Patent ID: 8203376
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor layer stack of a nitride semiconductor or a silicon carbide semiconductor formed on a substrate and having a channel region; a first electrode and a second electrode formed spaced apart from each other on the semiconductor layer stack; and a first gate electrode formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second gate electrode formed between the first gate electrode and the second electrode, wherein: a potential greater than a threshold voltage of the first gate electrode with reference to a potential of the first electrode is applied to the first gate electrode and a potential less than or equal to a threshold voltage of the second gate electrode with reference to a potential of the second electrode is applied to the second gate electrode, whereby the semiconductor device is brought to a reverse-blocking state in which a current flows from the second electrode to the first electrode but not from the first electrode to the second electrode; and a potential less than or equal to the threshold voltage of the first gate electrode with reference to the potential of the first electrode is applied to the first gate electrode and a potential less than or equal to the threshold voltage of the second gate electrode with reference to the potential of the second electrode is applied to the second gate electrode, whereby the semiconductor device is brought to a non-conductive state in which a current does not flow in either direction between the first electrode and the second electrode.