Abstract: In a gate replacement process, forming a dummy gate and an adjacent structure; In a gate replacement process, a dummy gate and adjacent structure, such as a source/drain region, are formed. The dummy gate is removed, at least in part, using a directional etch to remove some but not all of the dummy gate to form a trench. A portion of the dummy gate remains and protects the adjacent structure. A gate electrode can then be formed in the trench. A two step process can be employed, using an initial isotropic etch followed by the directional etch.

Abstract: In accordance with some examples, a system comprises a substrate layer having an outer surface. The system also comprises a plurality of trenches extending from the outer surface into the substrate layer. The system then comprises a plurality of active regions with each active region positioned between a different pair of consecutive trenches of the plurality of trenches. The system also comprises a dielectric layer disposed in each of the plurality of trenches and on each of the plurality of active regions. The system then comprises a gate layer disposed on the dielectric layer and extending at least partially into each of the plurality of trenches.

Abstract: An etchant is utilized to remove a semiconductor material. In some embodiments an oxidizer is added to the etchant in order to react with surrounding semiconductor material and form a protective layer. The protective layer is utilized to help prevent damage that could occur from the other components within the etchant.

Abstract: A device and a method for forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a device region. A device well having second polarity type dopants is formed in the substrate. A threshold voltage (VT) implant is performed with a desired level of second polarity type dopants into the substrate. The VT implant forms a VT adjust region to obtain a desired VT of a transistor. A co-implantation with diffusion suppression material is performed to form a diffusion suppression (DS) region in the substrate. The DS region reduces or prevents segregation and out-diffusion of the VT implanted second polarity type dopants. A transistor of a first polarity type having a gate is formed in the device region. First and second diffusion regions are formed adjacent to sidewalls of the gate.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating such devices are provided. The devices include source and drain regions on one conductivity type separated by a channel length and a gate structure. The devices also include a channel region of the one conductivity type formed in the device region between the source and drain regions and a screening region of another conductivity type formed below the channel region and between the source and drain regions. In operation, the channel region forms, in response to a bias voltage at the gate structure, a surface depletion region below the gate structure, a buried depletion region at an interface of the channel region and the screening region, and a buried channel region between the surface depletion region and the buried depletion region, where the buried depletion region is substantially located in channel region.

Abstract: A transistor device with a tuned dopant profile is fabricated by implanting one or more dopant migrating mitigating material such as carbon. The process conditions for the carbon implant are selected to achieve a desired peak location and height of the dopant profile for each dopant implant, such as boron. Different transistor devices with similar boron implants may be fabricated with different peak locations and heights for their respective dopant profiles by tailoring the carbon implant energy to effect tuned dopant profiles for the boron.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and at least one gate stack. The gate stack is present on the semiconductor substrate, and the gate stack includes at least one work function conductor and a filling conductor. The work function conductor has a recess therein. The filling conductor includes a plug portion and a cap portion. The plug portion is present in the recess of the work function conductor. The cap portion caps the work function conductor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first PMOS transistor element having a gate region with a first gate metal associated with a PMOS work function and a first NMOS transistor element having a gate region with a second metal associated with a NMOS work function. The first PMOS transistor element and the first NMOS transistor element form a first CMOS device. The semiconductor structure also includes a second PMOS transistor that is formed in part by concurrent deposition with the first NMOS transistor element of the second metal associated with a NMOS work function to form a second CMOS device with different operating characteristics than the first CMOS device.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a PMOS transistor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, and forming a dummy gate structure at least having a dummy gate, a high-K dielectric layer, and a sidewall spacer surrounding the high-K dielectric layer and the dummy gate on the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming a source region and a drain region in the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the dummy gate structure by an ion implantation process, and performing a first annealing process to enhance the ion diffusion. Further, the method includes forming an interlayer dielectric layer leveling with the surface of the dummy gate, and forming a trench by removing the dummy gate. Further, the method also includes performing a second annealing process, and forming a metal gate in the trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including isolation regions defining first and second active regions having a first and second conductivity type, respectively, first threshold voltage control regions in predetermined regions of the first active region, wherein the first threshold voltage control regions have the first conductivity type and a different impurity concentration from the first active region, a first gate trench extending across the first active region, wherein portions of side bottom portions of the first gate trench adjacent to the respective isolation region are disposed at a higher level than a central bottom portion of the first gate trench, and the first threshold voltage control regions remain in the first active region under the side bottom portions of the first gate trench adjacent to the respective isolation region, and a first gate pattern. Methods of manufacturing such semiconductor devices are also provided.

