Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/214,901, filed Aug. 22, 2011 entitled “BIPOLAR FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR STRUCTURES AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/792,083, filed Jun. 2, 2010 entitled “BIPOLAR/DUAL FET STRUCTURE HAVING FETS WITH ISOLATED CHANNELS”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/284,804, filed Sep. 24, 2008 entitled “BIPOLAR/DUAL FET STRUCTURE INCLUDING ENHANCEMENT AND DEPLETION MODE FETS WITH ISOLATED CHANNELS”, each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of semiconductor structures. More particularly, the invention relates to transistor semiconductor structures. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     By utilizing BiFET technology, bipolar transistors, such as heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs), and field effect transistors (FETs), such as enhancement-mode (E-mode) and depletion-mode (D-mode) FETs, can be integrated on the same semiconductor die to provide increased circuit design flexibility. In an integrated structure, a bipolar transistor, such as an HBT, an E-mode FET, and a D-mode FET can each be advantageously tailored for specific applications. For example, an HBT, a D-mode FET, and an E-mode FET can be integrated on a substrate, such as a semi-insulating gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate, to form a power amplifier, a bias circuit, and a radio frequency (RF) switch, respectively, for a communications device, such as a cell phone. However, previous attempts at integrating a bipolar transistor with E-mode and D-mode FETs on a substrate have undesirably affected the respective performances of the E-mode and D-mode FETs. 
     In one conventional approach, for example, an HBT can be formed over a substrate, such as a semi-insulating GaAs substrate, and E-mode and D-mode FETs can be integrated under the sub-collector of the HBT. However, in this conventional approach, the E-mode and D-mode FETs typically have shared epitaxial layers, which can undesirably affect the analog properties of the E-mode FET. Also, as a result of the shared epitaxial layers, coupling can occur between the E-mode and D-mode FETs, which can undesirably affect the RF switching performance of the D-mode FET. Thus, in the aforementioned conventional approach, the performance of the E-mode FET cannot be optimized without affecting the performance of the D-mode FET, and vice versa. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus that includes a substrate and a first epitaxial layer disposed over the substrate, the first epitaxial layer including at least a portion of a channel of a first field effect transistor (FET). The apparatus further includes a second epitaxial layer disposed over the first epitaxial layer and a third epitaxial layer disposed over the second epitaxial layer, the third epitaxial layer including at least a portion of a channel of a second FET. 
     In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of making a bipolar field effect transistor structure. The method includes forming a first epitaxial layer over a substrate, the first epitaxial layer including at least a portion of a channel of a first field effect transistor (FET). The method further includes forming a second epitaxial layer over the first epitaxial layer. The method further includes forming a third epitaxial layer over the second epitaxial layer, the third epitaxial layer including at least a portion of a channel of a second FET. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary bipolar/dual FET structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of exemplary enhancement-mode and depletion-mode FETs in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary bipolar/dual FET structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is directed to bipolar/dual FET structures including enhancement and depletion mode FETs with isolated channels. The following description contains specific information pertaining to the implementation of the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed in the present application. Moreover, some of the specific details of the invention are not discussed in order not to obscure the invention. The specific details not described in the present application are within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not drawn to scale. To maintain brevity, other embodiments of the invention which use the principles of the present invention are not specifically described in the present application and are not specifically illustrated by the present drawings. 
