Patent ID: 7002211
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A lateral semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor chip having two major surfaces; two main electrodes on one of the major surfaces of the semiconductor chip; one or more alternating conductivity type layers between the main electrodes, each alternating conductivity type layers comprising first semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type and second semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type, the first semiconductor regions and the second semiconductor regions being arranged alternately, the first semiconductor regions providing a current path in the ON-state of the semiconductor device and being depleted in the OFF-state of the semiconductor device, and the second semiconductor regions being depleted in the OFF-state of the semiconductor device; and lightly doped regions having lower, impurity concentrations than those of the one or more alternating conductivity type layers, wherein the one or more alternating conductivity type layers and the lightly doped regions are connected to each other to form a closed loop surrounding one of the main electrodes.