A depletion-mode current source having a saturation current of sufficient accuracy for use as a pre-charge circuit in a start-up circuit of an AC-to-DC power converter is fabricated using an enhancement-mode-only process. The depletion-mode current source can be fabricated on the same integrated circuit (IC) as a gallium nitride field-effect transistor (FET) and resistive and capacitive components used in the start-up circuit, without affecting the enhancement-mode-only fabrication process by requiring additional masks or materials, as would be required to fabricate a depletion-mode FET on the same IC as an enhancement-mode FET. The current source includes a resistive patterned two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) or two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) channel coupled between two terminals and one or more metal field plates extending from one of the terminals and overlying the patterned area of the channel, the field plates being separated from the channel and from each other by dielectric layers.

A depletion-mode current source having a saturation current of sufficient accuracy for use as a pre-charge circuit in a start-up circuit of an AC-to-DC power converter is fabricated using an enhancement-mode-only process. The depletion-mode current source can be fabricated on the same integrated circuit (IC) as a gallium nitride field-effect transistor (FET) and resistive and capacitive components used in the start-up circuit, without affecting the enhancement-mode-only fabrication process by requiring additional masks or materials, as would be required to fabricate a depletion-mode FET on the same IC as an enhancement-mode FET. The current source includes a resistive patterned two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) or two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) channel coupled between two terminals and one or more metal field plates extending from one of the terminals and overlying the patterned area of the channel, the field plates being separated from the channel and from each other by dielectric layers.

A field-effect transistor includes a gate electrode formed on an electron supply layer thereon, a source electrode and a drain electrode thereon; and also the field-effect transistor includes an insulation film for covering the electron supply layer, and an opening portion of the insulation film, having trapezoidal prism's oblique contour faces, being provided in a region to form the gate electrode in the insulation film. It is so arranged that the gate electrode is made to have a Schottky junction with respect to a region where the electron supply layer is exposed through the opening portion, and also that the trapezoidal prism's oblique contour faces each formed by the opening portion have inclination angles in a range from 25 degrees to 75 degrees with respect to a surface of the electron supply layer.

A field-effect transistor includes a gate electrode formed on an electron supply layer thereon, a source electrode and a drain electrode thereon; and also the field-effect transistor includes an insulation film for covering the electron supply layer, and an opening portion of the insulation film, having trapezoidal prism's oblique contour faces, being provided in a region to form the gate electrode in the insulation film. It is so arranged that the gate electrode is made to have a Schottky junction with respect to a region where the electron supply layer is exposed through the opening portion, and also that the trapezoidal prism's oblique contour faces each formed by the opening portion have inclination angles in a range from 25 degrees to 75 degrees with respect to a surface of the electron supply layer.

An integrated circuit structure comprises a silicon substrate and a III-nitride (III-N) substrate over the silicon substrate. A first III-N transistor and a second III-N transistor is on the III-N substrate. An insulator structure is formed in the III-N substrate between the first III-N transistor and the second III-N, wherein the insulator structure comprises one of: a shallow trench filled with an oxide, nitride or low-K dielectric; or a first gap adjacent to the first III-N transistor and a second gap adjacent to the second III-N transistor.

An integrated circuit structure comprises a silicon substrate and a III-nitride (III-N) substrate over the silicon substrate. A first III-N transistor and a second III-N transistor is on the III-N substrate. An insulator structure is formed in the III-N substrate between the first III-N transistor and the second III-N, wherein the insulator structure comprises one of: a shallow trench filled with an oxide, nitride or low-K dielectric; or a first gap adjacent to the first III-N transistor and a second gap adjacent to the second III-N transistor.

Disclosed herein are IC structures, packages, and devices that include III-N transistor-based cascode arrangements that may simultaneously realize enhancement mode transistor operation and high voltage capability. In one aspect, an IC structure includes a source region, a drain region, an enhancement mode III-N transistor, and a depletion mode III-N transistor, where each of the transistors includes a first and a second source or drain (S/D) terminals. The transistors are arranged in a cascode arrangement in that the first S/D terminal of the enhancement mode III-N transistor is coupled to the source region, the second S/D terminal of the enhancement mode III-N transistor is coupled to the first S/D terminal of the depletion mode III-N transistor, and the second S/D terminal of the depletion mode III-N transistor is coupled to the drain region.

Disclosed herein are IC structures, packages, and devices that include III-N transistor-based cascode arrangements that may simultaneously realize enhancement mode transistor operation and high voltage capability. In one aspect, an IC structure includes a source region, a drain region, an enhancement mode III-N transistor, and a depletion mode III-N transistor, where each of the transistors includes a first and a second source or drain (S/D) terminals. The transistors are arranged in a cascode arrangement in that the first S/D terminal of the enhancement mode III-N transistor is coupled to the source region, the second S/D terminal of the enhancement mode III-N transistor is coupled to the first S/D terminal of the depletion mode III-N transistor, and the second S/D terminal of the depletion mode III-N transistor is coupled to the drain region.

An electronic device including semiconductor region located on a gallium nitride layer, two electrodes, located on either side of and insulated from the semiconductor region, the electrodes partially penetrating into the gallium nitride layer, and two lateral MOS transistors formed inside and on top of the semiconductor region.

Provided are a nitride semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. The nitride semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first nitride semiconductor layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer and a dielectric layer. The first nitride semiconductor layer is disposed on the substrate. The second nitride semiconductor layer is disposed on the first nitride semiconductor layer. The first metal layer is disposed in the second nitride semiconductor layer. The second metal layer is disposed on the second nitride semiconductor layer. The dielectric layer is disposed between the first metal layer and the second nitride semiconductor layer and/or between the second metal layer and the second nitride semiconductor layer.