Abstract: a method comprises forming a hardmask over one or more gate structures. The method further comprises forming a photoresist over the hardmask. The method further comprises forming an opening in the photoresist over at least one of the gate structures. The method further comprises stripping the hardmask that is exposed in the opening and which is over the at least one of the gate structures. The method further comprises removing the photoresist. The method further comprises providing a halo implant on a side of the at least one of the gate structures.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate and a sidewall of the gate dielectric has a joint point; forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; forming a mask layer over the semiconductor substrate and the gate electrode, wherein a first portion of the mask layer adjacent the joint point is at least thinner than a second portion of the mask layer away from the joint point; after the step of forming the mask layer, performing a halo/pocket implantation to introduce a halo/pocket impurity into the semiconductor substrate; and removing the mask layer after the halo/pocket implantation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor with a substrate on which source and drain regions, both of a first conductivity type, and a channel region of a second conductivity type between the source and drain are formed, and a gate electrode formed in the channel region to bury a trench formed so the depth thereof changes intermittently in the width direction of the gate. In the channel region, each on a surface of the substrate and in a bottom portion of the trench, there are formed a second high-concentration region and a first high-concentration region, and the dopant concentration of the second conductivity type is higher than the dopant concentration of the second conductivity type in portions sideward from the trench. The dopant concentration of the second conductivity type in the first high-concentration region is higher than the dopant concentration of the second conductivity type in the second high-concentration region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device is provided. In the method, a semiconductor substrate defining a device region and an outer region at a periphery of the device region is provided, an align trench is formed in the outer region, a dummy trench is formed in the device region, an epi layer is formed over a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and within the dummy trench, a current path changing part is formed over the epi layer, and a gate electrode is formed over the current path changing part. When the epi layer is formed, a current path changing trench corresponding to the dummy trench is formed over the epi layer, and the current path changing part is formed within the current path changing trench.

Abstract: A structure and method of fabrication thereof relate to a Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) design, allowing CMOS based devices to have a reduced ?VT compared to conventional bulk CMOS and can allow the threshold voltage VT of FETs having dopants in the channel region to be set much more precisely. A novel dopant profile indicative of a distinctive notch enables tuning of the VT setting within a precise range. This VT set range may be extended by appropriate selection of metals so that a very wide range of VT settings is accommodated on the die. The DDC design also can have a strong body effect compared to conventional bulk CMOS transistors, which can allow for significant dynamic control of power consumption in DDC transistors. The result is the ability to independently control VT (with a low ?VT) and VDD, so that the body bias can be tuned separately from VT for a given device.

Abstract: An analog transistor useful for low noise applications or for electrical circuits benefiting from tight control of threshold voltages and electrical characteristics is described. The analog transistor includes a substantially undoped channel positioned under a gate dielectric between a source and a drain with the undoped channel not being subjected to contaminating threshold voltage implants or halo implants. The channel is supported on a screen layer doped to have an average dopant density at least five times as great as the average dopant density of the substantially undoped channel which, in turn, is supported by a doped well having an average dopant density at least twice the average dopant density of the substantially undoped channel.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method to form a semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor includes a gate stack disposed on a substrate. Tip regions are disposed in the substrate on either side of the gate stack. Halo regions are disposed in the substrate adjacent the tip regions. A threshold voltage implant region is disposed in the substrate directly below the gate stack. The concentration of dopant impurity atoms of a particular conductivity type is approximately the same in both the threshold voltage implant region as in the halo regions. The method includes a dopant impurity implant technique having sufficient strength to penetrate a gate stack.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a device isolation region on a semiconductor substrate to define an active region, forming a gate electrode on the active region and the device isolation region across the active region, and forming at least one gate electrode opening portion in the gate electrode so as to overlap an edge portion of the active region, wherein the gate electrode opening portion is simultaneously formed with the gate electrode.

