Patent ID: 7868353

Claim:
A solid-state switching device for on-off control of electric circuits, the switching device comprising: (a) a main semiconductor region for providing a current-carrying channel therein, the main semiconductor region having a first and a second opposite major surface; (b) a first and a second main electrode disposed in spaced-apart positions on the first major surface of the main semiconductor region in ohmic contact therewith; (c) first and second gate means disposed in spaced-apart positions between the first and the second main electrode on the first major surface of the main semiconductor region for individually controlling current flow between the first and the second main electrode through the current-carrying channel in the main semiconductor region; (d) a first and a second diode-forming electrode disposed between the first and the second gate means on the first major surface of the main semiconductor region; (e) a first conductor electrically connecting the first diode-forming electrode to the first main electrode; (f) a second conductor electrically connecting the second diode-forming electrode to the second main electrode; (g) a first gate control circuit connected between the first main electrode and the first gate means; and (h) a second gate control circuit connected between the second main electrode and the second gate means.