     As will be discussed in detail below, the present invention provides an innovative bipolar/dual FET structure including a bipolar transistor, such as a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), and E-mode and D-mode FETs, wherein the E-mode FET is isolated from the D-mode FET. Although an exemplary bipolar/dual FET structure comprising an exemplary NPN bipolar transistor, an exemplary E-mode NFET, and an exemplary D-mode NFET are used to illustrate the present invention, the present invention may also apply to bipolar/dual FET structure comprising a PNP bipolar transistor, an E-mode PFET, and a D-mode PFET. Also, although GaAs (gallium arsenide) is a semiconductor material that is utilized to illustrate the present invention, the present invention may also apply to other types of semiconductor material, such as indium phosphide (InP) or gallium nitride (GaN). 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor die including an exemplary bipolar/dual FET structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Certain details and features have been left out of  FIG. 1 , which are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. In  FIG. 1 , structure  100  includes bipolar/dual FET structure  102  on substrate  104 , which can be a semi-insulating GaAs substrate in one embodiment of the present invention. In other embodiments, substrate  104  can comprise indium phosphide, gallium nitride, or other type of semiconductor material. Bipolar/dual FET structure  102  includes bipolar transistor  106 , E-mode (enhancement-mode) FET  108 , and D-mode (depletion-mode) FET  110 . Bipolar transistor  106  includes sub-collector  112 , etch stop segment  114 , collector  116 , base  118 , emitter  120 , emitter contact  122 , etch stop segment  124 , and emitter cap  126 . Bipolar transistor  106  can comprise, for example, an NPN HBT. In one embodiment, bipolar transistor  106  may comprise a PNP HBT. 
     E-mode FET  108  includes back gate  128 , contact regions  130  and  132 , and channel  134 , which is a conductive channel and includes channel segments  136 ,  138 , and  140 . E-mode FET  108  can be, for example, an NFET. In one embodiment, E-mode FET  108  can be a PFET. E-mode FET  108  can comprise, for example, a heterostructure FET (HFET), such as a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) or a Pseudomorphic HEMT (PHEMT). In one embodiment, E-mode FET  108  can comprise a Metal-Semiconductor Semiconductor FET (MESFET). D-mode FET  110  includes contact regions  142  and  144  and channel  146 , which is a conductive channel and includes channel segment  148 . In one embodiment, channel  146  of D-mode FET  110  can comprise multiple channel segments. D-mode FET  110  can be, for example, an NFET. In one embodiment, D-mode FET  110  can be a PFET. D-mode FET  110  can comprise, for example, an HFET, such as a HEMT or PHEMT. In one embodiment, D-mode FET  110  can comprise a MESFET. Bipolar/Dual FET structure  102  also includes isolation regions and base, emitter, collector, source, drain, gate, and back gate contacts, which are not shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Bipolar/Dual FET structure  102  can be utilized in a wireless communication device, such as a cell phone, or other type of electronic device. Bipolar transistor  106  can be utilized, for example, as a power amplifier in a cell phone or other electronic device. E-mode FET  108  can be utilized, for example, in analog applications, such as bias and control applications, and can also be utilized in digital logic circuits. Although well suited for utilization in RF switching applications, D-mode FET  110  can also be utilized in digital logic circuits, for example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , epitaxial segment  111  and channel segment  148  are situated over substrate  104 . Epitaxial segment  111  and channel segment  148  each comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  150 , which can comprise, for example, GaAs in one embodiment. Channel segment  148  can be, for example, a conductive channel segment. In one embodiment, one or more buffer layers can be situated between channel segment  148  and substrate  104 . In one embodiment, channel segment  148  can comprise lightly doped N type GaAs. Epitaxial segment  111  and channel segment  148  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  150  over substrate  104  by using a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process, a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process or other deposition process and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  150 . Also shown in  FIG. 1 , sub-collector  112  is situated over a epitaxial segment  111  and contact regions  142  and  144  are situated over channel segment  148 . Sub-collector  112  and contact regions  142  and  144  each comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  152 , which can comprise, for example, heavily doped N type GaAs in one embodiment. Sub-collector  112  and contact regions  142  and  144  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  152  over epitaxial layer  150  by using a MOCVD process, an MBE process, or other deposition process and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  152 . 
