Patent Application
20210313453
Not applicable.
The present disclosure relates, in general, to electronics and, more particularly, to semiconductor device structures and methods of forming semiconductor devices.
Prior semiconductor devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices are inadequate, for example resulting in excess cost, decreased reliability, relatively low performance, or dimensions that are too large. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with the present disclosure and reference to the drawings.
The following discussion provides various examples of semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices. Such examples are non-limiting, and the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the particular examples disclosed. In the following discussion, the terms “example” and “e.g.” are non-limiting.
For simplicity and clarity of the illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the same reference numbers in different figures denote the same elements. Additionally, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description.
For clarity of the drawings, certain regions of device structures, such as doped regions or dielectric regions, may be illustrated as having generally straight line edges and precise angular corners. However, those skilled in the art understand that, due to the diffusion and activation of dopants or formation of layers, the edges of such regions generally may not be straight lines and that the corners may not be precise angles.
Although the semiconductor devices are explained herein as certain N-type regions and certain P-type regions, a person of ordinary skill in the art understands that the conductivity types can be reversed and are also possible in accordance with the present description, taking into account any necessary polarity reversal of voltages, inversion of transistor type and/or current direction, etc.
In addition, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
As used herein, “current-carrying electrode” means an element of a device that carries current through the device, such as a source or a drain of an MOS transistor, an emitter or a collector of a bipolar transistor, or a cathode or anode of a diode, and a “control electrode” means an element of the device that controls current through the device, such as a gate of a MOS transistor or a base of a bipolar transistor.
The term “major surface” when used in conjunction with a semiconductor region, wafer, or substrate means the surface of the semiconductor region, wafer, or substrate that forms an interface with another material, such as a dielectric, an insulator, a conductor, or a polycrystalline semiconductor. The major surface can have a topography that changes in the x, y and z directions.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and/or “including”, when used in this description, are open ended terms that specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The term “or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “or”. As an example, “x or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, “x, y, or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}.
Although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various members, elements, regions, layers and/or sections, these members, elements, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one member, element, region, layer and/or section from another. Thus, for example, a first member, a first element, a first region, a first layer and/or a first section discussed below could be termed a second member, a second element, a second region, a second layer and/or a second section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that words, “during”, “while”, and “when” as used herein related to circuit operation are not exact terms that mean an action takes place instantly upon an initiating action but that there may be some small but reasonable delay, such as propagation delay, between the reaction that is initiated by the initial action. Additionally, the term “while” means a certain action occurs at least within some portion of a duration of the initiating action.
The use of word “about”, “approximately”, or “substantially” means a value of an element is expected to be close to a state value or position. However, as is well known in the art there are always minor variances preventing values or positions from being exactly stated.
Unless specified otherwise, as used herein, the word “over” or “on” includes orientations, placements, or relations where the specified elements can be in direct or indirect physical contact.
Unless specified otherwise, as used herein, the word “overlapping” includes orientations, placements, or relations where the specified elements can at least partly or wholly coincide or align in the same or different planes.
It is further understood that the examples illustrated and described hereinafter suitably may have examples and/or may be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein.
In certain high voltage structures, such as ultrafast, PiN, and JBS rectifiers, conductivity modulation can be achieved by minority carrier injection in the forward direction or on state, which can lower the forward voltage (Vf). However, when such devices switch to the off state, additional recovery time is required to remove the stored charge resulting from the minority carrier injection. In general, the larger the stored charge (Qrr), the longer the recovery time (trr) to remove the stored charge. To compensate, previous devices have used certain lifetime control techniques, such as electron beam irradiation or platinum doping. However, such processes can result in what is termed as snappy reverse characteristics, which can be detrimental to system performance. Additionally, such lifetime control techniques require additional process steps that add manufacturing cost and increased cycle time, and present potential contamination issues within wafer fabrication facilities.
