Patent ID: 6906356
Filing Date: 2005-06-14
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A switch, comprising: a device foundation, comprising: a diode structure, comprising: a bipolar transistor (BJT) structure, comprising: an insulated gate arranged in a trench configuration recessed into said device foundation between said diode and BJT structures, comprising: a shallow N+ region extending from the oxide bottom of said insulated gate into said P− drift layer and extending around the corners formed at the intersections of said gate's oxide side-walls and bottom; said device arranged such that a voltage applied across said anode and cathode connections sufficient to forward bias a first junction formed at the interface of said diode structure's P− drift and first N+ substrate layers causes electrons to be injected into the P− drift portion of said BJT, thereby providing a base drive current to said BJT sufficient to turn it on and enable current to flow from said anode connection to said cathode connection via said diode and BJT structures; and said device further arranged such that a voltage applied to said gate connection sufficient to reverse bias a second junction formed at the interface of said shallow N+ region and said P− drift layer forms depletion regions which, when said second junction is sufficiently reverse-biased, merge and form a potential barrier that blocks current flow through the diode and BJT structures and eliminates said base drive current such that said BJT and said switch are turned off.