     Further shown in  FIG. 1 , etch stop segment  114  is situated over sub-collector  112  and epitaxial segment  115  is situated over contact regions  142  and  144 . Etch stop segment  114  and epitaxial segment  115  each comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  154 , which can comprise, for example, indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) in one embodiment. Etch stop segment  114  and epitaxial segment  115  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  154  over epitaxial layer  152  by using a MOCVD process, an MBE process, or other deposition process and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  154 . Also shown in  FIG. 1 , collector  116  is situated over etch stop segment  114  and epitaxial segment  117  is situated over epitaxial segment  115 . Collector  116  and epitaxial segment  117  each comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  156 , which can comprise, for example, lightly doped N type GaAs in one embodiment. Collector  116  and epitaxial segment  117  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  156  over epitaxial layer  154  by using a MOCVD process, an MBE process, or other deposition process and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  156 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1 , base  118  is situated over collector  116  and back gate  128  is situated over epitaxial portion  117  of epitaxial layer  156 . Base  118  and back gate  128  each comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  158 , which can comprise, for example, heavily doped P type GaAs in one embodiment. Base  118  and back gate  128  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  158  over epitaxial layer  156  by using a MOCVD process, an MBE process, or other deposition process and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  158 . Further shown in  FIG. 1 , emitter  120  is situated over base  118  and channel segment  140  is situated over back gate  128 . Emitter  120  and channel segment  140  each comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  160 , which can comprise lightly doped N type InGaP in one embodiment. Emitter  120  and channel segment  140  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  160  over epitaxial layer  158  and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  160 . Channel segment  140  can be, for example, a conductive channel segment. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1 , emitter contact  122  is situated over emitter  120  and channel segment  138  is situated over channel segment  140 . Emitter contact  122  and channel segment  138  each comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  162 , which can comprise, for example, lightly doped N type GaAs in one embodiment. Emitter contact  122  and channel segment  138  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  162  over epitaxial layer  160  by using a MOCVD process, an MBE process, or other deposition process and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  162 . Channel segment  140  can be, for example, a conductive channel segment. Further shown in  FIG. 1 , etch stop segment  124  is situated over emitter contact  122  and channel segment  136  is situated over channel segment  138 . Etch stop segment  124  and channel segment  136  each comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  164 , which can comprise, for example, lightly doped N type InGaP in one embodiment. Etch stop segment  124  and channel segment  136  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  164  over epitaxial layer  162  by using a MOCVD process or other deposition process and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  164 . Channel segment  136  can be, for example, a conductive channel segment. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1 , emitter cap  126  is situated over etch stop segment  124  and contact regions  130  and  132  are situated over channel segment  136 . Emitter cap  126  and contact regions  130  and  132  each comprise portions of epitaxial layer  166 , which can comprise, for example, heavily doped N type GaAs in one embodiment. In one embodiment, epitaxial layer  166  can comprise heavily doped N type indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs). Emitter cap  126  and contact regions  130  and  132  can be formed, for example, by depositing epitaxial layer  166  over epitaxial layer  164  by using a MOCVD process, an MBE process, or other deposition process and appropriately patterning epitaxial layer  166 . 
