Patent ID: 8598667
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: G02F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device comprising a circuit that has been formed on a substrate and that includes a thin-film diode and a protection circuit for protecting the thin-film diode, the protection circuit having a protection diode, wherein the thin-film diode is an in-circuit diode that is indispensable to allow the circuit to perform its intended function, and wherein the thin-film diode comprises: wherein (a) the conductivity type of the thin-film diode is N-type, the anode electrode of the protection diode is connected to a line that is connected to either the gate electrode or the first electrode of the thin-film diode, and the protection circuit includes no other diodes that have a cathode electrode connected to the line, wherein (b) the conductivity type of the thin-film diode is P-type, the cathode electrode of the protection diode is connected to the line that is connected to either the gate electrode or the first electrode of the thin-film diode, and the protection circuit includes no other diodes that have an anode electrode connected to the line, and wherein the protection diode and the thin-film diode are not connected in parallel.