Abstract: A transistor includes: gate electrodes and field electrodes, wherein in each case one gate electrode and one field electrode are arranged one above another in a vertical direction in a common trench of a semiconductor body; a gate pad to which the gate electrodes are connected; and a source metallization arranged above the semiconductor body. The field electrodes of a first group include at least one contact section. The at least one contact section is arranged between two sections of a gate electrode arranged in the same trench and is connected to the source metallization. The two sections of the gate electrode are separated from one another in a region of the contact section. At least one of the two sections of the gate electrode arranged in the same trench is electrically connected to a gate electrode arranged in a further trench by way of a gate connecting electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface and a metal structure above the first main surface. The metal structure has a periphery region that includes a transition section along which the metal structure transitions from a first thickness to a second thickness less than the first thickness. A polymer-based insulating material contacts and covers at least the periphery region of the metal structure. A thickness of the polymer-based insulating material begins to increase on a first main surface of the metal structure that faces away from the semiconductor substrate and continues to increase in a direction towards the transition section. An average slope of a surface of the polymer-based insulating material which faces away from the semiconductor substrate, as measured with respect to the first main surface of the metal structure, is less than 60 degrees along the periphery region of the metal structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface and a metal structure above the first main surface. The metal structure has a periphery region that includes a transition section along which the metal structure transitions from a first thickness to a second thickness less than the first thickness. A polymer-based insulating material contacts and covers at least the periphery region of the metal structure. A thickness of the polymer-based insulating material begins to increase on a first main surface of the metal structure that faces away from the semiconductor substrate and continues to increase in a direction towards the transition section. An average slope of a surface of the polymer-based insulating material which faces away from the semiconductor substrate, as measured with respect to the first main surface of the metal structure, is less than 60 degrees along the periphery region of the metal structure.

Abstract: A transistor includes: gate electrodes and field electrodes, wherein in each case one gate electrode and one field electrode are arranged one above another in a vertical direction in a common trench of a semiconductor body; a gate pad to which the gate electrodes are connected; and a source metallization arranged above the semiconductor body. The field electrodes of a first group include at least one contact section. The at least one contact section is arranged between two sections of a gate electrode arranged in the same trench and is connected to the source metallization. The two sections of the gate electrode are separated from one another in a region of the contact section. At least one of the two sections of the gate electrode arranged in the same trench is electrically connected to a gate electrode arranged in a further trench by way of a gate connecting electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface with a polygonal geometry and a main electric circuit manufactured within a main region on the semiconductor substrate. The main electric circuit is operable to perform an electric main function. The main region extends over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate leaving open at least one corner area at a corner of the polygonal geometry of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The corner area extends at least 300 ?m along the edges of the semiconductor substrate beginning at the corner.

Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body having a bottom side, a top side spaced distant from the bottom side in a vertical direction, and a thickness in the vertical direction, and a crack sensor configured to detect a crack in the semiconductor body. The crack sensor extends into the semiconductor body. A distance between the crack sensor and the bottom side is less than the thickness of the semiconductor body. A crack in the semiconductor body is detected by specifying a first value of a characteristic variable of the crack sensor, determining a second value of the characteristic variable of the crack sensor at a different time than the first value is specified, and determining the semiconductor body has a crack if the second value differs from the first value by more than a pre-defined difference.

