Patent ID: 8093622
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for driving a semiconductor device, comprising: providing a device including: wherein the first p-type contact region, the n-type well region, the n-type semiconductor layer, the p-type well region and the second n-type contact region form a thyristor with an anode at the first p-type contact region, a cathode at the second n-type contact region, an anode gate at the first n-type contact region, and a cathode gate at the second p-type contact region; and the second n-type contact region, the n-type semiconductor layer turning the thyristor from an “off” state to an “on” state by first applying an “on” potential to the gate electrode to turn the MOS transistor “on”, thereby lowering a potential at the anode gate to below a potential at the anode and forward biasing a diode comprising the anode and anode gate; and then, with the “on” potential still applied to the gate electrode, setting a potential at the cathode gate to a higher potential than the cathode, thereby flowing current between the anode and cathode; and turning the thyristor from an “on” state to an “off” state by first applying a potential to the anode gate to set the potential of the semiconductor layer to a higher potential than the anode to reverse bias the diode; and thereafter reducing the potential set at the cathode gate to the same potential as the cathode.