Patent ID: 8129758

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a substrate; a semiconductor layer, which has been formed on the substrate; a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, which is defined on the surface of the semiconductor layer; a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, which is defined on the surface of the semiconductor layer so as to surround the semiconductor region of the first conductivity type; and a conductor with a conductive surface that contacts with the semiconductor regions of the first and second conductivity types, wherein the semiconductor layer includes silicon carbide, and wherein on the surface of the semiconductor layer, the semiconductor region of the first conductivity type has at least one first-directed strip portion that runs along a first axis and also has at least one second-directed strip portion that runs along a second axis that is not parallel to the first axis, and the width of the semiconductor region of the first conductivity type as measured along the first axis is greater than that of the conductive surface as measured along the first axis, and the width of the semiconductor region of the first conductivity type as measured along the second axis is greater than that of the conductive surface as measured along the second axis, and wherein the periphery of the conductive surface crosses not only the at least one first-directed strip portion but also the at least one second-directed strip portion.