Patent ID: 8344458

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate including a main surface; a first region of a first conductivity type, formed inside the semiconductor substrate; an output element including a second region of a second conductivity type, the second region being joined with the first region to form a pn junction; an element to be protected, formed over the main surface, over the first region; a tap part including a third region of the first conductivity type, formed between the element to be protected and the output element, and formed between the first region and the main surface such that a ground potential is applicable to the first region, and a first active-barrier structure formed over the main surface, over the first region, and disposed between the element to be protected and the tap part, wherein the first active-barrier structure includes a fourth region of the second conductivity type coupled to the first region, and a fifth region of the first conductivity type in ohmic coupling with the fourth region.