In general, the present examples relate to a semiconductor device and methods having improved control of conductivity modulation within the semiconductor device to improve, among other things, switching performance. The semiconductor device includes an active device region with remote gate contact regions disposed in the active device region. The remote gate contact regions are configured to control the amount of minor carrier injection thereby improving switching characteristics in a cost effect manner. The remote gate contacts are used in combination with several different trench gate structure examples to provide additional degrees of design freedom for controlling conductivity modulation. In some examples, additional lifetime control techniques can be included with the present examples, including, for example, electron beam irradiation or platinum doping. For example, additional lifetime control can be used for higher voltage devices (e.g., greater than about 300 volts) to achieve optimal tradeoffs between Vf and Qrr.
More particularly, in one example, a semiconductor device structure comprises a region of semiconductor material comprising a first conductivity type, a first major surface, and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface. A first trench gate structure includes a first trench extending from the first major surface into the region of semiconductor material, a first dielectric structure is over sidewall surfaces and a portion of a lower surface of the first trench, wherein the first dielectric structure comprises a first opening adjacent to the lower surface of the first trench, a first recessed contact extends through the first opening, and a first contact region is over the first recessed contact within the first trench, wherein the first recessed contact and the first contact region comprise different materials. A first doped region comprising a second dopant conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type is in the region of semiconductor material and is spaced apart from the first major surface and below the first trench. A gate contact region is in the region of semiconductor material and is electrically connected to the first doped region.
In an example, a semiconductor device structure comprises a region of semiconductor material comprising an active region, a first conductivity type, a first major surface, and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface. Trench gate structures comprise trenches extending from the first major surface into the region of semiconductor material, first dielectric structures are over sidewall surfaces and a portion of a lower surface of each trench, wherein each first dielectric structure comprises an opening adjacent to the lower surface, recessed contacts extend through the openings, and first contact regions are over the recessed contacts within the trenches, wherein the recessed contacts and the first contact regions comprise different materials. Doped regions comprising a second dopant conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type are in the region of semiconductor material spaced apart from the first major surface and below the trenches. Gate contact regions are in the active region of region of semiconductor material electrically coupled to the doped regions, wherein first portions of the recessed contacts are electrically decoupled from the doped regions.
In an example, a method for forming semiconductor device structure comprises providing a region of semiconductor material comprising an active region, a first conductivity type, a first major surface, and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface. The method includes providing trench gate structures comprising trenches extending from the first major surface into the region of semiconductor material, first dielectric structures over sidewall surfaces and a portion of a lower surface of each trench, wherein each first dielectric structure comprises an opening adjacent to the lower surface, recessed contacts extending through the openings, and first contact regions over the recessed contacts within the trenches, wherein the recessed contacts and the first contact regions comprise different materials. The method includes providing doped regions comprising a second dopant conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type are in the region of semiconductor material spaced apart from the first major surface and below the trenches. The method includes providing gate contact regions in the active region of region of semiconductor material electrically coupled to the doped regions, wherein first portions of the recessed contacts are electrically decoupled from the doped regions.
In some examples, region of semiconductor material 11 further includes a semiconductor layer 14, doped region 14, doped layer 14, or doped layers 14, which can be formed in, on, or overlying substrate 12. In one example, semiconductor layer 14 can be an N-type conductivity region or layer when substrate 12 is N-type conductivity, and can be formed using epitaxial growth techniques, ion implantation and diffusion techniques, or other techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In other examples, semiconductor layer 14 can be P-type conductivity. In one example, semiconductor layer 14 includes major surface 18 of region of semiconductor material 11. It is understood that region of semiconductor material 11, semiconductor substrate 12, and/or semiconductor layer 14 can include other types of materials including, but not limited to, heterojunction semiconductor materials, and semiconductor substrate 12 and semiconductor layer 14 can each include different materials. Such materials can include SiGe, SiGeC, SiC, GaN, AlGaN, and other similar materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
In some examples, semiconductor layer 14 has a dopant concentration that is less than the dopant concentration of substrate 12. The dopant concentration and/or dopant profile of semiconductor layer 14 can be selected to provide a desired breakdown voltage and a desired forward voltage drop for semiconductor device 10. In some examples, semiconductor layer 14 can have a dopant profile that changes over its depth inward from major surface 18. Such profiles can include, but are not limited to profiles that have a first dopant concentration in a region 14A of semiconductor layer 14 proximate to major surface 18, a second dopant concentration in a region 14B at a first depth from major surface 18, a third dopant concentration in a region 14C at a second depth from major surface 18, and a fourth dopant concentration in a region 14D at a third depth from major surface 18. In some examples, the second dopant concentration can be greater than first, third, and fourth dopant concentrations. In some examples, the first dopant concentration can be greater than the third dopant concentration. In some examples, the fourth dopant concentration can be greater than the third dopant concentration. In other examples, one or more of the first, second, third, or fourth dopant concentrations can change over the depth of their respective regions 14A-14D. Such changes can include linear and non-linear profiles over the respective regions 14A-14D.
