Patent ID: RE43412

Claim:
A diode comprising: a substrate having a first conductivity type; a first epitaxial layer on a first surface of said substrate having the same conductivity type as said substrate; a second epitaxial layer on said first epitaxial layer and having the opposite conductivity type from said substrate and said first epitaxial layer; said first and second epitaxial layers defining a p-n junction therebetween; a first ohmic contact under a second surface of said substrate opposite to said first surface of said substrate; a second ohmic contact directly on said second epitaxial layer opposite said first epitaxial layer; a passivation layer on and directly contacting portions of said first surface of said substrate and portions of said second ohmic contact, said passivation layer defining a via opening over said second ohmic contact; and a wire bond pad on said second ohmic contact, said wire bond pad being self-aligned within the via opening defined by said passivation layer; wherein said via opening defines a gap between said wire bond pad and said passivation layer, and bottom portions of sidewalls of said via opening are on and directly contact a top surface of said second ohmic contact.