Patent ID: 8723227

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a multi-gate high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) comprising a drain/source, a source/drain, a first depletion-mode (D-mode) gate, a second D-mode gate, and an enhancement-mode (E-mode) gate, wherein the E-mode gate is disposed between the first and second D-mode gates, wherein the drain/source and the first D-mode gate are electrically connected to a first terminal, and wherein the source/drain and the second D-mode gate are electrically connected to a second terminal; a current limiting circuit electrically connected between the E-mode gate and the second terminal; and a forward trigger control circuit electrically connected between the first terminal and the E-mode gate, wherein the forward trigger control circuit is configured to conduct a trigger current when a voltage of the first terminal exceeds a voltage of the second terminal by a forward trigger voltage, and wherein the trigger current is configured to turn-on the E-mode gate to provide a forward conduction path between the first terminal and the second terminal.