     In bipolar/dual FET  102 , channel  134  of E-mode FET  108  is situated above and isolated from channel  146  of D-mode FET  110 , which electrically and physically decouples E-mode FET  108  from D-mode FET  110 . By decoupling E-mode FET  108  from D-mode FET  110 , E-mode FET  108  and D-mode FET  110  can each be independently optimized for a particular application. For example, E-mode FET  108  can be optimized for analog applications, such as bias and control applications. D-mode FET  110  can be optimized, for example, for RF switching applications. However, E-mode FET  108  and D-mode FET  110  can also be utilized in digital logic circuits, for example. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of exemplary E-mode and D-mode FETs situated over a substrate in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , E-mode FET  208  and D-mode FET  210  correspond, respectively, to E-mode FET  108  and D-mode FET  110  in bipolar/dual FET structure  102  in  FIG. 1 . In particular, epitaxial segments  215  and  217 , back gate  228 , contact regions  230 ,  232 ,  242 , and  244 , channels  234  and  246 , and channel segments  236 ,  238 ,  240 , and  248  in  FIG. 2  correspond, respectively, to epitaxial segments  115  and  117 , back gate  128 , contact regions  130 ,  132 ,  142 , and  144 , channels  134  and  146 , and channel segments  136 ,  138 ,  140 , and  148  in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , E-mode FET  208  includes back gate  228 , contact regions  230  and  232 , channel  234 , channel segments  236 ,  238 , and  240 , and respective back gate, source, gate, and drain contacts  272 ,  273 ,  274 , and  275 . D-mode FET  210  includes contact regions  242  and  244 , channel  246 , channel segment  248 , and respective source, gate, and drain contacts  276 ,  277 , and  278 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , E-mode FET  208  is situated between isolation regions  280  and  281  and D-mode FET  210  is situated between isolation regions  281  and  282 . Isolation regions  280 ,  281 , and  282  are non-conductive regions for providing electrical isolation between adjacent transistors. In one embodiment, isolation regions  280 ,  281 , and  282  can each comprise a implant-damage region. In such embodiment, isolation regions  280 ,  281 , and  282  can each be formed by utilizing an implant process to damage the epitaxial structure of a selected portion of epitaxial layers  150  and  152  in  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, isolations regions  280 ,  281 , and  282  can each comprise a trench filled with, for example, nitride, polyimide, or other dielectric material. In such embodiment, isolation regions  280 ,  281 , and  282  can each be formed by etching a trench in a selected portion of epitaxial layers  150  and  152  and filling the trench with a dielectric material, such as nitride or polyimide. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 2 , channel segment  248  is situated over substrate  204 , gate contact  277  and contact regions  242  and  244  are situated over channel segment  248 , source contact  276  is situated over contact region  242 , and drain contact  278  is situated over contact region  244 . Gate contact  277  can comprise a metal or metal stack, such as a metal stack comprising, for example, platinum-titanium-gold in one embodiment. Source contact  276  and drain contact  278  can be ohmic contacts and can comprise, for example, gold-nickel-germanium, palladium-germanium-gold, or other metal alloy. Gate contact  277  and source and drain contacts  276  and  278  can be formed, for example, by using a sputter process, an evaporation process, or other deposition process. 
     Further shown in  FIG. 2 , epitaxial segment  270  is situated over substrate  204  and epitaxial segment  271  is situated over epitaxial segment  270 . Epitaxial segment  270  can comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  150  in  FIG. 1  and epitaxial segment can comprise a portion of epitaxial layer  152  in  FIG. 1 . Also shown in  FIG. 2 , epitaxial segment  215  is situated over epitaxial segment  271 , epitaxial segment  217  is situated over epitaxial segment  215 , back gate  228  is situated over epitaxial segment  217 , and back gate contact  272  and channel segment  240  are situated on back gate  228 . Back gate contact  272  can comprise for example, titanium-platinum-gold, platinum-titanium-platinum-gold, or other metal alloy. Back gate contact  272  can be formed, for example, by using a sputter process, an evaporation process, or other deposition process. 
