Patent ID: 8785973

Claim:
A GaN ESD protection device consisting of a first terminal with an ohmic contact or Schottky contact, a second terminal with an ohmic contact or Schottky contact, a 2D electron gas (2DEG) region between the two terminals, a GaN channel region and an AlGaN cap layer formed over the GaN channel region, the 2DEG region being defined by the junction between the GaN channel region and the AlGaN cap layer, an AlGaN buffer region below the GaN channel region, and an isolation region formed between and around the two terminals, the isolation region is configured to form a ballast region extending laterally from the first terminal and terminating on the isolation region between the two terminals, the isolation region vertically extending from above the top of the 2D electron gas (2DEG) region down through the 2D electron gas (2DEG) region and the GaN channel region touching and terminating at the AlGaN buffer region, wherein the length of the isolation region is configured to control the breakdown and triggering voltages of the ESD device and the ballasting region is configured to provide uniform current density distribution through the ESD device and to move the high electric field and heat generation away from the contacts, wherein the length of the ballast region is longer than the isolation region length.