Patent ID: 8779794
Filing Date: 2014-07-15
Classification: G01R,H01L

Abstract:
1. A transistor power switch device comprising: a semiconductor body presenting opposite first and second faces, an array of vertical transistor elements for carrying current between said first and second faces, said array of transistor elements comprising: at said first face an array of first current carrying transistor regions of a first semiconductor type; and at said second face a second current carrying transistor region of said first semiconductor type; at least one third current carrying transistor region of a second semiconductor type opposite to said first type interposed between said first semiconductor regions and said second current carrying transistor region; at least one control electrode for switchably controlling flow of said current through said third transistor region; and a current carrying conductive layer contacting said first current carrying transistor regions at said first face; said transistor power switch device also comprising: at least one semiconductor monitor element presenting semiconductor properties representative of said vertical transistor elements of said array whereby measurement of intrinsic characteristics of said semiconductor monitor element is representative of intrinsic characteristics of said vertical transistor elements, said semiconductor monitor element comprising: first and second semiconductor monitor regions in said semiconductor body electrically in contact with said first and second faces respectively; and a monitor conductive layer distinct from said current carrying conductive layer contacting said first semiconductor monitor region at said first face.