Abstract: In an SOI-MISFET that operates with low power consumption at a high speed, an element area is reduced. While a diffusion layer region of an N-conductivity type MISFET region of the SOI type MISFET and a diffusion layer region of a P-conductivity type MISFET region of the SOI type MISFET are formed as a common region, well diffusion layers that apply substrate potentials to the N-conductivity type MISFET region and the P-conductivity type MISFET region are separated from each other by an STI layer. The diffusion layer regions that are located in the N- and P-conductivity type MISFET regions) and serve as an output portion of a CMISFET are formed as a common region and directly connected by silicified metal so that the element area is reduced.

Abstract: A method includes providing a wafer that has a semiconductor layer having an insulator layer disposed on the semiconductor layer. The insulator layer has openings made therein to expose a surface of the semiconductor layer, where each opening corresponds to a location of what will become a transistor channel in the semiconductor layer disposed beneath a gate stack. The method further includes depositing a high dielectric constant gate insulator layer so as to cover the exposed surface of the semiconductor layer and sidewalls of the insulator layer; depositing a gate metal layer that overlies the high dielectric constant gate insulator layer; and implanting Carbon through the gate metal layer and the underlying high dielectric constant gate insulator layer so as to form in an upper portion of the semiconductor layer a Carbon-implanted region having a concentration of Carbon selected to establish a voltage threshold of the transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an element isolation insulating film dividing an upper portion of the substrate into a plurality of first active regions, a source layer and a drain layer, a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a first punch-through stopper layer, and a second punch-through stopper layer. The source layer and the drain layer are formed in spaced to each other in an upper portion of each of the first active regions. The first punch-through stopper layer is formed in a region of the first active region directly below the source layer and the second punch-through stopper layer is formed in a region of the first active region directly below the drain layer. The first punch-through stopper layer and the second punch-through stopper layer each has an effective impurity concentration higher than the semiconductor substrate. The first punch-through stopper layer and the source layer are separated in the channel region.

Abstract: Punch-through in a transistor device is reduced by forming a well layer in an implant region, forming a stop layer in the well layer of lesser depth than the well layer, and forming a doped layer in the stop layer of lesser depth than the stop layer. The stop layer has a lower concentration of impurities than the doped layer in order to prevent punch-through without increasing junction leakage.

Abstract: A device and method for improving performance of a transistor includes gate structures formed on a substrate having a spacing therebetween. The gate structures are formed in an operative relationship with active areas fainted in the substrate. A stress liner is formed on the gate structures. An angled ion implantation is applied to the stress liner such that ions are directed at vertical surfaces of the stress liner wherein portions of the stress liner in contact with the active areas are shielded from the ions due to a shadowing effect provided by a height and spacing between adjacent structures.

