In one aspect, a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) includes a Zener diode embedded in the SCR. In another aspect, a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) includes a Zener diode embedded in the LDMOS. In a further aspect, a lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a Zener diode embedded in the IGBT.

It is aimed to realize both of reserving a channel formation region and suppressing a latch-up. A semiconductor device is provided, including: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of trench portions provided at a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, each of which has a portion extending in an extending direction; and a first conductivity-type emitter region and a second conductivity-type contact region provided between adjacent two trench portions and exposed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate alternately in the extending direction, wherein on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, a length of the emitter region at a central position between the two trench portions is shorter than a length of the emitter region at portions contacting the trench portions, and on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, at least a part of a boundary of the emitter region has a curved shape.

A transient-voltage suppressing (TVS) device disposed on a semiconductor substrate including a low-side steering diode, a high-side steering diode integrated with a main Zener diode for suppressing a transient voltage. The low-side steering diode and the high-side steering diode integrated with the Zener diode are disposed in the semiconductor substrate and each constituting a vertical PN junction as vertical diodes in the semiconductor substrate whereby reducing a lateral area occupied by the TVS device. In an exemplary embodiment, the high-side steering diode and the Zener diode are vertically overlapped with each other for further reducing lateral areas occupied by the TVS device.

A vertically integrated semiconductor device in accordance with various embodiments may include: a first semiconducting layer; a second semiconducting layer disposed over the first semiconducting layer; a third semiconducting layer disposed over the second semiconducting layer; and an electrical bypass coupled between the first semiconducting layer and the second semiconducting layer.

An integrated circuit includes at least one input-output pad and a terminal intended to be connected to a source of a reference potential and further including a protection structure including a thyristor forward-connected between the pad and the terminal. The thyristor includes a first resistor between its cathode gate and the terminal. At least one Zener diode is disposed between the thyristor and the pad. The anode of the Zener diode is connected to the cathode gate of the thyristor and the cathode of the Zener diode is connected to the pad via at least one second resistor. The junction of the Zener diode is different from the junctions of the PNPN structure of the thyristor.

A transient voltage suppressing (TVS) device formed in an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type supported on a semiconductor substrate. The TVS device further comprises a plurality of contact trenches opened and extended to a lower part of the epitaxial layer filled with a doped polysilicon layer of a second conductivity type wherein the trenches are further surrounded by a heavy dopant region of the second conductivity type. The TVS device further includes a metal contact layer disposed on a top surface of the epitaxial layer electrically connected to a Vcc electrode wherein the metal contact layer further directly contacting the doped polysilicon layer and the heavy dopant region of the second conductivity type.

A thyristor is disclosed comprising: a first region of a first conductivity type; a second region of a second conductivity type and adjoining the first region; a third region of the first conductivity type and adjoining the second region; a fourth region of the second conductivity type and comprising a first segment and a second segment separate from the first segment, the first segment and second segment each adjoining the third region; a first contact adjoining the first region; a second contact adjoining the first segment; and a trigger contact adjoining the second segment and separate from the second contact.

A memory-array is disclosed in which an array of threshold switching devices is constructed having an area per transistor of 2F.sup.2. This array of threshold switching devices is suitable for a variety of memory or other applications including PRAM, MRAM, RRAM, FRAM, OPT-RAM and 3-D memory.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate doped with first conductivity-type impurities, a first well doped with second conductivity-type impurities different from the first conductivity-type impurities, first active regions in the first well, the first active regions being doped with the first conductivity-type impurities and connected to a first pad through a first interconnection, second active regions outside the first well, the second active regions being doped with the second conductivity-type impurities and connected to a second pad through a second interconnection, third active regions around the first active regions in the first well and doped with the second conductivity-type impurities, and fourth active regions around the second active regions outside the first well and doped with the first conductivity-type impurities, wherein at least one of the third active regions and at least one of the fourth active regions are electrically connected to each other through a third interconnection.