Patent ID: 7622771

Claim:
A semiconductor apparatus comprising: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type provided on a major surface of the first semiconductor layer in a device region in which a main current path is produced in a vertical direction generally perpendicular to the major surface of the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on the major surface of the first semiconductor layer and being adjacent to the second semiconductor layer; a first main electrode provided on a surface of the first semiconductor layer opposite to the major surface thereof; a second main electrode provided in contact with a surface of the device region; a termination semiconductor layer provided on the major surface of the first semiconductor layer in a termination region outside the device region; a channel stop layer of the first conductivity type provided in contact with the termination semiconductor layer on the major surface of the first semiconductor layer in an outermost peripheral portion outside the termination semiconductor layer and having a higher impurity concentration than the termination semiconductor layer; and a channel stop electrode provided on at least part of a surface of the channel stop layer and projected toward the termination semiconductor layer beyond at least a superficial portion of the channel stop layer.