrodes of said thin film field effect transistor are formed on said body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as defined in claim 17 wherein said source and drain electrodes are deposits of a doped semiconductor on said body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said amorphous semiconductor alloy includes silicon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 19 wherein said amorphous silicon alloy includes hydrogen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 19 wherein said amorphous silicon alloy includes fluorine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said body is p-type and said doped semiconductor is n-type.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system as defined in claim 22 wherein said doped semiconductor includes phosphorus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said body is n-type and said doped semiconductor is p-type.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said body of said thin film field effect transistor further includes hydrogen.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said body of said thin film field effect transistor further includes fluorine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said thin film field effect transistor further includes an insulative layer disposed between said gate electrode and said body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined in claim 27 wherein said insulative layer is formed from silicon oxide or silicon nitride.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said gate electrode of said thin film field effect transistor is formed from a metal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 29 wherein said metal is chromium or aluminum.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said isolation devices are thin film field effect transistors including amorphous semiconductor alloy materials.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said isolation devices and said addressing circuitry including said thin film field effect transistor are formed on a common substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-15 | 1990-12-15 | 1991-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-15 | 1994-12-15 | 1995-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-15 | 1998-12-15 | 1999-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |