Patent ID: 9231092
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A vertical bidirectional switch comprising: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and having front and rear surfaces; a plurality of P-N junctions in said semiconductor substrate and being between the front and rear surfaces, said plurality of P-N junctions defining first and second thyristors coupled in anti-parallel; a control electrode on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate; a first electrode on the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate; a second electrode on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor column directly coupled to said control electrode and extending between said control electrode and said first electrode and coupled to at least one P-N junction from said plurality of P-N junctions, said semiconductor column having a same conductivity type throughout; said control electrode configured to control a current flow between said first and second electrodes; and a semiconductor wall in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding said semiconductor column, said semiconductor wall being of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type.