In the present example, trench gate structures 13 can include active trenches 23, dielectric structure 222, dielectric spacers 224, recessed contacts 227, contact regions 261, and conductive layer 44. In accordance with the present description, semiconductor device 10 includes doped region 226 disposed below or proximate to a lower surface of active trench 23. In some examples, recessed contacts 227 are electrically connected to doped regions 226.
Active trenches 23 extend from major surface 18 into portions of region of semiconductor material 11. In some examples, active trenches 23 can be laterally spaced apart from each other with other portions of region of semiconductor material 11 interposed between adjacent active trenches 23. Such other portions of region of semiconductor material 11 can be referred to as mesa regions, which can be bounded on at least two sides by trench gate structures 13.
In one example, active trenches 23 can extend from major surface 18 into semiconductor layer 14 towards semiconductor substrate 12. In some examples, active trenches 23 can extend into semiconductor substrate 12. In other examples, active trenches 23 can terminate within semiconductor layer 14 thereby leaving a portion of semiconductor layer 14 interposed between lower surfaces of active trenches 23 and semiconductor substrate 12. In the present example, active trenches 23 have a width 23A proximate to major surface 18 in a range from approximately 0.1 microns to approximately 2.0 microns. In addition, active trenches 23 can have the same or different depths with respect to each other.
Active trenches 23 can be formed using photolithographic masking and material removal steps. For example, active trenches 23 can be etched using plasma etching techniques with a fluorocarbon chemistry or a fluorinated chemistry (for example, SF6/O2) or other chemistries or removal techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Wet etchants can also be used to form active trenches 23 alone or in combination with other removal techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Dielectric structure 222, which can also be referred to as a dielectric region or a gate dielectric layer, is disposed adjoining sidewall surfaces and lower surfaces of active trenches 23. Dielectric structure 222 defines surfaces of active trenches 23 including a lower surface 230 of active trenches 23. It is understood that lower surfaces 230 may not be flat, and instead, can have other shapes including, but not limited to curved, rounded, partially-curved, or partially-rounded shapes. In one example, dielectric structure 222 comprises a combination of dry and wet oxides having a thickness in a range from approximately 0.01 microns to approximately 1.5 microns. In other examples, dielectric structure 222 can comprise a nitride, tantalum pentoxide, titanium dioxide, barium strontium titanate, high k dielectric materials, combinations thereof, or other related or equivalent materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Dielectric structure 222 can comprise more than one layer with each layer comprising the same or different materials provided by the same or different processes.
In some examples, dielectric spacers 224 can be disposed adjoining sidewall surfaces and a portions of lower surfaces of dielectric structure 222. An opening 225 extends between dielectric spacers 224 and through a portion of dielectric structure 222 to provide passage to a portion of semiconductor layer 14. Dielectric spacers 224 can comprise oxides, nitrides, and other materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art, or combinations thereof. Dielectric spacers 224 can be formed using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) processes or low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) processes and removal techniques. Such removal techniques can include anisotropic etching techniques.