     Further shown in  FIG. 2 , channel segment  238  is situated over channel segment  240 , channel segment  236  is situated over channel segment  238 , contact regions  230  and  232  and gate contact  274  are situated over channel segment  236 , source contact  273  is situated over contact region  230 , and drain contact  275  is situated over contact region  232 . Gate contact  274  is substantially similar to gate contact  277  in composition and formation and source and drain contacts  273  and  275  are substantially similar to source and drain contacts  276  and  278  in composition and formation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , channel  246  of D-mode FET  210  is situated below channel  234  of E-mode FET  208  and isolation region  281  is situated between D-mode FET  210  and E-mode FET  208 . As a result, channel  246  of D-mode FET  210  is isolated from channel  234  of E-mode FET  208 , which advantageously decouples D-mode FET  210  from E-mode FET  208 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor die including an exemplary bipolar/dual FET structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Certain details and features have been left out of  FIG. 3 , which are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. In  FIG. 3 , structure  300  includes bipolar/dual FET structure  302  on substrate  304 . Structure  300  in  FIG. 3  corresponds to structure  100  in  FIG. 1 . In particular, bipolar transistor  306 , E-mode FET  308 , D-mode FET  310 , epitaxial segments  311 ,  315  and  317 , sub-collector  312 , etch stop segments  314  and  324 , collector  316 , base  318 , emitter  320 , emitter contact  322 , emitter cap  326 , back gate  328 , contact regions  330 ,  332 ,  342 , and  344 , channels  334  and  346 , channel segments  336 ,  338 ,  340 , and  348 , and epitaxial layers  350 ,  352 ,  354 ,  356 ,  358 ,  360 ,  362 ,  364 , and  366  in  FIG. 3  correspond, respectively, to bipolar transistor  106 , E-mode FET  108 , D-mode FET  110 , epitaxial segments  111 ,  115  and  117 , sub-collector  112 , etch stop segments  114  and  124 , collector  116 , base  118 , emitter  120 , emitter contact  122 , emitter cap  126 , back gate  128 , contact regions  130 ,  132 ,  142 , and  144 , channels  134  and  146 , channel segments  136 ,  138 ,  140 , and  148 , and epitaxial layers  150 ,  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  158 ,  160 ,  162 ,  164 , and  166  in  FIG. 1 . 
     Also, E-mode FET  308  and D-mode FET  310  in  FIG. 3  correspond, respectively, to E-mode FET  208  and D-mode FET  210  in  FIG. 2 . In particular, epitaxial segments  315 ,  317 ,  370 , and  371 , back gate  328 , contact regions  330 ,  332 ,  342 , and  344 , channels  334  and  346 , channel segments  336 ,  338 ,  340 , and  348 , source contacts  373  and  376 , gate contacts  374  and  377 , drain contacts  375  and  378 , and isolation regions  380 ,  381 , and  382  in  FIG. 3  correspond, respectively, to epitaxial segments  215 ,  217 ,  270 , and  271 , back gate  228 , contact regions  230 ,  232 ,  242 , and  244 , channels  234  and  246 , channel segments  236 ,  238 ,  240 , and  248 , source contacts  273  and  276 , gate contacts  274  and  277 , drain contacts  275  and  278 , and isolation regions  280 ,  281 , and  282  in  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , bipolar transistor  306 , which can comprise, for example, an HBT, is situated between isolation regions  379  and  380 , E-mode FET  308  is situated between isolation regions  380  and  381 , and D-mode FET  310  is situated between isolation regions  381  and  382 . Isolation regions  380 ,  381 , and  382  correspond, respectfully to isolation regions  280 ,  281 , and  282  in  FIG. 2 , and isolation region  279  is substantially similar in composition and formation to isolation regions  280 ,  281 , and  282 . Also shown in  FIG. 3 , epitaxial segment  311  is situated over substrate  304 , sub-collector  312  is situated over epitaxial layer  311  and etch stop segment  314  and collector contact  386  are situated over sub-collector  312 . Collector contact  386  is substantially similar in composition and formation to source contact  376  and drain contact  378 , which correspond, respectively, to source contact  276  and drain contact  278  in  FIG. 2 . 
     Further shown in  FIG. 3 , collector  316  is situated over etch stop segment  314 , base  318  is situated over collector  316  and emitter  320  and base contacts  384  and  385  are situated over base  318 . Base contacts  384  and  385  are substantially similar in composition and formation to back gate contact  372 , which corresponds to back gate contact  272  in  FIG. 2 . Also shown in  FIG. 3 , emitter contact  322  is situated over emitter  320 , etch stop segment  324  is situated over emitter contact  322 , emitter cap  326  is situated over etch stop segment  324  and emitter contact  383  is situated over emitter cap  326 . Emitter contact  383  is substantially similar in composition and formation to source contact  373  and drain contact  375 , which correspond, respectively, to source contact  273  and drain contact  275  in  FIG. 2 . 
