Abstract: A light sensor is used to detect ambient light conditions. According to an example embodiment, a light sensor (112) detects color temperature and, in some instances, intensity characteristics of ambient light (120, 130, 140) in an environment and uses these detected characteristics (116) to determine the location of the sensor relative to natural and artificial light sources. This location determination is used to selectively operate circuits in a device such as a hand-held telephone, computer device or personal data assistant (PDA).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, and a first semiconductor region that includes a plurality of sub-regions of the first conductivity type that have a first doping concentration and a further semiconductor region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The further semiconductor region separates the sub-regions from each other and the first semiconductor region is located on the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type located on the first semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type located on the second semiconductor region, and a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type located on the third semiconductor region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has active region (30) and edge termination region (32) which includes a plurality of floating field regions (46). Field plates (54) extend in the edge termination region (32) inwards from contact holes (56) towards the active region (30) over a plurality of floating field regions (46). Pillars (40) may be provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming trenches (22), and then selectively etching a buried layer (14) to form a cavity. An insulator is then deposited on the sidewalls of the trenches (22), not covering the cavity, and the cavity is then used to form a conductive region (28) in the cavity. The trench (22) can then be filled with insulator (40), in which case the conductive region (28) may form a precisely located doped region, or with conductor to form a contact to the conductive region (28).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, and a first semiconductor region that includes a plurality of sub-regions of the first conductivity type that have a first doping concentration and a further semiconductor region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The further semiconductor region separates the sub-regions from each other and the first semiconductor region is located on the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type located on the first semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type located on the second semiconductor region, and a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type located on the third semiconductor region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a so-termed punchthrough diode (10) with a stack of, for example, n++, n?, p+, n++ regions (1,2,3,4). In the known diode, these semiconductor regions (1,2,3,4) are positioned in said order on a substrate (11). The diode is provided with connection conductors (5,6). Such a diode does not have a steep I-V characteristic and is therefore less suitable as a TVSD (=Transient Voltage Suppression Device). In particular at voltages below 5 volts, a punchthrough diode could form an attractive alternative as TVSD. In a punchthrough diode (10) according to the invention, a part of the first semiconductor region (1) bordering on the second semiconductor region (2) comprises a number of sub-regions (1A) which are separated from each other by a further semiconductor region (7) of the second, for example p+, conductivity type which is electrically connected to the first connection conductor (5).

Abstract: A method of fabricating high-voltage semiconductor devices, the semiconductor devices and a mask for implanting dopants in a semiconductor are described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has an edge termination region (15) having a plurality of trenches (17). Conductive material (20) and insulating material (19) is formed at the trenches, and surface implants (21) are formed on either side of the trenches. A conductive bridge (23) connects the surface implants (21) to allow equilibrium to be reached in reverse bias.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device with a substrate (11) and a semiconductor body (12) with a heterojunction bipolar, in particular npn, transistor with an emitter region (1), a base region (2) and a collector region (3), which are provided with, respectively, a first, a second and a third connection conductor (4, 5, 6), and wherein the bandgap of the base region (2) is smaller than that of the collector region (3) or of the emitter region (1), for example by the use of a silicon-germanium mixed crystal instead of pure silicon in the base region (2). Such a device is characterized by a very high speed, but its transistor shows a relatively low BVeeo. In a device (10) according to the invention the doping flux of the emitter region (1) is locally reduced by a further semiconductor region (20) of the second conductivity type which is embedded in the emitter region (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a so-termed punchthrough diode (10) with a stack of, for example, n++, n?, p+, n++ regions (1,2,3,4). In the known diode, these semiconductor regions (1,2,3,4) are positioned in said order on a substrate (11). The diode is provided with connection conductors (5,6). Such a diode does not have a steep I-V characteristic and is therefore less suitable as a TVSD (=Transient Voltage Suppression Device). In particular at voltages below 5 volts, a punchthrough diode could form an attractive alternative as TVSD. In a punchthrough diode (10) according to the invention, a part of the first semiconductor region (1) bordering on the second semiconductor region (2) comprises a number of sub-regions (1A) which are separated from each other by a further semiconductor region (7) of the second, for example p+, conductivity type which is electrically connected to the first connection conductor (5).

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a power MOSFET, Schottky rectifier or p-n rectifier, has a voltage-sustaining zone (20) between a first (21, 23, 31a) and second (22) device regions adjacent to respective first and second opposite surfaces (11, 12) of a semiconductor body 10. Trenched field-shaping regions (40) including a resistive path (42) extend through the voltage-sustaining zone (20) to the underlying second region (22), so as to enhance the breakdown voltage of the device. The voltage-sustaining zone (20) and the trenched field-shaping regions (40) are present in both the active device area (A) and in the peripheral area (P) of the device. A further resistive path (53) extends across the first surface (11), outwardly over the peripheral area (P). This further resistive path (53) provides a potential divider that is connected to the respective resistive paths (42) of successive underlying trenched field-shaping regions (40) in the peripheral area (P).

Abstract: A semiconductor body has first and second opposed major surfaces. A first region meets the first major surface and at least one second region meets the second major surface. The semiconductor body provides a voltage-sustaining zone between the first and second regions. The voltage sustaining zone has third regions of one conductivity type interposed with fourth regions of the opposite conductivity type with the second and third regions providing a rectifying junction such that, in use, when the rectifying junction is forward biased in one mode of operation by a voltage applied between the first and second regions, a main current path is provided between the first and second major surfaces through the first region, the voltage-sustaining zone and the second region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a MOSFET or PN diode rectifier, has a p-n junction (24) between a first device region (23) and an underlying voltage-sustaining zone (20). Trenched field-shaping regions (40) extend through the voltage-sustaining zone (20) to improve the voltage-blocking and on-resistance characteristics of the device. The trenched field-shaping region (40) comprises a resistive path (42) accommodated in a trench (41) that has an insulating layer (44) at its side-walls. The insulating layer (44) dielectrically couples potential from the resistive path (42) to the voltage-sustaining zone (20) that is depleted in a voltage-blocking mode of operation of the device. The insulating layer (44) extends at the side-walls of the trench (41) to an upper level (81) that is higher than a lower level (82) at which the resistive path (42) starts in the trench (41).

