Patent ID: 8791508

Claim:
A nitride semiconductor device comprising: a) a substrate; b) a nitride semiconductor layer formed on a main surface of the substrate, the nitride semiconductor layer having a channel region through which electrons drift in a direction parallel to the main surface; c) a plurality of first island electrodes and a plurality of second island electrodes formed on the nitride semiconductor layer, spaced apart from each other and arranged alternately to produce a multiplicity of two-dimensional active regions in the nitride semiconductor layer, wherein the first and second island electrodes are, respectively, source and drain electrodes of a multi-island transistor, or, anode and cathode electrodes of a multi-island diode; d) an insulating layer formed on the nitride semiconductor layer having a plurality of openings for connections to the first and second island electrodes and any common electrode connections areas; e) a plurality of ball or bump connections connected through the plurality of openings to either of respective first or second island electrodes; and wherein a plurality of through-substrate via connections are formed where the first or second island electrodes or common electrode connection areas are not connected using a ball or bump connections, a large single electrode common pad is provided on a side of the substrate opposite the main surface, and the plurality of through-substrate via connections provide connections from a top of the first or second island electrodes or from respective common electrode connection areas to the common pad.