Patent ID: 9374084
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: H01L,H02M,H03K

Claim Text:
1. A method for switching a power bipolar semiconductor device which includes both first-conductivity-type emitter/collector regions and also second-conductivity-type base contact regions on each of both opposed surfaces of a semiconductor die, comprising the actions of: at turn-on, when an external voltage difference applied between the emitter/collector regions has a polarity such that the emitter/collector region on the first of said surfaces can act as the collector of a vertical bipolar transistor while the emitter/collector region on the second of said surfaces acts as the emitter of the same vertical bipolar transistor, beginning turn-on by shorting the base contact and emitter/collector regions on the first surface together, without driving the base contact region on the second surface, to thereby conduct current as a diode without external base current power; and thereafter applying base current to one but not both of the base contact regions.