Patent ID: 7732833
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A high-voltage semiconductor switching element comprising: a base region of a first conductivity type formed in a semiconductor substrate of a second conductivity type; at least one emitter region of the second conductivity type selectively formed in the base region; at least one sense region of the second conductivity type selectively formed in the base region so as to be spaced away from the emitter region; a collector region of the first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor substrate so as to be spaced away from the base region; a gate insulating film formed at least on a part of the base region located closer to the collector region with respect to the emitter region; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; a collector electrode formed above the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected with the collector region; an emitter electrode formed above the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected with both the base region and the emitter region; and a sense electrode formed above the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected with the sense region, wherein the emitter region and the sense region are located so as to be aligned in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction going from the collector region toward the base region; and the width of the sense region, the width of the emitter region, the width of a part of the base region that is adjacent to the sense region, and the width of a part of the base region that is adjacent to the emitter region in the second direction are set in such a manner that a sense ratio, which is a ratio of a collector current to a sense current, varies in a desired manner in accordance with variation in the collector current.