GaN-on-Silicon Substrate Patent Investigation - Knowmade & Yole See More Players on the Playground

GaN-on-Si Is Entering Production - About the Paptent Situation:
The growth of GaN-on-silicon substrate was first reported in the early-1970s (T. L. Chu et al., J. Electrochemical Society, Vol. 118, page 1200), since the early 1990s more and more academics and industrials have been involved in developing this technology. GaN-on-Si technology is now poised for a list of technical challenges. The high lattice mismatch between GaN and Si results in a high defect density in epitaxial layers (dislocations). The high thermal expansion coefficient (TCE) mismatch between GaN and Si leads to a large tensile stress during cooling from the growth temperature to room temperature. The tensile stress causes film cracking and a concave bending of the wafer (warpage). These factors combine to make both dislocation density and crack/warpage reduction a challenging task.

This patent investigation covers patents published worldwide up to December, 2013. The patents addressing the above mentioned challenges have been selected, and an in-depth analysis of patent holders and corresponding patented technologies is provided. This report does not include patents related to active layers or GaN-based devices.

Fundamental patents describing a gallium-nitride-based compound semiconductor grown on a silicon substrate were filed before the 1990s with the most significant assigned to TDK and Fujitsu. In the early 1990s, Toyoda Gosei and the University of Nagoya filed the first concepts of a buffer layer for improving the crystallinity of GaN. Those fundamental patents have been followed by an ever increasing number of applications since 1995 as more companies competed in GaN-on-Si technology to meet the technological challenges, the market demand and to lower manufacturing costs. Currently, the patented technologies reflect the significant improvements that have been made on key material issues such as dislocation density reduction and stress management for preventing cracks and warpage of the wafer. According to our analysis, GaN-on-Si IP is mature enough to initiate mass production.

Define a Patent Strategy with a Deep Patent Segmentation and Ueseful Patent Database:
Our search strategy combines automated and manual screenings that have led to the selection of more than 560 relevant patent families. Those have been manually segmented by type (epitaxial layer, layer transfer) and organized in various technology segments that are analyzed in detail: defect reduction (ELOG, pendeoepitaxy, nanomasking, defect selective passivation …), stress management (AlN-based interlayer, buffer engineering, patterned substrate, compliant substrate…), and type of buffer (Al-containing single layer, compositionally graded AlGaN, superlattices…). For each segment, the report provides a detailed analysis including the time evolution of patent filings, identification of the key players and collaboration networks. More than 60 key patents have been identified based on several indicators (family size, legal status, citations analysis, and impact in GaN-on-Si technology…).

An excel database with all patents analyzed is also included with the report. This database allows multi-criteria searches and includes; patent publication number, hyperlinks to the original documents, priority date, title, abstract, patent assignees, technological segments, and legal status for each member of the patent family.

Identify Key Players and Discover New IP Challenges:
More than 50 companies and academics are involved in GaN-on-Si IP, and most of the major GaN players are present in the list of the top patent applicants. Toyoda Gosei, Toshiba, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Nitronex, Soitec, and Azzurro have strong IP portfolios related to GaN-based epitaxial layers on Silicon. But Samsung, Dowa, LG, Sharp, and NGK Insulators are becoming major forces in the GaN-on-Si IP landscape. Soitec and Sumitomo lead patent filings related to GaN layer transfer on Si substrate.

The report provides a ranking and analysis of the relative strength of the top GaN-on-Si patent holders derived from their portfolio size, patent citations networks, countries of patent filings, and current legal status of patents. Based on this portfolio analysis, we have identified 15 major players that are profiled in this report. Each profile includes: a detailed portfolio summary with patenting activity, patented technologies, key patents, granted patents near expiration, partnerships, and IP strength and strategy.

About the Future for GaN-on-Si IP:
Today, there are only a few players selling either epiwafers or templates - or both - on the open market. The number of commercial GaN-on-Si device makers is also limited. Apart from a few noticeable IP collaborations (Nitronex / International Rectifier, Toshiba / Bridgelux, Soitec / Sumitomo, Macom (Nitronex)/IQE), the GaN-on-Si IP has not yet been widely used by companies as leverage to negotiate licensing and supply agreements. So far, only a few litigations have been observed. However, the existing IP covers all subjects related to the technical challenges, and these last 5 years we have witnessed a reinforcement of critical patent filings by major GaN players (Toshiba, Samsung, LG, Sharp, NGK, Sumitomo, Soitec, Azzurro and Dowa). Furthermore, the GaN-on-Si industry is beginning to take shape as evidenced by the recent interest of the RF/Power industrials for the GaN-on-Si technology (Nitronex acquired by MACOM) and the will of several firms to move onto the production stage (Toshiba, Samsung …). Therefore, the IP battle should be expected in the next 3 years.

Key Features of the Report:
•    GaN-on-Si substrate market data and forecasts
•    Analysis of key technology segments and patent assignees
•    Focus on key technology issues: defect reduction, stress management, buffer type, non-polar GaN, GaN on Si(001), layer transfer technology
•    IP collaboration network of main patent applicants
•    Matrix patent applicants/technology segments
•    Relative strength of main companies’ IP
•    Key patents and granted patents near expiration
•    “GaN-on-Si IP” profiles of 15 major companies with key patents, patented technologies, partnerships, and IP strength and strategy
•    Excel database with all patents analyzed in the report with technology segmentation

Objectives of the Report:
•    Provide an overview of GaN-on-Si market including main players, up to 2020 market volume and revenue forecast, and discussion on possible business models for the adoption of GaN-on-Si technology.
•    Review the GaN-on-Si technological challenges and known solutions.
•    Understand the IP landscape for GaN-on-Si.
•    Identify key patents by technology issues or patent assignee.
•    Understand trends in GaN-on-Si IP.
•    Identify the major players in GaN-on-Si IP and the relative strength of their patent portfolio.
•    Identify IP collaboration networks between key players (Toshiba, Samsung, Dowa, Mitsubishi, Toyoda Gosei, Nitronex, Azzurro, Soitec …).

Companies Cited in the Report (non-exhaustive list):
Academic Sinica, Advanced Optoelectronic Technology (AOT), Advanced Technology Materials (ATMI), Amberwave Systems, Aonex Technologies, Applied Materials, Arizona University, ASAHI, Azzurro, Bosh, Bridgelux, CEA, CNRS, Corenergy, Corning, Covalent Materials, Cree, Dowa, EpiGaN, Epistar, Formosa Epitaxy, Freescale, Fuji Electric, Furukawa, Hitachi, Honeywell, IMEC, Institute of Semiconductors (Chinese Academy of Sciences), IQE, International Rectifier, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)...

Bundle Offer:
In addition to the patent investigation, discover the applications, business and technologies trends linked to GaN-on-Si fields : get access to the GaN-on-Si patent investigation and to the GaN-on-Si: Substrate Technology and Market for LED and Power Electronics.
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