Abstract: A semiconductor body (1) has a first region (2) of one conductivity type adjacent one major surface (3). Second and third regions (5 and 6) of the opposite conductivity type are provided within the first region (2) adjacent the one major surface (3) and an insulated gate structure (80) overlies a conduction channel region (9) between the second and third regions (5 and 6) for providing a gateable connection along the length (L) of the conduction channel region (9) between the second and third regions (5 and 6). The insulated gate structure (80) has a gate insulating region (81) and a gate conductive region (82) extending on the gate insulating region (81) and up onto a relatively thick insulating region (4) adjoining the gate insulating region (81).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including both an enhancement (1) insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) and a depletion (2) mode IGFET is described. Impurities are introduced into a first region or epitaxial layer (4) of one conductivity type adjacent a given surface (3a) of a semiconductor body (3) to provide, for both the enhancement mode (1) and for the depletion mode (2) IGFET, a second region (5) of the opposite conductivity type adjacent the given surface, a source region (9) of a first conductivity type adjacent the given surface (3a) and surrounded by the second region (5) and a drain region (10) of the first conductivity type having a relatively lightly doped drain extension region (11) adjacent the given surface and extending toward the source region (9).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including both an enhancement (1) insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) and a depletion (2) mode IGFET is described. Impurities are introduced into a first region or epitaxial layer (4) of one conductivity type adjacent a given surface (3a) of a semiconductor body (3) to provide, for both the enhancement mode (1) and for the depletion mode (2) IGFET, a second region (5) of the opposite conductivity type adjacent the given surface, a source region (9) of a first conductivity type adjacent the given surface (3a) and surrounded by the second region (5) and a drain region (10) of the first conductivity type having a relatively lightly doped drain extension region (11) adjacent the given surface and extending toward the source region (9).

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a circuit suitable for use in an intelligent power switch include an insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) (T2) and a power semiconductor switch (T1). The insulated gate field transistor IGFET (T2) is provided by a semiconductor body (6) which has a first region (7) of one conductivity type adjacent a given surface (6a) of the semiconductor body with the first region (7) forming at least part of a conductive path to a first main electrode of the power semiconductor switch. A second region (8) of the opposite conductivity type is provided within the first region adjacent the given surface (6a) and a third region (11) of the one conductivity type is provided adjacent the given surface (6a) within the second region (8), an area of the second region (8) underlying an insulated gate (14) provided on the given surface (6a) for defining a conduction channel (15) providing a gateable connection between the third region (11) and a fourth region (12) of the one conductivity type.

Abstract: Low voltage semiconductor devices are integrated monolithically with a high voltage semiconductor device on an electrically conductive substrate. The substrate forms an electrode of the high voltage device and is connected in use to the high voltage terminal of a power supply. The low voltage devices operate from a regulated low voltage supply, which is regulated with reference to the high voltage supply voltage, and not with reference to ground. This reduces the need to isolate the low voltage devices from the conductive substrate. An intelligent power switch circuit constructed in accordance with the invention is suitable for use in automotive and lighting applications.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device such as a lateral insulated gate field effect transistor is described in which impurities for forming first and second relatively shallow RESURF regions (8 and 11) of the opposite and the one conductivity type, respectively, are then introduced into the first region (4) and the semiconductor body is then heated first in an oxidizing atmosphere to cause the impurities to diffuse to form the RESURF regions (8 and 11) and to grow a relatively thick layer of insulating material on the given surface (3) at the same time. The relatively thick layer of insulating material is then defined to provide field oxide (14a) and gate oxide (14) then grown onto which is deposited a conductive gate layer (15,16) to form an insulated gate structure. Impurities are then introduced into the semiconductor body (3) using the insulated gate structure as a mask so as to form a lateral insulated gate field effect transistor (1).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which a lateral insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) (1) is provided by defining an insulated gate structure (12) on a given surface (3a) of a semiconductor body (3) by providing an insulating layer on the given surface (3a) having a relatively thin region on a first area of the given surface adjoining a relatively thin region (14a) on a second area (31b) of the given surface and providing a conductive layer (15,16) on the insulating layer to define an insulated gate over the first area of the given surface with the conductive layer extending up onto the relatively thick region of the insulating layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bipolar transistor having an emitter region of one conductivity type formed in a base region of the opposite conductivity type, the base region being provided in a collector region of the one conductivity type. A first insulated gate field effect transistor provides a gateable connection to the emitter region of the bipolar transistor while a second insulated gate field effect transistor provides a charge extraction path from the base region when the bipolar transistor is turned off. The first insulated gate field effect transistor includes a further region of the other conductivity type provided in the emitter region, and a source region of the one conductivity type formed in the further region and an insulated gate overlying a channel area comprising at least part of the further region to provide a gateable connection between the emitter region and the source region of the first insulated gate field effect transistor.

Abstract: A bipolar semiconductor device with interdigitated emitter and base regions has a sub-region of the base, which has a shorter carrier recombination time than the major part of the base region due to the presence of argon ion implantation induced carrier recombination centers. The sub-region of the base is located centrally with respect to the emitter region to intercept the transient current lines during device turn-off and so to promote collapse of the transient current and the avoidance of second breakdown of the device. The centrally located sub-region of the base is remote from the emitter region edges to collector region current flow when the device is on. The ions may be implanted at energies between 50 keV and 3 MeV and at doses between 10.sup.11 ions cm.sup.-2 and 10.sup.14 ions cm.sup.-2. The implanatation mask may be provided by photolithographically processed resist having a thickness between 0.5 .mu.m and 4 .mu.m dependant on the ion implantation energy.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a gate turn-off thyristor, has, at a major surface of a semiconductor body a plurality of electrode fingers alternately contacting opposite conductivity type regions (e.g. the cathode and gate) of the semiconductor body. In order to save useful semiconductor area and to allow an improved electrode geometry bonding pads for the electrodes are formed at a level above the electrodes. An insulating layer separates the bonding pads and the electrodes. A first bonding pad contacts a first set of electrode fingers through a first set of windows in the insulating layer and a second bonding pad contacts a second set of electrode fingers through a second set of windows. In operation, the voltage drop along each electrode finger of a set is substantially equal. A third bonding pad may also contact the second electrode set through a third set of windows in the insulating layer.