Patent ID: 7439584
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; first and second terminals laterally spaced-apart on a surface above the semiconductor substrate; a first semiconductor region of the first conductivity type overlying the substrate and ohmically coupled to the first terminal; a second semiconductor region of a second opposite conductivity type in proximity to the first semiconductor region and ohmically coupled to the first terminal; a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type overlying the substrate and ohmically coupled to the second terminal and laterally arranged with respect to the first semiconductor region; a parasitic vertical device comprising the first semiconductor region and the substrate, the parasitic vertical device for permitting leakage current to flow from the first terminal to the substrate; a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type in proximity to the third semiconductor region and ohmically coupled to the second terminal, thereby forming in combination with the third semiconductor region a shorted base-collector region of a lateral transistor extending between the first and second terminals to provide diode action; a channel region of the first conductivity type separating the first and third regions at the surface; a gate insulator overlying the channel region; a gate electrode overlying the gate insulator; a buried layer of the second conductivity type located between the substrate and the first, second, third and fourth semiconductor regions; and a buried layer contact region of the second conductivity type extending from the buried layer to the fourth semiconductor region.