Patent ID: 8421118
Filing Date: 2013-04-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device operable as a half bridge, the semiconductor device comprising: a first metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) component comprising a first gate region, a first source region, a first drain region, and a first probe region, wherein the first MOS component is arranged such that, in response to the first MOS component being reverse-biased between the first source region and the first drain region, the first probe region produces a first signal indicating the reverse-biased state; a second MOS component comprising a second gate region, a second source region, a second drain region, and a second probe region, wherein the second MOS component is arranged such that, in response to the second MOS component being reverse-biased between the second source region and the second drain region, the second probe region produces a second signal indicating the reverse-biased state; a first drain contact operatively coupled to the first drain region; a second drain contact operatively coupled to the second drain region; and a first source contact operatively coupled to the first source region and the second source region, wherein the semiconductor device is arranged such that a conductivity of the second MOS component is controlled based at least in part on the first signal and a conductivity of the first MOS component is controlled based at least in part on the second signal.