Patent ID: 6770911
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A silicon carbide device, comprising:a plurality of silicon carbide device cells on at least a portion of a silicon carbide wafer, the silicon carbide cells having first contacts on a first face of the silicon carbide wafer and second contacts on a second face of the silicon carbide wafer; and a connecting plate which electrically connects the first contacts of ones of the plurality of silicon carbide cells; wherein the plurality of silicon carbide device cells comprise a plurality of light-activated silicon carbide thyristor cells on at least a portion of the silicon carbide wafer, the light-activated silicon carbide thyristor cells having corresponding gate regions at the first face of the silicon carbide wafer that are configured to be exposed to light from a light source external to the thyristor cells and first contacts on the first face of the silicon carbide wafer and a second contact on a second face of the silicon carbide wafer opposite the first face; wherein the connecting plate comprises a connecting plate which electrically connects the first contacts of ones of the plurality of silicon carbide thyristor cells; wherein only selected ones of the plurality of light-activated silicon carbide thyristor cells are electrically connected by the connecting plate such that at least one of the plurality of light-activated silicon carbide thyristor cells is not electrically connected by the connecting plate; and wherein the selected ones of the plurality of light-activated silicon carbide thyristor cells have a first contact and other ones of the plurality of light-activated silicon carbide thyristor cells which are not selected do not have a first contact so that the connecting plate only electrically connects the selected ones of the plurality of light-activated silicon carbide thyristor cells.