Patent ID: 8373246

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a pn junction diode comprising an anode and a cathode; and a Schottky barrier diode comprising an anode and a cathode, the anode of the pn junction diode and the cathode of the Schottky barrier diode being electrically connected so that the pn junction diode and the Schottky barrier diode are serially connected, wherein an amount of charge accumulable in a junction capacitance of the Schottky barrier diode is greater than or equal to an amount of charge occurring when a reverse voltage exceeding a breakdown voltage of the Schottky barrier diode is applied to the pn junction diode, and the Schottky barrier diode has a lower breakdown voltage than the pn junction diode, wherein the cathode of the pn junction diode is configured to operate as a cathode terminal of the semiconductor device, and the anode of the Schottky barrier diode is configured to operate as an anode terminal of the semiconductor device.