Abstract: In a replacement metal gate process flow, sacrificial gates are exposed and removed subsequent to the formation of source and drain regions for various transistor devices. Sidewalls formed adjacent to the sacrificial gates remain. By using an angled implant such that, for a short-channel device, the remaining sidewalls shadow and protect the exposed short-channel region, a designer may adjust the threshold voltage on long-channel devices without affecting the threshold voltage of the short-channel device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, comprising a substrate, a plurality of polysilicon portions formed on the substrate, wherein the polysilicon portions are spaced apart from each other, a plurality of source/drain regions formed in the substrate between adjacent polysilicon portions, and a dielectric layer formed on the polysilicon portions and on the source/drain regions, wherein the dielectric layer includes a cavity filled with conductive material to form a contact area, the contact area overlapping part of a source/drain region and part of a polysilicon portion to electrically connect the polysilicon portion with the source/drain region, and wherein part of the contact area extends below an upper surface of the substrate to contact an implant region with the same doping as the source/drain region. The implant region is next to the source/drain region and includes part of a channel region in the substrate under the polysilicon portion.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate via an insulating layer; a source region including an extension region, a drain region including an extension region, a first diffusion restraining layer configured to prevent a diffusion of the conductive impurity in the source region and including an impurity other than the conductive impurity, and a second diffusion restraining layer configured to prevent a diffusion of the impurity in the drain region and including the impurity other than the conductive impurity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that may include a substrate including a semiconductor layer overlying an insulating layer. A gate structure that is present on a channel portion of the semiconductor layer. A first dopant region is present in the channel portion of the semiconductor layer, in which the peak concentration of the first dopant region is present within the lower portion of the gate conductor and the upper portion of the semiconductor layer. A second dopant region is present in the channel portion of the semiconductor layer, in which the peak concentration of the second dopant region is present within the lower portion of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: The semiconductor device of the present invention includes: a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; and a channel doped layer of the first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor region beneath the gate electrode. The channel doped layer contains carbon as an impurity.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a device isolation region on a semiconductor substrate to define an active region, forming a gate electrode on the active region and the device isolation region across the active region, and forming at least one gate electrode opening portion in the gate electrode so as to overlap an edge portion of the active region, wherein the gate electrode opening portion is simultaneously formed with the gate electrode.

Abstract: By forming an additional doped region with increased junction depth at areas in which contact regions may connect to drain and source regions, any contact irregularities may be embedded into the additional doped region, thereby reducing the risk for leakage currents or short circuits between the drain and source region and the well region that may be conventionally caused by the contact irregularity. Moreover, additionally or alternatively, the surface topography of the semiconductor region and the adjacent isolation trench may be modified prior to the formation of metal silicide regions and contact plugs to enhance the lithography procedure for forming respective contact openings in an interlayer dielectric material. For this purpose, the isolation trench may be brought to an equal or higher level compared to the adjacent semiconductor region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises: forming a first layer; forming a P-well on the first layer; forming an isolation region in the P-well; performing an extra implantation on a surface between the P-well and the first layer; and forming a source/drain region. The method of the present invention can solve the punch through problem of the conventional iso-NMOS transistor without increasing cost.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method to form a semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor includes a gate stack disposed on a substrate. Tip regions are disposed in the substrate on either side of the gate stack. Halo regions are disposed in the substrate adjacent the tip regions. A threshold voltage implant region is disposed in the substrate directly below the gate stack. The concentration of dopant impurity atoms of a particular conductivity type is approximately the same in both the threshold voltage implant region as in the halo regions. The method includes a dopant impurity implant technique having sufficient strength to penetrate a gate stack.

Abstract: A transistor is defined to include a substrate portion and a diffusion region defined in the substrate portion so as to provide an operable transistor threshold voltage. An implant region is defined within a portion of the diffusion region so as to transform the operable transistor threshold voltage of the diffusion region portion into an inoperably high transistor threshold voltage. A gate electrode is defined to extend over both the diffusion region and the implant region. A first portion of the gate electrode defined over the diffusion region forms a first transistor segment having the operable transistor threshold voltage. A second portion of the gate electrode defined over the implant region forms a second transistor segment having the inoperably high transistor threshold voltage. Therefore, a boundary of the implant region defines a boundary of the operable first transistor segment.

