Abstract: An integrated structure active clamp for the protection of a power device against overvoltages includes a plurality of serially connected diodes, each having a first and a second electrode, obtained in a lightly doped epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type in which the power device is also obtained; a first diode of said plurality of diodes has the first electrode connected to a gate layer of the power device and the second electrode connected to the second electrode of at least one second diode of the plurality whose first electrode is connected to a drain region of the power device; said first diode has its first electrode comprising a heavily doped contact region of the first conductivity type included in a lightly doped epitaxial layer region of the first conductivity type which is isolated from said lightly doped epitaxial layer by a buried region of a second conductivity type and by a heavily doped annular region of the second conductivity type extending from a semiconductor top surface to said bu
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 1995
Date of Patent:
August 5, 1997
Assignee:
Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel Mezzogiorno