Patent ID: 9548400
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A method of controlling the breakdown voltage of a diode, the method comprising: providing a diode which comprises a semiconductor body, a first emitter region of a first conductivity type, a second emitter region of a second conductivity type, a base region arranged between the first and second emitter regions and having a lower doping concentration than the first and second emitter regions, a first emitter electrode electrically coupled to the first emitter region, a second emitter electrode in electrical contact with the second emitter region, a control electrode arrangement comprising a first control electrode section and a first dielectric layer arranged between the first control electrode section and the semiconductor body, and at least one pn junction extending to the first dielectric layer, or arranged distant to the first dielectric layer by less than 250 nm; and adjusting a breakdown voltage of the diode by applying a control potential to the first control electrode section, wherein the base region has a length in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body that is a shortest distance between the first emitter region and the second emitter region, wherein a distance between the first control electrode section and the second emitter region is less than 75% of the length of the base region.