Abstract: A threshold control layer of a second MIS transistor is formed under the same conditions for forming a threshold control layer of a first MIS transistor. LLD regions of the second MIS transistor are formed under the same conditions for forming LDD regions of a third transistor.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for selective gate halo implantation includes forming at least one gate having a first orientation and at least one gate having a second orientation over a substrate. The method further includes performing a halo implant over the substrate. The first orientation allows a halo implanted area to be formed under the at least one gate having the first orientation and the second orientation prevents a halo implanted area from forming under the at least one gate having the second orientation. The halo implant is performed without forming a mask over the at least one gate having the first orientation or the at least one gate having the second orientation. The at least one gate having the first orientation can be used in a low voltage region of a substrate, while the at least one gate having the second orientation can be used in a high voltage region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a local recess channel transistor in a semiconductor device. A hard mask layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate that exposes a portion of the substrate. The exposed portion of the substrate is etched using the hard mask layer as an etch mask to form a recess trench. A trench spacer is formed on the substrate along a portion of sidewalls of the recess trench. The substrate along a lower portion of the recess trench is exposed after the trench spacer is formed. The exposed portion of the substrate along the lower portion of the recess trench is doped with a channel impurity to form a local channel impurity doped region surrounding the lower portion of the recess trench. A portion of the local channel impurity doped region surrounding the lower portion of the recess trench is doped with a Vth adjusting impurity to form a Vth adjusting impurity doped region inside the local channel impurity doped region. The width of the lower portion of the recess trench is expanded.

Abstract: Reduced-step CMOS processes for low-cost integrated circuits (ICs) and, more particularly, low-cost radio frequency identification (RFID) devices are disclosed. The CMOS processes disclosed provide sufficient device performance and reliability while reducing the number and complexity of required process steps, thereby reducing the cost for manufacturing ICs. By recognizing the particular needs for low-cost integrated circuits such as RFID devices (for example, reduced needs for performance, power and longevity) and by identifying a reduced set of CMOS process steps, an advantageous solution is achieved for producing low-cost integrated circuits and low-cost RFID devices.

Abstract: A threshold adjusting semiconductor material, such as a silicon/germanium alloy, may be provided selectively for one type of transistors on the basis of enhanced deposition uniformity. For this purpose, the semiconductor alloy may be deposited on the active regions of any transistors and may subsequently be patterned on the basis of a highly controllable patterning regime. Consequently, threshold variability may be reduced.

Abstract: A transistor includes a channel region with a first portion and a second portion. A length of the first portion is smaller than a length of the second portion. The first portion has a higher threshold voltage than the second portion. The lower threshold voltage of the second portion allows for an increased ON current. Despite the increase attained in the ON current, the higher threshold voltage of the first portion maintains or lowers a relatively low OFF current for the transistor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a local recess channel transistor in a semiconductor device. A hard mask layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate that exposes a portion of the substrate. The exposed portion of the substrate is etched using the hard mask layer as an etch mask to form a recess trench. A trench spacer is formed on the substrate along a portion of sidewalls of the recess trench. The substrate along a lower portion of the recess trench is exposed after the trench spacer is formed. The exposed portion of the substrate along the lower portion of the recess trench is doped with a channel impurity to form a local channel impurity doped region surrounding the lower portion of the recess trench. A portion of the local channel impurity doped region surrounding the lower portion of the recess trench is doped with a Vth adjusting impurity to form a Vth adjusting impurity doped region inside the local channel impurity doped region. The width of the lower portion of the recess trench is expanded.

Abstract: A threshold control layer of a second MIS transistor is formed under the same conditions for forming a threshold control layer of a first MIS transistor. LLD regions of the second MIS transistor are formed under the same conditions for forming LDD regions of a third transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a silicon substrate of a first conductivity type including wells of a second conductivity type formed on a surface thereof. The wells may be laterally isolated by shallow trench isolation. Transistors are formed in the wells by first forming several chemically distinct layers. Anisotropic etching then forms openings in a top one of the layers. A blanket dielectric layer is formed in the openings and on the layers. Anisotropic etching removes portions of the blanket dielectric layer from planar surfaces of the substrate but not from sidewalls of the openings to form dielectric spacers separated by gaps within the openings. Gate oxides are formed by oxidation of exposed areas of the substrate. Ion implantation forms channels beneath the gate oxides. Polysilicon deposition followed by chemical-mechanical polishing defines gates in the gaps. The chemically distinct layers are then stripped without removing the dielectric spacers.

Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a well 58 formed in a semiconductor substrate 10 and having a channel region; a gate electrode 34n formed over the channel region with an insulating film 32 interposed therebetween; source/drain regions 60 formed in the well 58 on both sides of the gate electrode 34n, sandwiching the channel region; and a pocket region 40 formed between the source/drain region and the channel region. The well 58 has a first peak of an impurity concentration at a depth deeper than the pocket region 40 and shallower than the bottom of the source/drain regions 60, and a second peak of the impurity concentration at a depth near the bottom of the source/drain regions 60.

Abstract: Formation of an NMOS transistor is disclosed, where at least one of carbon, atomic fluorine and molecular fluorine (F2) are combined with implantations of at least one of arsenic, phosphorous and antimony. The dopant combinations can be used in LDD implantations to form source/drain extension regions, as well as in implantations to form halo regions and/or source/drain regions. The combinations of dopants help to reduce sheet resistance and increase carrier mobility, which in turn facilitates device scaling and desired device performance.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dual gate oxide of a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate insulation layer over an entire surface of a substrate, removing a portion of the first gate insulation layer to selectively expose a first region of the substrate using a first mask and performing an ion implantation on the selectively exposed first region of the substrate using the first mask, and forming a second gate insulation layer on the first gate insulation layer and the exposed first region of the substrate to form a resultant gate insulation layer having a first thickness over the first region of the substrate and a second thickness over a remaining region of the substrate, the first thickness and the second thickness being different.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure with high-voltage sustaining capability. A semiconductor structure with high-voltage sustaining capability includes a first well region of a first conductivity type. A pair of second well regions of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type are respectively disposed adjacent to the first well region and an anti-punch through region of the first conductivity type is disposed in at least the lower portion of the first well region to increase the doping concentration therein. Due to the ion supplementation of the anti-punch through region, the size of a semiconductor structure can be further reduced without affecting the HV sustaining capability and undesired effects such as punch-through effects can be prevented.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate of a first type of conductivity provided with at least one gate on one of its faces, and at least two doped regions of a second type of conductivity for forming a drain region and a source region. The two doped regions are arranged in the substrate flush with the face of the substrate on each side of a region of the substrate located under the gate for forming a channel between the drain and source regions. At least one region of doping agents of the second type of conductivity is implanted only in the channel.

Abstract: An insulated-gate field-effect transistor (100, 100V, 140, 150, 150V, 160, 170, 170V, 180, 180V, 190, 210, 210W, 220, 220U, 220V, 220W, 380, or 480) is fabricated so as to have a hypoabrupt vertical dopant profile below one (104 or 264) of its source/drain zones for reducing the parasitic capacitance along the pn junction between that source/drain zone and adjoining body material (108 or 268). In particular, the concentration of semiconductor dopant which defines the conductivity type of the body material increases by at least a factor of 10 in moving from that source/drain zone down to an underlying body-material location no more than 10 times deeper below the upper semiconductor surface than that source/drain zone. The body material is preferably provided with a more heavily doped pocket portion (120 or 280) situated along the other source/drain zone (102 or 262).

Abstract: A method for fabricating a high voltage semiconductor device, which comprises a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulation layer formed on the semiconductor substrate; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulation layer, comprising: forming a mask pattern on the semiconductor substrate; forming a first low-density impurity implanted region on the semiconductor substrate using the mask pattern, in which the first low-density impurity implanted region is overlapped with the gate electrode; selectively removing a part of the mask pattern from a region where the gate electrode is to be formed to form a gate-formation mask; and forming the gate insulating layer and the gate electrode using the gate-formation mask.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and a drain layer adjacent the semiconductor substrate and having a plurality of drains. The drain layer includes a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type adjacent the semiconductor substrate, and at least one second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type adjacent the first semiconductor layer. Moreover, a plurality of first column regions of the first conductivity type extends through the at least one second semiconductor layer to contact the first semiconductor layer. A plurality of second column regions of the second conductivity type delimits the plurality of first column regions. Furthermore, a plurality of body regions of the second conductivity type are adjacent respective ones of the plurality of second column regions.