Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device capable of reducing switching loss at turn-off while suppressing conduction loss. An emitter p? layer 11, a collector p layer 23, a drift layer 10, an emitter electrode 18, a collector electrode 28, an emitter-side gate electrode 17, an emitter n layer 12, a collector p? layer 23a, a collector-side gate electrode 27, and a collector n layer 22 configure a semiconductor device 1, and a total length of a first facing region of the emitter-side gate electrode 17 in a gate width direction facing an emitter layer p? 11 via a gate insulating film 15 is longer than the total length in the gate width direction of a second facing region of a collector-side gate electrode 27 facing an impurity layer 23a via a collector-side gate insulating film 25.

Abstract: A steel strip continuous annealing apparatus comprising: a steel strip feeder; a heating-soaking zone for heating and soaking a steel strip at a predetermined temperature; a first cooling zone for rapidly cooling the steel strip at a predetermined cooling rate; a second cooling zone for slowly cooling the steel strip or holding same at a predetermined temperature; a third cooling zone for cooling the steel strip to substantially room temperature; and a steel strip carryout device; wherein the first cooling zone incorporates therein forcible cooling means, the second cooling zone incorporates therein hot-cold change-over means and the third cooling zone incorporates therein forcible cooling means, while said steel strip continuous annealing apparatus further comprises: means for directly bypassing the steel strip from the heating-soaking zone through a first bypass passageway to the second cooling zone; and means for directly bypassing the steel strip from the first cooling zone through a second bypass passage

Abstract: A steel strip continuous annealing furnace comprises a heating zone, a soaking zone and cooling zones, wherein bridle rolls for isolating tension of a steel strip from those in adjacent sections of the steel strip are provided at the inlet and outlet of the furnace and in the furnace so as to define a plurality of tension control blocks and provide tension control mechanisms for controlling the tensions of the steel strip in the respective tension control blocks, so that appropriate tensions can be rendered to the steel strip in the respective zones of the furnace, thereby enabling to secure the safe and satisfactory operating conditions.