Patent ID: 8455949

Claim:
An ESD protection element for use in an electrical circuit, comprising: a fin structure comprising: a first connection region having a first conductivity type, a second connection region having a second conductivity type, which is opposite to the first conductivity type, and also a plurality of body regions which are formed directly adjacent to one another and which are formed between the first connection region and the second connection region, the body regions alternately having the first conductivity type and the second conductivity type, the plurality of body regions comprising a first body region having the second conductivity type and a second body region having the first conductivity type, the first body region having the second conductivity type being formed directly adjacent to the first connection region and between the first connection region and the second body region, the second body region having the first conductivity type being formed directly adjacent to the second connection region and between the first body region and the second connection region, and each body region of the plurality of body regions having a dopant concentration that is lower than a dopant concentration of the first connection region and is lower than a dopant concentration of the second connection region; at least one gate region formed on or above at least one of the plurality of body regions; and at least one gate control device electrically coupled to the at least one gate region, and the at least one gate control device being configured to control at least one electrical potential applied to the at least one gate region.