Patent ID: 8723218

Claim:
A rectifier, comprising: an n type drift layer disposed over an n type silicon carbide substrate, the n type drift layer having a dopant concentration less than a dopant concentration of the n type silicon carbide substrate; a p type anode layer disposed on the n type drift layer and having an upper surface; a plurality of p type anode contact structures disposed on the upper surface of the p type anode layer, individual p type anode contact structure being laterally spaced from one another and having a higher dopant concentration than the p type anode layer, wherein the total upper surface area of the plurality of p type anode contact structures is less than about 50% of the surface area of the upper surface of the p type anode layer; a plurality of electrical contacts individually disposed along an upper surface of a corresponding one of the p type anode contact structures; an anode metal layer connected to upper surfaces of the plurality of electrical contacts; and a cathode metal layer connected to a lower surface of the n type silicon carbide substrate.