A semiconductor device comprises a vertical power device, such as a superjunction MOSFET, an IGBT, a diode, and the like, and a surface device that comprises one or more lateral devices that are electrically active along a top surface of the semiconductor device.

A method for processing a semiconductor carrier is provided, the method including: providing a semiconductor carrier including a doped substrate region and a device region disposed over a first side of the doped substrate region, the device region including at least part of one or more electrical devices; and implanting ions into the doped substrate region to form a gettering region in the doped substrate region of the semiconductor carrier.

A switching device including: a body of semiconductor material, which has a first conductivity type and is delimited by a front surface; a contact layer of a first conductive material, which extends in contact with the front surface; and a plurality of buried regions, which have a second conductivity type and are arranged within the semiconductor body, at a distance from the contact layer.

In one embodiment, a group III-V transistor structure includes a heterostructure disposed on a semiconductor substrate. A first current carrying electrode and a second current carrying electrode are disposed adjacent a major surface of the heterostructure and a control electrode is disposed between the first and second current carrying electrode. A clamping device is integrated with the group III-V transistor structure and is electrically connected to the first current carrying electrode a third electrode to provide a secondary current path during, for example, an electrical stress event.

The present application teaches, inter alia, methods and circuits for operating a B-TRAN (double-base bidirectional bipolar junction transistor). Exemplary base drive circuits provide high-impedance drive to the base contact region on the side of the device instantaneously operating as the collector. (The B TRAN is controlled by applied voltage rather than applied current.) Current signals operate preferred implementations of drive circuits to provide diode-mode turn-on and pre-turnoff operation, as well as a hard ON state with low voltage drop (the transistor-ON state). In some preferred embodiments, self-synchronizing rectifier circuits provide adjustable low voltage for gate drive circuits. In some preferred embodiments, the base drive voltage used to drive the c-base region (on the collector side) is varied while base current at that terminal is monitored, so no more base current than necessary is applied. This solves the difficult challenge of optimizing base drive in a B-TRAN.

A symmetrically-bidirectional bipolar transistor circuit where the two base contact regions are clamped, through a low-voltage diode and a resistive element, to avoid bringing either emitter junction to forward bias. This avoids bipolar gain in the off state, and thereby avoids reduction of the withstand voltage due to bipolar gain.

A Schottky diode is formed on a silicon support. A non-doped GaN layer overlies the silicon support. An AlGaN layer overlies the non-doped GaN layer. A first metallization forming an ohmic contact and a second metallization forming a Schottky contact are provided in and on the AlGaN layer. First vias extend from the first metallization towards the silicon support. Second vias extend from the second metallization towards an upper surface.

A semiconductor device includes an interlayer insulating film in which first contact holes and second contact holes are provided. Each of the second contact holes has a width narrower than a width of the corresponding first contact hole. A contact plug is located in the corresponding second contact hole. An upper electrode layer is arranged on an upper surface of the interlayer insulating film, upper surfaces of the contact plugs, and inner surfaces of the first contact holes. The protective insulating film covers an upper surface of the external field. An end portion extending along a direction intersecting with the plurality of trenches of the protective insulating film extends through a range located above the plurality of the second contact holes. A pillar region is in contact with the upper electrode layer in the first contact hole.

A chip part includes a substrate, an element formed on the substrate, and an electrode formed on the substrate. A recess and/or projection expressing information related to the element is formed at a peripheral edge portion of the substrate.

A semiconductor device capable of inhibiting oxidation of a Cu wiring even in a high temperature operation. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a Cu electrode which is selectively formed on a side of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, an antioxidant film formed on an upper surface of the Cu electrode except an end portion thereof, an organic resin film which is formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and covers a side surface of the Cu electrode and the end portion of the upper surface thereof, and a diffusion prevention film formed between the organic resin film and the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and between the organic resin film and the side surface and the end portion of the upper surface of the Cu electrode, being in contact therewith.