Patent ID: 7732868
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a field effect transistor formed on a semi-insulating substrate and comprising a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode; a bonding pad formed on the semi-insulating substrate and connected to the gate electrode, the source electrode or the drain electrode; and a protecting element for the transistor formed on the semi-insulating substrate and connected between the bonding pad and a terminal of one of the electrodes that is not connected to the bonding pad, the protecting element comprising a first high concentration impurity region, a second high concentration impurity region and an insulating region disposed between the first and second high concentration impurity regions and being configured to permit current flow between the first and second high concentration impurity regions upon application between the bonding pad and the terminal of an electrostatic energy that is larger than a predetermined amount, wherein the first high concentration impurity region is closer to the bonding pad than the second high concentration impurity region, electrically disconnected from the bonding pad except during the application of the electrostatic energy, physically separated from the bonding pad so as to form a Schottky junction between the bonding pad and a portion of the semi-insulating substrate in which the first high concentration impurity region is not formed, and configured to be electrically connected to the bonding pad through the Schottky junction so as to permit the current flow upon the application of the electrostatic energy.