Patent ID: 8907394

Claim:
An insulated gate semiconductor device structure comprising: a region of semiconductor material including a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and having a major surface; a body region of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer extending from the major surface; and a trench structure formed in the semiconductor layer extending from the major surface adjacent the body region, and wherein the trench structure comprises: an insulated gate electrode; and a shield electrode having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is wider than the second portion, and wherein the first portion is between the gate electrode and the second portion, and wherein the first portion is separated at least in part from the semiconductor layer by a first dielectric layer, and wherein the second portion is separated from the semiconductor layer by a second dielectric layer that is thicker than the first dielectric layer, and wherein the semiconductor layer has a first dopant concentration in proximity to the first portion and a second dopant concentration in proximity to the second portion, and wherein the first dopant concentration is greater than the second dopant concentration.