Abstract: A device is provided that includes a power transistor and an overcurrent detection logic. The overcurrent detection logic has a first stable state providing a first signal level on a status output terminal and a second stable state providing a second signal level on the status output terminal. The overcurrent detection logic changes from the first stable state to the second stable state in response to detecting that a current through the power transistor exceeds a current limit. The overcurrent detection logic remains in the second state when the current through the transistor drops below the limit after exceeding the current limit.

Abstract: A silicon carbide device includes a silicon carbide substrate, a contact layer including nickel, silicon and aluminum, a barrier layer structure including titanium and tungsten, and a metallization layer including copper. The contact layer is located on the silicon carbide substrate. The contact layer is located between the silicon carbide substrate and at least a part of the barrier layer structure. The barrier layer structure is located between the silicon carbide substrate and the metallization layer.

Abstract: A transistor cell includes a gate electrode and a source region of a first conductivity type. A drain/drift region is formed in a silicon carbide body. A buried region of the second conductivity type and the drain/drift region form a pn junction. The buried region and a well region form a unipolar junction. A mean net dopant density N2 of the buried region is higher than a mean net dopant density N1 of the well region. A first clamp region of the first conductivity type extends into the well region. A first low-resistive ohmic path electrically connects the first clamp region and the gate electrode. A second clamp region of the first conductivity type extends into the well region. A second low-resistive ohmic path electrically connects the second clamp region and the source region.

Abstract: In an example, a silicon carbide device includes a silicon carbide body. The silicon carbide body includes a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region. The central region includes a source region of a first conductivity type. The peripheral region includes a doped region of a second conductivity type. A stripe-shaped gate electrode extends through the central region and into the peripheral region. A contiguous source metallization is formed on the central region and on an inner portion of the peripheral region. The contiguous source metallization and the source region form a first ohmic contact in the central region. The contiguous source metallization and the doped region form a second ohmic contact in the peripheral region.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a unipolar power transistor and an RC snubber. The RC snubber has a capacitor between a poly silicon structure and a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor has a p-n junction. The RC snubber has a resistor between a source of the unipolar power transistor and a first layer forming the capacitor. The unipolar transistor and the RC snubber are coupled in parallel. The RC snubber and the unipolar power transistor are formed monolithically on the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body of a wide-bandgap semiconductor material. A plurality of first bond areas is connected to a first load terminal of the semiconductor device. First gate fingers are arranged between the first bond areas. The first gate fingers extend in a first lateral direction and branch off from at least one of a first gate line portion and a second gate line portion. Second gate fingers extend in the first lateral direction. A first length of any of the first gate fingers along the first lateral direction is greater than a second length of any of the second gate fingers along the first lateral direction. A sum of the first length and the second length is equal to or greater than a lateral distance between the first gate line portion and the second gate line portion along the first lateral direction.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a first main surface. The semiconductor body includes an active device area and an edge termination area at least partly surrounding the active device area. The semiconductor device further includes a contact electrode on the first main surface and electrically connected to the active device area. The semiconductor device further includes a passivation structure on the edge termination area and laterally extending into the active device area. The semiconductor device further includes an encapsulation structure on the passivation structure and covering a first edge of the passivation structure above the contact electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor component includes: gate structures extending from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body; a drift zone of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC semiconductor body; first mesas and second mesas arranged between the gate structures in the SiC semiconductor body; body areas of a second conductivity type arranged in the first mesas and the second mesas, the body areas each adjoining a first side wall of one of the gate structures; first shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining a second side wall of one of the gate structures; second shielding areas of the second conductivity type adjoining the body areas in the second mesas; and diode areas of the conductivity type of the drift zone, the diode areas forming Schottky contacts with a load electrode between the first shielding areas and the second shielding areas.

Abstract: In an example, a semiconductor device includes an insulated gate transistor cell, a first region (e.g., a drain region and/or a drift region), a cathode region, a second region (e.g., an anode region and/or a separation region), and a source electrode. The insulated gate transistor cell includes a source region and a gate electrode. The source region and the cathode region are in a silicon carbide body. The gate electrode and the cathode region are electrically connected. The cathode region, the source region, and the first region have a first conductivity type. The second region has a second conductivity type and is between the cathode region and the first region. The source electrode and the source region are electrically connected. The source electrode and the second region are in contact with each other. A rectifying junction is electrically coupled between the source electrode and the cathode region.

Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a first load electrode disposed on a first surface of a silicon carbide semiconductor body, a first doped region disposed in the silicon carbide semiconductor body and electrically connected to the first load electrode, and an insulated gate field effect transistor electrically connected in series with the first doped region, the insulated gate field effect transistor including a source region and a body region, the body region being electrically connected to the first load electrode, wherein a geometry and dopant concentration of the first doped region is such that a resistance of the first doped region increases by at least a factor of two as load current in the insulated gate field effect transistor rises.

Abstract: A semiconductor component has a gate structure that extends from a first surface into an SiC semiconductor body. A body area in the SiC semiconductor body adjoins a first side wall of the gate structure. A first shielding area and a second shielding area of the conductivity type of the body area have at least twice as high a level of doping as the body area. A diode area forms a Schottky contact with a load electrode between the first shielding area and the second shielding area.

Abstract: A SiC semiconductor device includes a first load electrode, a normally-on junction field effect transistor, and an insulated gate field effect transistor. The normally-on junction field effect transistor includes a channel region electrically connected to the first load electrode. The insulated gate field effect transistor and the normally-on junction field effect transistor are electrically connected in series. The insulated gate field effect transistor includes a source region and a body region. The source region is electrically connected to a channel region of the normally-on junction field effect transistor. The body is electrically connected to the first load electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. In an embodiment, the semiconductor device comprises a control region, a first power region, a second power region, an isolation region and/or a short circuit structure. The control region comprises a control terminal. The first power region comprises a first power terminal. The second power region comprises a second power terminal. The isolation region is between the control region and the first power region. The short circuit structure extends from the first power region, through the isolation region, to the control region. The short circuit structure is configured to form a low-resistive connection between the control region and the first power region during a failure state of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes gate trenches formed in a SiC substrate and extending lengthwise in parallel in a first direction. A trench interval which defines a space between adjacent gate trenches extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Source regions of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate occupy a first part of the space between adjacent gate trenches. Body regions of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate and below the source regions occupy a second part of the space between adjacent gate trenches. Body contact regions of the second conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate occupy a third part of the space between adjacent gate trenches. Shielding regions of the second conductivity type formed deeper in the SiC substrate than the body regions adjoin a bottom of at least some of the gate trenches.

Abstract: A SiC substrate of a semiconductor device includes: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end.

Abstract: A SiC substrate of a semiconductor device includes: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end.

Abstract: A silicon carbide device includes a stripe-shaped trench gate structure extending from a first surface into a silicon carbide body. The gate structure has a gate length along a lateral first direction. A bottom surface and an active first gate sidewall of the gate structure are connected via a first bottom edge of the gate structure. The silicon carbide device further includes at least one source region of a first conductivity type. A shielding region of a second conductivity type is in contact with the first bottom edge of the gate structure across at least 20% of the gate length.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor body having a front side and a backside and configured to conduct a load current between the front side and the backside; and a plurality of control cells configured to control the load current. Each control cell is at least partially included in the semiconductor body at the front side and includes a gate electrode that is electrically insulated from the semiconductor body by a gate insulation layer. The gate insulation layer is or includes a first boron nitride layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes gate trenches formed in a SiC substrate and extending lengthwise in parallel in a first direction. A trench interval which defines a space between adjacent gate trenches extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Source regions of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate occupy a first part of the space between adjacent gate trenches. Body regions of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate and below the source regions occupy a second part of the space between adjacent gate trenches. Body contact regions of the second conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate occupy a third part of the space between adjacent gate trenches. Shielding regions of the second conductivity type formed deeper in the SiC substrate than the body regions adjoin a bottom of at least some of the gate trenches.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of drift regions of a plurality of field effect transistor structures arranged in a semiconductor substrate. The plurality of drift regions has a first conductivity type. The semiconductor device further includes a plurality of compensation regions arranged in the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of compensation regions has a second conductivity type. Each drift region of the plurality of drift regions is arranged adjacent to at least one compensation region of the plurality of compensation regions. The semiconductor device further includes a Schottky diode structure or metal-insulation-semiconductor gated diode structure arranged at the semiconductor substrate.