Patent ID: 7538362

Claim:
A lateral semiconductor diode, comprising: a semiconductor body having a first surface, a first contact device disposed in first trenches that extend from a first side of the semiconductor body and extend below the first surface, a second contact device disposed in second trenches that extend from a second side of the semiconductor body and extend below the first surface, the second trenches spaced apart from and substantially interdigitated with the first trenches, and a rectifying junction between the first and second contact devices, wherein the rectifying junction is formed by a Schottky junction in the first contact device and the semiconductor body, an insulating layer disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor body, a first contact disposed on the insulating layer and operably connected to the first contact device, and a second contact disposed on the insulating layer and operably connected to the second contact device, wherein the semiconductor body comprises silicon carbide, and wherein the first and second contacts both lie on the first surface through the insulating layer.