     Further shown in  FIG. 3 , epitaxial segment  370  is situated over substrate  304 , epitaxial segment  371  is situated over epitaxial segment  370 , epitaxial segment  315  is situated over epitaxial segment  371 , epitaxial segment  317  is situated over epitaxial segment  315 , back gate  328  is situated over epitaxial segment  317 , and back gate contact  372  and channel segment  340  are situated over back gate  328 . Also shown in  FIG. 3 , channel segment  338  is situated over channel segment  340 , channel segment  336  is situated over channel segment  338 , contact regions  330  and  332  and gate contact  374  are situated over channel segment  336 , source contact  373  is situated over contact region  330 , and drain contact  375  is situated over contact region  332 . Further shown in  FIG. 3 , channel segment  348  is situated over substrate  304 , contact regions  342  and  344  and gate contact  377  are situated over channel segment  348 , source contact  376  is situated over contact region  342 , and drain contact  378  is situated over contact region  344 . 
     In bipolar/dual FET structure  302 , E-mode FET  308  can be controlled by gate contact  374  and/or back gate contact  372 . In one embodiment, E-mode FET  308  can be only controlled by gate contact  374 . In another embodiment, E-mode FET  308  can be only controlled by back gate contact  372 . In bipolar/dual FET structure  302 , channel  334  of E-mode FET is situated above base  318  of bipolar transistor  306  and channel  346  of D-mode FET  310  is situated below sub-collector  312  of bipolar transistor  306 . Thus, channel  346  of D-mode FET  310  is situated below channel  334  of E-mode FET  308 , which isolates channel  346  of D-mode FET  310  from channel  334  of the E-mode FET. Also, E-mode FET  308  is isolated from D-mode FET  310  by isolation region  381 . 
     By isolating channel  346  of D-mode FET  310  from channel  334  of E-mode FET  308  in bipolar/dual FET structure  302 , channel  346  of D-mode FET  310  is decoupled, both electrically and physically, from channel  334  of E-mode FET  308 . By decoupling channel  346  of D-mode FET  310  from channel  334  of E-mode FET  308 , D-mode FET  310  is decoupled from E-mode FET  308 . As a result, E-mode FET  308  and D-mode FET  310  can each be advantageously optimized for particular applications independently of each other. For example, E-mode FET  308  can be optimized for logic and analog control applications, while D-mode FET  310  can be optimized for RF switching applications. 
     In contrast, in a conventional structure having E-mode and D-mode FETs situated below a bipolar transistor sub-collector, the performance of the E-mode FET cannot be optimized without undesirably affecting the performance of the D-mode FET, and vice versa. Thus, by forming an E-mode FET over a D-mode FET, where the E-mode FET is decoupled from the D-mode FET, an embodiment of the invention provides a bipolar/dual FET structure having increased design flexibility compared to a conventional structure having E-mode and D-mode FETs situated under a bipolar transistor sub-collector. 
     Thus, as discussed above, an embodiment of the invention provides a bipolar/dual FET structure including an E-mode FET having a channel situated above a base of a bipolar transistor, such as an HBT, and a D-mode FET having a channel situated below a sub-collector of the bipolar transistor. As a result, an embodiment of the invention provides a bipolar/dual FET structure having an E-mode and D-mode FETs that are electrically and physically decoupled from each other, which advantageously enables the E-mode FET and the D-mode FET to be independently optimized for specific applications. As a result, the invention provides a bipolar/dual FET structure having increased design flexibility. 
     From the above description of embodiments of the present invention it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts of the present invention without departing from its scope. Moreover, while the present embodiments of the invention have been described with specific reference to certain embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Thus, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein but is capable of many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: h