Patent ID: 9035318
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a gallium nitride field effect transistor (GaN FET); an overvoltage clamping component, a first end of said overvoltage clamping component being electrically coupled to a drain node of said GaN FET, said overvoltage clamping component being configured to conduct insignificant current when a voltage at said drain node is less than a safe voltage limit which is less than a breakdown voltage of said GaN FET; said overvoltage clamping component being further configured to conduct significant current when said voltage at said drain node of said GaN FET rises above said safe voltage limit; and a voltage dropping component, a first end of said voltage dropping component being electrically coupled to a second end of said overvoltage clamping component, a second end of said voltage dropping component being electrically coupled to a terminal for a bias potential which provides an off-state bias for said GaN FET, said voltage dropping component being configured to provide a voltage drop which increases as current from said overvoltage clamping component increases; said semiconductor device being configured to turn on said GaN FET when said voltage drop across said voltage dropping component reaches a threshold value.