Doped regions 226 are disposed adjacent to lower surfaces 230 of active trenches 23. In some examples, doped regions 226 comprise a P-type conductivity when semiconductor layer 14 comprises N-type conductivity. In some examples, doped regions 226 can be formed using ion implantation and anneal processes, chemical vapor deposition processes, diffusion processes, spin-on doping processes, or other processes as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In the present example, doped regions 226 can extend at least partially laterally along the lateral dimension of active trenches 23. In some examples, doped regions 226 under each active trench 23 are connected together within semiconductor layer 14 or external to semiconductor layer 14. In other examples, doped region 226 can be discrete striped regions. In some examples, doped regions 226 can be laterally inset with respect to the side surfaces of active trenches 23 as illustrated in
Recessed contacts 227, which can also referred to as pedestal contacts, are disposed adjacent to the lower surface of active trenches 23 and connected to doped regions 226 through opening 225. In some examples, recessed contacts 227 comprise a doped polycrystalline semiconductor material, such as doped polysilicon. In some examples, recessed contacts 227 have the same conductivity type as doped region 226 (P-type conductivity in the present example). In some examples, recessed contacts 227 are undoped or lightly doped P-type conductivity. In some examples, undoped refers to an as formed layer that is not intentionally exposed to dopants during the deposition process or after the layer is formed. In some examples, undoped means an intrinsic semiconductor layer. In some examples, lightly doped means a dopant concentration less than about 1.0×1018 atoms/cm3. In some examples, lightly doped means a dopant concentration less than about 1.0×1017 atoms/cm3. In some examples, lightly doped means a dopant concentration less than about 1.0×1016 atoms/cm3. In some examples, lightly doped a dopant concentration that provides a non-ohmic contact. Recessed contacts 227 can be formed using CVD, LPCVD, PECVD, atomic layer deposition (ALD), or other deposition processes as known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and can be doped in-situ or separately using, for example, ion implantation and anneal processes. The deposited material can then be etched back to leave a portion of the deposited material within active trenches 23 to provide recessed contacts 227.
In some examples, contact regions 261 comprise a conductive material, such as one or more metals. In the present example, semiconductor device 10 further comprises contact regions 26 disposed adjacent to major surface 18 between trench gate structures 13. In some examples, contact regions 26 comprise a material configured to provide a Schottky barrier structure with region of semiconductor material 11. Such materials can include platinum, nickel-platinum (with various platinum atomic weight percentages, for example, from approximately 1% to approximately 80%, with 5% being selected in some examples), titanium, titanium-tungsten, chromium, and/or other materials capable of forming a Schottky barrier as known to those skilled in the art.
In some example, contact regions 261 are provided within active trenches 23 adjacent to recessed contacts 227. In some examples, contact regions 261 can comprise a material configured to provide a Schottky barrier structure with recessed contacts 227, and can be similar or different materials than contact regions 26. Sputtering, evaporation, CVD, or other processes as known to one of ordinary skill in the art can be used to form contact regions 26 and 261. The deposited materials can be annealed to form a silicide and any unreacted material can be removed to provide contact regions 26 or 261.
Recessed contacts 227 provide a benefit because recessed contacts 227 move contact regions 261 upward and away from the lower surface of active trenches 23 adjacent to doped regions 226 thereby reducing edge effects, such as leakage effects. In addition, the dopant concentration of recessed contacts 227 can provide a degree of design freedom in controlling conductivity modulation of semiconductor device 10.
In some examples, conductive layer 44 is disposed within active trenches 23 and is connected to doped regions 226 through contact regions 261 and recessed contacts 227. In some examples, conductive layer 44 extends to overlap contact regions 26 as generally illustrated in
In some examples, conductive layer 44 can be titanium/titanium-nitride/aluminum-copper or other related or equivalent materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In some examples, conductive layer 46 can be a solderable metal structure such as titanium-nickel-silver, chromium-nickel-gold, or other related or equivalent materials known by those skilled in the art. Conductive layers 44 and 46 can be formed using sputtering, evaporation, plating, CVD, or other deposition techniques. Conductive layer 44 can be patterned using, for example, photolithographic and etch techniques.
