Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a heavily doped first layer of a first conductivity type having a bulk portion and a mesa portion disposed above the bulk portion. A second layer of a second conductivity type is deposited on the mesa portion of the first layer to form a p-n junction therewith. The second layer is more lightly doped than the first layer. A contact layer of the second conductivity type is formed on the second layer. First and second electrodes electrically contact the bulk portion of the first layer and the contact layer, respectively.

Abstract: A bi-directional transient voltage suppression device with symmetric current-voltage characteristics has a lower semiconductor layer of first conductivity type, an upper semiconductor layer of first conductivity type, and a middle semiconductor layer adjacent to and disposed between the lower and upper layers having a second opposite conductivity type, such that upper and lower p−n junctions are formed. The middle layer has a net doping concentration that is highest at a midpoint between the junctions. Furthermore, the doping profile along a line normal to the lower, middle and upper layers is such that, within the middle layer the doping profile on one side of a centerplane of the middle layer mirrors the doping profile on an opposite side. In addition, an integral of the net doping concentration of the middle layer taken over the distance between the junctions is such that breakdown, when it occurs, is punch through breakdown, rather than avalanche breakdown.

Abstract: A bi-directional transient voltage suppression device with symmetric current-voltage characteristics is provided. The device comprises: (a) a lower semiconductor layer of first conductivity type; (b) an upper semiconductor layer of first conductivity type; and (b) a middle semiconductor layer adjacent to and disposed between the lower and upper layers, the middle layer having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, such that upper and lower p−n junctions are formed. In this device, the middle layer has a net doping concentration that is highest at a midpoint between the junctions. Furthermore, the doping profile along a line normal to the lower, middle and upper layers is such that, within the middle layer and within at least a portion of the lower and upper layers, the doping profile on one side of a centerplane of the middle layer mirrors the doping profile on an opposite side of the centerplane.

Abstract: A bi-directional transient voltage suppression device with symmetric current-voltage characteristics has a lower semiconductor layer of first conductivity type, an upper semiconductor layer of first conductivity type, and a middle semiconductor layer adjacent to and disposed between the lower and upper layers having a second opposite conductivity type, such that upper and lower p-n junctions are formed. The middle layer has a net doping concentration that is highest at a midpoint between the junctions. Furthermore, the doping profile along a line normal to the lower, middle and upper layers is such that, within the middle layer the doping profile on one side of a centerplane of the middle layer mirrors the doping profile on an opposite side. In addition, an integral of the net doping concentration of the middle layer taken over the distance between the junctions is such that breakdown, when it occurs, is punch through breakdown, rather than avalanche breakdown.

Abstract: A bi-directional transient voltage suppression device with symmetric current-voltage characteristics is provided. The device comprises: (a) a lower semiconductor layer of first conductivity type; (b) an upper semiconductor layer of first conductivity type; and (b) a middle semiconductor layer adjacent to and disposed between the lower and upper layers, the middle layer having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, such that upper and lower p-n junctions are formed. In this device, the middle layer has a net doping concentration that is highest at a midpoint between the junctions. Furthermore, the doping profile along a line normal to the lower, middle and upper layers is such that, within the middle layer and within at least a portion of the lower and upper layers, the doping profile on one side of a centerplane of the middle layer mirrors the doping profile on an opposite side of the centerplane.

Abstract: Transient voltage suppressor semiconductor devices and other semiconductor devices having rigorous requirements for the diffusion and depth of impurities to produce P-N junctions can be fabricated at surprisingly low costs without sacrifice of functional characteristics by subjecting the substrate to a grinding process resulting in a surface short of polishing perfection, thereby to eliminate the time-consuming and hence costly conventional polishing operation, and then diffusing the desired impurity into the substrate from a solid impurity source.

Abstract: Starting with a semiconductor wafer of known type including an internal, planar p-n junction parallel to major surfaces of the wafer, one of the wafer surfaces is covered with a masking layer of silicon nitride. A plurality of intersecting grooves are then sawed through the masking layer for forming a plurality of mesas having sloped walls with each mesa including a portion of the planar p-n junction having edges which intersect and are exposed by the mesa walls. The groove walls and exposed junction edges are glass encapsulated in a process including heating the wafer. The masking layers are then removed in a selective etching process not requiring a patterned etchant mask, and the now exposed silicon surfaces at the top of the mesas, as well as the opposite surface of the wafer, are metal plated. The wafer is then diced along planes through the grooves for providing individual chips each having a glass passivated mesa thereon.

Abstract: A high voltage silicon rectifier includes a substrate portion and an epitaxial mesa portion that is a frustrum of a pyramid with a substantially square cross section and side walls that make a forty five degree angle with the substrate portion. The mesa portion includes three germanium doped layers that introduce strain to speed up recombination of charge carriers.

Abstract: Significant reduction in the cost of fabrication of shallow junction, Schottky or similar semiconductor devices without sacrifice of functional characteristics, while at the same time achieving the advantages is achieved, after the non-polishing cleaning step is essentially performed, by subjecting the substrate to conditions which move disadvantageous factors within said substrate into a space substantially at said surface, followed by substantially removing said factor-containing space from said substrate chemical removal step, followed etching and vapor deposition steps. Although these new steps add time, and therefore cost, to the overall process, the devices under discussion when produced by known industry processes require yet more time, and involve yet more expense, so that the total process represents a substantial reduction in the cost of their manufacture while producing devices which are the equivalent or superior in electrical performance to such devices which are made by known industry processes.