A reverse conducting power semiconductor device includes a plurality of thyristor cells and a freewheeling diode are integrated in a semiconductor wafer. The freewheeling diode includes a diode anode layer, a diode anode electrode, a diode cathode layer, and a diode cathode electrode. The diode cathode layer includes diode cathode layer segments, each of which is stripe-shaped and arranged within a corresponding stripe-shaped first diode anode layer segment such that a longitudinal main axis of each diode cathode layer segment extends along the longitudinal main axis of the corresponding one of the first diode anode layer segments.

A semiconductor device includes a first conductive line and a second conductive line spaced apart from the first conductive line. A semiconductor pattern is disposed between the first conductive line and the second conductive line. The semiconductor pattern includes a first semiconductor pattern having first-conductivity-type impurities disposed adjacent to the first conductive line. A second semiconductor pattern having second-conductivity-type impurities is disposed adjacent to the second conductive line. A third semiconductor pattern is disposed between the first semiconductor pattern and the second semiconductor pattern. The third semiconductor pattern includes a first region disposed adjacent to the first semiconductor pattern and a second region disposed between the first region and the second semiconductor pattern. At least one of the first region and the second region comprises an intrinsic semiconductor layer. A first gate line crosses the first region and a second gate line crosses the second region.

A semiconductor device includes a first conductive line and a second conductive line spaced apart from the first conductive line. A semiconductor pattern is disposed between the first conductive line and the second conductive line. The semiconductor pattern includes a first semiconductor pattern having first-conductivity-type impurities disposed adjacent to the first conductive line. A second semiconductor pattern having second-conductivity-type impurities is disposed adjacent to the second conductive line. A third semiconductor pattern is disposed between the first semiconductor pattern and the second semiconductor pattern. The third semiconductor pattern includes a first region disposed adjacent to the first semiconductor pattern and a second region disposed between the first region and the second semiconductor pattern. At least one of the first region and the second region comprises an intrinsic semiconductor layer. A first gate line crosses the first region and a second gate line crosses the second region.

An electronic circuit includes a first electronic component formed above a buried insulating layer of a substrate and a second electronic component formed under the buried insulating layer. The insulating layer is thoroughly crossed by a semiconductor well. The semiconductor well electrically couples a terminal of the first electronic component to a terminal of the second electronic component.

Disclosed is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit may include a silicon controller rectifier (SCR) which may be triggered via at least one of its first trigger gate or second trigger gate. The ESD protection circuit may further include a highly doped region coupled to either the anode or cathode of the SCR, wherein the highly doped region may provide additional carriers to facilitate triggering of the SCR during an ESD event, whereby the SCR may be triggered more quickly.

A semiconductor switch control device includes a first FET and a second FET arranged adjacent to each other, in which source terminals are connected in series. A drain terminal of the first FET is connected to a high voltage battery, and a drain terminal of the second FET is connected to a high voltage load. A controller determines a temperature state of a minus-side main relay including the second FET based on a forward voltage of a body diode of the first FET.

A semiconductor switch control device includes a first FET and a second FET arranged adjacent to each other, in which source terminals are connected in series. A drain terminal of the first FET is connected to a high voltage battery, and a drain terminal of the second FET is connected to a high voltage load. A controller determines a temperature state of a minus-side main relay including the second FET based on a forward voltage of a body diode of the first FET.

A method for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer comprising a silicon carbide substrate and a silicon carbide voltage-blocking-layer, the method includes: epitaxially growing a buffer layer on the substrate, doping a main dopant for determining a conductivity type of the buffer layer and doping an auxiliary dopant for capturing minority carriers in the buffer layer at a doping concentration less than the doping concentration of the main dopant, so that the buffer layer enhances capturing and extinction of the minority carriers, the minority carriers flowing in a direction from the voltage-blocking-layer to the substrate, so that the buffer layer has a lower resistivity than the voltage-blocking-layer, and so that the buffer layer includes silicon carbide as a main component; and epitaxially growing the voltage-blocking-layer on the buffer layer.

In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: an n-doped region disposed over an insulating layer; a p-doped region disposed over the insulating layer adjacent to the n-doped region, where an interface between the n-doped region and the p-doped region form a first diode junction; a plurality of segmented p-type anode regions disposed over the insulating layer, each of the plurality of segmented p-type anode regions being surrounded by the n-doped region, where a doping concentration of the plurality of segmented p-type anode regions is greater than a doping concentration of the p-doped region; and a plurality of segmented n-type cathode regions disposed over the insulating layer. Each of the plurality of segmented n-type cathode regions are surrounded by the p-doped region, where a doping concentration of the plurality of segmented n-type cathode regions is greater than a doping concentration of the n-doped region.

An electro-static discharge protection circuit and a semiconductor device are provided. The electro-static discharge protection circuit includes: an electro-static discharge path including a Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) connected between a first potential terminal and a second potential terminal; a Negative channel-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (NMOS) transistor connected to the SCR and configured to be turned on by an electro-static voltage, to trigger the SCR to be turned on; and a first resistance connected in parallel with at least part of the electro-static discharge path and configured to shunt a current of the electro-static discharge path when the SCR is turned on.