As illustrated in
In accordance with the present description, gate contact structures 51 are configured to provide selective conductivity modulation for semiconductor device 10. More particularly, gate contact structures 51 are configured to inject a lateral flow of minority carriers through doped regions 226 into semiconductor layer 14 during a forward bias operation to improve forward conduction, and are further configured to act as remote collector regions for collecting residual minority carriers or stored charge (Qrr) within semiconductor layer 14 when semiconductor device 10 is switched to an off-state. As a result, this improves recovery time (trr) and reduces switching losses.
As illustrated in
A partial cross-sectional view of semiconductor device 10 with gate contact region 51B is illustrated in
A partial cross-sectional view of semiconductor device 10 with gate contact region 51C is illustrated in
In semiconductor device 60, two configurations of trench gate structures designated as trench gate structures 13A and 13B are illustrated. Similar to trench gate structures 13, trench gate structures 13A use contact regions 261. Trench gate structure 13B illustrates an alternative embodiment using a contact region 271, which comprises a material different than that used for contact regions 26 and 261. In some examples, contact region 271 can comprise a different Schottky material than contact regions 26. In some example, contact region 271 can comprise titanium silicide and contact regions 26 can comprise nickel-platinum silicide. This difference in material provides an additional degree of design freedom for semiconductor device 60.
Trench structures 13A and 13B are different than gate structures 13 in that they further comprise a dielectric liner 62 disposed between dielectric spacers 224, contact regions 261/271 and conductive layer 44. That is, dielectric liners 62 can be provided to electrically insulate contact regions 261/271 from conductive layer 44 in discrete locations within trench 23, or dielectric liners 62 can electrically insulate contact regions 261/271 from conductive layer 44 continuously within trenches 23 between gate contact regions 51. In this latter configuration, gate contact regions 51 provide the only electrical contact to doped regions 226. Dielectric liners 62 provide another degree of design freedom. In some examples, dielectric liners 62 can comprise an oxide, a nitride, other insulating materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art, or combinations thereof. Dielectric liners 62 can be formed using oxidation, CVD, LPCVD, PECVD, or other processes as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
In semiconductor device 60, doped regions 226 are illustrates as laterally wider than doped regions 226 illustrated with semiconductor device 10. In some examples, doped regions 226 can have substantially the same width as trenches 23 as illustrated with trench structures 13A. In other examples, doped regions 226 can be wider than trenches 23 as illustrated with trench gate structure 13B. It is understood that the multi-region semiconductor layer 14 of semiconductor device 10 can be used with semiconductor device 60 as well as any of the semiconductor devices described herein.
In semiconductor device 70, trench gate structures 13C include contact regions 271 as described previously. In addition, trench gate structures 13C include conductive regions 72 disposed within trenches 23. In some examples, conductive regions 72 can be substantially co-planar with major surface 18 of region of semiconductor material 11. In other examples, conductive regions 72 can be recessed within trenches 23 below major surface 18. In further examples, conductive regions 72 can extend out of trenches 23 above major surface 18. In some examples, conductive regions 72 can comprise polycrystalline semiconductor material, such as polysilicon and can be highly doped, lightly doped, or non-doped to provide another degree of design freedom. Processes, such as CVD, LPCVD, PECVD, other deposition processes can be used to provide conductive regions 72 together with planarization and patterning processes. When conductive regions 72 comprise polycrystalline semiconductor material, contact regions 26 can be provided above conductive regions 72 as illustrated in
In some examples, portion 510A has a side surface 510A1 and portion 510C has a side surface 510C1 that slope at an angle from, or are tapered with respect to, major surface 18. As illustrated in
Portion 510C of gate contact structure 510 forms a lateral PN junction with semiconductor layer 14 proximate to trench gate structure 13. The lateral PN junction can be spaced a distance 511 from trench gate structure 13. The lateral PN junction and distance 511 provide additional degrees of design freedom. For example, the lateral PN junction assists in suppressing leakage by pinching of the Schottky surface by a lateral depletion effect in selected regions where portion 510C is located. Additionally, the lateral PN junction can increase and thereby improve contact between conductive layer 44 and gate contact structure 510, which can further improve Vf and Qrr performance. Anode metal for both sides of the deep remote P that would aid in better Vf/Switching control.
