Patent ID: 9385242
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A semiconductor chip having a front surface and a back surface, comprising a substrate of a semiconductor material; a layer of epitaxial semiconductor material extending from the substrate to the front surface of the chip, the substrate and the epitaxial layer form a p-n junction at their interface; a pair of columns of semiconductor material, each enclosed by a trench structure, which extends from the front surface of the chip and towards the substrate; each of the pair of columns containing no more than one p-n junction, which is co-extensive with radial cross sections of the respective column; and a pair of electrical terminals, each contacting one of the pair of columns of semiconductor material at the front surface of the chip, forming between the terminals an electric circuit that contains at least one and no more than two p-n junctions.