Abstract: A first embodiment relates to a semiconductor component. The semiconductor component has a semiconductor body with a bottom side and a top side spaced distant from the bottom side in a vertical direction. In the vertical direction, the semiconductor body has a certain thickness. The semiconductor component further has a crack sensor configured to detect a crack in the semiconductor body. The crack sensor extends into the semiconductor body. A distance between the crack sensor and the bottom side is less than the thickness of the semiconductor body.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface with a polygonal geometry and a main electric circuit manufactured within a main region on the semiconductor substrate. The main electric circuit is operable to perform an electric main function. The main region extends over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate leaving open at least one corner area at a corner of the polygonal geometry of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The corner area extends at least 300 ?m along the edges of the semiconductor substrate beginning at the corner.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a layered structure having a hard dielectric layer containing a first dielectric material having a Young's modulus greater than 10 GPa in a central portion of a main surface of a main body comprising a single crystalline semiconductor body, and providing a dielectric stress relief layer containing a second dielectric material having a lower Young's modulus than the first dielectric material, the stress relief layer covering the layered structure and extending beyond an outer edge of the layered structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface with a polygonal geometry and a main electric circuit manufactured within a main region on the semiconductor substrate. The main electric circuit is operable to perform an electric main function. The main region extends over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate leaving open at least one corner area at a corner of the polygonal geometry of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The corner area extends at least 300 ?m along the edges of the semiconductor substrate beginning at the corner.

Abstract: Wafers with chips thereon and corresponding chips are provided where test structures or parts thereof are provided in a peripheral chip area of the chip. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A first embodiment relates to a semiconductor component. The semiconductor component has a semiconductor body with a bottom side and a top side spaced distant from the bottom side in a vertical direction. In the vertical direction, the semiconductor body has a certain thickness. The semiconductor component further has a crack sensor configured to detect a crack in the semiconductor body. The crack sensor extends into the semiconductor body. A distance between the crack sensor and the bottom side is less than the thickness of the semiconductor body.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a layered structure having a hard dielectric layer containing a first dielectric material having a Young's modulus greater than 10 GPa in a central portion of a main surface of a main body comprising a single crystalline semiconductor body, and providing a dielectric stress relief layer containing a second dielectric material having a lower Young's modulus than the first dielectric material, the stress relief layer covering the layered structure and extending beyond an outer edge of the layered structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a main body having a single crystalline semiconductor body. A layered structure directly adjoins a central portion of a main surface of the main body and includes a hard dielectric layer provided from a first dielectric material with Young's modulus greater than 10 GPa. A stress relief layer directly adjoins the layered structure opposite to the main body and extends beyond an outer edge of the layered structure. Providing the layered structure at a distance to the edge of the main body and covering the outer surface of the layered structures with the stress relief layer enhances device reliability.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface with a polygonal geometry and a main electric circuit manufactured within a main region on the semiconductor substrate. The main electric circuit is operable to perform an electric main function. The main region extends over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate leaving open at least one corner area at a corner of the polygonal geometry of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The corner area extends at least 300 ?m along the edges of the semiconductor substrate beginning at the corner.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface with a polygonal geometry and a main electric circuit manufactured within a main region on the semiconductor substrate. The main electric circuit is operable to perform an electric main function. The main region extends over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate leaving open at least one corner area at a corner of the polygonal geometry of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The corner area extends at least 300 ?m along the edges of the semiconductor substrate beginning at the corner.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a main body having a single crystalline semiconductor body. A layered structure directly adjoins a central portion of a main surface of the main body and includes a hard dielectric layer provided from a first dielectric material with Young's modulus greater than 10 GPa. A stress relief layer directly adjoins the layered structure opposite to the main body and extends beyond an outer edge of the layered structure. Providing the layered structure at a distance to the edge of the main body and covering the outer surface of the layered structures with the stress relief layer enhances device reliability.

Abstract: Wafers with chips thereon and corresponding chips are provided where test structures or parts thereof are provided in a peripheral chip area of the chip. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An anchoring structure for a metal structure of a semiconductor device includes an anchoring recess structure having at least one overhanging side wall, the metal structure being at least partly arranged within the anchoring recess structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a substrate having a plurality of neighboring trenches, and a contact area, one mesa stripe each being formed between two neighboring trenches. The contact area contacts mesa stripes and surrounds an opening region in which the contact area is not formed and which is formed such that the contact area contacts the same mesa stripes at two positions between which the opening region is arranged, and the opening region having a region of elongate extension which intersects the mesa stripes in a skewed or perpendicular manner.