Patent ID: 6831327
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A vertically structured power semiconductor component, comprising:a semiconductor body of a first conductivity type and having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite said first main surface; a body zone of a second conductivity type opposite of said first conductivity type introduced into said first main surface; a zone of said first conductivity type disposed in said body zone; a first electrode making contact with said zone and with said body zone; a second electrode disposed on said second main surface; an insulating layer disposed on said first main surface; a gate electrode disposed above said body zone and separated from said body zone by said insulating layer; an intersection of said semiconductor body and said body zone defining a pn junction; and a compensation region of said second conductivity type disposed below said body zone in said semiconductor body, said compensation region including columnar, vertically extending compensation areas; said semiconductor body having: a layer thickness between said pn junction and said second main surface selected such that, when one of a maximum allowed blocking voltage and a voltage just less than this is applied between said first electrode and said second electrode, a space charge zone created in said semiconductor body meets said second main surface before a field strength E created by an applied blocking voltage reaches a critical value Ec at which an avalanche breakdown is reached; heavily doped terminal regions of said first conductivity type disposed at said second main surface; and punch-through regions of said first conductivity type disposed between said heavily doped terminal regions, a current/voltage characteristic in breakdown being controlled through an area ratio between said heavily doped terminal regions and said punch-through regions.