Gate contact structure 251A is similar to gate contact structure 51, which makes contact with contact region 26 proximate to or adjoining major surface 18. Gate contact 251B is an example that further comprises a surface enhancement region 252 provided proximate to major surface 18. Surface enhancement region 252 comprises a P-type conductivity, and in some examples has a higher dopant concentration than gate contact region 251B. Gate contact structure 251C is an example of a gate contact structure that recessed below major surface 18. In some examples, contact region 26 makes contact to gate contact region 251C below major surface 18.
In some examples, trench gate structure 13I comprises active trench 23, dielectric structure 222, dielectric spacers 224, recessed contact 227, and contact region 261. In accordance with the present description, a recess 2260 is formed within doped region 226 below trench 23 so that recessed contact 227 extends into doped region 226 as generally illustrated in
In some examples, trench gate structure 13J comprises active trench 23, dielectric structure 222, dielectric spacers 224, recessed contact 227, and contact region 261. In addition, trench gate structure 13J comprises recess 2260, which is filled with a dielectric structure 292 that electrically isolates recessed contact 227 from doped region 226. Dielectric structure 292 can comprise materials similar to dielectric structure 92 described previously. In some examples, dielectric structure 292 can extend the length of trench 23 between gate contact structures 51. In other examples, multiple dielectric structures 292 can be used and interspersed within active trench 23. That is, dielectric structures 292 can be combined with recessed contacts 227 as described with trench gate structure 13I within an active trench 23. In other examples, one active trench can be configured one way and another active trench can be configured a different way. This provides additional degrees of design freedom for conductivity modulation.
In some examples, trench gate structure 13K comprises active trench 23, dielectric structure 222, dielectric spacers 224, recessed contact 227, and contact region 261. In addition, trench gate structure 13K comprises recess 2260. In the present example, a dielectric structure 392 lines sidewall and lower surfaces of recess 2260 to electrically isolate recessed contact 227 from doped region 226, Dielectric structure 392 can comprise materials similar to dielectric structure 92 described previously. In some examples, dielectric structure 392 can extend the length of trench 23 between gate contact structures 51. In other examples, multiple dielectric structures 392 can be used and interspersed within active trench 23. That is, dielectric structures 392 can be combined with recessed contacts 227 as described with trench gate structure 13I within an active trench 23. In other examples, one active trench can be configured one way and another active trench can be configured a different way. This provides additional degrees of design freedom for conductivity modulation.
In some examples, semiconductor device 300 can include one or more contact regions 265, which are recessed inward into semiconductor layer 14 from major surface 18.
It is understood that any of the gate contact structure and the trench gate structures described herein can be included and/or excluded to provide other semiconductor device configurations.
In view of all of the above, it is evident that a novel structure is disclosed. Included, among other features, is a semiconductor device having trench gate structures with doped regions formed below the trench gate structures. Remote gate contact structures provide electrical connection to the doped regions. The remote gate contact structures provide a means for conductivity modulation during device operation to improve forward operating performance and switching characteristics. In some examples, one or more of the trench gate structures may provide contact to the doped region within the active trenches as described herein to provide additional degrees of design freedom. In some examples, the remote contact structures can surround portions of more than one of the trench gate structures.
While the subject matter of the invention is described with specific preferred examples, the foregoing drawings and descriptions thereof depict only typical examples of the subject matter, and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope. It is evident that many alternatives and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
As the claims hereinafter reflect, inventive aspects may lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed example. Thus, the hereinafter expressed claims are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of the Drawings, with each claim standing on its own as a separate example of the invention. Furthermore, while some examples described herein include some but not other features included in other examples, combinations of features of different examples are meant to be within the scope of the invention and meant to form different examples as would be understood by those skilled in the art.