Abstract: A field-effect semiconductor device, for example a MOSFET of the trench-gate type, comprises side-by-side device cells at a surface (10a) of a semiconductor body (10), and at least one drain connection (41) that extends in a drain trench (40) from the body surface (10a) to an underlying drain region (14a). A channel-accommodating region (15) of the device extends laterally to the drain trench (40). The drain trench (40) extends through the thickness of the channel-accommodating region (15) to the underlying drain region (14a), and the drain connection (41) is separated from the channel-accommodating region (15) by an intermediate insulating layer (24) on side-walls of the drain trench (40). A compact cellular layout can be achieved, with a significant proportion of the total cellular layout area accommodating conduction channels (12). The configuration in a discrete device avoids a need to use a substrate conduction path and so advantageously reduces the ON resistance of the device.

Abstract: A semiconductor body (10) has first and second opposed major surfaces (10a and 10b), with a first region (11) of one conductivity type and a plurality of body regions (32) of the opposite conductivity type each forming a pn junction with the first region (11). A plurality of source regions (33) meet the first major surface (10a ) and are each associated with a corresponding body region (32) such that a conduction channel accommodating portion (33a) is defined between each source region (33) and the corresponding body region (32). An insulated gate structure (30,31) adjoins each conduction channel area (33a) for controlling formation of a conduction channel in the conduction channel areas to control majority charge carrier flow from the source regions (33) through the first region (11) to a further region (14) adjoining the second major surface (10b).

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a power MOSFET, Schottky rectifier or p-n rectifier, has a voltage-sustaining zone (20) between a first (21, 23, 31a) and second (22) device regions adjacent to respective first and second opposite surfaces (11, 12) of a semiconductor body 10. Trenched field-shaping regions (40) including a resistive path (42) extend through the voltage-sustaining zone (20) to the underlying second region (22), so as to enhance the breakdown voltage of the device. The voltage-sustaining zone (20) and the trenched field-shaping regions (40) are present in both the active device area (A) and in the peripheral area (P) of the device. A further resistive path (53) extends across the first surface (11), outwardly over the peripheral area (P). This further resistive path (53) provides a potential divider that is connected to the respective resistive paths (42) of successive underlying trenched field-shaping regions (40) in the peripheral area (P).

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a MOSFET or PN diode rectifier, has a p-n junction (24) between a first device region (23) and an underlying voltage-sustaining zone (20). Trenched field-shaping regions (40) extend through the voltage-sustaining zone (20) to improve the voltage-blocking and on-resistance characteristics of the device. The trenched field-shaping region (40) comprises a resistive path (42) accommodated in a trench (41) that has an insulating layer (44) at its side-walls. The insulating layer (44) dielectrically couples potential from the resistive path (42) to the voltage-sustaining zone (20) that is depleted in a voltage-blocking mode of operation of the device. The insulating layer (44) extends at the side-walls of the trench (41) to an upper level (81) that is higher than a lower level (82) at which the resistive path (42) starts in the trench (41).

Abstract: A semiconductor body (11) has first and second opposed major surfaces (11a and 11b). First and second main regions (13 and 14) meet the second major surface (11b) and a voltage-sustaining zone is provided between the first and second regions (13 and 14). The voltage-sustaining zone has a semiconductor region (11) of one conductivity type forming a rectifying junction (J) with a region (15) of the device such that, when the rectifying junction is reverse-biased in one mode of operation, a depletion region extends in the semiconductor region of the voltage-sustaining zone. A number of conductive regions (22) are isolated from and extend through the semiconductor region (11) in a direction transverse to the first and second major surfaces (11a and 11b) so as to be spaced apart in a direction between first and second main regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has first and second opposed major surfaces (10a and 10b). A semiconductor first region (11) is provided between second (12 or 120) and third (14) regions such that the second region (12 or 120) forms a rectifying junction (13 or 130) with the first region (11) and separates the first region (11) from the first major surface (10a) while the third region (14) separates the first region (11) from the second major surface (10b). A plurality of semi-insulating or resistive paths (21) are dispersed within the first region (1′) such that each path extends through the first region from the second to the third region. In use of the device when a reverse biasing voltage is applied across the rectifying junction (13 or 130) an electrical potential distribution is generated along the resistive paths (21) which causes a depletion region in the first region (11) to extend through the first region (11) to the third region (14) to increase the reverse breakdown voltage of the device.

Abstract: A semiconductor body (11) has first and second opposed major surfaces (11a and 11b). First and second main regions (13 and 14) meet the second major surface (11b) and a voltage-sustaining zone is provided between the first and second regions (13 and 14). The voltage-sustaining zone has a semiconductor region (11) of one conductivity type forming a rectifying junction (J) with a region (15) of the device such that, when the rectifying junction is reverse-biased in one mode of operation, a depletion region extends in the semiconductor region of the voltage-sustaining zone. A number of conductive regions (22) are isolated from and extend through the semiconductor region (11) in a direction transverse to the first and second major surfaces (11a and 11b) so as to be spaced apart in a direction between first and second main regions.